Rosacea is a skin condition that causes the skin of the face and forehead to become red and develop pimples. It may also affect the eyes. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, in 2010 about 14 million people in the United States have this condition. It is a chronic disorder that has no cure but can be managed for many people with topical and/or oral antibiotics. The antibiotics help reduce the amount of inflammation in the skin.
Metronidazole
For patients who have milder forms of rosacea, a doctor may prescribe the topical antibiotic metronidazole (1 percent) to be applied directly to the affected areas of the body; this may take several months to clear the skin. For patients with moderate or severe forms of rosacea, the physician may prescribe an oral antibiotic along with the topical antibiotic medication. According to the International Rosacea Foundation, metronidazole (0.75 percent) gel can be useful in maintenance therapy once the skin condition is under control.
Oral Antibiotics
The skin physician or dermatologist usually prescribes a course of oral antibiotics for more severe cases of rosacea because oral antibiotics tend to work faster than topical antibiotics. Tetracycline, minocycline and erythromycin are commonly used antibiotics to treat rosacea. After improvement of the skin, these oral antibiotics are usually tapered down and discontinued; long-term use of antibiotics can be associated with side effects such as diarrhea or yeast infections and tolerance to the medication.
Time-Release Doxycycline
The antibiotic doxycycline has also been used for the management of rosacea. However, there is an FDA-approved time-release version of this antibiotic called Oracea with once-a-day dosing. Because of the low amount of antibiotic in this medication, this dosage is only suitable to treat rosacea. According to PDR Health, Oracea can cause extreme sunburns if the patient is exposed to sunlamps or sunlight. This medication also should not be taken during pregnancy and can stain the teeth of children.
