Minocin for Acne
One of the most embarrassing skin conditions a person can have is acne. Add the angst of the teen years, and you've got a potent self-esteem obliterator. For the varying degrees of breakouts, there are a variety of remedies, from topical retinoids to oral antibiotics. Antibiotics like Minocin (chemical name minocycline hydrochloride) are prescribed for moderate to severe cases of acne.
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Noninflammatory Acne
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No one knows why exactly, but a garden variety pimple occurs when skin pores become blocked with sebum or oil. In normal skin, this oil drains away. Before a pimple forms, bacteria grows amid the blocked sebum. Blackheads form at the surface and get their color from melanin, skin pigment. Whiteheads grow below the surface of the skin. Whiteheads and blackheads are considered noninflammatory acne.
Inflammatory Acne
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When a break occurs in the outer wall of whiteheads or blackheads, a papule is formed. Inflammation is then established when white blood cells rush in to fight the invader. This leads, in short order, to a pimple or pustule, which indicates that the white blood cells have broken through to the epidermis or skin surface. On occasion, with extreme inflammation, a cyst can form. When an infected pore is broken along the pore's bottom surface, it can completely break down, causing an extremely sensitive red bump called a nodule.
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Significance
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Minocin (minocycline hydrochloride) comes from a class of antibiotic called tetracycline. Minocin is used to target bacterial infections specifically. "Minocin MR" was developed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals as a treatment against Propionebacterium acnes. Propionebacterium is the bacterium that causes inflammatory acne, according to NetDoctor. The "MR" in the drug names refers to "modified release," which allows for the medication's release into the system over time. Minocin MR capsules should be taken once a day.
Function
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A bacterium creates proteins by essentially taking nourishment from a targeted host, like a papule on the skin's surface. Minocin sets up an environment that halts the bacterium's ability to produce the proteins it needs. The bacterium's capability for growth and development is entirely arrested. Ultimately, Minocin keeps the infection from taking over and what bacteria are left get subsumed by the body's immune cells. The bacterial infection is snuffed out.
Side Effects and Considerations
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Liver and kidney functions can be affected by Minocin. Unusual weakness of the muscles has occurred in some people. There can be inflammation of the skin and internal organs. Take Minocin with plenty of water, as the throat can be irritated. Driving or using machinery is a concern with this drug. Individuals sometimes report an unusual sensitivity to the sun with the use of Minocin. Avoid sunbathing. Blue/black stains that crop up in the skin, eyes, teeth, nails and elsewhere have been known to occur. This is temporary, for the most part. Watch for bowel inflammation. Minocin should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding or by children younger than 12.
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References
- Photo Credit clay face mask image by Steve Lovegrove from Fotolia.com
