From Veronika, founder of Acne Clinic NYC
I’ve seen what they do to skin and gut health — and why our drug-free Pro-Acne Program is a better way forward.
Why We Don’t Recommend Antibiotics for Acne
Antibiotics are still commonly prescribed to treat acne — sometimes even before any other treatment is considered. But after years of working with clients at AcneClinicNYC, we don’t recommend them, especially not for long-term use. In fact, I’ve seen many cases where antibiotics did more harm than good.
Here’s what I’ve observed in my practice, and why we’ve chosen a completely different approach.
How Antibiotics Are Used Around the World
In countries like Japan, South Korea, and throughout Europe, acne protocols are typically more conservative when it comes to antibiotics:
- Most treatments last 6 to 12 weeks
- In Western Europe, courses may extend up to 16 weeks in rare cases
- Usage is typically paired with strict follow-up and a plan to stop as soon as possible
These protocols are designed to prevent long-term side effects, minimize gut damage, and avoid the risk of bacterial resistance.
In the U.S., that’s often not the case.
What I See in Practice — and Why It Concerns Me
In the U.S., I’ve seen clients who were on antibiotics for 6 months, 1 year, even 2–4 years — often with no structured plan and little to no improvement.
From my perspective, two critical issues are usually overlooked:
- Antibiotic Resistance
When antibiotics are used for too long, acne-causing bacteria like C. acnes become resistant. This not only makes the antibiotic ineffective — it makes future bacterial infections harder to treat too. - Damage to the Gut Microbiome
Long-term antibiotic use disrupts gut flora, which plays a major role in skin health, hormone regulation, and inflammation. An imbalanced gut can lead to persistent or worsening acne, not to mention other long-term health issues.
What We Do Differently at AcneClinicNYC
When clients come to us still taking antibiotics, here’s what we do:
- We help them stop safely, sometimes coordinating with their prescribing physician
- We repair the gut with high-quality, dairy-free probiotics
- We start our signature Pro-Acne Program, which clears the skin by addressing the root causes — not masking the symptoms
I’ve seen this process work again and again.
Skin clears. Confidence returns. And almost every time, clients say the same thing:
“I wish I hadn’t stayed on antibiotics for so long.”
A Note to Dermatologists
I say this with deep respect: the industry needs to do better.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued clear warnings about the global threat of antibiotic resistance. It’s time to take those warnings seriously — including in dermatology.
Antibiotics should never be a long-term solution for a chronic skin condition like acne. And yet, I still see prescriptions being written without a thorough skin assessment or a long-term treatment plan.
We need more than prescriptions. We need personalized, thoughtful care.
What We Use Instead — and Why It Works
At AcneClinicNYC, we clear acne without antibiotics, Accutane, or hormonal pills.
Our Pro-Acne Program is based on real skin behavior, not theory. We treat:
- Hormonal acne
- Cystic and inflamed acne
- Comedonal and post-pill acne
- Acne with scarring and pigmentation
- And cases where everything else has failed
We use professional tools — from chemical peels to lasers, microneedling, PRP, and our own Clear Point product line — to create long-term transformation without compromising gut health or building drug resistance.
So if you’re still on antibiotics…
And your skin still isn’t clear — it’s time to try a different approach.
I’ve seen too many people stay stuck on medications that stop working or never really worked in the first place. At AcneClinicNYC, we focus on results that last, not prescriptions that mask symptoms.
You don’t have to damage your gut or build resistance to get clear skin. You just need a plan that actually works — and a team that knows how to get you there.
📍 AcneClinicNYC | Midtown Manhattan | Brooklyn | Long Island maps
Book a consultation and let’s start rebuilding your skin — and your confidence — for real.
