I used to have perfect skin but after I came to the UK to study I start breaking out badly. My cheeks and T zone were inflamed and I was miserable. I went through Acne.org and tried everything that had been advised - topically applying manuka honey, topically applying lemon, zinc tablets, duac, clean and clear moisturiser, clinique anti blemish solutions formula, fish oil etc. You name it, I've tried it.
Then in September 2011, after visiting my dermatologist, I went on 100mg Doxy twice a day together with Diane 35. I stopped with Diane 35 after a month and continued Doxy for 3 months. I saw no improvement in the first month but in the second, I saw that my skin was slowly clearing up. By the 3rd month, my acne was minimal. After stopping for 2 weeks, my acne started coming back, blobs of cystic acne started appearing and I was distraught. So I was put back on Doxy and tried to slowly ween off the antibiotic by dropping to 100mg once a day. I finally came off the drug in August 2012, it is now November and while my face was never as clear as before and I do always get one or two pimples, my skin condition was much better than the severely inflamed cheeks and T zone I had back in early 2011. I remember feeling so desperate and depressed about my acne, I even stopped going out.
I do highly recommend Doxy and you should come off the drug gradually, not stop absolutely. You should also take the drug on a full stomach because I have experienced severe waves of nausea when I first started taking the pill. However, in time you stomach will be able to adapt to the pill and the nausea will die down. I've also stopped taking beans, milk, soya because I found that they contributed to my acne. Also, Avene Cleanance K facial wash I rely on.
I'm writing this review so specifically because I remember the state I was in because of my acne and I want to encourage those who feel the same way.