Review - Expert Opinion on Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance in Dermatology

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance has become a serious, severe problem worldwide. This issue does not only relate to the use of systemic antibiotics but to topical ones as well, like systemic therapies and local treatment of skin and mucosal infections. Antiseptics, an alternative to the topical treatment with antibiotics of wounds and some inflammatory dermatological conditions, tend to be microbicidal and have a broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity than antibiotics. Among these, polyhexanide (PHMB) allows for the control of the infection while avoiding the development of resistance. Objectives: Recommendations on the rules of good clinical practice for the management of small wounds, burns and post-traumatic ulcerative wounds, impetigo or folliculitis in the initial stages, and acne. Methods: Literature review on the principal topical therapies for small wounds, injuries, impetigo, folliculitis, and acne and a proposal of innovative, highly-tolerated treatments. Results and conclusions: Given the abuse of topical antibiotics in dermatology, for the treatment of small wounds, injuries, localized folliculitis, impetigo, and acne, the use of alternative topical treatments like polyhexanide and Rigenase® is recommended.