Journal of Family Practice - Low-dose doxycycline moderately effective for acne
Skidmore R, Kovach R, Walker C, et al. Effects of subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline in the treatment of moderate acne. Arch Dermatol 2003; 139:459-464.
* PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
The authors propose that moderate acne may be treated with doxycycline in subantimicrobial doses (20-mg tablets taken twice daily). This regimen was well-tolerated, moderately effective in reducing skin lesions, and did not have a detectable effect on the antibiotic resistance of skin flora.
The cost of Periostat (the only form of doxycycline 20 mg available in the US) is about $55 per month, while generic doxycycline 100 mg is about $10. (1) This study has some significant flaws, but a trial of low-dose doxycycline in an adult with acne severe enough to warrant antibiotics would still seem a reasonable, albeit expensive, option.
Related Results
DOXYCYCLINE HYCLATEANTIBIOTIC DOXYCYCLINEGeneric doxycycline tablets approvedGeneric doxycycline tablets approvedRx: Beat leptospirosis with Doxycycline.
* BACKGROUND
Doxycycline, when used in doses that are below its antimicrobial threshold, is effective in treating adult chronic periodontitis. Doxycycline hyclate 20 mg twice daily (Periostat) is believed to work by decreasing inflammation and does not appear to create bacterial resistance to itself. Given the role of host inflammatory response in ache, the researchers tested sub-antimicrobial dosing of doxycycline in adults with moderate ache.
* POPULATION STUDIED
The subjects were 51 adults with moderate acne (defined as 6-200 comedones, 10-75 papules, and
