Topical Antibiotics and Rosacea

Antibiotics have been a good first line of defense in the attack on the bacteria that plagues a rosacea sufferer. Antibiotics may reduce overall inflammation of your skin. Antibiotics also reduce the number of pimples and the amount of redness around pimples. Rosacea sufferers can not use acne medications because they will irritate the skin and make their condition worsen. In this way, antibiotics offer a better way to kill the bacteria and develop a smoother, clearer face.

Topical antibiotics for rosacea are used either alone, or with an oral antibiotic to aid in the treatment of rosacea. Topical antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that are on the skin. and can be used to reduce the symptoms of rosacea, including redness, pimples, and red lines on the face (telangiectasia), and thick bumps on the nose (rhinophyma), and to reduce the symptoms that accompany eye involvement in rosacea.

One widely popular, and very effective, form of topical antibiotic treatment for rosacea is the medication metronidazole. Studies have found that if red, raised bumps have developed, topical metronidazole (1%) is safe and effective. Metronidazole gel (.75%) is effective in preventing or minimizing recurrences of rosacea.

With antibiotic treatment, symptoms usually improve in 3 to 4 weeks, with greater improvement seen in 2 months. A dual combo of oral and topical antibiotics will see faster results. There is a chance that the bacteria in a rosacea sufferer will develop new immunities to the antibiotic and become less effective. To combat this you can use antibiotics for a shorter period of time. If one antibiotic stops working, a new one can be prescribed.

Antibiotics common side effects include:
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Photosensitivity
Allergic reaction
Vaginal yeast infection
The diarrhea and the yeast infections tend to occur because the oral antibiotics will destroy some of the normal healthy bacteria that are naturally occurring in the body along with the unhealthy bacteria.

Topical antibiotics that are primarily prescribed for rosacea are erythromycin, metronidazole, clindamycin, and sulfacetamide.

Erythromycin (Topical)

Erythromycin used topically for treating acne, has been shown to help rosacea sufferers. You should not use this drug if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you’ve had an allergic reaction to erythromycin.
Sold under the Brand Name(s):
Erymax�®
Erygel�®
A/T/S�®
Staticin�®
Erycette�®
Ery-Sol�®
Erythra-Derm�®
T-Stat�®
Eryderm�®

Side effects from erythromycin include:
Skin rash, redness, swelling or itching
Dry or peeling skin
Tenderness, stinging or burning
Eye irritation

Metronidazole (Topical)

Metronidazole used topically for skin redness and pimples, has been shown to help adult acne or acne rosacea sufferers. You shouldn’t use metronidazole if you’ve had an allergic reaction to metronidazole before. Use it only on your skin and not in or near your eyes. If you accidentally get this in your eyes, make sure you flush well with water.
Sold under the Brand Name(s)
Metrogel�®
Metrocream(Tm)
Noritate�®

Clindamycin (Topical)

Clindamycin used topically for treating skin infections and acne and is an antibiotic. You shouldn’t use this drug if you’ve had an allergy to CleocinÃ?® or LincocinÃ?®, if you have an intestinal disease, are pregnant, are breastfeeding, or if you have any stomach disease. If you’ve been given another topical along with this medication, make sure you use them at different times. You will need to use water based cosmetics because others will make clindamycin irritate your skin.

Sold under the Brand Name(s):
Cleocin-T Lotion�® (Topical)
Cleocin-T Topical Solution�® (Topical)
Cleocin-T Gel�® (Topical)

Side effects:
Hives or rash
Swelling of the face, throat, or lips
Severe diarrhea (watery or bloody)
If you have problems with these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor.
Dryness or peeling of skin
Irritation or burning of skin

Sodium Sulfacetamide Lotion

Sodium Sulfacetamide Lotion used topically to treat acne has shown promise in rosacea treatment. You shouldn’t use it if you have an allergy to sulfa drugs, if you have asthma, during pregnancy, or if you are breastfeeding. Using this drug for a long period of time may result in a secondary infection.

Sold under the Brand Name:
Klaron �®

Side Effects:
Irritation, stinging or burning of the skin may occur.
Rarely, a severe redness or scaling of the skin or muscle/joint aches.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, unusual tiredness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, nausea, persistent fever or trouble breathing.