[Which antibiotics are helpful in acne? A review of the literature and personal test results with minocyclin (klinomycin)]

Abstract

All tetracycline preparations seem to be systemically effective in acne. Quality and frequency of their side-effects, however, are different and should be carefully considered in each individual case. In an own study ninety-one patients treated with minocycline showed good response in 69% and moderate or no response in 31+. The main side-effects of the drug were nausea and giddiness, being of short duration in most cases. In patients with no response to a certain preparation change of the preparation may be helpful. Occasionally, acne does not respond to any tetracycline derivative. In these cases the use of non-tetracycline antibiotics, particularly of trimethoprim-sulphamethazol and lincomycines, is clearly effective. As a rule, we start treatment with tetracycline (500-750 mg/d) and reduce the dose to a minimum (ca. 100 mg/d), in order to withdraw the drug. In non-responsive cases another derivative and/or finally non-tetracycline antibiotics are administered for therapy.