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
October 16, 2009
Cons:
Doesn't work as well as Cephalexin
Tried Doxy, upset my stomach to the pint of bleeding. It didn't work as well as Cephalexin.
October 3, 2009
Pros:
Working great!!! No new break outs since ive started the medication.
Cons:
Have to take it with food or else i get an upset stomach
Ive been on Doxy for 3 months now and very pleased with the results. Gives me an over all nice glow to my skin.
September 18, 2009
Pros:
Price (very affordable) and the fact that like other tetracycline derivatives it does function as an anti-inflammatory when taken for the duration.
Cons:
Does not totally stop breakouts. Very strict with "no dairy" because of the chemical nature, unlike minocycline which is not very dairy sensitive.
Worth a try if Minocycline didn't work for you.
September 16, 2009
Pros:
Simple and effective. I have been prescribed two 100mg pills a day and overall it has worked consistently, clearing and calming skin.
Cons:
Doesn't completely clear skin.I fear that it may be slowing and stop working. Can cause a really serious upset stomach (you aren't supposed to take it within an hour of eating if you can). Legitimate sensitivity to sunlight.
It has worked for me. I have had a really serious combination between stress and diet and naturally bad skin, but doxy has worked well for me. I had a really horrible outbreak that just got worse and worse with all the meds that I was being prescribed, but after I stopped using those (tetronin cream in particular; it was disgusting looking) and stayed on the pills I saw my skin get much much better. Though my face isn't totally clear and I question how it will continue to work, I would definitely reccommend it. Doxy may cause upset stomachs, but if you take it long enough you get used to it. Initially taking it on an empty stomach could make you really sick feeling, but I eventually got used to it. It makes me nervous though taking it anytime too near to when I eat because I think it may work less effectively.
June 1, 2009
Pros:
it is well worth the wait. if you are inpatienet and take it EVERDAY it wont work. it started getting completely clear after the fourth month.
Cons:
it takes a while to se the results you want. didnt see results at all in first 2 months. but well worth the wait. it cause me to have more then one yeast infection. but still worth it.
ITS WORTH THE WAIT TO SEE THE AMAZING RESULT.
September 24, 2008
Pros:
Noticed after 6 weeks of taking medication that acne is almost gone
Cons:
Very bad side effects, tingling fingers when they get wet, nausea, dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath.
If you can stand the side effects I guess it's worth taking, however, it may take at least a month or so before you see any improvements.
July 15, 2008
Pros:
Didn't give a false sense of being a magical cure to acne. Cleared skin gradually and kept skin clear even a week after discontinued use.
Cons:
I was wondering what was giving me that horrible stomach pain...
After suffering from increasing acne for about four years that had started to moved to my shoulders and back..Proactive didn't do anything but made it worse, Retin-A worked for a while and then made my skin peel..I saved up some allowance to finally go to the dermatologist. He gave me prescriptions for doxycycline pills in conjunction with a benzoyl peroxide gel, and another gel called Tazorac..The first week with use i noticed that my skin felt a little for smoother and touchable..and continued to stay like that for another week, and got better every week after that, i had no breakouts unless i forgot to take the medications, but once i got back on them..they continued where they left off. Now i have no more refills after about 2 months and now a week without them just the gels my acne has not really become worse, perhaps little inflammation but proper rest, adequate water, and remembering to use the gels at night and its better in the morning..
April 14, 2008
Pros:
It doesn't make me as sick as Minocycline did.
Cons:
I have never broke out as bad as I have in the past 11 days that I have been using this product. It has given me acne that I never had before! I have had mild/severe acne for over a year now and this medicine has made it so bad I do not want to go ou
I would not get my hopes up if you are looking for a cure for mild/severe acne.
April 1, 2008
Pros:
It works...
Doesn't HAVE to be taken with food even though that's what it says. my doc told me as long as you drink plenty of water with it you'll be fine.
Cons:
can't be taken without water....my doc told me that his son tried to take this without water and it was REALLY bad...
I like this product. I had bad acne (i walked into the doc's surgery for a cold and walked out with a prescription for this) after only a few days i noticed a difference in my skin, it had cleared almost completely on my left cheek and was clearing my forehead and the rest of my face gradually but reasonably quickly. I did have a sideaffect of a bit of nausea and breathlessness ( but i think that was because i was dumb enough to go to karate with tonsilitus)
March 28, 2008
Pros:
Gets rid of big pimples...
Cons:
Does not clear up acne....only the bigger pimples....Using an antibiotic pill may make your immune system weak. ( Your imune system may rely on the antibiotic to attack dangerous viruses, instead of attacking them itself.)
I have used this stuff in a 100mg dosage every single night for many years. It DOES NOT work.I have used it for almost a decade. My acne has not improved. My face was never clear since the day I turned 12. (I am now 20) I tried out 2 grams of Pantothenic Acid (B5) per day. And It worked...
Pros:
Once a day