Doxycycline For Rosacea Sufferers' Respite

Many dermatologists prescribe low does of Doxycycline for rosacea treatment to prevent resistance to antibiotics. Rosacea is an ailment that never really goes away - it comes and goes in the form of flare-ups and remissions. As a result, the duration for the treatment of rosacea is long-term. Since the bacteria build up a resistance when exposed for long to any medication, physicians have been searching for alternatives to antibiotics to treat rosacea symptoms.

There is no cure for rosacea. However, those afflicted by the ailment can get relief by treating the symptoms. These include:

• Redness of facial skin.
• Red pimples around the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead.
• Appearance of thin red lines on the face because blood vessels become visible.
• Sensitive, dry and rough skin. A burning sensation may be experienced.
• There may be irritation in the eyes and blurry vision.

The treatment for rosacea is done in stages. Usually the patients consult the doctor when the symptoms of the ailment have flared up. Thus the first step would be to provide immediate relief to the patient. If the affliction is mild, a topical medication is given.

For more severe cases of rosacea, it is with the help of oral antibiotics like tetracycline, azithromycin, minocycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline are prescribed. Once the rosacea symptoms subside, topical medications are applied on the affected areas on a regular basis.

However, in the case of patients who suffer from severe and frequent flare-ups, the above course of action is not successful. They are prescribed either oral antibiotics of high dosage or long-term antibiotics of a low dosage. Regular intake of these medications over a prolonged period of time may lead to the emergence of organisms that are resistant to these antibiotics. Researchers have finally become successful in coming up with an alternative: non-antibiotic doxycycline.

Non-antibiotic doxycycline is also referred to as low-dose or anti-inflammatory dose doxycycline. Studies prove that if a dosage of 40 mg per day of the medicine is administered, it can help to control rosacea in the long run. Thus, through an anti-inflammatory dose of doxycycline, roascea can be treated without the side effects of being exposed to an antibiotic.

Doxycycline can be taken with food; however, it should not be taken with antacids, iron, calcium, or magnesium. This medication should not be prescribed to:

• Persons who are hypersensitive towards tetracyclines ,
• Persons with heightened photosensitivity,
• Children below 8 years,
• Pregnant and nursing women,
• Patients taking acitretin, birth control pills or penicillin.

Thus by using low-dose of doxycycline, rosacea patients can be treated effectively in the long run without building up a resistance against antibiotics.

Note: The information provided herein is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your dermatologist before using any medicine or treatment method suggested in this article.