Can tooth decay contribute to acne?

The answer is an affirmative one. Acne may in fact be caused by an abscessed or decayed tooth, even though it might sound like another medical invention to some of you. Ignoring or disregarding the final statement, it might sound pretty good for some of you who are experiencing nasty acne problems, of course.

There are cases when someone who suffers from severe acne outbreaks and follows a prescribed treatment unfortunately does not get rid of his/her problem. After trying anything else prescribed by the dermatologist, it would also be a good idea to have a dental exam, because cavities may fuel the acne infection. Sometimes your long-desired acne-solution could be as simple as having an abscessed tooth removed.

Here is the answer: bad or severe cases of acne (acne vulgaris) causes the immune system to produce antibodies in order to fight against Propionibacterium acnes, which is the bacteria that can be found in lesions caused by acne. This type of bacteria is also found in the mouth and throat regions, in the upper gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity. Studies on this particular theme have concluded that the presence of dental infections may in fact provoke follicular inflammatory responses, having as a result severe cases of acne.

A Vanderbilt University researcher claims there is evidence that an infected or abscessed tooth may be the culprit in difficult cases of acne vulgaris. The condition seems to be affecting about 80 percent of those aged between 11 and 30. Usually the treatment consists in oral antibiotics. The connection was discovered in the case of a 30-year-old patient; she had a breakout as soon as she stopped taking medications, but when her abscessed tooth was removed, her acne seemingly disappeared, according to a recently published study in the dermatology journal.

The oddness of the case is that the woman got another tooth infection, the acne returned, and when her second tooth condition was treated, her acne was gone for the second time. Nevertheless, most people who have tooth problems of this sort do not have acne. Moreover, most of those who suffer from acne do not suffer from tooth decay.

However, if you suffer from some time of acne and it simply won’t go away after using some ‘classical’ treatments, such as tetracycline, benzoyl peroxide or other medications, maybe it would be a good idea to make a visit to your dentist. Learn to investigate a matter as much as you can, especially a health-related one, before putting your arms on the ground and preparing to surrender in front of your ‘enemy’, especially if its name is ‘acne’.