title: Prospective, randomized, open-label trial comparing the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of an acne treatment regimen with and without a probiotic supplement and minocycline in subjects with mild to moderate acne.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic antibiotics are an effective treatment for acne vulgaris. However, intolerable side effects may invariably occur.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether probiotics reduce the side effects imparted by systemic antibiotics while working synergistically with the latter in treating inflammatory acne.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five 18- to 35-year-old females were randomly assigned to one of three arms in this prospective, open-label study. Group A received probiotic supplementation, whereas group B received only minocycline. Group C was treated with both probiotic and minocycline. Clinical and subjective assessments were completed at baseline and during the 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-week follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients demonstrated a significant improvement in total lesion count 4 weeks after treatment initiation (p < .001), with continued improvement seen with each subsequent follow-up visit (p < .01). At the 8- and 12-week follow-up visits, group C had a significant decrease in total lesion count versus groups A (p < .001) and B (p < .01). Two patients (13%) from group B failed to complete the study secondary to vaginal candidiasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotics may be considered a therapeutic option or adjunct for acne vulgaris by providing a synergistic antiinflammatory effect with systemic antibiotics while also reducing potential adverse events secondary to chronic antibiotic use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
authors.forename: Gordon W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guiha
authors.forename: Jaggi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D048668:Lactobacillus delbrueckii; D008911:Minocycline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008911:Minocycline