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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December 23, 2012

Pros:

reasonably priced, some improvement

Cons:

found minocycline to be more effective than doxy and doxy is stronger and because of that i notice that i feel quite nauseous if I take it without eating a decent sized breakfast (up and go - which is like a flavoured milk with blended cereal in it in case its not called 'up and go' internationally - doesnt cut it neither does a slice of toast)

May help people who have no luck with minocycline. However do be patient with mino - it took 3 months for me to see improvement and 6 months for others to notice improvement on mino. Well worth the wait though. failing mino give doxy a go - they work very similarly though
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December 10, 2012

Cons:

Did absolutely NOTHING for me

Nothing positive to say. Did absolutely NOTHING for my acne. Didn't stop it from spreading or make it any better. Minocycline worked WAY better for me overall throughout the years of battling acne...
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December 8, 2012

Pros:

It may help open sores heel just a tiny bit faster. The drug is also inexpensive.

Cons:

I had an upset stomach every day even though I took it with food and water, and I was STARVING all the time. I thought I was crazy until I researched online that is a side effect of the drug. I think my teeth might even be a little yellower, but that is hard to tell if that was to do with the drug. (Also that is another side effect.) But mainly the worst part is- it broke me out even worse! I started to break out in places where I never broke out before, like my legs!

I took this product for three weeks and I am giving it up today. This is very disappointing because the doctor said that if it was going to help me I should have seen some improvement by now. Instead it made me much worse, and I can't even go out in public. I am not going to take any more!
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November 27, 2012

Pros:

really gets rid of acne

Cons:

takes a long time, has to be taken with food and lots of water, can cause fungal infections

I started taking doxycycline about a year ago and was on it for about 6 months. I want to say my acne finally was gone between the third and fourth month of taking it. I have been off of doxy now for six months and my acne has not come back. However, I have been using clindamycin, 4% benzoyl peroxide wash, and a retinol cream for maintenance. I am so glad that I took doxy. I contribute much off the success of getting rid of my acne to doxy, because i have tried just the retinol creams and Benzyol before and it didn't work. I would highly recommend this to people with severe acne.
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November 21, 2012

Pros:

my skin is better
side effects very minimal

Cons:

took 2 1/2 months before acne started clearing up.
Don't like the idea on being on antibiotics

I am 39 and have been dealing with adult acne for 6yrs. now. I have tried so many products and nothing worked, I was starting to get really bummed and finally resorted to meds. The first month on Doxy was tough to get through - acne got worse. 2nd month it would come and go. I'm in my third month and I have a few pimples but it is way better then it ever was and I feel more confident about going out. The derm told me hormones are triggering the outbreaks and I would have to go on hormone meds too if I want to be totally clear. But not willing to do that at this point. I highly recommend taking probiotics when you are on Doxy to minumize side effects of drug and for overall health. Make sure you eat when taking the pill and drink plenty of water too. Gotta be patient with this drug. I just hope when I go off of it the acne doesn't come back, I don't want to be on meds forever! I recommend Doxy because it sure beats being depressed and feeling awful about myself. I'm glad I held out till month 3 to see some results.
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November 18, 2012

Pros:

Cheap

Cons:

Didn't work

I've been on doxycycline 100mg 2x per day for 50 days. It has had no effect. I've been consistent, and tried not to take it with dairy, which, for me, is a large inconvenience. This is very disappointing, as I am still breaking out on a daily basis with very severe acne.
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November 16, 2012

Pros:

clears acne

Cons:

it takes time to work

I suffered acne since I was about 13. I tried every OTC products but nothing worked, and they just made my acne worse. Now I'm 18, I finally decided to go to the derm. I asked for Accutane, but she said my acne is not that worst. I just have a lot of acne hyperpigmentation. She also said it's frustrating treating acne because nothing works overnight and immediately, so I need to be patient.She prescribed me 100mg doxycycline hyclate 2x a day and epiduo at night. On my first month, I broke really bad. I felt it's not working or it does not suit my body. On my second month, my acne started healing. Now I'm about to start my third month, I only have 3 acne. I'm just hoping after I stop taking it, my acne will not go back.
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November 12, 2012

Pros:

Affordable.
Helps with the inflamation.
Got to be patient.

Cons:

takes a while for some people.
dryness on lips.

I'm a 24yo male. I never had ANY acne problem until I got 20. Before that I had a VERY clean face. Then I had a HORRIBLE BREAKOUT I visited the derm 1 year after that (horrible mistake), and she prescribed me Tetracycline(I was asking for accutane but she told me that my acne wasn't that bad) and it helped a lot but not entirely. I took it for 6 months. Now I have 4-6 cystic acne lessions, and some Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation. I had a visit with a different Derm 7 days ago. She prescribed me Doxy for a month taking 100mg a day. The second day I got a cyst near my nose, and one near my lip. I got upset because of that, but this morning i woke up and... I think it's improving. This is my last try before going for Accutane. I'm going to keep you guys updated in a few days. And good luck, this website helps a lot because all the information and reviews but, if you have an acne problem PLEASE go to the Dermatologist. Even if you have to save some dollars, and not going anywhere on the weekend. Your face worth it.
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November 11, 2012
I used to have perfect skin but after I came to the UK to study I start breaking out badly. My cheeks and T zone were inflamed and I was miserable. I went through Acne.org and tried everything that had been advised - topically applying manuka honey, topically applying lemon, zinc tablets, duac, clean and clear moisturiser, clinique anti blemish solutions formula, fish oil etc. You name it, I've tried it. Then in September 2011, after visiting my dermatologist, I went on 100mg Doxy twice a day together with Diane 35. I stopped with Diane 35 after a month and continued Doxy for 3 months. I saw no improvement in the first month but in the second, I saw that my skin was slowly clearing up. By the 3rd month, my acne was minimal. After stopping for 2 weeks, my acne started coming back, blobs of cystic acne started appearing and I was distraught. So I was put back on Doxy and tried to slowly ween off the antibiotic by dropping to 100mg once a day. I finally came off the drug in August 2012, it is now November and while my face was never as clear as before and I do always get one or two pimples, my skin condition was much better than the severely inflamed cheeks and T zone I had back in early 2011. I remember feeling so desperate and depressed about my acne, I even stopped going out. I do highly recommend Doxy and you should come off the drug gradually, not stop absolutely. You should also take the drug on a full stomach because I have experienced severe waves of nausea when I first started taking the pill. However, in time you stomach will be able to adapt to the pill and the nausea will die down. I've also stopped taking beans, milk, soya because I found that they contributed to my acne. Also, Avene Cleanance K facial wash I rely on. I'm writing this review so specifically because I remember the state I was in because of my acne and I want to encourage those who feel the same way.
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November 6, 2012

Pros:

It's free at my pharmacy.
It's reduce all signs of cystic, blackheads, and whiteheads.

Cons:

It takes awhile to fully have some effect, I'm not sure how my skin will react when I don't take it anymore and frankly I'm a little worried, but hopeful!

Give it a try.
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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