Research shows that using antibiotics to treat severe acne can lead to antibiotic resistance against the bacterium responsible for acne, Propionibacterium acnes.
Propionibacterium acnes is a natural part of the skin’s flora but is also involved in severe and inflamed acne. Antibiotics like tetracycline and erythromycin have been used for over 20 years to treat acne, but aside from causing severe gastrointestinal issues and not addressing the root cause of acne, recent research indicates they can also lead to antibiotic resistance. Scientists took skin samples from 99 patients with severe acne. In the group treated with antibiotics, significantly more individuals had antibiotic-resistant Propionibacterium acnes compared to the non-antibiotic group.
The researchers state, “The use of antibiotics should be limited, and other methods should be considered first.” The acne program opposes the use of antibiotics for treating acne and pimples because it can lead to antibiotic resistance, severe gastrointestinal problems, candidiasis, and does not address the root cause. Those who have followed the program have successfully cleared both mild and severe acne completely without needing antibiotics.
American Society For Microbiology. (2001, May 25). Treating Acne With Antibiotics Leads To Resistance. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2018