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Antibiotics to treat acne increase the risk of developing angina
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Young people who take oral antibiotics to treat acne are more likely to develop strep throat, according to a new study.
Scientists say long-term use of antibiotics can alter the balance of bacteria in the throat and increase the risk of resistant strains of bacteria developing in the body.
"Young people who take antibiotics are more likely to get upper respiratory infections, but we don't know why," said study author David Margolis, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, US.
He noted that people taking antibiotics to treat acne tend to be young and healthy, and may take them for months or even years at a time - so it's important to be aware of any potential side effects from their use.
The research team does not yet see any additional risks of resistance to acne antibiotics, the most common of which are tetracyclines.
The researchers conducted two different studies involving undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania.
In the first, they surveyed a group of 266 students to see if they had acne and whether they regularly used oral antibiotics. They also asked the students if they had recently had a sore throat.
Ten of fifteen students who took oral antibiotics to treat acne reported a recent sore throat.
In the second study, the researchers followed nearly 600 students over the course of an academic year. They also recorded episodes of sore throat associated with antibiotic use.
More than 11% of students taking oral antibiotics for acne visited a doctor for a sore throat, compared with 3% of students who did not take the medication. Students using topical antibiotics, lotions, and ointments for acne had no additional risks.
The researchers were unable to link the development of sore throats to a specific type of bacteria - only some of the students tested positive for Streptococcus. Despite this, the scientists said people taking antibiotics should remember to always weigh the risks and benefits.
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