Aspirin: It Gets the Red Out
That’s right, buh-bye, Visine, hellloooo, Bayer, as the new “King of getting the red out.” According to a study featured in the May 2008 issue of Prevention magazine, low-dose aspirin (81 mg) administered for 30 days resulted in fewer and shorter flare-ups in patients with rosacea. Dr. Joseph Bikowski, M.D., of The Ohio State University has helped to pioneer the inflammation theory for rosacea, and believes that treating inflammation may be a key to treating rosacea. This theory holds a lot of promise, as:
- Rosacea has been shown to be accompanied by an increase of specific proinflammatory cytokines;
- Clinical trials suggest that patients with severe rosacea have a reduced capacity to counter the negative effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), which results in an increased inflammatory response.
- Doxycycline (a prescription drug, used here in non-antibiotic form) is an anti-inflammatory drug that has been shown in studies to result in improved integrity of the dermal tissue, reduced inflammation, and less vasodilation.
As always, consult with your doctor before self-medicating. 
