Hi everyone, I am an 18 year old female who stated to develop acne at age 12. I have been taking the oral antibiotic doxycycline for about 4 or 5 years. Recently I have been reading about the importance of gut flora and gut health. This research is what led me to realize antibiotic use, especially in the long term, can be very harmful to your gut. I suspect myself of having a candida overgrowth due to longterm antibiotic use, tinea capitis (a fungal infection of the scalp), and fungal acne. My tinea capitis and fungal acne have both been cured, however I would love to address the root cause to prevent further issues. I am going to attempt the gaps diet hopefully very soon in an effort to help restore my gut and balance gut flora. This diet is fairly similar to paleo, but was specifically created to heal the gut.

The problem I am having now is that I am uncertain and extremely apprehensive about stopping my antibiotic. Doxycycline has worked for me all these years, but probably not as effectively as it should. I still use the topicals tretinoin and aczone with the antibiotic and have mild breakouts. However when I stop taking doxycyciline my acne becomes very severe. The last time I missed taking the antibiotic for one day I developed three huge inflamed zits that took weeks to go away. I am very self concious about my acne to the point where I become dysfunctional while having a break out. I would like to do everything in my power to stifle a severe break out while transitioning off of doxycycline. I have also never taken a probiotic before since I only recently earned about them.

My question is how I should go about stopping doxycycline. Some thoughts I had would be to start taking a probiotic for a few weeks and then gradually stop taking my antibiotic. Or that I should start the gaps diet and probiotics right away while still taking doxycycline. I think that taking an antibiotic while doing the gaps diet will defeat the purpose of it and maybe I should wait until I stop taking it. Or that maybe starting the diet right away will only help lessen the effects of stopping doxycycline. If anyone has suggestions or experience with a similar issue please let me know, I will be very grateful. Also if anyone has ideas about the gaps diet and it's ability to heal acne and candida overgrowth feel free to write me about it.
additionally if you have suggestions for certain probiotics or vitamins that would be most healing please add those.

extra information because I'm extensive

currently:
diet: I eat mostly organic foods but also quite a bit of sugar and carbs, pretty much whatever I please. no fast food and rarely junk food and rarely dairy
skin routine am: antibacterial face wash (from dermatologist), thayers toner, aczone, azeliac acid (brand the ordinary), lotion, sunscreen non-comedgenic
pm: antibacterial face wash, micellar water, thayers toner, niacinamide 10% + zinc 1% (brand the ordinary), aczone, tretinoin, lotion, spot treat with
mario badescu sulfur drying cream.

I have mild to moderate acne on my face (and oily skin), chest, and back. I have the least acne on my chest and most on my back.
other health issues: hair falling out, insomnia, vitamin d deficiency (I take gummies for this), extreme sun sensitivity, bad anxiety, paranoia, nausea, occasional constipation, very lethargic

again I welcome any additional knowledge or advice from people with similar issues or experiences and am grateful to everyone who replies.