Acne and Antibiotics

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the skin which begins with the accumulation of sebum in the sebaceous duct. The pressure built up by the accumulated sebum can rupture the duct. Diffusion of the sebum, particularly of its fatty acids, into the skin brings about an inflammatory reaction often accompanied by an infection. Besides causing infection, the bacteria produce lipases that stimulate the inflammatory processes by hydrolyzing the sebum into fatty acids. These effects can be attributed to both Corynebacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The way in which both oral and topical antibiotics can be used in, the treatment of acne is reviewed. The possibility for combined local treatment with an antibiotic and an antiandrogen is discussed.