I realize this is not exactly addressing the article or the science. But, if my experience is helpful to someone or their child, I will share it. From age 17 to 21 I was strung along by dermatologists who gradually ratcheted me up from erythromycin, to tetracycline, to minocin. The only thing that got me off the conveyor belt was an intense allergic reaction after being on minocin for almost 2 years. Did my acne improve over that time? Well, sometimes it seemed to be getting better, and sometimes it didn’t. But, pimple after pimple, pock mark after pock mark I thought I just had to follow through with the advice of my doctors who insisted accutane was “too strong” and not right for me.
Well, after I recovered from my allergic reaction and a friend gave me the name of a doctor that prescribed accutane for her, I went to see this 80 year old blue haired physician who prescribed what I wanted on the first visit and I have been acne free since.
If only I had found him first. Antibiotics for acne might be okay if you don’t have much of a problem to begin with, but if you want a cure for a bad case, accutane it.