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Review
. 2019 Jun;20(3):335-344.
doi: 10.1007/s40257-018-00417-3.

Acne, the Skin Microbiome, and Antibiotic Treatment

Haoxiang Xu  1   2 , Huiying Li  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Acne, the Skin Microbiome, and Antibiotic Treatment

Haoxiang Xu et al. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin disorder involving hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Multiple factors contribute to the disease, including skin microbes. The skin microbiome in the follicle is composed of a diverse group of microorganisms. Among them, Propionibacterium acnes and Malassezia spp. have been linked to acne development through their influence on sebum secretion, comedone formation, and inflammatory response. Antibiotics targeting P. acnes have been the mainstay in acne treatment for the past four decades. Among them, macrolides, clindamycin, and tetracyclines are the most widely prescribed. As antibiotic resistance becomes an increasing concern in clinical practice, understanding the skin microbiome associated with acne and the effects of antibiotic use on the skin commensals is highly relevant and critical to clinicians. In this review, we summarize recent studies of the composition and dynamics of the skin microbiome in acne and the effects of antibiotic treatment on skin microbes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflicts of interest: The Regents of the University of California is the owner of three patent applications related to acne and/or healthy skin, which list H.L. as one of the inventors. H.L. is a co-founder and shareholder of SkinomiX Biosciences Inc. and Naked Biome Inc. H.X. states no conflict of interest.

References

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