Acne medications taken by millions of teenagers can cause eye infections such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) or sties, according to new research by Tel Aviv University.
The study, published in the journal Archives of Dermatology, found medicines such as Accutane or Roaccutane can cause dryness that may reduce the ability of tears to wash away debris, including bacteria and viruses, on the eye or its lid.
Lead researcher Dr. Gabriel Chodick, of TAU's School of Public Health at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, also noted health experts have long suspected a link between acne and eye infections.
"Acne itself can increase the risk of ocular diseases," he said. "There is a greater tendency towards inflammation, and sometimes this leads to irritation."
But his research showed that patients who took oral acne medications doubled their odds of developing an eye infection. The findings were based on an analysis of the health records of almost 15,000 adolescents -- 1,791 of whom developed eye diseases, including 991 who took acne medicine.
Chodick suggested patients on oral acne medication use artificial tears, or eye drops, to keep their eyes lubricated.