Doxycycline Rosacea Treatment
What is rosacea?
Like acne, rosacea is a physically harmless disorder of the facial skin which grows thin, reddens and can develop inflamed pimples. In less common cases, the nose can swell and the eyes may be irritated.
What causes it?
There is some debate about this but it seems to be connected with some bacteria, the presence of some mites, and environmental conditions like heavy sunburn, wind and cold damage to the skin, excessive alcohol consumption, and stress.
How is it diagnosed?
There is no single test and many adults have the problem in a mild form, believe it to be a form of acne, and are never formally diagnosed.
Is the disorder serious?
Like acne, the damage is psychological rather than physical for the majority. In rare cases, the degree of disfigurement to the nose and cheeks is significant and self-confidence is seriously damaged.
Why Doxycycline?
This drug is routinely prescribed for the treatment of acne in teens and adults. There is clear clinical evidence that people with rosacea also respond well to the drug. As one of the class of antibiotics called the tetracyclines, it slows the growth of a range of bacteria and gives your immune system the chance to solve the problem. This was the first drug approved by the FDA specifically for the treatment of rosacea. It is licensed for use if the more serious inflammation arises.
What about side effects?
All antibiotics have the same problem of causing diarrhea. In the case of Doxycycline this problem is slightly less, but it does cause photosensitivity, i.e. if you go out in the sun, you should wear a cream to protect you from the ultraviolet. The clinical trials do show, however, that if you take Doxycycline in a lower dosage, it remains effective against the bacteria responsible for causing this disorder. The FDA licenses on the basis of a daily dose of 40mg and the various support groups and organizations confirm that people should use the lowest possible dosage to get effective results and avoid the side effects.