Efficacy of oral doxycycline in treatment of red face syndrome subjects : A prospective noncontrolled case-series study

Abstract

Background: Red face syndrome is a chronic burning erythema of the face that occurs after prolonged application of topical corticosteroid and characterized by flare-ups after trial of corticosteroid withdrawal.It is mediated by nitric oxide overproduction. Doxycycline was found to inhibit inducible nitric oxide synathase .
Objective: to assess the efficacy of oral doxycyline and corticosteroid withdrawal in hastening the resolution of red face syndrome
Methods : In this prospective non-controlled case series study, 68 patients were identified as having red face syndrome by dermatologist in Al-Diwanyia Teaching Hospital , from July 2011 to September 2011 and they have been treated with oral doxycycline and corticosteroid withdrawal. Results : 66 patients completed the study while 2 patients stopped treatment because of severe gastric upset .Oral doxycycline was significantly able to decrease the total score of the clinical complaints after 4 weeks treatment (7.3 0.46) compared to baseline (12  significant decrease in the total scores at baseline (12 0.32) (P<0.05).
Conclusion : oral doxycycline seems to be effective in treatment of red face syndrome