Low-dose doxycycline moderately effective for acne.

Abstract

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 US dollars per month, while generic doxycycline 100 mg is about 10 US dollars. 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