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
May 14, 2009
Cons:
I barely noticed any results. Sometimes taking the medicine made me a bit nauseous. And the pills are huge!
I've had acne for several years now and I've tried basically everything, and nothing will get rid of it. I was on this medicine for about a year and noticed no change at all. However, I'm not saying it won't work for other people. Why not give it a try?
May 1, 2009
Pros:
I ve used it for like 4 days in conjunction with defferin@night and [email protected] few bumps that i ve had dried up.Minimal dryness,no itching or peeling yet,maybe too early..but yeah.. overall good stuff.
Cons:
Given that my problem is mostly hyperpigmentation and dark spots,it has not really improve that for me but again maybe too early.but i think notice more darkining..i dnt knw if its the topical gels or the doxi.
Every skin is different and if u dnt try,u would'nt knw what woks for u..So try it and please give it time...dnt be like me that expect miracles always.
April 23, 2009
Pros:
I have only taken this drug for 5 days and already I've noticed my skin seems clearer.
Cons:
extreme nausea, bloating, retaining water weight, gas, WEIGHT GAIN, a lot of long term side effects like yeast infection, vision loss, depression. It just doesn't seem worth it to me.
I'll admit, I was pretty anxious to finally be able to use something for my skin that would clear it up without having to deal with any major side effects. I guess that's what led me to overlook a lot of the things that I ended up experiencing in only 5 days of taking this drug. I love working out and keeping myself active, but after starting this drug.. it makes me feel extremely sick to my stomach while working out. (and while not working out) I've even noticed i've put on a few extra pounds already. Honestly, I think I can handle a few extra zits as opposed to gaining extra pounds along with the risk of harming my overall health. No thank you.
April 20, 2009
Pros:
It takes time for it to work, but it does work.
Cons:
If you plan on being in the sun you cannot take this mediation, like me living at the beach for instance. Stomach aches and sickness also.
I would try to find another medication. You get intensive burns if being in the sun for not even an hour and sun block doesnt really help. i work in a position where i cannot just leave if i feel i need to run to the bathroom if i feel sick. It's proably just not the best choice out there
April 19, 2009
Pros:
Fades inflamation in a couple of weeks.
Covered by Insurance
Cons:
Nausea, Vomiting, Diareah
Ive been on the product for an exact month now and the stomach issues are making me want to rethink other options.
April 15, 2009
Pros:
works on mild acne
Cons:
hard to remember to take it everyday
takes a while to start working
stops working when you stop taking, tummy aches
this is a good treatment for mild acne and whiteheads.
however i used it for two months with benzaclin treatment at night and in the morning with cetaphil wash, my acne went away for the most part.Then i stopped taking it and it came back twice as bad! im back on it now and forgot to take it with food again, so the whole stomach thing occured again. But my stomach deff got used to it last time i used it, i didnt even need to take it with food after a couple weeks. But now i have to wait for it to start working again and the BOTTOM line is who wants to take these bright blue pills for the rest of their lives? id rather find somthing that takes its away and keeps it away ( am i being unrealistic?)
April 12, 2009
Pros:
it cut down on my acne immediately and also it made the stye on my eyelid go away within 2 days, I know if I had not taken it would have lingered for at least 1-2 weeks. I have bad food allergies and acne and seem to have breakouts amost daily
Cons:
bad stomach pains, red face like a sunburn, even though I work indoors all day long, flank pain, severe diarrhea last couple of days, nausea, appetite loss,
I have had bad acne for 10+ years, the doxy helped but I will never take it regularly. It is not worth the side effects, even if I could get it for cheap from my insurance or my family. I don't think this drug is a cure since you have to keep taking it for it to work. Unfortunately for me my body and stomach is too sensitive. I would rather put something on my acne like a cream or powder rather then abuse my body w/this stuff. I have been taking 100 mg 2'xs daily for 1 week. It worked great on my stye on my eyelid which was forming, but I will not take it again unless I get another stye on my eye. If you do not have alot of other health concerns already then it may be good for you, but it sure wasn't for me. I got a sunburn yesterday while outside, and now I have a couple of cyst formations. It didn't knock me out like Zyrtec does, (also overrated) but I wouldn't give either one to my dog and will try natural treatments primarily in the future.
April 9, 2009
Pros:
It works (sort of)
Cheap
Cons:
It makes my skin really red and is not that effective
I think that doxycycline is effective for some people, but it works really slowly. It also makes people who take it have ore sensitivity to the sun which can create more acne or white heads on the surface of the red or effected area. I stopped using it because I looked like I got a bad sunburn, and was very fuchsia, and it did not make a big difference. I got only about 5 more pimple (which is regular) in the one month I had off of the medicine.
April 5, 2009
Pros:
I'm not exactly sure... Seemed to clear my skin up but i've been off of it for 3 weeks now and my skin is still relatively clear.
Cons:
slight stomach pain... horrible rash-like bumps all over my chest and back.
My body hates antibiotics! I was on this for about 2 weeks, and the first week everything seemed to be going smoothly... I experienced some really painful stomach aches but they completely went away after a few days. But all of a sudden, a week after i had been taking doxy, i broke out in tiny red bumps all over my upper chest, back, and arms.. I stopped taking it, and sure enough, the rash went away..
Bottom line, eh, i guess what happened to me is apparently rare, but i'm still skeptical, and definitely not going back on...
March 23, 2009
Pros:
Clears skin!!!!!
Cons:
Wide array of side effects to look out for
Does make you sick if you take it on a completely empty stomach, but it doesn't work if you eat it with a lot of food. I don't get sick if I take it two hours after eating. Also make sure you sit up for a half hour after taking it, I didn't and it caused a stomach ulcer. The ulcer cleared up quickly after I started following instructions. Once I started following all the instructions the doxycycline started working really well, and I haven't had any side effects. I just wouldn't recommend taking the pill and then going on a long run, it will cause the nausea side effect to kick in VERY strongly.
Pros:
The medicine helped clear up my acne a little bit in the beginning.