Re: Antibiotics - Seb derm

[Guest guest]

> My question- never had seb derm until last year. Can antibiotics

cause seb derm?

I don't know much about seborrheic dermatitis, JMogan. Whether it is

caused by a fungus secondary to antibiotic use, or another

manifestation of chronically inflammed skin along with other

manifestations (like increased reaction to topicals and drier skin) I

can't answer. I do know that seborrheic dermatitis is very common in

the general population, and my understanding is that it occurs

without evidence of fungal infection in at least the majority of

people.

Good luck and thanks for the kind words, though you may well be

taking them back since I'm obviously not of much help to you here.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

[Guest guest]

>

> > My question- never had seb derm until last year. Can antibiotics

> cause seb derm?

>

It it theoretically conceivable that antibiotics can supress resident

gram positive bacteria to such an extent to the tune of a person

becoming colonized with gram negative bacteria. Similarly, it is

also conceivable possible that antibiotics can supress resident p.

acnes and staph epidermis to the point where the p ovale over

proliferates. However, in the absence of follicular abnormality,

(such as can be caused by applying comedogenic topicals such as the

metro's, moisturizers, oils, etc.) the yeast (which is a subclass of

the biological Fungi Kingdom) will not usally cause a problem

provided that 1) no immunodefiency exists and 2) the skin surface

barrier is properly intact.

Where rosacea inflames the skin, causes erythema, attracts all sorts

of inflammatory mediators, etc, all bets are off. However, the

antibiotics used for rosacea such as minocin and zithromax, on a

whole, used for a period of 6 months or so to cause quick relief,

generally will not pose such a problem -- provided one normalizes

follicular keratinization with either differin gel or accutane.

[Guest guest]

>

> > My question- never had seb derm until last year. Can antibiotics

> cause seb derm?

>

It it theoretically conceivable that antibiotics can supress resident

gram positive bacteria to such an extent to the tune of a person

becoming colonized with gram negative bacteria. Similarly, it is

also conceivable possible that antibiotics can supress resident p.

acnes and staph epidermis to the point where the p ovale over

proliferates. However, in the absence of follicular abnormality,

(such as can be caused by applying comedogenic topicals such as the

metro's, moisturizers, oils, etc.) the yeast (which is a subclass of

the biological Fungi Kingdom) will not usally cause a problem

provided that 1) no immunodefiency exists and 2) the skin surface

barrier is properly intact.

Where rosacea inflames the skin, causes erythema, attracts all sorts

of inflammatory mediators, etc, all bets are off. However, the

antibiotics used for rosacea such as minocin and zithromax, on a

whole, used for a period of 6 months or so to cause quick relief,

generally will not pose such a problem -- provided one normalizes

follicular keratinization with either differin gel or accutane.