19 replies to this topic

[GorilaSnot]

IT SEEMS LIKE ANTIBIOTICS JUST DONT WORK...IS THIS TRUE?

[jersey85]

ive read plenty of reviews where people have been cleared of acne using antibiotics like minocycline. the problem is most of them have had to be on the meds for long periods of time, even years, or else the acne has a good chance of coming back. i personally know of one guy who used mino for 2 years and was clear afterwards.


ive been on mino for 4 weeks now and can definitely say i see very good improvement, but not enough to say this is great stuff. but most places ive read, have said that a true judgment cant be made until 6-12 weeks on the pills depending on the person.

good luck!!

[BH-Solution]

I think solodyn is the only one that works. But of course you only stay clear when you are on it.

[sweetheart519]

Antibiotics work to get the bacteria under control and stop the cycle of breakouts. You then have to maintain it with other medications, and treat the underlying cause if there is one (like hormones). I am 100% clear now, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 small pimples a month, after having severe acne. I was only on oral antibiotics for 4 months.

[nsad]

i been on it 2 1/2 months, there is an improvement. But not up to my standards, 50% clear rather then 30%.. i will only be satisfied with 100% clear.

[Dreaming in Red]

I have been on Minocycline for 6 weeks and have seen little to no improvement. I remain cautiously optimistic, due to me needing to eat more fruits and veggies, as well as drink alcohol less.

[Komebackid510]

I've read somewhere that antibiotics are getting less effective at treating acne. Mino. didn't do a whole lot for and gave me some bad side effects. I think Tane is by far the best choice for getting rid of acne or at least making it more treatable.

[babowc]

doesn't the host develop an immunity to antibiotics after awhile??

I don't see why antibiotics would become less effective at treating acne since acne isn't evolving..

my point is in the first sentence. if ya take it for longer periods of time, I read it just stops working as effectively.

[sweetheart519]

doesn't the host develop an immunity to antibiotics after awhile??

I don't see why antibiotics would become less effective at treating acne since acne isn't evolving..

my point is in the first sentence. if ya take it for longer periods of time, I read it just stops working as effectively.

The strains of bacteria can mutate and become immune to the antibiotic if it is used long term, or if it is stopped and started. A short course (4-6 months) is generally not long enough to develop bacterial resistance. Also, using a topical antibiotic that also has benzoyl peroxide (Benzamycin, DUAC) greatly lessens the development of bacterial resistance.

[tobeacnefree]

IT SEEMS LIKE ANTIBIOTICS JUST DONT WORK...IS THIS TRUE?

i used erythromycin for six months and i was 100% clear but unfortunaly i had to stop since i was planning on getting pregnant in the near future

[megancake]

I was on doxycyclin for 3 years and it worked better than the other things I had tried, I only broke out just before my period a little bit but was otherwise clear. However after 3 years on it became ineffective and so I stopped taking it. I also feel like it weakened my immune system as I was constantly getting sick.
I think antibiotics work well for a lot of people but it is still only a temporary fix and I don't think it's very good for your body so it's kind of a toss up.

[barmpot]

Doxyclycine, mino worked perfectly for me, for years. Tetracycline, oxytetra and lymedycline didnt but thats because they have to be taken on an empty stomach.

[acne_battle]

I just started using Cefadroxil (anbibiotic in pill form) and clenia (sulfer based antibiotic cream) last Thursday and its already starting to kick in. Before I have tried minocycline but I became immune to it.

[LZA]

Antibiotics are not a cure for acne. The idea is basically you take them for about 2-3 years and within that time frame your body will either grow out of it or the other meds that the derms give you will give you more control over your breakouts.

I personally don't believe that we are "growing out of it". Studies show that the average age of acne sufferers is rising, meaning that the problem has more to do with other issues than with hormonal changes in young adults.

Depending on the severity of your acne, the other meds (ie topical retinoids) may keep your skin clear, but unfortunately these medications are not cures either. If you are lucky they may work to keep your skin clear most of the time, but they will not stop you from having breakouts. Manufacturers of these topicals even admit in the drug fact information that comes with them that they do not know precisely what even makes them effective.

I would suggest saving yourself of the trouble of antibiotics and visit the nutrition and holistic health forums. For me personally I have gained much more through committing to a specific lifesytle than I ever did with messing around with any of the costly drugs pushed my the pharma industry.

[bran88]

Antibiotics are not a cure for acne. The idea is basically you take them for about 2-3 years and within that time frame your body will either grow out of it or the other meds that the derms give you will give you more control over your breakouts.

I personally don't believe that we are "growing out of it". Studies show that the average age of acne sufferers is rising, meaning that the problem has more to do with other issues than with hormonal changes in young adults.

Depending on the severity of your acne, the other meds (ie topical retinoids) may keep your skin clear, but unfortunately these medications are not cures either. If you are lucky they may work to keep your skin clear most of the time, but they will not stop you from having breakouts. Manufacturers of these topicals even admit in the drug fact information that comes with them that they do not know precisely what even makes them effective.

I would suggest saving yourself of the trouble of antibiotics and visit the nutrition and holistic health forums. For me personally I have gained much more through committing to a specific lifesytle than I ever did with messing around with any of the costly drugs pushed my the pharma industry.

I second that reply

[hardlymovin2003]

Antibiotics are not a cure for acne. The idea is basically you take them for about 2-3 years and within that time frame your body will either grow out of it or the other meds that the derms give you will give you more control over your breakouts.

I personally don't believe that we are "growing out of it". Studies show that the average age of acne sufferers is rising, meaning that the problem has more to do with other issues than with hormonal changes in young adults.

Depending on the severity of your acne, the other meds (ie topical retinoids) may keep your skin clear, but unfortunately these medications are not cures either. If you are lucky they may work to keep your skin clear most of the time, but they will not stop you from having breakouts. Manufacturers of these topicals even admit in the drug fact information that comes with them that they do not know precisely what even makes them effective.

I would suggest saving yourself of the trouble of antibiotics and visit the nutrition and holistic health forums. For me personally I have gained much more through committing to a specific lifesytle than I ever did with messing around with any of the costly drugs pushed my the pharma industry.

i agree with you but diasagree at the same time..ive been on tetracyline retin-a bp10% and duac now for about 4 months going on 5 and never been clear in my life....also before i went to the derm 4-5 months ago i was allllll into the nutrition and holistic lifestyle, eating fruits and veggis and meats all day long for about 2-3 months and then i started buying into the acv crap so then i started to use it on my face which was good at first then i started to drink it and then i started to break out like never before my acne went to barley there/mild to serve in less than a month i dont kno what caused it but the whole nutrition thing for me never worked and i tried manythings and nothing is working like it is working now.

[acne_battle]

i been on it 2 1/2 months, there is an improvement. But not up to my standards, 50% clear rather then 30%.. i will only be satisfied with 100% clear.

Im sorry I know what you mean! I am very obsessed with my skin. What oral antibiotic are you on?

[Jess]

This has always been a controversial topic

I side with the notion that antibiotics prescribed long-term for acne are a terrible idea-wreaking havoc on your immune system and killing good bacteria. Of course, I'm in opposition to the majority of derms out there, who seem to hand them out like candy and have a mandated protocol that requires every teen with acne to take oral antibiotics for months and months.

I wonder if there's been a poll about it? If not, that might produce some general numbers about how they work for some of the people here. I've read stats that at least 80% of teenagers today are immune to every prescription acne medication and oral antibiotic (after decades of over-prescription the p.acnes may have grown resistant)

[Deadbeat007]

In my experience, they've been fantastic for short-term relief.

[sweetheart519]

This has always been a controversial topic

I side with the notion that antibiotics prescribed long-term for acne are a terrible idea-wreaking havoc on your immune system and killing good bacteria. Of course, I'm in opposition to the majority of derms out there, who seem to hand them out like candy and have a mandated protocol that requires every teen with acne to take oral antibiotics for months and months.

I wonder if there's been a poll about it? If not, that might produce some general numbers about how they work for some of the people here. I've read stats that at least 80% of teenagers today are immune to every prescription acne medication and oral antibiotic (after decades of over-prescription the p.acnes may have grown resistant)

Amen to that. They do hand them out like candy, especially to teenagers. And it has detrimental effects. The good doctors will not prescribe them for more than a 4-6 month course once a suitable antibiotic is found.