Treating Ocular Rosacea With Doxycycline – The Pros and Cons
One of the worse things about suffering with rosacea is that in a high percentage of cases it affects your eyes. Known as ocular rosacea, the symptoms of this condition can vary significantly and include:
- a persistent burning and gritty feeling
- bloodshot and water eyes
- blurred vision
- swollen and inflamed eyelids
- crusty and flaky skin
- dryness and sensitivity to light
In the worst case scenario there is a risk of bacterial infection which can affect the cornea with the possibility of vision loss. As there are potentially serious consquences, this condition requires immediate treatment.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of using doxycycline, an antibiotic, commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe ocular rosacea.
Doxycycline comes from the tetracycline antibiotic group. Many studies have reported that using doxycycline to treat ocular rosacea significantly improved many of the symptoms. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be as effective in treating facial redness.
Exactly how is doxycycline so effective? The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it is suspected that there is a link between the helicobacter pylori bacteria and rosacea. There is also evidence that bacteria found in demodex mites (tiny parasitic mites found near hair follicles) cause rosacea. It is for this reason that oral antibiotics are recommended. Doxycycline slows the growth of bacteria in the body and is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections such as acne, STDs, and gum disease as well as rosacea. Even though tetracycline, another commonly prescribed antibiotics, alleviates symptoms of ocular rosacea more quickly, many patients prefer using doxycycline because it causes fewer digestive upsets.
Even though doxycycline is the preferred treatment for ocular rosacea, there are recorded side effects. Some of the reported side effects are nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, indigestion, difficulty swallowingand unexplained rashes. Even more serious side effects include stomach cramps, bloody stools, water diarrhea, blurred vision, joint pain, headaches and fever. It’s important to consult your doctor if you are having any of these side effects.
Another side effect of taking any antibiotic is that it can cause a disruption of intestinal flora which may result in an overgrowth of yeast causing candida. Candida symptoms include migraines, foggy brain, acheing muscles, thrush and cystitis. You may want to think about taking a probiotic during and after a course of antibiotics to balance intestinal flora.
Doxycycline shouldn’t be taken during pregnancy because it can harm unborn babies. It’s important to note that if you are on birth control pills, doxycycline can make them less effective. You should think about taking other forms of contraception. Also, make sure you don’t take doxycline after the date of expiry because there is the possibility that it can cause kidney damage.
Looking at the pros and cons and taking into account the potential seriousness of ocular rosacea, doxycycline is considered a safe and effective option.
To know more about treating ocular rosacea and about rosacea symptoms, check out my Clear Skin Guide website.
