Widespread and inappropriate use of antibiotics continues to be a problems in the US leading to antibiotic resistance issues. While most people understand how the overuse of antibiotics to treat viral infections contributes to this issue, according to Galderma, new data reveal that acne patients and parents of teenage acne patients significantly underestimate the risks and potential consequences associated with antibiotic use for the treatment of acne, particularly topical antibiotics (e.g., clindamycin and erythromycin). “Long-term and widespread use of antibiotics across healthcare has led to increases in antibiotic resistance –not only making today’s infections harder to treat, but studies suggest it also negatively impacts patients’ future ability to fight off other infections,” said Lauri Hicks, DO, Medical Director, Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work. “CDC partners with vital stakeholders during Get Smart About Antibiotics Week, including the dermatology community, to tackle this important health concern and educate consumers about antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use.” Over the past two years, approximately 11.5 million prescriptions for oral antibiotics and 6.9 million prescriptions for topical antibiotics were dispensed for dermatology related issues, including acne, and in 2013, nearly two-thirds of antibiotic use in dermatology was for acne, according to Galderma. Both oral and topical antibiotics have been widely used in the treatment for acne for more than 50 years because of their ability to reduce the Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and reduce inflammation,  but the long-term risk of these treatment options is not registering for most acne sufferers and parents of acne sufferers. Read more at Practical Dermatology.