I took my daughter to see a dermatologist because her face has been breaking out.  I asked the doctor about putting her on antibiotics, but he didn’t think it was a good idea.  Should I get a second opinion?  I took an antibiotic throughout high school for my acne, and it worked very well.

Antibiotics have been a mainstay of acne treatment for decades, with many patients taking them for an extended period of time, just like you did.  While it can be effective, that approach is no longer recommended for a variety of reasons.  Instead, we address the underlying causes of acne, including inflammation, oil production, hormonal factors, and clogged pores.  It’s also crucial to promptly work on the scars caused by breakouts.  Treatments that we often recommend include anti-inflammatory nutrition, skin products and creams, pills, exfoliating procedures, and lasers.  Using this approach, we can help every patient with acne.