From the Research
The patient should continue doxycycline treatment for at least 3-4 months, or until significant improvement is seen, and then consider tapering to a lower maintenance dose, such as 40 mg once daily, as supported by the most recent study 1. After completing one month of doxycycline 100 mg twice daily, the treatment plan should be reassessed at regular intervals, ideally every 1-2 months. The decision to continue or stop treatment should be based on individual response and the risk of adverse effects, such as antibiotic resistance and gastrointestinal issues. Doxycycline works for rosacea through its anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the inflammatory response that causes redness and pustules, as noted in 2 and 1. Throughout treatment, the patient should continue using topical therapies and gentle skincare, avoid triggers, and use sun protection. If symptoms return after stopping doxycycline, intermittent courses or alternative treatments may be needed, as suggested by 3. Key considerations in the treatment plan include:
- Monitoring for adverse effects, such as photosensitivity and gastrointestinal issues
- Regular reassessment of the treatment plan to minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance
- Use of topical therapies and gentle skincare to support treatment
- Avoidance of triggers and use of sun protection to prevent exacerbation of symptoms. The most recent study 1 provides evidence for the effectiveness of long-term use of subantibiotic dose oral doxycycline 40 mg modified-release capsules once daily in reducing the relapse rate and inflammatory lesion counts in subjects with moderate-to-severe inflammatory rosacea.