Doxycycline as a treatment for acne

What is acne?

This is an unfortunately common skin disorder. It can affect people at almost any age, but it most often occurs during the teen years when the body’s hormone system is moving to its full adult levels. Strictly speaking, it is not a disease but it is considered equally serious because of the psychological damage caused to those affected. For some reason, the appearance of spots, pimples and blemishes on the skin triggers hostility from the peer group and some adults. Although most people avoid physical scarring when the spots heal, the emotional scars can remain for years.

Where does acne appear?

It is concentrated on the face, neck, shoulders and upper body where there is a high density of sebaceous glands clustered in the pores in which body hair roots. These glands release oil into the skin to keep it flexible and waterproof. If too much is released, it floods the pores and gives the bacteria the ideal place to grow. The result is an infection and the appearance of inflammation in the form of blackheads and whiteheads.

What causes it?

There are two basic explanations. The first is genetic. Acne runs in families and, if it affected one of your parents, it is more likely to affect you. Second is the effect of androgen. Although this is labeled a “male” hormone, it is produced in both men and women. When it appears, it encourages the growth of the sebaceous glands around the hair follicles. In young adult men, the levels usually stabilize quite quickly but, in women, more androgen is produced during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy.

What are the best forms of treatment?

There are a frightening number of products sold over the counter to either treat acne or cover it up. Most of these are overpriced and of little value. Indeed, if you buy a heavy foundation powder or cream to hide the problem, this can further block the pores and make the acne worse. The most effective is benzoyl peroxide. This clears the skin in mild cases with no real adverse side effects. If that fails, you can consider moving up to Doxycycline. This specifically targets the bacteria responsible for causing the infections and, in many cases, a single course of treatment will produce a visible improvement in between one and two weeks. Unfortunately, the bacteria are beginning to develop some degree of resistance so this use of Doxycycline may only be available for another twenty or thirty years. Fortunately, this is long enough to clear up your acne.