Antibiotics For Acne - Part 2 - Health Plus Digest

Dermatologists try to use a short course of antibiotics to treat moderate to severe acne and to fight the inflammation in the area. The antibiotics have two many effects – to reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin and to reduce inflammation. Most of the time the doctor will recommend tapering off the antibiotics once the symptoms begin to improve or it becomes clear that they are not going to help in your individual case. Most antibiotics have side effects that include increased sensitivity to the sun, so it’s important to cover your skin, wear a hat on very sunny days and to wear sun screen at all times. Antibiotics can also reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.

However, one significant drawback is that once oral antibiotics became a common way of treating acne, antibiotic resistance also significantly increased in that population as well. According to Australia’s National Prescribing Services it is important for regular follow up appointments with your dermatologist to evaluate the need for continued antibiotic treatment and to evaluate any other adverse side effects from treatment which can occur at any time during treatment. (2)

Research published in the Archives of Dermatology, researchers found that patients who received antibiotic therapy for the treatment of their acne were much more likely to experience an upper respiratory tract infection with a year of treatment than in individuals who had not undergone antibiotic use. (3) The evidence does not make it clear if the antibiotics changed the normal flora in the body enough to encourage an infection or if the antibiotics lead to a system wide change in the body which altered the immune system.

References:

(1) Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology: Oral Antibiotic Therapy for Acne Vulgaris

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050614/

(2) National Prescribing Services: Oral antibiotics: an option in acne but consider the risks

http://www.nps.org.au/health-professionals/health-news-evidence/2013/oral-antibiotics-for-acne

(3) Archives of Dermatology: Antibiotic Treatment of acne may be associated with upper respiratory tract infections

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16172310

Resources:

DermNet Nz: Antibiotics for Acne

http://www.dermnetnz.org/acne/acne-antibiotics.html

MayoClinic: Acne

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/definition/con-20020580