Doxycycline®

What is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic tablet that can help clear up skin disorders like perioral dermatitis. It stops the bacteria that can cause perioral dermatitis from reproducing and spreading, as well as helping to manage the inflammation that characterizes it.

How does Doxycycline work?

Doxycycline works in two ways to treat perioral dermatitis. It suppresses molecules in your body that are involved in inflammatory and immune responses (called TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), which helps to reduce the rash and redness associated with perioral dermatitis.^[1]

Bacteria are also thought to play a role in perioral dermatitis. Doxycycline is an antibiotic that stops these bacteria from producing proteins they need to survive and reproduce. This kills off the bacteria and stops them spreading, which should help to clear up your skin.^[2]

How do Doxycycline doses work?

Doxycycline comes in one dose for perioral dermatitis, a 100 mg tablet. You’ll usually take one tablet once a day for two or three months to treat perioral dermatitis or for as long as your clinician advises you to.^[3]

What is Doxycycline’s active ingredient?

Doxycycline is a generic medicine that’s named after its active ingredient: doxycycline. It’s part of the tetracycline class of antibiotics. They’re most commonly used to treat skin infections like acne, rosacea, and dermatitis.

How to take Doxycycline

You should always follow your clinician’s instructions when taking doxycycline.

You’ll typically take one 100 mg tablet every day. But if your perioral dermatitis is severe, your physician may recommend a different dosing schedule or another type of treatment.

Take your doxycycline tablet with a drink of water. You can take it with or without food, but you might be less likely to feel nauseous if you take it with a meal.