Lymecycline and Epiduo

Both lymecycline and Epiduo gel are used to treat acne. They work best when used together, especially if you have moderate or severe acne.

Acne happens when the hair follicles in your skin become inflamed and infected. This occurs when there is a build up of dead skin cells, sebum (oil) or bacteria. Sebum is the natural oil produced by your sebaceous glands. It keeps your skin moisturised and supple. If you have acne, your glands will overproduce sebum.

Having acne does not mean your skin is dirty; in fact, trying to clean your skin too often can make acne worse.

When this debris builds up in your hair follicles, the inflammation can cause pimples to form. These pimples can come in different forms, such as:

• blackheads and whiteheads
• papules
• pustules
• nodules
• cysts

Lymecycline is a tetracycline-type antibiotic used to treat moderate or severe acne. Lymecycline works by stopping the growth of bacteria in your skin.

The bacteria in your skin are sensitive to lymecycline, which means the medication will not harm the good bacteria elsewhere in your body.

Epiduo gel contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide. Adapalene reduces the inflammation in the pores of your skin. It also exfoliates your skin to get rid of dead skin cells.

Benzoyl peroxide works as an antibacterial and reduces inflammation by getting rid of the bacteria that cause acne.

You can take 1 lymecycline capsule every day with a glass of water.

If you forget to take a dose of lymecycline, just take your normal dose at the regular time. Do not double up missed doses.

When using Epiduo gel, make sure your hands are washed and dry. Apply a small amount of gel to the affected areas of your skin once a day in the evening.

You can apply Epiduo on your face or the trunk of your body. Make sure the skin is not broken or bleeding before you apply the gel. You can apply makeup after the gel has dried completely.

Avoid applying the gel to your eyes or lips. If this happens, wash the area with plenty of warm water.

You’ll be prescribed a 3 month course of lymecycline and Epiduo gel to complete. It’s important to use the medications regularly every day to make sure the bacteria do not have a chance of growing back.

Lymecycline works by slowing down the growth of bacteria. The main bacteria that builds up in acne is Cutibacterium acnes (also known as Propionibacterium acnes).

All cells need proteins to continue to function, grow and multiply. Lymecycline stops the bacteria cells from producing proteins which stops their growth. The bacteria eventually die off as they cannot survive. Bacterial cells are different to the cells in your body, so lymecycline will not harm your own cells.

The ingredients in Epiduo gel work in several different ways:

• as an antibacterial
• reducing inflammation
• slowing down the rate your skin cells are produced, which reduces dead skin cells

As acne can happen due to several different mechanisms, your treatment must be able to target each pathway. This is even more important if you have moderate or severe acne.

Lymecycline and Epiduo gel are effective in treating acne when used regularly. You’ll start to see improvement within the first few weeks of use. You should continue to use the medications for the whole course, which is usually around 3 months. It can take some time for your skin to heal so remember to be patient with the process.

If you do not see any improvement within 8 weeks of treatment, speak to your doctor.

You may experience some side effects when taking lymecycline. These are usually temporary and will disappear within a few hours or days.

The common side effects of lymecycline are:

• feeling sick
• pain in your abdomen
• diarrhoea
• headaches

You can find more information on the side effects of lymecycline in the patient information leaflet.

As you are applying Epiduo gel directly to your skin, you may experience some skin irritation.

Some more common side effects of Epiduo gel are:

• eczema
• burning sensation on your skin

The uncommon side effects of Epiduo gel are:

• tingling sensation at the application site
• rash
• dry skin
• redness of the eyelid

To find out more about the side effects of Epiduo gel, read the patient information leaflet that comes with your pack.

If you have an allergic reaction to any of the medications, stop using them and contact 999 immediately. Signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, eyes or throat or feeling faint.

Both lymecycline capsules and Epiduo gel can be used by adults and children over 12 if they have moderate or severe acne.

You should not use either lymecycline or Epiduo gel if you are:

• allergic to their ingredients
• breastfeeding
• pregnant or are planning to get pregnant

If you become pregnant while using any of these medications, stop the treatment and speak to your doctor immediately.

You should also speak to your doctor before taking lymecycline if you:

• have kidney or liver problems
• have systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune condition
• myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness

Your doctor may advise an alternative treatment.

Lymecycline can interact with other medications you might be taking. This can reduce the effectiveness of either lymecycline or your other treatments.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:

• other acne treatments
• blood thinners such as warfarin
• diuretics (also known as water tablets)
• lithium, used to treat mood disorders
• indigestion remedies
• epilepsy treatment such as carbamazepine or phenytoin
• quinapril for high blood pressure
• other antibiotics, especially penicillins

When using Epiduo gel, make sure you use it at a different time to other cosmetic products that might irritate your skin. You should also avoid using other products that contain adapalene or benzoyl peroxide.

Epiduo gel can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid being too exposed to the sun or UV lamps.

If lymecycline or Epiduo gel are not for you, there are several alternative acne treatments you can try. Most treatments will work in a similar way.

If you cannot take lymecycline or if it is not effective, you might be able to try oxytetracycline. Oxytetracycline is in the same family of antibiotics as lymecycline. Sometimes using an alternative antibiotic can improve treatment. Bacteria can adapt and mutate if you use the same antibiotic for too long.

Differin gel is another topical treatment that contains only adapalene. You can use this if you have mild acne or if you cannot use benzoyl peroxide.

You can buy Acnecide gel over the counter from your local pharmacy. Acnecide contains benzoyl peroxide only.

Zineryt lotion is a combination treatment that contains erythromycin (an antibiotic) and zinc. Zinc helps erythromycin to be absorbed into the skin and reach the bacteria in your pores.

Sometimes, using an oral contraceptive pill can help reduce your acne. The contraceptive pill can also cause acne as a side effect due to the changing levels in hormones. If you are a woman, you can speak to your doctor about trying the pill to treat acne.

If your acne is particularly severe and hard to treat, speak to your doctor. They can refer you to a dermatologist who may consider prescribing isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a specialist medication that requires regular monitoring. Isotretinoin is also known under the brand name Roaccutane.