I would try what your dermatologist is telling you to do right now; however, take caution with the antibiotics because they can really mess up your gut.

Also, I know this isn't something that you'll want to hear, but I really advise staying away from Accutane, especially if your acne isn't severe (you even said so yourself that it isn't). Yes, acne is a bummer to have, but if it isn't absolutely (and i mean absolutely) stopping you from going about your day, then Accutane isn't really for you. There are many side effects that have the potential to be long term, and it definitely is not worth the risk. And while many people do have great experiences with Accutane, it isn't until one is left with the short end of the stick that they realize that Accutane really should be considered the last resort of last resorts (not to sound melodramatic).

Also, a good thing to do maybe is to go onto the "Repairing the Long Term Side Effects of Accutane" thread and ask yourself whether or not you're acne is bad enough to warrant you potentially going there to look for answers to potential side effects that don't seem to go away. In other words, put yourselves in the shoes of someone who is suffering long term side effects, and ask yourself if the risk is worth it (even if chances may seem slim).

Thanks for the reply, hopefully I wont need to go on accutane & I know my acne isnt severe but it still affects me in the same way as if it was like it was getting to the point were I wouldnt open the door to people & really hated going out, I'm at a point were I've tried literally everything (natural ways, Microdermabrasions, salicylic acid peels, probiotics, spent 1000's on skincare, vitamins, glycolic acid, benzyl peroxide, few antibiotics, epiduo etc.) I'm on erythromycin atm & seem to be getting good results so far (Havent taken antibiotics in almost a year prior as I wanted to try & deal with it on my own) but Im going to keep an eye on it & hopefully I'll have good skin! also having about a spoonful or 2 of greek yogurt a day to get some good bacteria but fingers crossed I wont need accutane. But if all else fails it will be something Ill try, If erythromycin doesn't work my last choice before accutane would be bactrim but depends how my skin is after erythromycin.

Yeah do not go on accutane, my dermatologist said that if my acne doesnt get better on the minocycline she prescribed me then she will prescribe me accutane. YET the acne on my legs went away, my back acne got so much better i literally only have one spot by my shoulder and my face at the moment looks good i only have scars that will go away soon. However, she does not know i did not take the minocycline and cleared up without it. I kept reading all over the internet that it makes your acne worse before it gets better and then there is a change that the acne will come back with a vengeance. Like wtf? I dont need that because school starts soon and i do not need a messed up face. And it sucks when you are the only one with bad acne in your family i know

How many months combined(all courses) had you been on antibiotics?

Glad your skin is getting better skye! I literally didnt want to go back on medication but even tho my skin did get better on its own & wasnt as bad as it used to be it still wasnt good enough & I just thought id try something else one last time & see where it gets me. & Ive probably been on antibiotics for a combined total of maybe like over a year? (over the period of 5 years) but I'm not too sure because its been so long, I'm on erythromycin for 8 weeks & if I do get clear then i'll see what to do from there. But I think were Ive gone wrong is when I have been on antibiotics ive never used a topical with them because I was only ever prescribed Epiduo which just irritated my skin too much to the point were i looked like I had burns but now Im using differin gel along side the antibiotics so hopefully itll help!

1 hour ago, Davee said:

Glad your skin is getting better skye! I literally didnt want to go back on medication but even tho my skin did get better on its own & wasnt as bad as it used to be it still wasnt good enough & I just thought id try something else one last time & see where it gets me. & Ive probably been on antibiotics for a combined total of maybe like over a year? (over the period of 5 years) but I'm not too sure because its been so long, I'm on erythromycin for 8 weeks & if I do get clear then i'll see what to do from there. But I think were Ive gone wrong is when I have been on antibiotics ive never used a topical with them because I was only ever prescribed Epiduo which just irritated my skin too much to the point were i looked like I had burns but now Im using differin gel along side the antibiotics so hopefully itll help!

Oral antiiotics should be used only for start of treatment. You have to combine this with some topical retinoid. Topical retinoid will cause breakout so that's why oral antibiotics are. If you use just oral antibiotics, acne ill come back as soon as you stop them(it's not true for everybody, but for most people. It's true for you because you have been on them over a year and tey didn't solve problem with acne as you can see) After ending oral antiiotics you should still use retinopid + add some topical antibiotics but BP is better because bacteria can't build resistance

1 hour ago, Umas said:

Oral antiiotics should be used only for start of treatment. You have to combine this with some topical retinoid. Topical retinoid will cause breakout so that's why oral antibiotics are. If you use just oral antibiotics, acne ill come back as soon as you stop them(it's not true for everybody, but for most people. It's true for you because you have been on them over a year and tey didn't solve problem with acne as you can see) After ending oral antiiotics you should still use retinopid + add some topical antibiotics but BP is better because bacteria can't build resistance 

When I was younger I always just thought the antibiotics would just clear my acne on its own only recently ive realized that the retinoid is needed to keep acne away which annoys me because If i would've used a topical along side antibiotics years ago I might have had a different outcome! but hopefully it'll help this time round. Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated.  

10 minutes ago, Davee said:

When I was younger I always just thought the antibiotics would just clear my acne on its own only recently ive realized that the retinoid is needed to keep acne away which annoys me because If i would've used a topical along side antibiotics years ago I might have had a different outcome! but hopefully it'll help this time round. Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated.  

Yea, oral antibiotics only kill bacteria(p.acne) which isn't really a cause of acne(people without acne still have
that bacteria on their skin). Although more accuratly most of antibiotics used in acne are bacteriostatic
which means that they do not kill bacteria, but slows down their reproduction and let immune system do it job(
although even bacteriostatic can kill bacteria if is used in higher dose). Antibiotics have anti-inflammatory
property also. Even at dose that do almost nothing to bacteria, they are anti-inflammatory which means that
for acne antibiotics should be used in low dose, although I would say that they shouldn't be used in acne at
all, but oh well at least we should do it smart.
Just find a regimen that is good for you and your skin, you have to use topicals to maintain effect after coming
off antibiotics.