Doxycycline
Oral Antibiotic
Reviews
3.4
1734 Reviews
Doxycycline
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
56%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Doxycycline
Oral Antibiotic
Side Effects
Medium-High
Doxycycline
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.
Doxycycline
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.
Read All About Doxycycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
20.7%
4
32.9%
3
22.1%
2
12.7%
1
11.5%

Used Doxycycline? Rate It:

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May 31, 2007

Pros:

My dermatologist has had me on this medication for over a year and it was working. 100 mg every 12 hrs.

Cons:

Made me sick to my stomach, made back and chest acne worse.

I don't like this antibiotic. Wish and wanting him(my doctor) to take me off of it but refuses to, says I have to keep takin it in order for it to work..get a clue, its been over a year and the acne and scars are gettin worse. Thumbs down! Don't use it.
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September 10, 2012

Pros:

Cheap.
Can be purchased without prescription.

Cons:

Have to strictly monitor administration
Can not exceed 3-6 months
Can cause severe gastric pain (vomitting, nausea)
Can developed resistance over time

I reviewed this over a year ago and at that time, I was on my 3rd antibiotic course. I don't recommend it. It suppresses the immune system and doesn't fight the cause of acne. I'm now acne-free and it wasn't because of doxycycline.
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May 28, 2011

Pros:

no acne breakout, most acne cleared.

Cons:

Frequent peeing.
Will feel like vomiting if not taken with food.

I will say i would not choose taking this medicine after this one month course. Now its the 14th day.
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February 9, 2010

Pros:

it's cheap and it may be the answer to acne problems.

Cons:

i'm impatient and i want my acne to disappear quickly.

I've been taking 1 capsule(100 MG) of Doxycycline every day for 11 days now and my skin feels virtually the same. I'm going to give it a full month and a half before I say it's not working for me but I have my heart set on trying Accutane so of course I'm thinking it's not really working. I generally have oily/dry skin and break out mainly around my mouth, particularly on the chin, and so far I've gotten 1 new cystic pimple in the 11 days I've been taking this. I think we can all relate to the feeling of just wanting it to be GONE already. :/ I'm going to post again as soon as it's been 1 month of taking this drug and let you know if it's worked for me. Goodluck everybody!
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May 30, 2011

Pros:

None

Cons:

Major cystic breakout (and I don't get cystic acne) scarring and nausea

This caused me to breakout into very bad cystic acne after 1 week, and I've never had this kind of acne. It's been over 2 weeks since I got off the doxycycline hyclate and many of the zits are still there and taking forever to heal. Some of them have caused what is probably permanent scarring. If a drug is going to cause an initial breakout, it shouldn't be so bad that it scars you for life. My dermatologist is also a jackass for prescribing it when I didn't really need it. My skin was doing OK and I just had some bumps near my hairline which would probably be gone by now anyways. This will take months to recover from. Stay away from this stuff unless your skin is already full of cystic zits and can't get any worse.
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July 21, 2010

Pros:

-cleared acne fast
-it is a pretty color!!!

Cons:

-the pills are really big
-they have crazy side effects

So, I was given 18 sample pills from my dermatologist and took one every day for a while. One day, I was talking to my friend about how I just took "a horse pill". She said that whenever she takes a big pill, she is afraid she is going to choke. Now this made me scared, so I started to not take them. I figured that since we didn't have to pay for them yet, I just would start taking them once I had to pay for them. They turned out being very expensive, (I am not sure of the exact price) and now I just got my prescription. They are smaller than the samples but still very large, and I am horribly afraid to take them. But all in all, these pills worked great for me when I was taking them. I have heard that you get a stomachache if you eat before taking it, but others say you can't take them on an empty stomach. I have not had problems with the side effects of these pills at all,
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website