Systemic Acne Treatment Options

Systemic treatments work internally. They may be taken orally, as in pill form, or be injected into the skin. Severe acne and cystic acne must be treated systemically. Systemic treatments may also be used in cases of moderate acne when topical treatments are not enough. Systemic acne treatments are available by prescription only, and are often used in conjunction with topical treatments.

Systemic acne treatment medications include:

    Oral antibiotics - erythromycin, tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline
    Hormonal treatments - birth control pills, spironolactone
    Isotretinoin - sold under the brand names Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret (and formerly sold as Accutane)