A research carried out at NTU Langone Medical Center has unveiled that people having severe acne problem are often prescribed ineffective antibiotics. Till the time they switch to a more effective treatment plan, a vicious circle of drug overuse among patients is formed in which bacteria start being resistant to antibiotic treatments.

The research findings are based on the assessment of medical histories of 137 patients over 12 years of age. They have taken treatment at NYU Langone for severe acne issue between 2005 and 2014. Study's lead researcher Dr. Seth Orlow was of the view that there is a need at the end of doctors to be quick in identifying cases that are not getting results antibiotic therapy.

Rather than taking months, doctors should take weeks. Study researchers have also noticed that patients as well as physicians do not take much caution when it comes to drug overuse. In the research, patients were kept on ineffective treatment for around 11 months before they came to know it was not working.

Acne remains topmost reason for which youngsters visit a dermatologist and a drug called isotretinoin is the most effective for severe acne treatment. It is also needed that doctors should start early to talk to their acne patients about possible isotretinoin therapy.

The results, published in The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that the average duration of antibiotic use was 11 months, or 331.3 days (range 37-1,501 days), with a median of 238 days. There was a difference in mean duration of antibiotic treatment from those who were treated only at the study site compared to those who had received antibiotics from multiple institutions (283.1 days versus 380.2 days, respectively), but those results barely approached significance (P=0.054).

Most patients were either prescribed minocycline (44.4%) or doxycycline (40.5%), with only 3.2% prescribed azithromycin as a first-line antibiotic. However, only 20.3% of patients used azithromycin as a second choice antibiotic. This is most likely due to the fact that a large majority (80%) of those on doxycycline were treated next with minocycline.

Researchers examined patient charts between 2005 and 2014, and overall, there were 137 patients meeting study criteria. The sample was 58.4% male, with 74.5% classified as nodulocystic cases, with 25.5% as inflammatory acne. Around three quarters (73%) of patients also had scarring.

Many people put off taking the retinoid isotretinoin because they fear the potential side effects, which range from more mild issues like dry skin to rare but severe symptoms like suicidal thoughts. The medication also can cause birth defects, which is why women who want to take the medication must produce two negative pregnancy tests the month before they start and use two forms of birth control while on it. However, isotretinoin is one of the most effective medications for treating severe and resistant acne, and Orlow says that the fear of the medication far outweighs its risks.