Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
56%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Antibiotics should be used for a maximum of 3 months, provide only moderate benefit and only to some people, and may lead to side effects and strains of resistant bacteria. Studies do show doxycycline can reduce severe acne in the short term, and as far as oral antibiotics are concerned, it’s usually the go-to, but approach with caution and stay your own advocate.
Oral Antibiotic
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Doxycycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
June 14, 2010
Cons:
didn't help my acne
made me prone to yeast infections
Sorry for the extra personal info, but I couldn't even take this for the full time prescribed because of reoccuring yeast infections. I took it for over a month though and saw no results.
May 23, 2010
Pros:
None
Cons:
It didn't help my cystic acne.
I was prescribed this for my cystic acne,so I took it,then after my first trial,my doctor upped the dose and I did a second trial,but I saw absolutely no results.It may have been my doctors fault for prescribing this for my cystic acne
May 5, 2010
Pros:
Temporarily clears acne.
Cons:
Only temporary.
Nausea.
Yellowing/Browning of teeth.
Sensitivity to sun.
I would never recommend this to anyone. My dermatologist did not tell me this was a temporary solution. When my acne cleared while on Doryx, I thought it was permanent and I was so happy. About a month after I stopped taking Doryx, my acne returned 20 times worse and that is not an exaggeration. It ruined my face and now I am uncertain of what to do because my face will not return to its state prior to taking Doryx. All antibiotics are temporary and your acne may return worse, like mine did.
April 27, 2010
Pros:
May work well for some people!
Easy to take
Cheap
Cons:
Didn't clear my skin after 2 months of use, I am still breaking out consistently.
You can't use it forever.
You may become resistant to it.
Decreases appetite (may be good for some people, but not me)
Didn't do a thing for me, but neither did other tetracyclines.
March 13, 2010
Pros:
none
Cons:
- had no effect
- rectal bleeding
During the past year I decided to visit a dermatologist to help me with my acne. The first course of treatment I was put on was the pill doryx and the lotion Acanya. This comination did absoultely nothing for me except give me drops of blood in the toilet when deficating. I would not recommend this to anyone trying to treat acne based on my experience.
February 27, 2010
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Yeast infections. Doesn't work on back/chest acne. Long term antibiotic intake makes the bacteria stronger and more resistant which means horrible relapse after you stop.
I took it originally for my back. Absolutely nothing happened. When I stopped it , I think my face broke out (I had a clear face with occasional pimple or two)... My face won't go back to normal (a year) .... My back is still breaking out as it used to... It doesn't do anything. Wish I didn't waste the time or the hopes on it. It was covered by insurance though. Maybe it will work for some people but it didn't for me. I'm going on accutane now...
February 15, 2010
Pros:
None
Cons:
Yeast infections, acne-like rash on my chest that does not respond to ANY acne treatment!
I have a long history with acne since age 12, and I've tried just about everything, including 2 rounds of Accutane. Accutane helped tremendously, but only lasted about 1 year. Now I'm 23 and I've had moderate acne since age 17 when I stopped the Accutane. I've been treating with over the counter benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid cleansers with some control. I recently went to a new dermatologist to see what new advances there may have been since I stopped going 6 years ago. He put me on Doryx (doxycycline that supposedly doesn't cause stomach irritation) and Epiduo (differin + 2.5% benzoyl peroxide). The Epiduo is working great, but after 2 weeks of doxy, I got a yeast infection (which was one of my fears with long-term antibiotics) and this bumpy rash appeared on my chest - almost looks like tiny red pimples, but looks nothing like any type of acne I've had before, and I don't have body acne. So I went back to the derm with my yeast infection and mysterious rash, and he said it was only chest acne and that he would switch me to bactrim (which I'm not excited about given my propensity to yeast inf). I had lots of questions about why my chest broke out, but my barely-english-speaking doctor just couldn't answer them. I'm sticking with the Epiduo for now, and nixing any long-term antibiotics that will continue to wreak havoc on my immune system!
January 3, 2010
Pros:
None, I did not react to this antibiotic well. See "Bottom Line" for details.
Cons:
Within the 3rd day my skin was so dry it felt like sandpaper and was so damn itchy it seemed like no amount of lotion (Neutrogena oil free moisturizer) helped. My skin was peeling like crazy, my stomach hurt and made such loud noises at night I couldn’t sleep. Made the mistake of taking it on an empty stomach the 1st day, don’t do this or else you’ll be severely nauseous, eat a couple of crackers, pop the pill and then eat a few more crackers and make sure to wash it down with plenty of wa
Not everyone reacts the same to doxy, mino or tetracycline. I was put on doxy for moderate acne that was caused after I stopped taking an antidepressant called effexor that I had been on for 10 years. I had taken tetracycline before and my body reacted well to it however my primary doctor felt I should give doxycycline a try. Since it's part of the tetra family I thought I would react fine to it. . .boy was I wrong. I finally realized my symptoms were an allergic reaction and the drug was not responding well with me. I think it's a bunch of bulls*** when people say, stick it through when you're having bad symptoms from an antibiotic. Stop taking it if you react badly, its common sense but some people are so desperate when it comes to acne that they feel like it's their last resort. Bottom line, was on it for 5 days stopped b/c I was obviously allergic to it and I was put on Tetracycline instead.
January 1, 2010
Pros:
It started to somewhat clear up my acne. (but I'm thinking that was placebo)
Cons:
It never totally cleared up my acne, just slightly improved it for a month or two. Then I was back to normal. And then about 4 months after starting, I started to get massive breakouts on my chest and back.
I wish my dermatologist had never prescribed this. I don't know if it was the cause of my body acne (it could just be the crazy hormones as I get into the worst years of being a teenager), but it definitely didn't help anything. Now I'm trying a bunch of topicals to clear it up and my dermatologist and parents are trying to put my Accutane which is frustrating. This medication was a waste of time and money.
October 28, 2009
Pros:
first i am 25 years old stil having acne.i had used this doxy. before 3 months for 1 week bcos of acne one or two, mainly for redness & inflammation. it make my face worst.
Cons:
vomiting, tiredness,nausea, dry skin and making face to wrinkle and scary and worst..
I had used this doxy. before 3 months for 1 week bcos of one or two acne on my face mainly for redness & inflammation. It make small acne into very cysts big acne. I taken on night and when saw my face on mirror in morning my two small acne become very big cysts acne with full pledged. still i does not lose hope. I tried for one week my face full of big acne i stopped taking this medicine. Dont to be over confidence on this doxy... i also used azithromycin .no antibiotic is suitable for me.usually i have 1 or 2 acne but my face with many zits, scar, pigmentation,redness..Now i lose hope on taking antibiotic..Now i just apply fresh neem leaves paste in my head, face, neck & shoulders wait for 5 minutes then i rinse with water.I strongly believe in this method with 2 days i saw dramastic result on my face.. no need to take antibiotic and make me to feel sick.Neem is antibacterial, anti fungal and anti viral.Permanent solution for acne.Dont masturbate for 2 week to see results.
Pros:
cheap