Oral antibiotics have long been used to successfully treat rosacea, but because there is growing concern about prolonged treatment causing bacterial resistance—both for the individual taking the medication and the population as a whole—it has taken a back seat to other options. Yet oral antibiotics truly make a difference in the appearance of rosacea, and the frustration about what to prescribe has confounded the medical world. In May 2006, the FDA approved doxycycline (Oracea™) as the first oral prescription therapy for the treatment of rosacea. This antibiotic is prescribed at a level where it does not cause bacterial resistance, but can still make a significant improvement in the appearance of rosacea symptoms.
(Sources: International Journal of Dermatology, March 2008, pages 284-288; Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, January 2006, pages 16-21; Cutis, April 2005, pages S19-S24; Skin Therapy Letter, “Oral Therapy for the Treatment of Rosacea,” www. skincareguide. com.)