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.
Conclusion: Subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline is an effective treatment for patients with moderate acne vulgaris.