According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, rosacea is a chronic skin condition that shows up as inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead or eyelids. The face of a person with rosacea appears red with pimples and prominent spider-like blood vessels. The cause of rosacea is not known, and there is no permanent cure. Oral or topical antibiotics can control the emergence of pimples.
Tetracycline (Sumycin)
According to the Skin Therapy Letter, which is accredited by the Boston University School of Medicine, oral tetracycline is a good treatment for rosacea because it has anti-inflammatory properties. The therapy regimen for rosacea involves taking 250 to 1000 mg of tetracycline per day until the patient sees significant symptomatic improvement. Typically the course of treatment lasts three to four weeks. After this period of time the patient switches to a topical antibiotic to prevent a relapse. It is important to be aware that prolonged use of oral tetracycline may lead to bacterial resistance. The International Rosacea Foundation lists the common side effects of tetracycline as mild diarrhea, nausea, and sensitivity to sunlight.
Doxycycline (Oracea)
The Skin Therapy Letter describes anti-inflammatory dose doxycycline as an oral prescription medication that the Food and Drug Administration approved in May 2006 for the treatment of rosacea in adult patients. This is the first such drug approved specifically for rosacea. The therapy involves taking a 40 mg capsule once a day until symptoms improve. This dose is much less than the normal 100 to 200 mg daily dose of doxycycline, and it produces blood levels that allow the drug to act as an anti-inflammatory without the antibiotic effect. During the course of treatment bacterial resistance was not a problem. Possible side effects include darkening of the skin, dizziness or double vision and sore nose and throat.
Topical Metronidazole (MetroGel)
According to the International Rosacea Foundation, topical metronidazole is a prescription antibiotic that effectively treats the redness and pimples characteristic of rosacea. The patient applies metronidazole to the skin once a day for as long as the doctor prescribes. This treatment is appropriate for mild cases of rosacea. Common side effects include slight burning, itching and stinging.
