A Review of Anti-Biotic Acne Treatment

Bacteria associated with acne is becoming more anti-biotic resistant.

Antibiotic therapies include topical or oral antibiotics or a combination of the two. Results are often short-lived and acne returns within a week or two after the end of therapy. Acne symptoms caused by environmental allergens such as ingredients in body care and cleaning products and chloracne caused by dioxins cannot be controlled with anti-biotic therapy. For detailed information about the causes of acne, please read, "What Causes Acne?" Although antibiotic therapy can control bacteria associated with acne during treatment, when treatment ends the environmental antagonists remain, and the acne returns.

Increased anti-biotic resistance to both oral and topical is becoming more apparent in p. acnes, the bacteria most often associated with acne making this choice a less desirable, less effective option. In European study, Antibiotic-resistant acne: lessons from Europe, certain strains of p. acnes are becoming resistant to antibiotics such as clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline and is easily transmitted between acne-prone individuals.^[1] A study from Singapore, Community-based study of acne vulgaris in adolescents in Singapore, shows that antibiotic resistant strains of acne are found even on those who have never used antibiotic therapy for control of acne.^[2] According to this study, Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant propionibacteria on the skin of acne patients: 10-year surveillance data and snapshot distribution study, "Skin colonization with antibiotic-resistant propionibacteria is much more common now than a decade ago. Resistant propionibacteria are widely distributed on acne-prone skin and in the nares. This suggests that they will be very difficult to eradicate using existing therapeutic regimens, especially from the nasal reservoir."^[3] As the bacteria becomes more and more resistant to antibiotics, stronger antibiotics with stronger side effects will be required to control p. acnes. As we have learned with MRSA, this problem could have extreme consequences. If the bacteria cannot be controlled with antibiotics, is there the potential for acne to become a life-threatening condition similar to MRSA?

The cost of antibiotic therapies for control of acne depends on insurance co-pays or lack of insurance as well as the choice of topical or oral antibiotics. For those with health care, insurance rates largely depend on the use of health care to control medical conditions. For those without health care, social costs through taxation are increased to provide this measure of drug intervention for acne for the under insured and uninsured.

The environmental impact of antibiotic use is widely recognized. Antibiotic residues from urine or showering enter the waste stream and most cannot be recovered by waste treatment facilities, leading to environmental exposures of antibiotics. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Meeting on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, many antibiotics not recovered through waste management processes are returned at low levels in consumer drinking water.^[4] Further research is being done internationally concerning the impact of these low-level antibiotics on human health.

Summary

Antibiotic treatment for acne control are less labor intense than holistic controls and have low risks when compared to chemical peels or isotretinoin. However, antibiotic therapies incur increased personal expense, social expense in taxes and health care premiums. In addition, antibiotic residues enter the environment as run-off from waste treatment facilities as well as returning to drinking water in low levels. The consequences of environmental impact and impact on human health from low dose antibiotics in drinking water remain largely unknown at this time.

To learn other treatment options for your acne, such as istotretinion (Accutane), chemicals such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide treatments and holistic treatment please visit: http://www.sunflowernaturals.com.

Resources:

1. Antibiotic-resistant acne: lessons from Europe., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12653738?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1

2. Community-based study of acne vulgaris in adolescents in Singapore.,http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17655737?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

3. Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant propionibacteria on the skin of acne patients: 10-year surveillance data and snapshot distribution study., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12000382?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1

4. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Meeting on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, http://es.epa.gov/ncer/publications/meetings/8-23-2005/finalsummary.pdf