Tea tree oil is a naturally occurring oil with antibiotic properties. Research is ongoing to determine whether it can be an effective acne treatment. Oral medication can be useful when acne affects the skin on multiple areas of the body. Antibiotics kill the bacteria that have colonized the follicles. This reduces inflammation.
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. It is chemically similar to vitamin A. Accutane is effective in about two-thirds of the patients who use it to treat more severe cystic acne or acne that is unresponsive to other treatments. It reduces production of oil. Its main side effect is body dryness.