No More Antibiotics For The Treatment Of Acne, Say Doctors!

Sadly, for adults reliant on the prescription of antibiotics for their acne, you might soon be cut off.

We've known for a long time that the prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics - the ones that widely treat anything, from simple chesty coughs, to eye infections and worse - is being limited.

This is because, prescribing them too frequently means that all kinds of bacteria are getting used to them and gradually growing resistant.

It contributes to "the evolution of the superbug" - as we've been calling it, which are drug-immune strings of bacteria which can cause life endangering infections.

However, now we're seeing more and more limits to the prescription of smaller spectrum antibiotics too - the ones that are designed to treat much more specific problems.

ACNE

The same reasons apply for this restriction, as they do for limitations to broad spectrum antibiotics.

According to Doctor Whitney Bowe, who spoke to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), “We used to get more success with oral antibiotics," but as the bacteria have become gradually more resitant: “our ability to treat moderate to severe acne has become compromised."

A British study, the WSJ points out, has noted that antibiotic-resistant strains of Propionibacterium acnes bacteria (which causes acne), were found in 56% of all acne patients in 2000, up from 35% a decade earlier.

Which could indicate that up to over half of all acne patients in the UK may be finding antibiotic treatments to be far less effective than they used to be.

BIGGER PICTURE

Rather alarmingly, it isn't just the acne bacterias that are growing resistant as a result of the antibiotics.

Two of the antibiotics that are popularly prescribed for acne - clindamycin and doxycycline - are also important for the treatment of some MRSA infections, which could include meningitis and pneumonia.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Antibiotics have been considered by many to be the most effective treatment of adult acne, but it might be necessary to seek out alternative therapies.

There are, of course, many options available.

Isotretinoin, used in products like Accutane has been marketed as a magically effective ance drug for many years.

And some people certainly find this to be the case. There are many possible side effects, so it's worth weighing up the pros and cons with a dermatologist.

Laser and light treatments, which include using a topically applied medicine and then beaming over it with a light wand to activate it's ingredients.

Although it will pain people (though not surprise them) to know, making lifestyle changes, such as vastly reducing dairy and ramping up vegetable and nuts can reduce the severity of acne longer-term.

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Do you know of an effective acne treatment that we haven't mentioned? Let us know in the comments!