Antibiotics for acne come with side effects

According to a study published yesterday in Archives of Dermatology, students receiving oral antibiotics for acne reported a three-fold increase in episodes of pharyngitis (chronic sore throat) compared to students not receiving oral antibiotics, but who had acne. Less than 1% of the total subjects tested for group A streptococcus, so any connection to strep A as the cause of pharyngitis has been ruled out.

Bonnie - while this is certainly a new side effect discovery, it is by all means not the only one. It is no secret any longer how devastating antibiotic use can be. It can permanently alter the gastrointestinal microbiota, set oneself up for serious damage in the future, not to mention the common GI complaints that accompany antibiotic use. What's worse is that little is known about the severity of long-term use in patients such as those with acne.