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The AAD.org reports:

Another new area of acne research that is proving promising is using antibiotics for a period of a few months to start a successful treatment regimen, then replacing them with other non-antibiotic medications to maintain results over time. Dr. Baldwin explained that this "step-down" approach is important, as an increasing concern of long-term antibiotic use is that bacteria are evolving to become resistant to these medications - prompting dermatologists to seek alternative therapies in order to get their patients off of oral antibiotics as soon as possible. Recent clinical studies using the step-down approach from antibiotics and a topical retinoid to topical retinoids alone have shown positive results in maintaining improvement in acne patients, despite the abrupt discontinuation of oral antibiotics.