Breaking Out After Antibiotics? Here's Why (& What to Do)

It’s no secret that antibiotics can take a major toll on the body. But there’s one side effect that most people don’t see coming: post-antibiotic breakouts. 

Whether you’re taking antibiotics for acne or another issue entirely, it’s possible for the medication to trigger breakouts – and it all has to do with how antibiotics impact the gut. Here is why antibiotics can lead to breakouts, and more importantly, what you can do to clear your skin. 

Can Antibiotics Cause Acne Breakouts?

If you think you’re breaking out more after taking antibiotics, you’re not going crazy. Yes, antibiotic-induced acne is a thing, particularly with tetracyclines and other broad-spectrum antibiotics.

The Gut-Skin Connection: Why Oral Antibiotics May Lead to Breakouts

The gut-skin connection refers to the inextricable relationship between these two organs. What happens with one, affects the other. When it comes to acne, multiple studies have confirmed the connection between poor gut health and breakouts. 

Research shows acne patients tend to have less gut microbial diversity, may lack certain beneficial probiotic strains including lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, and may be more likely to have an impaired intestinal barrier.

Unfortunately, taking oral antibiotics - whether for acne or another reason - could disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, wiping out some of the good lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, and even compromise the gut lining. 

So, in short, the reason oral antibiotics can lead to breakouts is due to their impact on the gut microbiome. 

Which Antibiotics Can Cause Acne Breakouts?

Any broad spectrum antibiotic may increase the risk of breakouts, as broad-spectrum antibiotics don’t distinguish between good and bad bacteria. In other words, these types of antibiotics kill off both bad and good bacteria, including those beneficial lactobacillus and bifidobacteria strains, which we know are so important for good gut health and clear skin.

Tetracyclines are broad spectrum antibiotics sold under different brand names, and used to treat a wide variety of illnesses, paradoxically, including acne. One of tetracyclines known side effects is gut dysbiosis (which simply means there is an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut), which we know is linked to acne. 

According to Yale School of Medicine, about three-quarters of the prescriptions written by dermatologists for acne are for tetracycline antibiotics. This includes medications like doxycycline and minocycline. Use of doxycycline has been associated with a decrease in beneficial probiotic strains (including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria), while minocycline has been associated with less gut microbiome diversity.  

Why Am I Breaking Out After Antibiotics?

Acne was once considered a bacterial infection, however, it is now considered a chronic inflammatory skin condition. 

According to Dr. Adam Friedman, MD, and Associate Professor of Dermatology at George Washington University, as written in an article in The Conversation: 

“While antibiotics can kill the bacteria associated with acne, it’s their anti-inflammatory effects, not their antimicrobial effects, that yield the biggest skin-clearing benefits.” 

This may explain why many people experience acne breakouts again after coming off antibiotics…they benefited from the anti-inflammatory properties while on the drugs, but once they went off, they are no longer getting the anti-inflammatory benefits, and on top of that, they may now be dealing with increased gut-dysbiosis. 

For example, one clinical review of 200 patients referred to a UK dermatology department, a whopping 164 patients - 82% - had failed to respond to multiple courses of antibiotics..

Even a short term antibiotic treatment - and taking antibiotics for other conditions beyond acne-  can have negative effects that last long beyond your last dose. In one study, researchers found that after just four days of antibiotics, it took six months for (otherwise healthy) adults’ gut microbiomes to get close to their pre-antibiotic state. They also found that nine beneficial bacteria strains that were present before the participants took the antibiotics (including bifidobacteria) were completely wiped out and undetectable in most participants' gut microbiomes at the six month mark. A separate review found that, in some cases, dysbiosis caused by a short term antibiotic treatment can last for up to one year. 

Now of course, sometimes antibiotic-use is necessary, but they should only be used when needed - for a true bacterial infection - and for the shortest time possible. 

How to Clear Breakouts and Support Gut Health After Antibiotics

As you can imagine, the key to getting your skin back in shape after taking antibiotics is rehabilitating your gut. Here are our favorite tips for maintaining a healthy gut (and as a result, clear skin). 

Take a Probiotic Supplement 

Replenishing the gut with probiotics after antibiotic use helps to rebalance the gut microbiome by introducing beneficial bacteria back to the gut. In fact, it is not uncommon now for doctors to recommend probiotics when they prescribe antibiotics - to offset some of their negative side effects. 

There are some specific probiotic strains that can be especially beneficial for getting your gut back in good shape after antibiotics, including: 

• L. rhamnosus (LGG) is one of the most well-studied probiotic strains. It has been shown to be effective in restoring gut flora balance during and after taking antibiotics and to prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea. Generally, this strain is well-adapted to survive the gut, and works to protect against pathogens, support the gut barrier, and a balanced microbiome. 
• B. lactis is a strain that has been shown to enhance the recovery of gut microbe populations after antibiotic use. Generally, it is known to support digestive health and gut barrier function. 
• L. plantarum (Lp-115) a strain that may inhibit common pathogens. 

Looking for a probiotic supplement with all three of these beneficial strains? Check out Glow Biome. What’s unique about this formula is that it contains 6 clinically-validated probiotic strains (including those three above) which support the gut-skin connection and tackle acne from the inside out. 

In fact, clinical trial results show the formula helps to reduce breakouts in just 12 weeks. With daily use of this probiotic supplement, you can work to maintain clear skin from within – all while supporting optimal gut health. 

Eat Gut-Supportive Foods

In addition to taking daily probiotics, there are a few other ways you can restore your gut and maintain a happy, healthy gut in the long run.

One way is to add more fermented foods to your diet. Foods like kimchi and sauerkraut are packed with probiotics – so you can give your gut an extra dose of good bacteria. 

It’s also smart to add prebiotic-rich foods to your diet. Prebiotics essentially work as food for probiotics, ensuring they can grow and multiply. Some examples include asparagus, artichokes, garlic, onions, apples, berries, chicory, and legumes. 

Our final recommendation is to add bone broth to your diet. Nutrient-dense and collagen-rich bone broth can help improve gut lining integrity, promoting a stronger overall gut.