Doxycycline
Results
Side Effects

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.

 [more]
3.4
1460
Read All About Doxycycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
20.4%
4
35.1%
3
21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

Used Doxycycline? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
May 14, 2012

Pros:

cleared up skin very quickly
healed very minor scars
reduced redness

Cons:

have to always have snacks in case of nausea antibiotics are kinda scary
must be combined with healthy eating/activity to really help it work

My doctor put me on this about a 1.5 weeks ago. I was nervous to take it at first, but i finally took it and none of the evil side effects e.g (redness, nausea, sun burn) happened! Having said that, i also dont eat meat, im pretty healthy/active, and never really get sunburned, so that may be why i got lucky. Anyway, it cleared up some mild, deep-under cysts and new pimples( if there even are any) heal up very quickly. DRINK LOTS OF WATER! YOUR SKIN WILL THANK YOU! :)
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 11, 2012

Pros:

Skin is clearing!

Cons:

Doesn't seem to do anything for the redness.

It's great in clearing skin. I've been on it for a month, and I'm seeing 80% gone. However, the red marks left by the acne remains, and this drug seems to have no effect on that. If you're thinking about trying it and frequently get red marks, it'd probably be wise to not only use this alone. For reference, my skin had hundreds of breakouts that were all small. It looked bad, but none of the bumps were huge. On another note, the stomach problems people mention are significant. I'm quite accustomed to stomach problems, though. In my particular situation, I didn't need to take the pill with food, and could feel it throughout the day until I ate. This was very easy to put up with.
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 6, 2012

Pros:

Helps clear things up

Cons:

Not a fix for acne, once you stop taking the medication the acne comes back.

I got severe joint pains to the point I couldn't walk without crutches.

I wouldn't use the medication again.
This Was Helpful

Report
May 5, 2012

Pros:

Cheap.

Cons:

Does nothing for acne.

Did not do anything for me, in 2 months usage.
This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 4, 2012

Pros:

Cleared acne.

Cons:

Nausea and felt like puking if I didn't eat enough prior to taking this.

Did really good job at clearing my acne. I was prescribed this along with spironolactone, which works wonderfully. I can't remember the last time I didn't have to wake up to several new pimples. My face is pretty clear. Fast results. It's just annoying having to make sure that I eat enough or I'll feel sick for half the day.
This Was Helpful

1 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 3, 2012

Pros:

Worked initially.
No side effects.

Cons:

Doesnt last.
Only Supresses acne.
Acne will get worse initially when you stop taking it.

As soon as you stop taking this drug your acne will resume. It simply supresses the problem and for me it was not all that effective anyway.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 24, 2012

Pros:

- Cleared 95% of acne
- Reduced size of cysts
- Reduced redness
- Easy to take
- Completely covered on my insurance plan
- Smooth skin

Cons:

- Took about 6-7 weeks to see a difference in my acne
- Severe nausea if taken on an empty stomach
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Mood swings
- Breakouts after being off of antibiotic

I had severe acne throughout my sophomore and junior year of high school. I tried over-the-counter products but I did not notice an improvement with any of them so I decided it was time to see a dermatologist. My dermatologist evaluated me and we talked about treatment options for my inflammatory/cystic acne. I initially decided on Isotretinoin (Accutane) but later retracted due to fear of the side effects. The only other option was to go on Doxycycline. I was on 100mg 2x daily for ~7 months. I was also prescribed Tretinoin Gel 0.025%. First month was absolute hell. Maybe it was because I was adjusting to the antibiotics, I'm not sure, but I was almost always dizzy (although not severe) and I never wanted to get out of bed because I was always sleepy. Throughout that month my acne got significantly worse but I stuck it out and continued with the antibiotic since "it gets worse before it gets better". The second month was a little better. I have made the mistake of taking this pill on an empty stomach and I was vomiting, but I know better now. I think it was on my third month that I began having mood swings. I would get angry and upset for no reason. I consulted my dermatologist about this and he was completely baffled. He said he has not heard of this being a side effect and although he was worried he still told me to continue with treatment because I was showing improvement. Thankfully the mood swings went away and I'm not as upset and angry anymore which is good! The rest of the months went pretty damn well. My skin improved significantly but I still had issues with the acne on my back and oily skin. After about 6 months of being on this antibiotic my dermatologist lowered my dosage to just one pill a day. When I was done with that month, my dermatologist had me discontinue treatment. I've been off of Doxycycline for two months and I'm getting breakouts. Overall, I loved Doxycycline. Even though I experienced some bad side effects, it was wor
This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 18, 2012

Pros:

- It works like magic (for me)
- I had no side effects
- I had no sore stomach or sickness, even on an empty stomach.

Cons:

None really except that your acne comes back a couple of days after you stop taking it.

I'm a 21yo male with dy acne prone skin, this worked for me really well, I am really impressed with the results, I had no side effects whatsoever in the few months I've been taking doxy, I don't get a sore stomach even if I haven't eaten it's fine for me. I know antibiotics arent ideal but I love that it's cleared my acne right up and I don't have to use BP anymore, which wasnt really working.....its much cheaper too at $3 for a 90 day dose (on prescription)
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 18, 2012

Pros:

Got rid of pimples
Got rid of redness
Did not dry skin

Cons:

Takes a while to kick in
At first acne gets worse
have to plan out meals

I am 14 and have suffered from acne for about 2-3 years. I had tried most over the counter products and a many prescription topical creams but nothing seemed to work that well. My dermatologist then prescribed doxy. I used it for the first month with no results. My acne may have even gotten worse. Then when I was about to give up on week 6 it started to work very well. The redness went away and I stopped breaking out. Now about 7 weeks after I started I have only scars left.
This Was Helpful

Report
April 14, 2012

Pros:

Lessens facial oil, prevents all types of pimples.

Cons:

They say not to take it with food but you kind of have to or else you feel horribly sick, the capsules get stuck in your throat.

I LOVE Doxy. My skin looks amazing, and I am going to ask my dermatologist if I can stay on it longer. I don't mind taking it with food but if you don't, you'll feel like vomiting. Since I fixed that little dilemma though, I am so shocked at how amazing this medicine works. It has been 2 months so far and I noticed a huge difference after 1 month.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 21 22 23 24 25 … 116
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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