Tetracyclines revisited: tetracyclines in the field of dermatology.

Abstract

Tetracyclines are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics favored by dermatologists. Over the last decade, the clinical efficacy of tetracyclines has expanded into various dermatoses. This review tries to encompass the possible indications of tetracycline in the field of dermatology and possible mechanisms of action. This comprehensive review encompasses all possible indications of tetracyclines besides acne vulgaris and rosacea: hidradenitis suppurativa, autoimmune bullous dermatoses, vitiligo, alopecia, prurigo pigmentosa, granulomatous dermatoses, Kaposi sarcoma, cold urticaria, atopic dermatitis, scrub typhus, scarring, and miscellaneous dermatoses. We also focus on the recently approved sarecycline, a third generation narrow-spectrum tetracycline, and its clinical efficacy and potential impact on the microbiome. Our review provides a better understanding of this extremely familiar drug class and encourages its use in a wider spectrum of dermatologic diseases and symptoms.