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Subantimicrobial Doxycycline Tablets Effective Against Moderate Acne

Oral subantimicrobial doxycycline, twice daily, significantly reduces the number of both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions in patients with moderate facial acne.

The treatment is well tolerated, report specialists from the University of Florida, Gainesville; West Virginia University, Morgantown; Princeton University, New Jersey; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc., Newtown, Pennsylvania. Their research disclosed no detectable anti-microbial effect on the skin flora, nor was there any rise in the number or severity of resistant organisms.

The researchers studied 40 adults with moderate facial acne over 6 months in a double-blind, parallel-group trial at 2 university-based clinics. The patients were randomised to receive either sub-antimicrobial doses of doxycycline or placebo twice daily.

The aim of the study was to see if the doxycycline, compared to placebo, had any detectable effect on skin flora, led to overgrowth or colonisation of skin by opportunistic pathogens, or resulted in an increase in antibiotic resistance by the surface skin microflora.

At 6 months, the doxycycline recipients had a significantly greater percentage reduction in the number of comedones, inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions combined and total inflammatory lesions. They also had significantly greater improvement according to the clinician's global assessment.

There were no significant differences in microbial counts between the two groups. Nor was there any evidence of change in antibiotic susceptibility or colonisation by potential pathogens.
Archives of Dermatology 2003;139:4:459-464. "Effects of Subantimicrobial-Dose Doxycycline in the Treatment of Moderate Acne"

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