Oral antibiotics have been a mainstay of acne treatments for decades. But should they be prescribed less often?
According to some, the answer is yes. I read an article about this subject that I found so interesting. (You can read it for yourself on the Internal Medicine News website.)
Everyone nowadays is aware of the problem with the over-use of antibiotics, including problems with superbugs. The dermatologist featured in the Internal Medicine News article, Dr. Theodore Rosen, spoke more specifically about the side effects of oral antibiotics.
Other doctors say taking away oral antibiotics leaves them with no other treatment options for those with moderately severe acne, except for isotretinoin (Accutane). And isotretinoin comes with its own side effects.
Although antibiotics are prescribed often for acne, I'm not sure they're prescribed too often. It's hard to make sweeping statements like that, because every person's acne is different. I think the decision to use oral antibiotics should be decided on a case-by-case basis.
I'm curious to know what you think of this subject. Let me know in the comments below.
Treating Acne with Antibiotics:
YES!! Antiobiotics are waaay overprescribed for acne – it’s insanity! I own and run an acne clinic – we clear up acne with no presription drugs or topicals and have a 95% success rate.
Even if you had an antibiotic that killed all of the bacteria it still wouldn’t work because it’s not bacteria that causes acne. Acne is caused by retention hyperkeratosis – the inherited tendency of dead skin cells to shed inside the pore at an accelerated speed. Bacteria is a by-product of that tendency, not the cause. You need products that go inside the pore to keep the dead skin cells from piling up inside the pore to prevent the acne from happening in the first place.
Clients come to us who have been on antibiotics for years and that’s a travesty! I’m so glad that at least one doctor is speaking out about it!
That is not a problem in Spain