Oral antibiotics that help treat skin infections.
People with eczema are more likely to get skin infections. To prevent this, you should try to keep your skin moisturised and avoid scratching it. But if it does get infected, an oral antibiotic like Clarithromycin can help treat it.
To order Clarithromycin for infected eczema, answer some questions online and we’ll recommend personalised treatment options for you.
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic that treats skin infections like infected eczema. It's in a group of drugs called macrolides, which work by stopping certain proteins from being made.
Eczema is characterised by dry itchy skin caused by a dysfunctional skin barrier. This causes water to be lost from your skin, making it dry and cracked. And scratching it can cause further damage. As a result, your skin barrier can worsen, allowing microorganisms to enter more easily. This is what makes people with eczema more susceptible to skin infections.
Macrolides (the group of antibiotics that clarithromycin is in) are known as bacteriostatic, as they all work by inhibiting protein synthesis (or to put it more plainly, they stop proteins being made).
When taken, Clarithromycin binds to the protein unit in bacteria, blocking the ‘translation’ of mRNA to tRNA (both important components in making proteins). This prevents protein synthesis, therefore stopping the growth of bacteria and leading to their eventual death.
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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
There are two doses of Clarithromycin: 250mg and 500mg. For skin infections, 250mg is usually prescribed twice daily (morning and evening) for about one to two weeks. It's taken with a glass of water, with or without food. However, taking it with food can lower the risks of side effects. For severe infections, a higher dosage of 500mg may be prescribed.
The treatment will generally last one-to-two weeks, and you should start to feel better within a couple of days. But even if you feel better, don’t stop taking it. This is because stopping early can make the symptoms return and even worsen it. It might also contribute to something called ‘bacterial resistance’, where bacteria no longer respond to certain antibiotics, making them harder to kill.
If you accidentally take more than the recommended dose, contact your doctor or go to your nearest A&E. Taking too much can cause overdose symptoms like vomiting and stomach pains.
If you forget to take a dose of Clarithromycin, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's time for your dose. In that case, skip it. Don't take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Macrolides. [Updated 2023 May 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Eczema. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
The infectious complications of atopic dermatitis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 126(1), 3-12.
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