Moderate to severe acne can be treated with oral or topical antibiotics. There are many commonly used antibiotics for acne treatment. The main role of antibiotics for acne is to destroy the bacteria that clogs your pores and causes break outs. It doesn't work on reducing oil production or unclogging pores they are there to kill off the bacteria in the skin. Mentioned below are some of the best antibiotics for acne treatment.

Tetracyclines are the most frequently prescribed oral antibiotics. Because bacteria tend to develop resistance, doctors use systemic antibiotics for short-term treatments. Common side effects of tetracyclines are few, but they have been known to cause increased sensitivity to the sun and decreased efficacy of birth control pills in some cases. Tetracycline should not be given to pregnant women or children under 9 years of age.

Erythromycin is a very commonly used antibiotic for acne. It has several advantages over tetracycline. First, it has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness in lesions, in addition to killing bacteria. Also, it can and should be taken with food - a benefit for teenagers. The dosage of erythromycin varies with the type used, but it is typically prescribed as 250 - 500 mg twice a day. It can cause stomach upset and nausea, but can be used in pregnant women.

Clindamycin is a semi synthetic antibiotic which is very useful as an oral antibiotic for acne, but it is mostly used in topical form, which has been proven safe and well tolerated. It helps in destroying the acne causing bacteria and works as an anti-inflammatory hence, decreasing the inflammation. The major side effect of clindamycin therapy is that it may lead to serious intestinal infection called pseudomembranous colitis which is caused by the Clostridium difficile bacteria.

Doxycycline is an effective antibiotic used for inflammatory acne treatment. People who can't tolerate or respond to erythromycin or tetracycline are often given doxycycline. The starting dose is 50-100 mg twice a day. It should not be consumed empty stomach as it can lead to significant nausea. Doxycycline may increase skin sensitivity to the sun. Doxycycline is more likely than tetracycline to increase sensitivity to the sun, or cause sunburns.

Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative that has been used effectively for decades as a treatment for acne. It is especially useful for pustular type acne. Generally, the starting dose is 50-100 mg twice a day. Dizziness, nausea and vomiting are some of the side effects of this antibiotic. Sometimes, extended intake may lead to skin or tooth discoloration.

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the popular antibiotics used for acne treatment. It is available in the form of gel, lotion, cleanser and cream. Many of the popular lotions, soaps, gels and creams available in the market today contain benzoyl peroxide for acne control.

Another oral treatment is isotretinoin, or retinoic acid (Accutane). Isotretinoin is a recent and very effective antibiotic used in the treatment of acne. You will definitely find some relief and cure for your acne. It is proved consistently effective and its effect also lasts longer. Oral Isotretinoin is not advised for pregnant women, as it is known to cause serious birth defects of babies.