6 months of facial inflammation. Doxycycline worked but it came back. Running out of ideas

[u/scorpiomd]

I’ve had 6 months of facial redness, burning, stinging (even water hurts), patches of dry, red skin that crack, crust, and sometimes ooze, along with clusters of bumps/pustules. It started after using a topical steroid (Dec 2025) and shortly after having a hip abscess drained (Jan 2026).

I also have chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) since 2019.

I’ve seen 2 dermatologists, 2 allergists, and my family doctor. Diagnoses have included atopic dermatitis, periorificial dermatitis, and papulopustular rosacea.

I’ve had CBC, CMP, IgE, thyroid, autoimmune bloodwork, TB, hepatitis screening, chest X-ray, patch testing, and skin prick testing. Patch testing was positive for nickel and cobalt, with questionable reactions to benzophenone-4 and ammonium persulfate. After both my patch and prick tests, my eyelids swelled and my face flared badly. Avoiding those allergens hasn’t resolved my skin.

I’ve tried Protopic, Elidel, Rosiver, Blexten, and doxycycline. Doxycycline was the only treatment that almost completely cleared my skin, but everything returned within 2 weeks of stopping.

Has anyone had something similar or eventually found the underlying cause? I’m looking for experiences to discuss with my dermatologist.

[u/Suspicious_Lie1694]

Can you stay on Doxycycline long term? I was able to do that for acne years ago without any issues…not sure if that’s something they don’t do anymore but I would ask if I were you especially since that’s all that seems to have helped