Therapeutic focus. Minocycline in the treatment of acne.

Minocycline has an established place in the oral therapy of acne. Prolonged courses of therapy have an acceptable safety profile. Where therapy with oxytetracycline has failed, minocycline is still likely to prove effective. The twice-daily dosage and ease of absorption from the gastrointestinal tract offer significant advantages over other tetracyclines. The simpler minocycline regime and early onset of clinical improvement are likely to result in better patient compliance, and hence optimise therapeutic response. There is therefore justification for the use of minocycline as first-line oral therapy, but, whether as a first- or second-line therapy, minocycline is a valuable drug in the treatment of this very distressing disorder. The earlier effective therapy is used in a patient with acne, the less physical and psychological scarring will remain thereafter.