Treatement of Acne with Antibiotics

[justchillin]

Recently I have read a lot about how long-term oral antibiotic use can lead to serious health problems later in life due to disturbance of the normal intestinal flora.  Even though these theories are controversial, this still concerns me because I was on oral antibiotics for two or three years to treat my acne.  I think I'd worry less if I knew that lots of people with acne are put on oral antibiotics for similarly long periods of time.  Could you provide an estimate on the percent of teenagers that are put on long-term antibiotics to treat acne?

[ANGELMOM100]

i AM NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK, BUT CAN TELL YOU THAT MY SYSTEM IS TOTALLY SCREWED UP AT THE MOMENT.  ALTHOUGH I SUFFER FROM SOME PRETTY SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT PUT ME IN A COMPROMISED SITUATION ANYWAY, THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH NUMEROUS COURSES OF HEAVY DUTY ANTIBIOTICS HAS COMPLETELY DEPLETED MY BODY OF ANY GOOD BACTERIA AND HAS GIVEN YEAST CARTE BLANCHE TO GO RAMPANT.  I AM NOW FIGHTING A FUNGAL INFECTION ON MY FACE THAT I AM HAVING ON HECK OF A TIME GETTING RID OF AND FEEL LIKE **** ON TOP OF WORRYING THAT I WILL END UP WITH SCARS AFTER NOT HAVING HAD BAD SKIN FOR THE LAST 49 YEARS!  BEWARE OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT..............

[Niccolette]

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[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Not really, but I can tell you that, like the rest of my dermatologic colleagues, I treat an awful lot of teenagers with ongoing courses of antibiotics.  We are watching developments of the concerns you mention, but to date they have not changed our long-standing practices, which appear to be quite safe.  Of course, it's best to stop oral antibiotics as soon as this is feasible, but I don't think you need to worry, based on what we know.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff