Could acne cure result in MRSA?

Parents naturally are worried by the seemingly rampant reports of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections in schools across the nation, as a teenage boy has died and dozens of students have contracted the bacterial infection. Health specialists explain that overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the rapid spread of MRSA, once a problem confined primarily to hospital settings.

The public health concern of growing antimicrobial resistance is a prime reason 50% of dermatologists report cutting back on antibiotics to treat acne, according to the "Galderma Quality Report for Dermatology and Managed Care." On the surface, acne sufferers might feel frustrated, believing that their treatment options have narrowed, but many in the holistic health field say curbing the reliance on antibiotics is a step in the right direction for the millions of Americans who suffer from acne--and to the general public in light of the prevalence of drug resistant bacteria.

Chris Gibson, a holistic health and lifestyle coach and author of Acne Free in 3 Days, believes antibiotics are a problematic treatment choice for acne. He urges parents to be cautious when seeking an acne regimen that is safe and effective for kids. "You have your family doctor saying we don't want to overprescribe antibiotics," points out Gibson. "Then you take your teenager to a dermatologist and typically one of the first options is antibiotics. With the drug-resistant 'super-bugs' in the news, no wonder parents are anxious. Just look at the numbers involved. An estimated 80% of teens have some acne, so imagine the volume of antibiotics being consumed if only a fraction of these teens get prescriptions."

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