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Hello!
This is my first time posting. I just wondered what people's thoughts were on antibiotics, and stopping using them? I know there's a million and one discussions on it already but I'd like some reassurance.
So: I've had issues with my skin (not severe, but it really wasn't good!)since I was about 12 or 13, and I finally went to the doc'sin, I think January of this year? I was 18,and it had spread to my shoulders, which was new for me, as it's always been just my face.The doctor I saw prescribed lymecycline capsules to take once a day, and benzoyl peroxide gel (the milder one) to use twice a day. I had no issues with it at all, no side effects, both worked great, and my skin was the clearest it had been in a good few years! A second doctor told me I'd be fine to use the gel just once a day, so I did, everything still okay. In September of this year, I was moved from moderate-level to mild level by a third doctor, as I only had one or two little pimples left, which meant I was taken off of lymecycline and just continuing with the gel.
About two weeks later I went back, as I'd had quite a few new spots forming, and basically got a little panicky that it was starting up again. I was seen by the first doctor that had prescribed me the lymecycline, and this time he gave me a prescription for doxycycline, to avoid resistance. Again, no issues with it at all (I know it can make some people nauseous?), and my skin has reacted brilliantly.
I only have nine pills left, and I've decided to try taking these onesevery other day as opposed to once a day, to see what happens. My question is (and sorry, this post is rather longwinded!), should I stop the antibiotics all-together now, after these pills are finished, and try again with just the gel? I'm hoping to see my doc in a day or so butI'm very worried - terrified, in fact - that I'll have a sudden breakout, all in time for Christmas! Has anyone herestopped doxycycline and not had a major breakout??
Thanks, and sorry again for the long question!
There is always the risk that when you stop antibiotics, your acne will simply come back worse so it is suggested that you:
taper off (vs stopping suddenly)
have an alternate treatment in place.
The bottom line is that antibiotics is not a sustainable solution so you'll have to stop sooner rather than later. To boost your immune system, you should try eating better, exercising, reigning in the stress and getting a topical routine that works for your schedule.
Good Luck
Hi!
Thought I'd give an update: I was prescribed a new prescription of doxycycline, possibly my last (hopefully I won't need any more!).
I've been taking them every other day for about a month now and it seems to be working alright, I have a few pimples (a couple on my cheek, the others mostly between my eyebrows and just above that on the forehead), but they're very small and you can only really see the little ones under a harsh light - they may have been there before, I'm not sure, but ever since I've started tapering off I have been looking more closely!! Which probably doesn't help 
I'm also attempting to fix my (quite bad) sleeping pattern to see if that helps, too!
I'm going to try and go down again to once every two days, if I can, and see how it goes...! I know acne from your teens can take up til your mid-twenties to finally subside, and at 19 I'm hoping if it doesn't stop now, that it will by then, ha!
Fingers crossed 
Hello!
It's been a very long time since I last posted, so I thought I'd log on for a brief update!!
So I've completely stopped using doxycycline now, I tapered off slowly until I ran out of pills, and I'm pleased to say that since I stopped taking them completely (I think a couple of months ago?), I've had no huge breakout! I still have small pimples here and there, but nothing like how it was, so I'm very happy with it!! Touchwood I won't be needing antibiotics for my skin again, but they worked really well for me!!
--ceilrahc
You are lucky they worked so well for you. They worked amazingly well for me too. However, when I stopped cold turkey a few years ago, I got a horrible break out which lasted 3 weeks. After that i tried upping dosage of doxy and then went to minocycline after i became resistant to doxy. Finally I gave up on mino and was clear for 2 years by staying away from sugar.
However, I had to take a couple of other antibiotics 2 months ago for a stomach infection. It was a 1week prescription and I stopped cold turkey. 2 months later, my skin broke out pretty bad. I haven't had such a bad break out in 2 years. Even controlling my diet (staying away from sugar) is not helping anymore. I just wish I can get back to the point where my skin was clear and I was in control of my acne.