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Antibiotics for Your Skin (AAD)

Antibiotics for Your Skin (AAD)

Campaign Series: Choosing Wisely
Medical Category: Drugs
Article Type: Advice
Language: Plain English, Spanish
Affiliation: American Academy of Dermatology
Format: HTML, PDF
Most recent update: 08/05/2022
Skin problems can sometimes look like infections, especially if they’re red, swollen, or tender. So it might seem like treating them with antibiotics is a good idea. But some skin problems don’t stem from infections at all. So treating them with antibiotics can do more harm than good. Learn about situations when you don’t need antibiotics for your skin. Also learn how to talk to your doctor about when antibiotics may be needed.