Oracea® (
doxycycline) is a prescription medication approved for
rosacea treatment. In particular, it is approved for treating inflammatory lesions (the acne-like bumps and blemishes) associated with
rosacea. Oracea is not approved for (and is ineffective for) treating the redness of rosacea.
Rosacea is a chronic disease that affects the skin and sometimes the eyes. Characteristics of the condition include redness, pimples, and, in advanced stages, thickened skin. Although rosacea usually affects the face, it can affect parts of the upper body. Despite how common the condition is, many people with rosacea go undiagnosed.
Treatment for rosacea may involve good skin care
(see Rosacea Skin Care), medications (either taken orally like Oracea or applied directly to the skin), and other treatments such as laser surgery. As stated previously, Oracea is most useful for people who have bumps and blemishes associated with rosacea.
There are many different doxycycline medications available, but only Oracea is approved for treating rosacea. At higher doses, doxycycline is often used as an antibiotic to treat infections. Oracea is different, though; it contains a lower dose of doxycycline that works by decreasing inflammation. This lower dosage helps to minimize side effects.
Oracea capsules are unique in that they contain a combination of immediate-release and delayed-release beads, allowing for once-a-day dosing.
