Since penicillin was first discovered, modern medicine has relied heavily on antibiotics to treat a host of diseases, including acne. The benefits of antibiotics are their ability to quickly cure most diseases while being somewhat non-invasive. However, some side effects from long-term oral acne treatment with antibiotics are now coming to the forefront. In the pursuit of natural beauty, it may be that natural oral treatments with herbs, homeopathic cures, or supplements, may be one way to bypass the gauntlet of more serious side effects.

We’ve all heard of the resistance that our bodies build up to long-term use of antibiotics. While these drugs are modern miracles, we might prefer they work for more serious treatments than to waste their power on an oral acne treatment. In addition, long-term use of antibiotics has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and yeast infections in women and loss of bone density for other people. Exactly what the implications of long-term antibiotic are to overall health is still being investigated and researched.

In comparison, there are also side effects in the natural healing products, but they typically are well known. For instance, allergies can cause severe reactions for people who are allergic to nuts. In this case, avoiding a homeopathic treatment like black walnut is something that is pure common sense. Large doses of vitamin A are known to cause birth defects in babies, but most expectant mothers realize that ingesting any medicine, whether natural or modern is something that has to be checked out with their physician to ensure the baby’s continued health. These precautions are even more stringent with regards to antibiotics.

Whatever is chosen, an oral acne treatment should also be paired with a topical treatment. Some physicians prescribed a topical antibiotic as well as an oral antibiotic. You can, however, combine an oral antibiotic with a gentler natural treatment that uses essential oils that fight acne like Skin Original. This will lessen the exposure of antibiotics and help to soothe your skin and keep it well moisturized.

When you are considering an oral treatment, try to understand what the side effects are in particular in the following situations:

• Acne treatment and pregnancy
• Acne treatment for teenager
• Severe acne treatment

There is a time and a place for antibiotics if an acne infection is quite severe. Severe acne can be scarring and psychologically damaging. Other than that, the choice to use a natural or modern oral acne treatment is still up to you. Your doctor can suggest a medication but if you feel uncomfortable express your concerns and ask if there are not other treatments available that might be just as effective. Women who have a history of breast cancer should be very upfront about the data over increased breast cancer risks with long-term antibiotic use. In that case, a natural or over the counter acne treatment might be more suitable for your particular medical history.