Antibiotics do not get your acne under control in the long term. Acne is not a bacteria problem – it is an inherited tendency of too many dead skin cells within the pores. Antibiotics do NOTHING to address this underlying cause. Even if you had an antibiotic that killed 100% of the bacteria, you would still have an acne problem.
So, now that you know why they don’t work, let’s also explore why it is not a good idea to take them.
MRSA – if you haven’t heard of the superbug MRSA, you need to know that this is a very dangerous type of staph infection. One main reason MRSA is so dangerous is that it is resistant to most antibiotics. Doctors run out of options for treating it and the result is death. Experts believe that MRSA evolved because of the overuse of antibiotics; and dermatologists treating acne primarily with antibiotics is a prime contributor.
People who use antibiotics are more than twice as likely to catch colds according to a study in the September 2005 Archives of Dermatology. The common cold is a virus – not directly affected by antibiotics; but antibiotics not only attack the harmful bacteria, but also the beneficial bacteria that are part of the body’s defense system. This results in increased frequency of viral infections.
According to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, heavy use of antibiotics may increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. The study looked at 10,000 women over eight years and found that those that took the highest amounts of antibiotics the longest, faced twice the risk of developing breast cancer than those that didn’t.
Now acne bacteria is becoming drug-resistant. Resistant acne bacteria won’t kill you, but it will be much harder to control and achieve/keep clear skin.
Toxic side effects such as recurring nausea and heartburn.
The results of a study published in The Lancet asserted that several prescription antibiotic regimens for facial acne vulgaris were not better than over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide.
Interference with the useful bacteria in the digestive system.
Frequent vaginal yeast infections for women.
Possible permanent staining of the teeth.
The best way to treat acne is with an at-home regimen that includes the topical use of an alpha or beta hydroxy acid that is strong enough to exfoliate but not so strong as to irritate or burn the skin, and an antibacterial product that delivers oxygen into the pores.
All of these products must be used correctly; and the best and fastest way to get clear is to get coached by an acne expert. Products alone will not clear your acne – you need an expert coach to get you there.
IS TAKING ANTI-BIOTICS RIGHT FOR ACNE TREATMENT?
Many of our clients have been on Accutane™ (isotretinoin); but what’s surprising is that so many of them have been on it for two or three courses to get their acne under control. One client admitted to having gone through the Accutane™ regimen seven times.
Some of them didn’t get any benefit at all; however, most of them experienced significant clearing, but to their dismay, started breaking out again within months of stopping the medication. So, how disappointing is that?? They took huge health risks (again and again) for only a short term benefit? I don’t think most people know what the risks really are from taking “the tane,” so that’s what I would like to talk about here.
Roche Holding AG, pulled Accutane™ acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease. Many have been relegated to using colostomy bags for the rest of their lives. This is just one of the multitude of side effects attributed to Accutane. Let’s talk about the others.
The FDA posted an alert in 2005 that said all patients taking Accutane™ should be closely watched for serious symptoms including:
- depression
- suicidal tendencies
- sadness
- short tempers
- anger
- loss of social interaction
- psychosis
- loss of motivation
- changes in appetite
If any of these symptoms begin to appear, the patient is advised to stop taking Accutane™ and to seek professional advice. In 2002, a director for the FDA told a congressional committee that they received over 3,000 reports of adverse psychiatric symptoms and over 170 reports of suicide attempts connected to the use of Accutane.
There is such a high risk of birth defects, miscarriage and fetal death, that women of child bearing age are only allowed to get a one month supply (even though the prescribed regimen is for 5 months) and cannot receive another until the doctor has determined that the woman is not pregnant and is on at least two forms of birth control.
IS ACCUTANE DANGEROUS?
Accutane™ can cause other severe and even tragic side effects and psychiatric problems, including:
- Crohn’s disease
- central nervous system injuries
- skeletal damage
- liver damage
- cardiovascular injuries
- bone and muscle loss
- ulcerative colitis
- pancreatitis
- immune system disorder
- depression
- suicide
Heard enough? Well how long after you’ve gotten off Accutane™ are you going to feel confident that you’ve dodged the bullet and haven’t caused irreparable damage to your body. Will the side effects show up in months, years, twenty or thirty years. Who knows?
The easiest and most efficacious way to get rid of acne is to use the right products for your type of acne in the right way, none of which have side effects more than maybe some dry skin every now and then. Even the cases of acne that Accutane™ works best for, inflamed acne, is the easiest to control with products.
I know that most people suffering from acne just want to be done with it and have tried every product under the moon. They may be using some good products, but it is mainly how the products are used that makes the difference in clearing your skin and not.
Coaching clients in how to use safe products correctly is what Face Reality Acne Clinic excels in; and helps people to get better results than Accutane™, often in less time.
If you are at the end of your rope and are desperate enough to consider taking it, please call or email us first to let you know what your alternatives are. We have a safe and effective way of getting rid of acne!
Courtesy of Face Reality Acne Clinic