Doxycycline
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Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should...

Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should be used only short term (max. 3 months).

It is usually prescribed at a dose of 50 to 100 mg once or twice per day.

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3.4
1460
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20.4%
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35.1%
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21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

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December 6, 2009

Pros:

+ Cleared the majority of my severely clogged pores after a month

Cons:

+ Made my skin even more sensitive to the sun (and it already was extremely sensitive beforehand)

Haven't felt sick like others have stated but have become really sensitive to the sun so I have to constantly apply sunlotion, however I was clearly warned about this... It works pretty well though and hopefully within another month my skin will clear up entirely if not then I'l try something else.
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December 4, 2009

Pros:

It cleared up all of the fine bumps I had on my face and even gave me a glow after about 5 days. It works fairly quickly. Probably the best treatment I have recieved thus far.

Cons:

As with everyone else it does make you nausea and/or vomit if you take on a empty stomach. No dairy 1hr. before or 2 hrs. after taking. Lastly, gave me reoccurring yeast infections.

I love the difference the medicine made but it was not worth my health. My primary doctor said that reoccurring yeast infections in women are common with this antibiotic. So for the women that have not been taking Doxy for long BE WARE! It took me two months before I realized that Doxy was causing my yeast infections. I sadly thought that the Doxy would help clear it up, considering, before I finally got frustrated and consulted with my physician. However, they were very mild infections. The only way I knew that I had one was because sexual intercourse was a little uncomfortable, otherwise, I had no symptoms. I'm sure it works like a charm for men but I just wanted to give women a heads up since I noticed that most people women that have posted on this website have not been taking it for long and maybe may not even realize that they have a infection and if so, that Doxy is the cause.
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December 3, 2009

Pros:

-Does an excellent job at clearing & preventing acne, AFTER about 3-4 weeks.
-It's easy, 1 pill/day.

Cons:

-Nausea! Eat something with it, You'll get very nauseous if you don't..
-I've noticed that my skin is a bit more oily than before.
-Found that I had a few more breakouts than before (with Proactive) during the first weeks. (Also on Tretinoin & Triaz)

As long as you can tolerate waiting a few weeks for results to appear (AKA stick with it), I would highly recommend Doxycycline as an addition to your acne treatment. (Although I mentioned that I initially had a few breakouts, they could be due to the fact that my doctor also put me on Tretinoin which can irritate the skin at first.)
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December 1, 2009

Pros:

It dried up all excisting acne(not to mention whole face) and makes whatever is deep in the skin come out. Results can be noticed in 2 weeks

Cons:

Drys up skin really bad. Can easily get sunburned if exposed to sun too long.im my case about 10 minutes.works, but really slow will make u really sick if take it on an empty stomach

I have been using doxycycline 100 mg x2 a day along with retin a at night for two weeks now and the combination of both have really dried up my face bad! And i really dont know wich oneis doing it since i started both at the same time. All my acne is dried up and the little bumps i kept feeling but wouldnt come out are coming out and drying up as well once dry what ever was in there just falls off when i wash my face. For moisturiser i use mederma cream spf 30 it helps block the sun, moisterises your face, and also takes care of all the little brown stops left behind. Doxy is a long term use med but lets all be patient. NVR PICK UR FACE. People have either acne, acne scars, or a clear face. And trust acne does go away. So for all of us who are going thru this dont give up. Take the med and be patient. Oh and take with something light like fruit, sandwich, or juice and crckers. Never on empty stomach you'll be sorry if you do.
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November 28, 2009

Pros:

4 days in..(also using differen at night)
-noticing my scars are clearing up already
-noticing my pimples that where coming through have come through and already going down

Cons:

nothing as of yet - not getting these stomach pains or anything, however, i am noticing occasional mood swings but i've been told its common when first on antibiotics

I've only just started this treatment along with Differen at night..I never really had that bad acne but genes do have a history of it. About 1-2months ago i got a really bad break out that didn't really go away and kept coming back with cysts etc and it was painful along with very uneven skin and it destroyed my confidence. I've just gone on this treatment and already i'm noticing my pimples coming through and going away alot faster along with my scars starting to clear up..not to much dryness yet but my eyes are getting more and more sensitive when outside which is expected..no stomach pains or nothing so lets wait and see!! Just been on this where i know i'm finally doing something about it makes me smile (even if it dosen't work)
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November 26, 2009

Pros:

-Really, really works.
-Cleared up face, neck, and back

Cons:

-Makes you TERRIBLY sick if taken on an empty stomach.
-Skin gets dry and flaky in spots.

After suffering through moderate acne for years, my doctor prescribed Doxy along with topical Erythromycin. It takes about two months to totally take effect, but once it does, its worth it. It does make your face slightly dry which is easily reversed through a moisturizer. If you take it on an empty stomach, it acts very fast and makes you feel horribly sick. This lasts for about two hours until it passes. It also seems to reduce my appetite. But overall, it is definitely worth it! My face looks and feels great!
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November 22, 2009

Pros:

dried up acne. pain and inflammation are gone.

Cons:

after 3 weeks not completely clear, some small pustules still appearing. very sick to stomach if not taken with food. medicine causing fatigue and depression.

Asking doctor for replacement or suffering through without oral medication. Going off to see if mood elevates and energy returns.
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November 16, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up cystic acne well. I didn't suffer from any of the listed side effects.

Cons:

You must be extra careful when out in sunlight.
Didn't fully clear up all visible pimples.

I've done 2 full courses of this medication, about a year apart. I think I did eventually build up a resistance to it. It worked relatively well, but was not the solution to my acne problems. Once I got off the medication (both times) my acne did return within a couple months. Keep in mind that this is an antibiotic, so it is not a product you can stay on forever.
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November 10, 2009

Pros:

all the cyst acne i had are gone, so no more pain from that.also no new acne. yay!

Cons:

a little upset stomach/diahhrea, but its worth it because the results are great so far.

just to clear things up, your doctor and/or pharmacist says not to take with food and to leave time before and after you take it (about 2 hours of not eating), and this is because doxycycline molecules attach themselves to calcium, aluminum, iron, magnesium, and zinc molecules, making it harder for your body to absorb the medication. i went to my dermatologist today and he said that its not dangerous to take it with food. the other problem with taking it with food is that you could take it with milk and think you got enough calcium for the day, but your body didn't absorb it very well. so my doctor also told me to take 1000 mg calcium supplements (1 per day) and to make sure to take it away from the time of taking doxy. this pill isnt for everyone and works differently for everyone, but its worth a shot. just make sure you understand the directions, and dont freak out if you get a few side effects.
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November 7, 2009

Pros:

Dries up acne fast. Doesn't make me nautious. Used it last year, so I know it will work.

Cons:

Leaves acne scars...Makes me red.

I used to take this medicine last year when I had severeee acne. Red everywhere and huge cysts. I took this with Yaz birth control, Duac Cream, Retin A Micro, and Doxycicline. In 6 months I was completley clear. However, it started to come back this year... So i thought it was the birth control, so now I am taking Tri Lo Sprintec since Ortho was too expensive. Ive been on that for 3 weeks and I'm back to taking Doxy with all the other creams. It dries out my acne but I still get cysts... i have a bunch of horrible scars and hoping they will fade away... Don't give up guys! it takes months for some people to have it be cleared. My acne was so bad that my dermatologist had no hope.. and when it cleared he told me he was completley suprised and in shock. This is my second time going through it.. I know how you all feel but DONT GIVE UP. Its a struggle and it does cause depression but you will get through it :) Ill come back to update in 3 months
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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

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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