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 31, 2008
Cons:
It did nothing for my skin. The only effect I noticed was nausea (yes, I tried taking it with and without food, and before or after a meal).
I wouldn't waste your time or money.
January 18, 2007
Pros:
It clears up your skin pretty quickly.
Cons:
It is a short term fix. I have been on and off it for a year. As soon as you stop taking it your acne returns. You can't take it if you are wanting to get pregnant either.
I have had to struggle with bad skin for over 10 years and i have been on two rounds of Ro-accutane. It can always return and it may not get rid of it forever as mine returned a few years later.
There is no cure that I am aware of and i will continue to see doctors for a cure. When i find out you will know about it.
August 5, 2015
Waste of time
Creates imbalance in the body, kills all the good bacteria you need to be fighting off you acne, and doesn't do anything. I took this for months and stopped taking it. It didn't do anything when I started or stopped. I take vitamin A supplements, much more effective and better for you.
June 9, 2015
Better than Minocycline
Minocycline gave me brain fog but I had no side effects from Doxycycline and it worked better for my acne.
April 22, 2015
Hoping it works
I've had acne since my 5th grade year, I'm now a junior which means I've had acne for 7 years. It hurts so bad to have to walk around with huge pimples on your nose, chin, and under your nose. Right now I have two HUGE pimples on my nose and a tiny pimple on my chin, with a lot of dark spots😩😞. It's hard to not be able to look people in the eyes because I'm so ashamed of my face & it's even harder to be the only one in your family to have acne. After trying proactive, clean & clear, neutrogina , BP, etc.. Nothing worked.Back in December my dr put my on doxycycline for two weeks and I notice that it reduce the size of my pimples, but when I finished the bottle I wasn't able to go back.. So finally I had my dr send me to the dermatologist. The dr prescribed me on doxycycline & two other things ( I can't remember what there called). I've been taking it for a week but I haven't really notice any change but I know its going to take some time, so I'll continue taking it. The worst part is that it makes me feel so sick and I have terrible headaches, as for right now I feel so sick ever since I took it this morning. I go see the dr in May so I'm hoping by then I'll see some improvement. Oh also I started back using tea tree oil mixed with water and put directly on the pimples. Anyways Im praying I get clear skin for the FIRST TIME by summer or by my birthday which is in sept. I've been reading the reviews and so far I've been seeing good things, just hope I also get the results I want.
October 3, 2014
Review for Doxy
Doxycyline like most antibiotics gets rid of the bacteria associated with acne, so you definitely see some sort of improvement in your acne with Doxy. For me I definitely saw an improvement in my skin, and it seemed to stop any new blemishes from forming as well it dried any spots that were currently hanging out on my face. I still would get a few spots here and there but not deep painful ones. Out of all antibiotics I prefer Bactrim, it works best for me in total clearing of my skin. You most likely will see some improvement in your skin with Doxy though! Be sure to use sun screen though with any antibiotic... you don't want to have to deal with brown spots too. I would give Doxy a 3.5/4 stars.
January 21, 2014
Cleared up Acne but it came back
Pros:
clears up face
Cons:
acne comes back
causes nausea
I've had severe acne from the time I was 16. I took doxcycline (2x a day first month) around the beginning of my junior year in high school along with two topical creams benzoyl peroxide (in the morning) and adapalene (at night) (I don't remember the concentration of either of them. Within 2 and 1/2 months my skin with clear. So I, being young and dumb and hate taking my med, cut my prescription by a month and a half. I was suppose to be taking doxy for a total of four months. Within 3 months of getting off it my acne came back, but just moderately.
Six months off doxycycline my acne became moderately severe. It's been about two years and I'm starting doxcycline again along with epiduo. Hopefully the good results will happen again.
My best advice is to used it directly as prescribed and do definitely take it with food.
April 23, 2013
Pros:
Easy to take since it's taken orally. Calmed down my acne pretty well and still use it to this day. Even better when combined with prescribed topicals. Noticed a very big positive difference in breakout sizes.
Cons:
Depending on where you are, this may or may not be expensive. Bad Side effects could hit you if you don't take it properly. I usually ended up bloating on some days. Really painful.
My recommendation should be the least of your concern because this medication is to be recommended and prescribed by your doctor or derm. For me it works great. Give it a try if you're offered the chance!
March 31, 2013
Pros:
Clear my face by 2 or 3 days of use
Not expensive
Cons:
No Calcium 3 hours before and after taking it.
Is not a cure, its a help, but while I'm taking it my face is clear!
Its an antibiotic, so its going to have some bad results if is consume in a wrong way.
The key is very simple: don't eat anything with calcium three hours before and three hours after taking it, because CALCIUM prevents the body to absorb it. Some days I wait just 2 hours.
I buy cookies without calcium to eat with the antibiotic, so my stomach not hurt. And wait 1 hour before go to bed!
February 7, 2013
Pros:
*Acne cleared in two weeks
*Face smoother
*Smaller pores
Cons:
*Skin is dryer sometimes-easily fixed with moisturizer
*Acne gets worse during first week... But be patient it gets better
I was prescribed doxy about two months before my wedding because I had a couple of breakouts on my forehead and around my hairline. Once on doxy and an acne cream I began to see immediate improvement. The doxy is supposed to flush out all of your pores so that is why it will seem worse at first. To speed this process up I just dabbed some benzoyl peroxide-based acne cream on the breakout area and it cleared in about a day or two! I recommend you start the treatment on a Wednesday or Thursday so you have the weekend to allow your skin to improve...also if you're a woman you can take the whole weekend to go makeup free and allow your skin to breath :)
Pros:
N/A