The Use of Oral Antibiotics in the Management of Rosacea

Rosacea is common inflammatory facial dermatosis. Rosacea has variable manifestations including facial flushing, central facial erythema, telangiectasias, and papulopustular lesions. Treatment of rosacea is challenging given the varied manifestations and incompletely understood etiology, but the treatment of papulopustular presentations often relies on oral antibiotics. Tetracyclines, specifically doxycycline, are the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for rosacea. Other antibiotics that can be used include macrolides, commonly azithromycin, and rarely, metronidazole. This paper will review the evidence for the use of antibiotics in the treatment of rosacea. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(6):506-513.