Subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline in the treatment of moderate facial acne.
BACKGROUND
Acne is a common inflammatory skin disorder. Oral antibiotics play a significant clinical role in treating acne.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of doxycycline at antimicrobial and subantimicrobial doses for the treatment of acne.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was performed. One hundred patients with moderate facial acne were randomized into 2 treatment groups, one receiving a tablet containing 20 mg of doxycycline to be taken twice daily and the other receiving a tablet containing 100 mg of doxycycline and a matching placebo tablet to be taken twice daily.


RESULTS
Subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline administered twice daily for 3 months in patients with moderate inflammatory acne results in significant reduction in the number of total inflammatory lesions. There was an 84% reduction in number of papules and a 90% reduction in number of pustules with treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline is an effective treatment for patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
Toossi
Parviz
P
Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital,Tehran, Iran.
Farshchian
Mehdi
M
Malekzad
Farhad
F
Mohtasham
Nahid
N
Kimyai-Asadi
Arash
A
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline