We know that antibiotics are wonders of the modern world in treating severe and life-threatening illnesses. But the overuse of antibiotics could be harming us.
Staggeringly, the average child in the USA has received 10–20 courses of antibiotics by the age of 18. As a result, we are losing a lot of bacteria that is good for us.
As Martin Blaser explains, “Antibiotics kill the bacteria we do want, as well as those we don’t. Sometimes, our friendly flora never fully recover.”
Overuse could increase infection and disease
Firstly, antibiotics decrease the diversity of your microbiome by killing all bacteria. As a result, the “beneficial” bacteria are destroyed.
Worryingly, this may “increase our susceptibility to infections and disease”.
"Overuse of antibiotics could be fuelling the dramatic increase in conditions such as obesity, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies and asthma, which have more than doubled in many populations."
Clearly, Martin’s research shows a link between antibiotic overuse and gut problems. So this shows that a diverse microbiome is vital for preventing disease.
The skin & gut microbiome work the same
Because a diverse skin microbiome is a healthy one, it works exactly the same way as th gut. Therefore antibiotics have the same effect on the skin, indiscriminately killing bacteria.
As we know, all common skin problems have been linked with a damaged skin microbiome.
Therefore, a diverse Skin Microbiome can work to prevent disease
Follow your doctor’s advice, only take antibiotics when really necessary
Undoubtedly, overuse of antibiotics decreases the diversity of your microbiome and could could be leading to skin disease.
In conclusion, if antibiotics are taken for a chronic problem such as acne, using it again can increase the chances of the problem re-occurring.
