The excessive use of antibiotics in the treatment of acne creates antibiotic resistance and would not be effective in treating this dermatological pathology, according to dermatology researchers from New York University Langone Medical Center (United States). “Doctors and patients have become far too complacent about antibiotic abuse and its subsequent dangers of increasing antibiotic resistance,” says Seth Orlow, a dermatologist specializing in pediatric and adolescent problems.
Acne is a chronic skin disease that affects the glands that secrete sebum. It causes clogging of pores and the appearance of lesions (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even nodules.
Dermatology researchers from New York University Langone Medical Center (USA) studied the records of 137 people over the age of 12 treated for severe forms of acne between 2005 and 2014. All of these patients were first put on antibiotics, ie 11 months on average, before their doctors recognize the ineffectiveness of the drugs and prescribe them treatments based on Isotretinoin.
“Nearly 6 months on average elapsed between the date of prescription of this family of drugs and the start of their actual intake. Heavy side effects (risk of fetal malformations, depression) that may be the cause of these “delays” in their setting” note the researchers. However, “acne remains the first reason young people visit a dermatologist and there are no other drugs as effective as isotretinoin to treat the most severe cases”, recalls the researcher.
Acne treatment in France
In France, due to their modest effectiveness and the emergence of resistant strains, antibiotics are limited to the only situations where they are necessary (severe acne). And, since oral isotretinoin can cause serious fetal malformations, young girls who suffer from very severe acne should follow a contraception effective and take a pregnancy test within 3 days before the first prescription. This test must be repeated each month, within three days preceding the monthly prescription of isotretinoin and up to 5 weeks after stopping treatment.
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