Acne is a skin condition which can take years to get under control. Frequently, severe cases can be treated with a course of antibiotics but unfortunately, according to dermatologists, the bacteria responsible for causing acne, P. acnes, is becoming more and more resistant to the drugs.

“The dangerous thing about putting zillions of folks on antibiotics is that this pressures bacteria to develop resistance methods,” says Northwestern University dermatologist Dr. Peter Lio. So what does this mean? Well, if you develop a serious illness an need to be treated with antibiotics they won’t work as well as they should.

This has changed the way doctors now treat acne. Instead of prescribing an antibiotic over a long span of time, dermatologists are often combining antibiotics with other treatments, like benzoyl peroxide, to help counteract resistance. Also, since acne is caused by more than just an overabundance of bacteria, doctors can employ other approaches, like treating the inflammation with retinoids and isotretinoin. So, there are still ways of treating this pesky and frustrating skin condition.