Acne.org Products
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
March 29, 2011
Cons:
Doesn't totally get rid of acne. Mostly just helps lower the number of cysts. You really need to remember to take it every night. If not then you might breakout over night.
I really do like this medication. I really didn't want to go on it at first since I hate swallowing pills but I'm glad I did. I get painful cysts and nodules on random spots on my face and this medication helped lower that number. Now I get fewer painful bumps though this product isn't a magic pill I still get pustules and my pores are still clogged. I do get nodules whenever my time of the month comes around but most of the time they are a lot smaller so long as I don't pick at them. As far as eating before is concerned I normally take these right before I shower and haven't experienced throwing up or anything like that. But I would just make sure you have eaten dinner before hand and have a little something in your stomach. It may just be that I hate swallowing pills but if I don't take the pills ( I use to take 50mg now I take 100mg) with a good amount of water I feel the pill in my throat which makes for an awful nights sleep. My mother has buys it for me but with insurance it costs $5. Reading online it says that without insurance it costs 30 dollars. This is very good for people who have moderate acne like me.
March 1, 2011
Pros:
Clears Acne
No Tummy Problems
Skin Glows
Cons:
Little Dizzy After Taking It
I have suffered with acne for so long and i was prescribed Doxy 50mg a month ago, i am on my 2nd course now which is the 100mg and wow my skin looks amazing! I have so much confidence now and everyone just says how beautiful i look all the time.... TRY IT and eat food with it and you wont get tummy pains.
February 26, 2011
Pros:
absolutely nothing .. maybe less oil
Cons:
rectal bleeding at almost 2 months
everybody is differ .. for me no go ..
August 19, 2010
Pros:
-Clears acne
-Small, easy to swallow
Cons:
-Must take after meal
-Stomach ache in beginning
-Hard to remember
-Possible effects on good bacteria in body
I didn't notice much of a change in my face till I looked at pictures from a few months ago. Wow, what a difference! I actually look in the mirror and see a nearly clear complexion. I take it once a day (100mg) in the morning after breakfast. I also put on sulfacetamide sodium (a topical cream) twice a day. I had started on two, but I felt uncomfortable with taking antibotics so my derm said I could decrease it to only one. I still get breakouts but my skin is better than before. Also, I do not get stomach aches any more (they stopped about a few days after I began).
August 8, 2010
Pros:
-started working in a week
-cleared up most of my acne after a month
-cheap
-easy to swallow
Cons:
-dried me out pretty bad
-couldn't take supplaments 2 hours before or after the medication
-left behind nasty red marks (post infmalatory hyperpigmentation)
Well, I gotta say it DID help get rid of my acne but my face isn't clear. Where every cystic pimple was, it left a red mark, more red/brown than the pimples I left alone before. My face was also left pinkish but it became white again after some anti-inflammatory foods. It was pretty fast working, and I didnt really hit a peak where it got worse before getting better. Just improvements, getting better and better. (recommend using doxy with epiduo)
June 26, 2010
Pros:
1. Cheap
2. Kind of cleared up acne.
Cons:
1. I lost weight (I'm talking double digits here).
2. Sensitive skin.
I used it in conjunction with retin-a and the topical does wonders, however, the anti-biotic made me lose weight weekly and on top of all of the throwing up, I was previously diagnosed with gastritis. I would take caution while taking this medication. (I used omoxyciclin which is my favotite, and I just finished with Ampicilin.)
May 3, 2010
Pros:
Works fairly well after a couple weeks. Was easy to take one daily, no stomach problems as some noted.
Cons:
Made my skin very light sensative, much more so than other oral antibiotics had in the past (tetracyclin, omoxycillin, etc.). Skin was also very sensative on my neck and my shirt/collar would give me alot of discomfort/rash. Other areas of the body that have friction (inner thighs, armpit/side area) were irritated.
Skin irritation made me stop taking this and look for a different oral antibiotic. The results weren't quite good enough to deal with the day to day irritation. My girlfriend said my skin looked much healthier after about a week of being off this. I had a couple pimples but it was better than the redness/blotchiness from irritation.
March 24, 2010
Pros:
Cheap, Works (So far..)
Cons:
Requires planning ahead (eating)
So I've been takin this for a week and a half now and my face went from 9 pimples to 2...I think it speaks for itself right there but let's keep going. I take it 7:35 AM and 7:35 PM (2x a day) also added with benzoyl 5.25% face wash in morning and Ziana Gel at night. The routine I have is a bit much, however, it has been worth it, my confidence I had in high school (When I had a clear face) is coming back. The Pill I think is doing most of the work because I skipped a night just to test it and I grew a pimple the next day. Take the pill WITH NO FOOD. That's how I take it. I don't see where people are throwing up the pill, I keep it down easily (I only get sick a minute then it goes away) To do this, Drink 9-10 oz of water, refill cup with another 9-10 oz of water, take pill and drink the water. The more you drink, the easier to keep the pill down. Now I only worry about what happens when the course ends, I've read that problems just come back anyway so I don't know why this is prescribed, whatever..
December 7, 2009
Pros:
Clears up acne from the inside
Cons:
Long term daily dose makes it a bugger but its worth it. Plus you cant stop once the acne is cleared; you've got to finish the whole antibiotic course; or else it's gonna come back worse due to resistance towards the drugs.
I used to take 100mg/once a day when I was 15. After just a few weeks my friends noticed and start complimenting. Then I stopped the course and after a few months it came back worse. Now (I'm 22) I'm back on it and my dermatologist has doubled the dose to twice a day (hated that). But I know it's for a good cause. It's only been a week and I can feel my skin clearing up already. Doxyxycline is really good when combined with these:
1. Retin-A cream (help remove dead skin cells which clogs the pores on you skin)
2. Benzoyl Peroxide (to kill the bacteria from the outside)
3. A very gentle face wash (as not to irritate your skin) I highly recommend it, do try it out. Use it for as long as your dermatologist tells you to. They know as to when the bacteria in your body is really dead. And stick to it. Don't give up if it worsens in the beginning. It typical when you use it with Retin-A. Oh yeah and take the pills with food (no eggs or milk) and lotsa water. And stay out of the sun.
September 20, 2009
Pros:
didn't give me bladder infections like amoxicillin did.
Cons:
I have sever stomach aches and intense vomiting even when taken with food, it also didn't do anything for my skin.
It's not entirely worth it. a waste of time in my book and made me terribly ill. (used for about 6-8 months)
Pros:
Number of cysts and nodules went down. It will also shrink the size of them as well. Breakouts don't occur as often.