Oral Antibiotic
Reviews
3.4
1734 Reviews
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.
Oral Antibiotic
Side Effects
Medium-High
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.
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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April 6, 2008

Pros:

its really not too expensive. easy to use and works on mild acne

When taking this while also using duac gel, my skin cleared completely. I haven't experienced the nausea or other side effects. I have however heard that this pill can promote depression. I don't know if this is true or not?
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February 25, 2007

Pros:

This product totally cleared my skin after a month. IO mean my skin was perfect, I really thpught my acne was gone for good.

Cons:

The acne will come back after five months. It is very heartbreaking. And while on the medicine you can eat dairy which is kinda of hard.

The product works but around month four or five you need to start on it again.
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August 4, 2014
It works but study up on it first!
I went to my doctor because I had a bad case of bacne (back acne) but it turned out to be some sort of bacterial infection...sorry, I can't recall its name. Its from excessive sweating and possibly supplements I take. I don't really have facial acne but I do have a minor case of rosacea as well so he prescribed Doxycyline for both. Within 5 days my back is almost 90% clear and the minor redness on my face is gone. I definitely feel like my skin looks alot tighter/smooth. For those complaining about being nauseous, vomiting, stomach aches etc. are you reading the label warnings? Make sure you are taking this on a full stomach during or immediately after meal or else you will feel sick. Also my label said do not consume dairy products within two hours of taking it. Hopefully my skin will stay this way once I'm off of it!
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August 15, 2012
Temporarily clears

Pros:

-Cleared my skin completely within 2 months
-Made my skin less oily
-Reduced the occurrence of big pustules

Cons:

-Takes a while to see results (2 months for me)

Doxy completely cleared up my skin and has made it look way better than it has in years. I also use Epiduo at night, but I'm convinced that Doxy is what has improved my skin so much. Within 2 months, I saw significant improvement in my acne, and from there on I only saw more. Now, I am completely clear, and if I ever do get pimples they are extremely small whiteheads. I still get a pustule maybe once every two months or so. I am very happy with what Doxy has done for me. EDIT one year later: I still think Doxy got me out of one of the worst breakouts of my life, however, it did stop working after about 5 months of use. Basically, this only temporarily clears the skin, but sometimes you need that extra boost.
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July 31, 2012

Pros:

-No breakouts during use
-Acne did not return afterwards with the help of Benzaclin and a better acne fighting routine

Cons:

-Slight stomach pain if you don't take with food (nothing unbearable)

This will be long but I am going to tell my story in hopes that it will help some people. I began having moderate breakouts at 15 years old (i am now 22) for which my first dermatologist prescribed me Benzaclin. Benzaclin worked wonders for years. A feeling of mine though is early consistent use of benzaclin caused dependence and may be the reason for my persistent but i can't prove that...but last year when I was 21 I had the biggest breakout of my entire life; on top of my normal sporadic acne, my right cheek became enveloped in acne, some cystic, some not. I went to my dermatologist and he prescribed me cefadroxil which cleared up my acne slowly and within a month it was much better. After 2 months of using cefadroxil I changed dermatologists based on the recommendation of a friend and the new derm said cefadroxil should not be used for acne and he prescribed me Monodox (doxycyline) I used this for 3 months and my face improved even more; my acne scars were even starting to fade. During this 3 months I got a solid routine down which includes washing my face 2 or 3 times a day with AcneFree Oatmeal & Jojoba Gentle Acne Scrub and applying Olay moisturizer immediately after (15 SPF version in the AM and no SPF version in the PM) and I still use Benzacline every night before I go to sleep on sensitive areas. I am also meticulous about not re-using towels, not touching my face and NOT popping pimples (something I used to do...i know ew). I find touching my face in a area will cause acne in that area. Upon stopping monodox and not being on any antibiotics I have continued this routine breakout free. It has been almost 4 months without a breakout. I still get sporadic acne but this routine has helped a lot. Before this I had never used a moisturizer and I was using cheaper face washes; this routine has worked MUCH better so far and I HIGHLY recommend it. I am going to post my story under threads for each of the acne treatments I have used. I really hope this helps!!
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May 21, 2012

Pros:

Worked in 10 days
Worked on both cystic and your run of the mill ones..
I woke up yesterday morning with not one pimple!!!

Cons:

Makes you nauseous if eaten without food
headaches
Will more than likely come back as soon as i finish antibiotics...

I am 24 years old had acne since 13ish i have tried every wash and cream under the sun during teen years i wasnt allowed to use perscriptions as my mother was cautious about side affects.. when i was 18-20 my acne actually cleared up ok, just a few spots around menstuation time but the last two years have been awful terrible cystic acne on my chin and back constantly leaving red marks inbetween the time they came and went i went to my dr's and he perscribed doxy i didnt hold high hopes the first week was hell my skin broke out worse than ever before i counted 17 cystic pimples on my back two on my temple and all along hairline i was mortified to go to work but stuck it out..i also used cetaphil wash and 5% benzyl and peroxide cream didnt pop just total left it alone and the last 2 mornings i have woken up not one pimple on my face or back!!!!! i still have red spots but i can now just focus on them instead of the vicious cycle of treating scars then have breakouts so on so on! my advice: take with food!!! otherwise you will feel ill, i also took 2 panadol day and night to fight of headache. good luck i pray this works for you too!
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March 28, 2012

Pros:

It WORKS.
No side effects unless you have a sensitive stomach and you take it without food.

Cons:

takes a LONG time.

During the first month of using this, I didnt see hardly and results, and it was very frustrating. I thought it didn't work. After another month went by, my skin became a lot smoother, and less acne was popping up. As of now, my skin is very smooth and clear...you just have to be PATIENT....and dont get discouraged too soon.
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November 23, 2011

Pros:

Clears up acne
Easy to use
Amazingly cheap (Like $25)

Cons:

Does cause Nausea if taken on empty stomach
Makes you sensitive to sunlight

Great product to try since it's so inexpensive to see what it does to your skin. I have pretty bad acne with an oily complexion, but after using this for a couple of weeks my skin has been clearing up! I combine this with some benzoyle peroxide cream on the morning and some adapelene gel at night that my dermagolist recommeded. Still get some new pimples every now and then but its most likely since my hair touches my face and thats the only spot i get new blemishes. Super cheap product that worked for me, be a damn shame not to try it since its so cheap
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September 20, 2011

Pros:

Works well for cystic acne
Extremely cheap ($2.87 before insurance)
Easy to use (compared to topicals for body acne)

Cons:

Intense stomach aches
Sensitivity to sun
Cannot take with certain foods high in calcium or iron
Does not work forever
Can cause antibiotic induced diarrhea
I personally have found it to be less effective for body acne than for facial acne, but not completely ineffective.

Doxycycline is a great but temporary solution. It will NOT work forever. I have been using it for a month, but a few years ago, I was taking it for over a year and it simply stopped working at all. Probiotics are a must. Eat plenty of yogurt, but make sure you eat it 3 hours before or after your dose. Antibiotic induced diarrhea can have very serious complications, and once it starts, it can be difficult to fix it. Increased sun sensitivity definitely happens. It was not as severe for me as it is for some, but I did notice it. Basically, sunlight feels like its burning your skin. You will definitely want to avoid excessive sunlight if you notice this feeling. If you are going to use doxycycline, I would start discussing other options with your physician. In my case, I have body acne, as well, so topical solutions aren't a very effective option for me. I am strongly considering Accutane after this round of doxycycline treatment. Either way, be prepared for this treatment to stop working, sometimes sooner than later. It works slowly. People here are saying they saw results within 2 weeks, sometimes within days. That is not typical. Generally, you won't see significant results for 4-6 weeks. Doxycycline does, in itself, have some mild anti-inflammatory properties. To be honest, ibuprofen has been a more effective anti-inflammatory for me. It also stops working slowly. If at any time after 6-8 weeks you notice your acne is beginning to return to the same level as before, don't wait to start discussing other options. I have also been on minocycline and have found doxycycline to be vastly more effective. My acne: Severe cystic acne on face and back. After 1 month, I have almost no active cystic acne left.
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April 12, 2011

Pros:

got rid of most of the acne on my back, and most of the cyst zits that I would get on my face.

Cons:

the pill is big, it doesn't do ANYTHING for blackheads though

I have been using it for a few months and it helps a bit, but I still have really bad acne. It isn't a cure or quick fix, but it does help.
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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.

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.