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Acne antibiotics - Tetralysal

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Posted 4/29/2013 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I've just been prescribed Tetralysal 300 by my doctor for my skin. Since finishing pred, the Imuran has caused my skin to break out a bit - only 2-3 spots which are usually on my chin. The main issue is under the skin lumps and bumps that are really bad. Like pimples but they're too far under the surface to be spots. They're also skin-colour and not red. I just have loads of tiny little bumps. I never had bad skin before Imuran. Anyways, I double-checked with my doc and my pharmacist that it wouldn't interact with my meds or UC or cause a flare-up as Im just starting to finally get settled and symptom-free for the first time! He knew not to prescribe me with Accutane as that is bad for UC! Has anyone any experience with Tetralysal?
Posted 4/29/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
I would not take an antibiotic for acne ever. Unless you think your skin looks so awful that people will stop in the street and stare. Are you willing to trigger another flare because of bumps under your skin?

Antibiotics that you swallow (or even that you put on your skin!) are going to mess with your gut bacteria.
Posted 4/29/2013 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I know, i was concerned about that. However, my doctor and pharmacist were so certain that it wouldnt affect my UC. I've looked tetralysal up and there are no posts on the Internet linking it to UC or flare-ups. It's been going on for over three months now and people keep commenting on it so I've become more and more conscious of it. I'm waiting on my IBD nurse to consult my Castro about it and get back to me. If I start getting any D, I will stop taking it straight away.
Posted 4/29/2013 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well any antibiotic poses a risk to a flare-up, because of their ability to disrupt the gut bacteria. It's your choice, but I would rather find cream, or a gel, to treat the acne instead of risking a flare.

What's more important, remission or getting rid of the acne?

Whatever you choose, I hope it works out.
Posted 4/29/2013 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
i now have UC because i treated my acne with a 2 year cause of antibiotics that supposedly does not cause UC. not worth it, dont do it.
Posted 4/29/2013 9:10 PM (GMT 0)

MaxMilian said...
i now have UC because i treated my acne with a 2 year cause of antibiotics that supposedly does not cause UC. not worth it, dont do it.

You don't know why you have UC. It could be completely unrelated to antibiotics. We humans really want to see patterns and have a cause for everything but sometimes we just don't know.
Posted 4/29/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
minners, all i would say is do your homework - the potential to mess things up is there i think - just proceed with caution -

good luck !
Posted 4/29/2013 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
"You don't know why you have UC. It could be completely unrelated to antibiotics. We humans really want to see patterns and have a cause for everything but sometimes we just don't know."



well Max knows - why isn't that good enough for you clch ?
Posted 4/30/2013 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
I took accutane and got UC 25 years later. No clue if it caused my UC but I wish I never took it. I had a few large cysts in my mid-twenties after years of mild acne. I never took tetracycline for acne but I had very bad tonsillitis as a small child over and over. I took it for that and ear infections quite frequently. I have read that some scientists think increased UC in former users of accutane is because they went on antibiotics first. In other words,antibiotics is the real risk factor. There is a lot of evidence that people in developed countries are messing up their gut microbes and this causes autoimmune disease. Antibiotics like everything else are a two edged sword. Caution is needed.

I avoid antibiotics as a UC sufferer and seriously question using them for acne even if I didn't have UC. Very serious cystic acne might change my mind. We are talking about the really awful disfiguring type.

Yes I know some people with UC get into remission by using strong antibiotics and evidence supports this treatment under certain conditions.
Posted 4/30/2013 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
If you're just dealing with post pred skin craziness, you may be able to wait it out until things level out. I've had so many boughts of terrible skin in my life, it's just something that drives me crazy and makes me feel awful about myself. I have tried a lot of things, topicals never worked. what works best for me is birth control pills. I haven't use antibiotics orally for acne but I am sure they were warranted at some points - I mean I had huge cystic lumps under the skin. I've used spironolactone which can help hormonal acne and you may be going through something hormonal since stopping pred, if it continues maybe you could ask your OBGYN or GP if you can try spiro. It's not an antibiotic. If you're not already on birth control, that may be even better since spiro requires that you're on birth control regardless.
Posted 4/30/2013 8:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all for your advice - and for scaring the heck out of me haha! Believe me, I've researched this disease inside-out! I know the risks. I also know that a lot of people have no effect with antibiotics and some people even improve with antibiotics! I'm a teacher so with everything I take - I need to be well-informed about it before taking it ha. I was just wondering if anyone with UC had taken this drug whilst having UC. I still think I'm going to go with the Tetralysal for a few weeks. If it doesn't have any effect on my skin, I'll stop it and if it gives me any indication of a flare-up or any D, I'll be stopping it straight away! At the moment, my skin is raw, itchy, sore and looks awful so I really want to give it a try. If a flare did happen, hopefully the Imuran and Humira will get a hold of it before it spirals! Notsosicklygirl, I was actually thinking of birth control the last few weeks - I've never been on it but I know it helps your skin. I just wondered would it be able to clear the underneath of my skin?!

Anyways, it will be interesting to see over the next month what happens. I could be cursing the day I started Tetralysal ha. I'm hopeful that it won't cause me to flare. Going to stick with my diet and probiotics and peppermint tea and olive oil! Lets hope Im right!
Posted 4/30/2013 10:19 AM (GMT 0)

chcl said...

You don't know why you have UC. It could be completely unrelated to antibiotics. We humans really want to see patterns and have a cause for everything but sometimes we just don't know.

True but you can't disprove that it wasn't the antibiotics either. I am going by logic and the proof that I have. If you wanted to prove everything, there's so many events in your life that you don't have proof for. I know it was the antibiotics for me, but I am not going to get into that discussion in this thread.
Posted 4/30/2013 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
If it is in the same family of antibiotics as tetracycline and minocycline I wouldn't recommend taking it. There is evidence that it can effect your liver causing further damage that is related to autoimmune hepatitis. Please search the article or I could provide a link if you can't find it. I believe there are times when antibiotics are necessary for infections but after experience I question these long term lower dose ones for acne. Maybe if its a ten day course to clear up tour face that would be different.
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