47 replies to this topic

[Feelin'SomeRhythm]

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I've recently started taking lymercycline for mild-moderate acne. Originally I was on oxytetracycline from October 2009-April 2011; originally it worked great, but then stopped around October-November 2010. Since then, I continued taking it in the hope it would "kick in" again, but nothing. The doc's now prescribed me lymercline and I've been on it for just over a week now.

Over the past few days I've experienced quite a bad breakout, is this normal? How have other people found it?

Thanks!
Tom.

[scov93]

i was on these for 12 months. you probably wont notice any real difference for at least 2-3 months and after that the process is still very gradual. i noticed that while using these you should try to drink as much water as possible to counter the dry skin you will probably get. Also try cutting out any dairy products while using it, it really worked for me

[teacake89]

I don't understand what everyone's problem is and why nearly all of you say Lymecycline hasn't worked for you guys because LYMECYCLINE DEFINITELY WORKED FOR ME.

I'm 22/f and in September of 2010 I had the WORST acne breakout of my life. I strongly suspect it was the Zithromax antibiotics I had taken 2 weeks previously for a very bad 1-week long flu with very high fevers. Immediately after taking Zithromax, my skin dried and peeled (partially due to high fevers most likely) and became the clearest it had ever been in years - I didn't have a single spot on my face. It was fantastic!! I even got lazy with my nightly ritual of cleaning my face and worrying about acne. Ha ha ha... the joke was on me.

That was highly unusual for me to have such clear skin because I am naturally acne-prone and will always have little spots here and there easily covered up with makeup! Anyway, 2 weeks later and BAMM I had this bizarre rash like acne begin on the bridge of my nose. Fast forward 1 week later and it spread across my cheeks, angry and red. Fast forward 1 month later and my entire face was literally covered in rash-like acne, very red and was covering my face except for the patches of skin surrounding my eyes so I had this wonderful goggle-like appearance. Brilliant.

It was so difficult to cover up with makeup because all the spots were bumpy despite most being small bumps. Also, the redness was so hard to cover up. After showers and looking in the mirror, I looked like a very unfortunate, very red, very spotty person. Like I'd had a terrible sunburn while wearing a pair of sunglasses, except looking closely it was bad acne! I tried so many things to help my skin, I switched from Olay face cloths and Olay face wash (my two favourites) to Clinique gentle face wash and it worsened - so switched back. I swapped my Maybelline foundation to Clinique antibacterial foundation, I found this good for hiding the redness and I assume that the antibacterial property was doing some good - although it was not visible.

It was so embarrassing I didn't want to go out in public. One month and 2 weeks later of dealing with this and seeing no signs of recovery despite drinking an ungodly amount of water (to the point of feeling very uncomfortable) as its common advice that water makes skin healthier. Also, I washed my face more often with exfoliating face washes, still no good. I tried squeezing out blackheads (although very satisfying, I doubt it helped either). I tried all sorts of different acne creams:
- Clearasyl spot gel
- Clearasyl acne night wash
- Clearasyl acne cream
All to no avail, my acne was pretty invincible lol.

After much pain, frustration, embarrassment and deliberation, I decided this was out of my league and I needed to see a doctor!

I quickly got an appointment with the doctor he just took one look at me and he prescribed Tetralysal (Lymecycline), and told me to come back in 3 months. So I took the Tetralysal once a day and by 6 weeks I could begin to see that the acne rash covering my face was beginning to ease off. New spots were returning less frequently. I took photos of my face each night to see whether or not Tetralysal was helping me. The first part of my face to be cured was my nose - by November. But my cheeks, forehead and the sides along my face were still covered in an angry acne rash.

I was persistent and determined and carried on with my Tetralysal, taking one a day and making sure I'd have food with it coz otherwise it made me feel very nauseous. One day in December I hadn't eaten the entire day and took my Tetralysal in the evening. Believe me it was not fun, I ended throwing up and feeling rotten, couldn't keep food down when I finally did eat. By November my mum had convinced me to go back to using Belo acne cream. I used to use this in 2009 when my skin would occasionally flare up with little acne attacks now and then. I'd stopped simply because my skin seemed more behaved and then forgot about the creams.

Now, I'm going to mention Belo acne cream despite the fact that anyone outside of the Philippines wouldn't know of them (because they are only locally made) BECAUSE they are flipping fantastic and are the only acne creams I can say without doubt in my mind they ARE EFFECTIVE. For anyone out there desperate to find a working acne cream (I've tried so many and as a spotty person, trust me, I KNOW my acne creams and face washes), see if it's possible to order Belo acne creams online? I don't know if it's available but I suppose if you pestered them it could work lol. So I began returning to using Belo acne creams alongside my Tetralysal and my recovery was fantastic.

Ok, so I was still incredibly spotty all throughout November but the angry rash was drastically reduced and I could see I was on the road of recovery (through the help of monitoring my progress with photos practically each night!!). The Belo creams come in two little pots, one is called Belo Acne Drying cream and the other Belo Peeling cream. I'd received these from my dermatologist back in the Philippines some time in early January of 2010 but hadn't used them so they were good as new to use. Immediately, after using the cream, my skin peeled in patches as if I'd had a minor sunburn. It didn't hurt and it deeply exfoliated my skin by making old layers peel off, helping to unclog my pores (which my skin seemed incapable of doing naturally).

I'm aware that the names of these Belo products give little indication of their content so I'll type out what's written on these little pots:
BELO ACNE DRYING CREAM
- Belo prescription. Acne Drying Cream contains Benzoyl Peroxide which is used in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of acne vulgaris.
DIRECTIONS fOR USE:
- Use as directed by your Belo physician.

BELO DLC PEELING CREAM
- Belo Prescriptives DLC Peeling Cream contains 0.05% Tretinoin which is used as an exfoliating agent in the treatment of skin pigmentation and protection against premature aging of the skin. It is used in the treatment of blackheads, whiteheads, and mild to moderate cases of acne vulgaris.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
- Use as directed by your Belo physician


I admit, the peeling skin posed a problem as well because it wasn't particularly attractive to be going about in public with flaky bits of skin on your face but it definitely sped up my recovery from this acne rash from hell. By January I was normalising, my forehead was the next area to recover and I had a completely clear and spotless forehead up until February (a few spots creeped back). By February my cheeks were greatly recovered and I had mostly scars covering my cheeks, chin and sides of my face. The scars were dark pink and purple but because the skin's surface was flat, I could finally cover it up with foundation. By March I stopped taking Tetralysal 'cause I read up that prolonged use could seriously hurt your stomach or something. All of my acne rash scars had faded away by March.

By April I was pleased that my skin was relatively behaved with normal breakouts now and then. And here I am today on May 29th with several spots BUT they are normal non-rash ones. I carry on using the Belo creams now and then when I feel I need them but don't use them daily since it makes my skin dry and peel, and go a little bit pink.

Today, I don't have perfectly clear skin but I am definitely back to normal. I probably have four little spots on my face. I keep drinking lots of water, wash my face at least 2x a day, try to eat healthy and use Olay face washcloths and Olay exfoliating scrub (I love these two). I never went back to the doctor after finishing Tetralysal simply because I knew I was cured by it and I didn't fancy waiting another 2 hours in a silly waiting room (why are doctors never on schedule?).

My theory on what had happened to me back in September 2010 was that the Zithromax, flu-antibiotic, had somehow knocked out healthy bacteria protecting me from bad, acne-causing bacteria. As a result, some particularly NASTY strain of acne-causing bacteria broke through my immune system and settled on my face. The 2 weeks in August-September 2010 of 100% clear and glowing skin was just the calm before the storm. So, I just wished I'd began my Belo cream sooner but still I'm doubtful whether the full-blown rash breakout could have been controlled.

My brother began Tetralysal over a month ago as he's always had an acne problem and I can already see his face clearing up. Previously, he'd been taking roaccutane but because it's so harmful and with dangerous side-effects (his cholesterol rocketed up at 18years old), he's stopped taking it (although being very effective) and switched over to Tetralysal for the next 3 months.

Sooooo, if you actually managed to read ALL of that up there, kudos to you I'm impressed for your patience in reading my life story. Haha! In short, Tetralysal worked for me within 3 months, and then I stopped taking it since in the long-term it can badly affect your gut. Nevertheless, I strongly believe if you have a bad acne problem it's WORTH it and don't delay because I've been through trying to solve it at home by myself only to no avail.

Edited by teacake89, 29 May 2011 - 02:49 AM.

[biggs881]

Study on use of lymecycline in acne:

http://www.john-libbey-eurotext.fr/en/prin...F/article.phtml

http://www.john-libbey-eurotext.fr/en/prin...hier=images.htm

Edited by biggs881, 29 May 2011 - 03:35 AM.

[aerol]

I've just read this and I want to cry!! I started taking lymecycline today after My GP prescribed it and, even though my acne is probably only mild/moderate I'm now stressing that it won't do a thing!!! Please, has anyone had success with it???

i take lymecycline for almost 6moths,its pretty working but you need to exercise so that the toxin will decrease.......................but when i stop my acne is returning..i need to take again for 4 weeks

[narsjen]

I don't understand what everyone's problem is and why nearly all of you say Lymecycline hasn't worked for you guys because LYMECYCLINE DEFINITELY WORKED FOR ME.

I'm 22/f and in September of 2010 I had the WORST acne breakout of my life. I strongly suspect it was the Zithromax antibiotics I had taken 2 weeks previously for a very bad 1-week long flu with very high fevers. Immediately after taking Zithromax, my skin dried and peeled (partially due to high fevers most likely) and became the clearest it had ever been in years - I didn't have a single spot on my face. It was fantastic!! I even got lazy with my nightly ritual of cleaning my face and worrying about acne. Ha ha ha... the joke was on me.

That was highly unusual for me to have such clear skin because I am naturally acne-prone and will always have little spots here and there easily covered up with makeup! Anyway, 2 weeks later and BAMM I had this bizarre rash like acne begin on the bridge of my nose. Fast forward 1 week later and it spread across my cheeks, angry and red. Fast forward 1 month later and my entire face was literally covered in rash-like acne, very red and was covering my face except for the patches of skin surrounding my eyes so I had this wonderful goggle-like appearance. Brilliant.

It was so difficult to cover up with makeup because all the spots were bumpy despite most being small bumps. Also, the redness was so hard to cover up. After showers and looking in the mirror, I looked like a very unfortunate, very red, very spotty person. Like I'd had a terrible sunburn while wearing a pair of sunglasses, except looking closely it was bad acne! I tried so many things to help my skin, I switched from Olay face cloths and Olay face wash (my two favourites) to Clinique gentle face wash and it worsened - so switched back. I swapped my Maybelline foundation to Clinique antibacterial foundation, I found this good for hiding the redness and I assume that the antibacterial property was doing some good - although it was not visible.

It was so embarrassing I didn't want to go out in public. One month and 2 weeks later of dealing with this and seeing no signs of recovery despite drinking an ungodly amount of water (to the point of feeling very uncomfortable) as its common advice that water makes skin healthier. Also, I washed my face more often with exfoliating face washes, still no good. I tried squeezing out blackheads (although very satisfying, I doubt it helped either). I tried all sorts of different acne creams:
- Clearasyl spot gel
- Clearasyl acne night wash
- Clearasyl acne cream
All to no avail, my acne was pretty invincible lol.

After much pain, frustration, embarrassment and deliberation, I decided this was out of my league and I needed to see a doctor!

I quickly got an appointment with the doctor he just took one look at me and he prescribed Tetralysal (Lymecycline), and told me to come back in 3 months. So I took the Tetralysal once a day and by 6 weeks I could begin to see that the acne rash covering my face was beginning to ease off. New spots were returning less frequently. I took photos of my face each night to see whether or not Tetralysal was helping me. The first part of my face to be cured was my nose - by November. But my cheeks, forehead and the sides along my face were still covered in an angry acne rash.

I was persistent and determined and carried on with my Tetralysal, taking one a day and making sure I'd have food with it coz otherwise it made me feel very nauseous. One day in December I hadn't eaten the entire day and took my Tetralysal in the evening. Believe me it was not fun, I ended throwing up and feeling rotten, couldn't keep food down when I finally did eat. By November my mum had convinced me to go back to using Belo acne cream. I used to use this in 2009 when my skin would occasionally flare up with little acne attacks now and then. I'd stopped simply because my skin seemed more behaved and then forgot about the creams.

Now, I'm going to mention Belo acne cream despite the fact that anyone outside of the Philippines wouldn't know of them (because they are only locally made) BECAUSE they are flipping fantastic and are the only acne creams I can say without doubt in my mind they ARE EFFECTIVE. For anyone out there desperate to find a working acne cream (I've tried so many and as a spotty person, trust me, I KNOW my acne creams and face washes), see if it's possible to order Belo acne creams online? I don't know if it's available but I suppose if you pestered them it could work lol. So I began returning to using Belo acne creams alongside my Tetralysal and my recovery was fantastic.

Ok, so I was still incredibly spotty all throughout November but the angry rash was drastically reduced and I could see I was on the road of recovery (through the help of monitoring my progress with photos practically each night!!). The Belo creams come in two little pots, one is called Belo Acne Drying cream and the other Belo Peeling cream. I'd received these from my dermatologist back in the Philippines some time in early January of 2010 but hadn't used them so they were good as new to use. Immediately, after using the cream, my skin peeled in patches as if I'd had a minor sunburn. It didn't hurt and it deeply exfoliated my skin by making old layers peel off, helping to unclog my pores (which my skin seemed incapable of doing naturally).

I'm aware that the names of these Belo products give little indication of their content so I'll type out what's written on these little pots:
BELO ACNE DRYING CREAM
- Belo prescription. Acne Drying Cream contains Benzoyl Peroxide which is used in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of acne vulgaris.
DIRECTIONS fOR USE:
- Use as directed by your Belo physician.

BELO DLC PEELING CREAM
- Belo Prescriptives DLC Peeling Cream contains 0.05% Tretinoin which is used as an exfoliating agent in the treatment of skin pigmentation and protection against premature aging of the skin. It is used in the treatment of blackheads, whiteheads, and mild to moderate cases of acne vulgaris.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
- Use as directed by your Belo physician


I admit, the peeling skin posed a problem as well because it wasn't particularly attractive to be going about in public with flaky bits of skin on your face but it definitely sped up my recovery from this acne rash from hell. By January I was normalising, my forehead was the next area to recover and I had a completely clear and spotless forehead up until February (a few spots creeped back). By February my cheeks were greatly recovered and I had mostly scars covering my cheeks, chin and sides of my face. The scars were dark pink and purple but because the skin's surface was flat, I could finally cover it up with foundation. By March I stopped taking Tetralysal 'cause I read up that prolonged use could seriously hurt your stomach or something. All of my acne rash scars had faded away by March.

By April I was pleased that my skin was relatively behaved with normal breakouts now and then. And here I am today on May 29th with several spots BUT they are normal non-rash ones. I carry on using the Belo creams now and then when I feel I need them but don't use them daily since it makes my skin dry and peel, and go a little bit pink.

Today, I don't have perfectly clear skin but I am definitely back to normal. I probably have four little spots on my face. I keep drinking lots of water, wash my face at least 2x a day, try to eat healthy and use Olay face washcloths and Olay exfoliating scrub (I love these two). I never went back to the doctor after finishing Tetralysal simply because I knew I was cured by it and I didn't fancy waiting another 2 hours in a silly waiting room (why are doctors never on schedule?).

My theory on what had happened to me back in September 2010 was that the Zithromax, flu-antibiotic, had somehow knocked out healthy bacteria protecting me from bad, acne-causing bacteria. As a result, some particularly NASTY strain of acne-causing bacteria broke through my immune system and settled on my face. The 2 weeks in August-September 2010 of 100% clear and glowing skin was just the calm before the storm. So, I just wished I'd began my Belo cream sooner but still I'm doubtful whether the full-blown rash breakout could have been controlled.

My brother began Tetralysal over a month ago as he's always had an acne problem and I can already see his face clearing up. Previously, he'd been taking roaccutane but because it's so harmful and with dangerous side-effects (his cholesterol rocketed up at 18years old), he's stopped taking it (although being very effective) and switched over to Tetralysal for the next 3 months.

Sooooo, if you actually managed to read ALL of that up there, kudos to you I'm impressed for your patience in reading my life story. Haha! In short, Tetralysal worked for me within 3 months, and then I stopped taking it since in the long-term it can badly affect your gut. Nevertheless, I strongly believe if you have a bad acne problem it's WORTH it and don't delay because I've been through trying to solve it at home by myself only to no avail.

[narsjen]

Hi there..so How long did you take Tetralysal (Lymecycline)?..for 3 mos. only and then after that you stopped?

[LeanneMc]

I'm 25 and have been trying to sort my acne out for years. I was put on Dianette for over 5 years which worked like magic (admittedly it took about 3 months for the magic to occur) my skin had never been so clear! But about 18months ago I was told that I should never have been left on it for so long as it carries health risks and was given another pill (can't remember what one now, I've tried about 4 in the last 18months). Within 2 or 3 months I could see my skin was getting bad but was told I was over-reacting. Then a few months ago we moved house and got a new doctor and they put me onto celeste instead. My skin continued to get worse but having been told by one Doctor I was over-reacting I was reluctant to go back. I went back about 2 weeks ago because my skin was terrible, covered in large boil like acne spots and very very painful. The nurse saw me and immediately changed my pill again (I've lost track of what one I'm on now) and referred me to the Dermatologist.

He's put me on a 3 month course of of Lymecycline with a new topical cream I haven't tried before, but told me that because of my age, I'm unlikely to outgrow this (unless one day I have children and my hormones change entirely). But if this doesn't work, he has said I could consider hospital treatment.

Has Lymecycline worked for anyone else? Or is it one that works for a bit, you come off and you're back to square one? Anyone had hospital treatment?