Although many people think that acne is a problem only teenagers suffer with, the truth of the matter is that one in five adults suffer from acne breakouts. For teenagers, however, the majority, around three in five, suffer from acne breakouts. Needless to say, this is one of the most common conditions in the world.
Thankfully, acne is also one of the most treatable conditions.
According to most doctors, however, acne is a tough condition to deal with, requiring a slew of treatments and costly medications. But according to research dealing in doctor-prescribed meds versus holistic remedies, antibiotics for acne actually cause more harm than good and will prolong the acne.
The Trouble with Acne Antibiotics
Some cases of severe acne may require antibiotics. We cannot rightly shun the entire industry. However, for most acne sufferers, they do not need to go the antibiotic route and in fact do more harm by opting for medications.
Antibiotics are widely promoted in the dermatology industry because they do work. They kill the bad bacterium which helps to cause acne, thus clearing it up in many cases. But antibiotics also kill the good bacteria – bacteria that are beneficial to you in building up resistances to certain strains of bad bacteria.
Oral antibiotics taken for a condition like acne can cause other problems.
Here are just a few:
- Doxycycline: This antibiotic is associated with photosensitivity
- Minocycline: This antibiotic has been known to cause pigment changes in skin as well as mucous membranes, and even autoimmune hepatitis
- Erythromycin: This antibiotic can cause moderate to severe damage to bones – including your teeth and skeletal structure
These are some of the most popular meds prescribed for acne. The problem is, of course, they are also amongst the most dangerous. What’s worse, especially for women, is that all antibiotics can cause yeast infections.
Although your doctor will never tell you this, acne is best treated by natural remedies. Instead of arising from genetic factors like many other diseases, acne is caused primarily from environmental factors, such as what you eat and how your skin is taken care of.
In parts of the world with less processed sugar and fewer carbohydrates ingested, acne is not such a big problem. As an alternative treatment for acne, to break away from antibiotics, individuals with acne are encouraged to eliminate bad carbohydrates from their diet.
With a reduction in certain items, such as soda, candy, white flour products, corn syrup, and other simple carbs, you can expect a reduction in acne.
In conjunction with proper skin care, a reduction in carbohydrates is an effective a method as any antibiotic you can take. As an added bonus, getting off of bad carbs also helps with weight loss and will help to regulate blood sugar levels.