A major review of past studies looked at two antibiotics for moderate to severe acne. The research compared oral azithromycin pulse therapy to doxycycline. The main goal was to see how each drug changed overall acne severity.
The review included data from over 2,700 patients. It found that azithromycin led to a greater improvement in overall acne scores than doxycycline. The difference was small but clear. Azithromycin also caused a bigger drop in non-inflammatory bumps like blackheads.
However, there was no major difference between the drugs for reducing red, inflamed pimples. The studies did not report on side effects in detail, but the review suggested azithromycin might be easier to tolerate with fewer issues than doxycycline.
This research helps doctors and patients choose between these two common acne treatments. It suggests azithromycin could be a good option, especially for people who have trouble with doxycycline. More studies are needed to confirm these findings and check long-term safety.