What You Didn’t Know About Antibiotics & it’s Relationship to Acne

Intestinal flora (bacteria) compromises of 95% of the total cells in the body.[1] Antimicrobial drugs, better know as antibiotics, are drugs that destroy these bacteria. There is a common belief that antibiotics are good for the body. This thought stems from misconception and misunderstanding of how antibiotics really work.

There are two types of bacteria in the body.

Healthy bacteria, which exists to consume toxins and wastes ingested through unhealthy foods, and keep other otherwise damaging microorganisms, such as yeast, in check[2].
Unhealthy bacteria, which exist as a result of the bodies natural effort to localize toxins and wastes away from vital inner organs.

Antibiotics destroy ALL bacteria. They are not discerning towards which are good and which are bad. Continual use of antibiotics can have a devastating effect on the immune system, because healthy bacteria play a very specific role in the body. [3] Destroying these healthy bacteria removes one major defense system put in place by your immune system.

Antibiotics only treat the symptom

Now if you’ve ever taken antibiotics for acne, maybe you’ve noticed that things got better at first. This is to be expected. Antibiotics are capable of destroying the bacteria that leads to acne. However, this is only treating a symptom and not the disease itself. Remember our Fundamental Acne Law # 8, “The symptoms of acne are not the actual disease.”

A weak immune system allows this bad bacteria to overgrow in the first place. You can destroy the bad bacteria that has overgrown, but what happens when you stop? If you immune system is still weak, the bacteria will overgrow all over again. This makes antibiotics as an acne treatment, an effort in futility.

Bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotic treatment

Bacteria are living organisms which evolve and adapt, just like we do. When you take antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant germs are left to grow and multiply. [4]

The bacteria that causes acne is no different. Antibiotics will usually alleviate the symptoms caused by acne the first or second cycle of dosage, but after continuous use, the bacteria will become resistant and overgrow even worse then before. Take a look at just few first hand experience with antibiotics to treat acne.

Acne sufferers experiences with antibiotics

A simple search on the acne.org forums show dozens of these cases:

Tetracycline (Antibiotics) Reviews – Acne.org Reviews [5]

I was on tetracycline for about a year before i had to come off it because it made me lose so much weight and I was becoming resistant to antibiotics in general. It’s great for a temporary solution, but unfortunately when I came off of it again after a few months my acne went from being mild/moderate to severe when I went away to college and practically impossible to control since.

after a month all of the zits came back even in places on my face i never had them before

You have to keep using it, once you stop they come back. I have been on them for years. Everytime I think I should stop using them I break out all over again!!!

I stopped taking the pills for about two months and decided to start taking them again. I found that my acne had worsened. My cheeks are red and they feel/look almost like I have a rash. I’m not sure what to do. I’m frustrated.

later..after i was taking it for over a year, it entirely quite working and my acne got very very very bad. way way way worse than when i started a year earlier. this happened to be right when i started college.. really made it easy meeting ppl

Is it possible for antibiotics to make it worse? – Acne.org Forums [6]

I have been on lymecycline before and it worked very well.
I stopped taking it for 6 months to see how it went and it wasnt good.
Ive just started again 3 weeks ago and my acne is worse than ever.

and she changed my minocycline to lymecyline, saying she couldn’t see any reason why it would get any worse, and it might improve things, and keeping me on dianette. now my skin is TERRIBLE

Antiobiotics make you worse? – Acne.org Forums[7]

I was on Mino for around 8 months and I was the clearest I’ve ever been. Then a few months after I stopped taking the antibiotic twice a day, my mild acne came back and turned much much worse.

What’s even scarier is the fact that once the antibiotics cause your skin to get worse, unhappy patients go back to their dermatologist (the very same dermatologists that made their problem worse in the first place) and the derm prescribes them stronger antibiotics! It’s a never ending cycle of futile acne treatment that causes more harm then good.

My doctor put me on mino again but I’m seeing another doctor soon to see if I can get Accutane, because I don’t trust the mino.

I dont think Ill ever do Antibiotics again. Its all my one derm EVER wanted to give me. Its not good for you I dont think.

An inherit problem of acne is that sufferers are desperate. Everyday they have acne is a day other people will see it. Sufferers want to it gone ASAP (I know I did!) The problem with this is that it took many years of unhealthy eating to become sick enough to get acne in the first place. Antibiotics, and the Dermatologists that prescribe them, throw out the notion that your acne can be cured within weeks with a prescription drug. It doesn’t work that way!

The fact is, dermatologists prescribing acne sufferers with antibiotics is an effort in futility. It will do nothing to cure your acne and in most cases will make things worse. Not to mention, all the other health implications that antibiotics can cause. (See ‘Another Antibiotic Hits the Dust’ [8] & ‘New Ramp Antibiotics May Be Fatal’ [9])

Synthetic vs. Natural

There are foods in nature which naturally help strengthen the immune system by destroying bad bacteria. These include coconut oil, garlic, vegetables high in vitamin C, as well as many different herbs and spices. The difference between these ‘natural antibiotics’ and ‘synthetic’ ones is the difference between night and day. Natural antibiotics don’t destroy healthy gut flora, and bacteria do not become resistant to them simply because they don’t go against the natural immune system process your body goes through. Look to these natural alternatives for a temporary way to alleviate the symptoms associated with acne.

Antibiotics Fact Sheet

Antibiotics destroy healthy bacteria that are necessary for healthy skin.
Antibiotics only treat a symptom of acne (superfluous bacteria,) and not the true cause.
Bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics, acne comes back worse then before.
Doctors over prescribe antibiotics to acne sufferers that don’t need them. (See ‘Free Antibiotics: Wrong Prescription For Cold And Flu Season, Experts Say’ [10])
Antibiotics are never a risk correct treatment for acne. Acne can always be cured naturally without the risk of it coming back much more persistently in the future.
Many natural treatments are much more effective and safer than medical antibiotics.

So, have you taken antibiotics to treat acne in the past? Care to share your experiences with us?

George McCumiskey, ND

References

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, In vitro selection criteria for probiotic bacteria of human origin: correlation with in vivo findings, Vol. 73, No. 2, 386S-392s, February 2001, http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/73/2/386S
Dr. Mercola, Antibiotics Kill Your Body’s Good Bacteria, Too, Leading to Serious Health Risks, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/06/18/antibiotics-bacteria.aspx?aid=CD12
Shirley Lipschutz-Robinson, Antibiotic Resistance and Side Effects – Natural, Safe, Effective Alternatives, http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/antibiotics.htm
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Antibiotic Resistance Questions & Answers, http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/anitbiotic-resistance-faqs.html
Tetracycline (Antibiotic) Reviews, http://www.acne.org/tetracycline-antibiotic-reviews/20/page6.html
Is it possible for antibiotics to make it worse?, http://www.acne.org/messageboard/antibiotics-worse-t116580.html
Antibiotics make you worse?, http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Antibiotics-worse-after-t132906.html
“Another Antibiotic Hits the Dust,” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/05/27/another-antibiotic-exits-the-consumer-marketplace.aspx
“New ‘Ramp’ Antibiotics May Be Fatal,” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/07/05/ramp-antibiotics.aspx
“Free Antibiotics: Wrong Prescription For Cold And Flu Season, Experts Say”, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090116111137.htm

by George 4 Comments

Why Most Topical Acne Treatments are Ineffective and Damaging

It took thousands of years of evolution to create the cells and organs that make up our bodies today. Every organ in your body was created for a reason and every cell that constitutes the organs, blood, etc. play a very specific role. The cells that constitute your skin have a specific role, too.

Your skin is a protective barrier to both release and absorb. It releases sebum to keep your skin supple and moist. It releases heat (in the form of sweat) to keep your body cool. It absorbs sunlight to produce Vitamin D , a very important hormone with a multitude of it's own functions. [1]

Simply put, your skin is there for a reason, and it is able to do it's job effectively with the necessary means to do so. So why interfere with this natural process by putting unnatural topicals on your skin?

Companies like Neutrogena, L'oreal(see L'Oreal accused of using banned chemicals) and pharmaceutical companies create and market these topicals for two reasons. To treat a specific symptom which may be one cause of your acne and to make as much money while doing so.

Inneffective - topicals don't treat the true cause

One example of a prescription topical pharmaceutical companies have created in a lab is Benzamycin. Let's take a look at the active ingredients in Benzamycin:

Benzoyl Peroxide, hydrous, equivalent to benzoyl peroxide 5%
Erythromycin 3%

Erythromycin inhibits lipase production whilst benzoyl peroxide reduces the comedone count and has antibacterial action.[2]

In theory, this should stop acne from forming, thus curing your acne. WRONG. If you've read, 'The Ladder of Causes' you'll know that this effort is futile. Benzamycin may help curbing your acne initially, but what happens when you stop? Your acne comes back. Acne sufferers are lead to believe that if their symptoms are temporary alleviated, then it is an effective treatment. WRONG. Effective means your acne is gone and will never come back. There is only one effective treatment of acne, and topicals aren't it. The true cause of acne deals specifically with your diet and nutrition and healing comes within.

Damaging - Active and inactive ingredients are absorbed into our bloodstream and change homeostasis

We partially absorb everything we put on our skin. That foundation with a million different chemicals is absorbed by our skin. Those chemicals in that commercial shampoo you are using is absorbed by the skin, too. The same goes with Benzamycin and any other topical to treat acne.

In vivo, the higher the concentration of benzoyl peroxide applied, the greater the amount absorbed, as indicated by the urinary excretion of ¹⁴C-benzoic acid. [3]

Absorption is not specific to active ingredients. Inactive ingredients are absorbed as well. Let's take a look at the inactive ingredients in Benzamycin.

Carbomer 980
Sodium Hydroxide
SD Alcohol
Lemon Fragrance Oil
Methyl Salicylate
Docusate Sodium 75% Solution
Purified Water
Ethanol 70 HSE*

* Added by the pharmacist during reconstitution.

Pharmaceutical and OTC Companies don't take into account the accumulative harmful effects of absorbing these ingredients into our bloodstream. They are probably aware of said effects, but don't bring it to attention with their greed and money on their minds. Check out just a few chemicals in common topicals that are harmful to our body when you apply them topically. If you are really interested in this concept, I suggest you read 'Dying To Look Good' by Christine Hoza Farlow, D.C.

Absorption of these ingredients has a two prong effect[4]:

Localized accumulation of toxic residues with the need for homeostasis.
Accumulation of toxic residues circulated through the blood stream with the need for excretion

It is very common for acne sufferers to incur new or increased skin symptoms after using strong topicals. This is due to the concept of homeostasis.

Homeostasis is the property of a system, either open or closed, that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition. - Walter Bradford Cannon

Many will find that once applying a topical, their skin will become red and inflamed right after application. They may also find that it causes their skin to become dry. This is an acute reaction from toxic ingredients that is damaging, no matter what other people might believe. After consistent application, toxic residues build up localized to the skins layers, and the body naturally will find a way to get rid of these toxins back out through the skin. Your body will effectively find a new level of homeostasis where an acute reaction doesn't occur every application. This produces the symptoms classified as chronic, such as rosacea, consistent dryness, poor healing, etc. Every time you use these topicals with harmful ingredients, you are taking one more step to making your problems chronically worse. Here are a few excerpts from sufferers with these experiences.

On Ziana Gel, a prescription topical medication used to treat acne.

Pros Helps clear up already existing pimples quickly and is easy to use.
Cons It is expensive, it didn't prevent my acne from forming and caused me to have break outs worse then before. [5]

Cortisone Gel, a prescription topical steroid that has been cited to cause permanent redness on the face, whether it helps acne minimally or not.

I think you'll be okay if you've just started using it - I'm really just saying not to use cortisone on your face long term, no matter how tempting it is. I did a) because it's what my dermatologist prescribed, so I thought it would be safe, and b) it really was the ONLY thing that seemed to control my sebderm. I kind of got used to the fact that the skin on my face always looked pink, because that was such a vast improvement from when my face was covered in nasty sebderm blotches - lesser of two evils if you like. People always used to say "do you have sunburn on your face?" - in winter [6]

Many will feel the desperation to use topical acne medications even if it were to cause other symptoms, simply because they want their acne gone under whatever circumstances. There is a much better, healthier, and effective way to curing your acne. That is through diet and nutrition and it will help anyone and everyone. This is a concept that is promoted in the Focus:Acne Formula Simple rule, don't put anything on your skin that you wouldn't want to eat!

Have any experience with using harsh topicals on your skin? Please share them in the comments sections below.

References

Borradale D, Kimlin M, Australian Sun and Health Research Laboratory, Vitamin D in health and disease: an insight into traditional functions and new roles for the 'sunshine vitamin', 2009
EMC Medicines, Benzamycin Gel - Summary of Product Characteristics, 2007
David Yeung M.S., Vick Toiletry Research Division, Richardson-VicksInc., Shelton, CT, and the Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, Benzoyl peroxide: Percutaneous penetration and metabolic disposition. II. Effect of concentration, 2008
Ottmar Stubler, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology How Do Drugs Absorb Into The Skin (Percutaneous Absorption)
Acne.org, Ziana Gel Reviews, 2010
Acne.org, Cortisone Lotion Getting Rid of Redness, 2010

About the Author: George is a former acne sufferer who has cured his acne through dietary means. He is the head coach behind the scenes, in the Focus:Acne Members Area. He, along with it's strong growing community have helped several people cure their acne through diet.

by George 17 Comments

The Risks vs. Rewards of Taking Accutane

"What does Accutane do to your body?"

It's a question that has more than one answer. Quick answers:

It will stop sebum production.
It will temporarily, and in some cases, permanently clear your acne.
It will do damage to your body, causing mild and/or severe side effects.

You as the person suffering from acne has to make your own decision in whether Accutane is a risk worthy treatment for your acne. Please read further.

The reward: Accutane will most likely show results

Accutane will help some peoples acne. Why? It stops sebum production - a natural effort put in place by your body to regulate your internal temperature, get rid of toxins through the skin, and keep the skin supple and moist. The people who created Accutane realized that sebum production had some part to do with why acne is formed on the skin. So they thought, with money on their minds, if you stop the sebum production, you stop acne.

Please realize that sebum is necessary for maintaining healthy skin. People that are perfectly healthy with perfect skin produce sebum. Sebum is not the cause of acne. Sebum is not the cause of acne. Sebum is not the cause of acne! An overproduction of sebum is only one small step on the ladder of acne causes.

I know you are probably desperate, but please - think consciously about the decisions you make regarding your health. Accutane will most likely help your acne, but it absolutely guaranteed to do harm to your body - whether you notice the effects immediately or not. Period.

Side effects of Accutane that you can deal with

We all need to way the risks vs rewards of taking a prescription drug such as Accutane. Below is a list of the common side effects that most people wouldn't mind dealing with during and temporarily after they are on Accutane.

Birth defects
Allergic reactions
Thinning of the hair or hair loss
Headache
Brittle nails
Increased sensitivity to sunlight
Changes in menstruation such as an irregular or heavy period
Diarrhea
Severe dryness of the skin, particularly on the lips, genitals or nose
Thinning of the skin
Unusual bruising, bleeding or slow-healing cuts
Eczema
Flare-ups of acne
Fatigue
Muscle pain

Those aren't that bad, right? But what about the serious risks of taking the drug?

Serious risks of taking Accutane

These are the possible side effects that you really don't want to deal with. The type of stuff that can last months or years after you've gone off the drug!

Severe acne scarring
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative colitis
Severe depression
Suicidal thoughts or actions
Liver damage (characterized by loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Skin conditions and infections such as impetigo, paronychia or pyogenic granuloma

Don't let emotions sway your decision

Many sufferers, especially ones with severe types of acne look to this drug for answers to all their problems. Some sufferers feel so desperate that they will even look to this drug to treat their mild or moderate forms of acne.

We shouldn't be really surprised that so many people have taken the drug. Personally, I remember the feeling of being desperate and clasping my hands on any drug or topical that was said to work. I've read several reported cases of Accutane helping people put an end to their acne - and rashly thought that it would be right for me.

The Risk vs. Reward Factor

Bottom line, Accutane will work but it comes with so many risks that it really isn't worth it!

That's because there are natural ways to cure your acne that the only side effect is a healthier mind and body!

Knowledge is power. Keep on reading, and stay away from prescription drugs!