UNDATED (CBS) -- Many people with acne are on long-term antibiotics, but a new study shows taking them is associated with sore throats.
University of Pennsylvania researchers found that people taking oral antibiotics got sore throats about three times more often than people not on them.
Dr. Michele Green with Lenox Hill Hospital says, "The patients were 3 times more likely to have an episode of pharingtis, meaning they complained of a sore throat while taking the antibiotic."
About 40 to 50 million Americans have acne at some point in their lives. In some of those cases oral medication is the only thing that works.
Researchers aren't sure exactly why antibiotics lead to sore throats. Dr. Green says, "Patients are told to take the antibiotic on an empty stomach, but truly if they're sensitive to reflux they should be taking the antibiotic with food."
Doctors also recommend drinking lots of water with medications.
Researchers found people using antibiotic creams did not report the same side effect.