Antibiotics are one of the most frequently prescribed treatments for acne, but recently the bacteria that causes acne has started developing resistance to the drugs. Scientists believe that between 10 and 30% of all acne patients harbor some type of mutated resistant bacteria. Often the patient believes that the antibiotics have cured their acne, only to have the problem return, sometimes even worse, months later. The mutant strains of acne also pose a serious health threat. Dr. Peter Lio says that the modified acne-causing bacteria could contribute to deadly drug-resistant staph infections. “If it became bad enough, it would be like the days before antibiotics, when infection was a common cause of death,” he said. [MSNBC]
