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.

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February 5, 2012

Pros:

Cleared my Skin

Cleared my skin within a month :D My dermatologist told me ALWAYS eat food with pills unless the doctor says so. Its more effective because with food it will be easier for your small intestine to absorb. He was actually pretty angry that there was labels for people to not to eat for periods of time. SO On mines it says" take one capsule twice a day with food." and on the side label it says "Take medication on an empty stomach 1hr before or 2-3hrs after a meal" My doc said don't listen to that, listen to that if you want your stomach to hurt and feel sick. So with that being said I never felt any side effects . i love my dermatologist ..
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February 5, 2012

Pros:

convenient i guess?

Cons:

didnt work for me, really

So i was almost totally clear on retin-A for 2 years (which worked great after the pesky initial breakout), when slowly i started getting acne again. It got worse and worse until i decided to go back to my doc. Got prescribed this, used it with the Retin-A for 13 weeks thus far. Basically, it didn't really do much. If anything, it made my acne slightly 'different'. Like it instead of medium acne all the time, I was clear for few days and then would get a big cyst or two, which never happened before. Not sure if it was this medication or just natural, who knows. Anyway, there were maybe 2 5day periods in the last 2 weeks where I was actually clear, but now im back to pretty bad acne again. Dont really have any hope left in this stuff, plus I hear you can get resistant to it pretty fast. Gonna try Accutane. At least that is an almost permanent solution? Well see.
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January 28, 2012

Pros:

cleared up ALL cystic acne
easy to take
cheap
didn't experience any form of sickness others describe

Cons:

does take some time to work (3-6 months)

i suffered from severe acne for about 2 years and tried every single product, regime and diet out there to fix it. finally got the courage to go to the doctors and i was prescribed 50mg of doxy a day and was told to use benzol peroxide once a day as well. i was told it would take around 3 months for it to kick in and literally by the end of the 3rd month i had no new cystic acne, it did take another 3 months ontop of that for everything else to clear up and scars to fade but please trust me it was well worth it. i have now been on doxy for 7 months and my skin is honestly getting better and better each and every day. PLEASE TRY IT and give it a go, i know is does take some time and it is frustrating having to wait but it is worth it to have your confidence and life back :)
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January 22, 2012

Pros:

Clears up Acne
Leaves skin feeling soft and clean

Cons:

Leaves skin a bit ashy and weird
Makes you wanna vomit
Dizziness
Appetite loss
Overall, antibiotics are not good for health
... AT ALLLLL

Works if you want a temporary solution. I took 100mg pills twice a day for 1 month and then every alternate day for another month and a half.... completely cleared up my skin but left me feeling unhealthy... you can actually feel your body becoming sick in the long term... weight loss is immediate.. lost 5-8 kg in 3 weeks... Kills off all the good bacteria in your body... LOT of digestive problems (but not even severe or close to moderate.. mild is more like it) you can easily get sun burnt too... not a problem for people living most of their lives indoor... oh and the most important point... it clears skin in a minimum of 2 weeks :) great for those parties or wedding events that are just weeks away!! I recommend taking those accutane stuff when u stop ur course... that should give you seriously long term results... donno how people will react to these medications tho so be patient and cautious.... IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO consult your doctor before doing this... Oh and when i used this, it cleared up all my big cystic acne... for good... didn't come back again AT ALL... only some really small pimples and white heads came back and so now im gonna start with that accutane stuff...... wishing you the best of luck :)
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January 20, 2012

Pros:

Works!!

Cons:

Expensive

Not sure what type the other reviews received but the title on my bottle was doryx & it was $100 for one bottle. Thats 30 pills & I take 1 every morning--- BUT combined with spironolactone this stuff worked miracles. I would pay $200/month for it if I had to... Clear skin is important.. Gives you more confidence and a brighter complexion!!! Two thumbs way UPPPPP!!
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January 17, 2012

Pros:

Clear Skin

Cons:

Yeast Infections

I have struggled with acne for many years. I recently started breaking out in large cystic acne. My dermatologist prescribed me Doxy for 2 months to clear up the bacteria in my skin that was causing the acne. He also prescribed me Tretinion topical acne cream. I haven't had anymore breakouts since I started using the Doxy. I haven't really experienced side effects from this medication. Many people stated that it made them feel sick, but I haven't had that effect (even when I take it on an empty stomach I feel fine). I do feel a yeast infection coming on, which is common in women when taking antibiotics. I would recommend this, along with a topical cream, to help clear up acne.
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January 5, 2012

Pros:

-Cleared up acne
-After I discontinued use the acne stayed away
-Tiny pill

Cons:

-Made me feel sick to my stomach
-The pill is very strong (100 mg) and it actually got lodged in my throat and I got pill esophagitis from it. Basically, it kind of burned the lining of my esophagus and made it excruciating to eat or drink for a week and a half. (The pill is tiny, I just have the worst luck in the world...)
-Slow to work

When I got prescribed this it was because I was having really painful cystic acne on my chin. It took about a month for the pills to work but once they did I was so happy. I was given four months of refills but after two months I stopped taking it because my acne was gone. This isn't recommended but my acne never came back. Sure, I get a pimple every now and again, but no more cystic acne and I spend 90% of the time acne free. I would recommend eating a slice of bread or something of that nature before taking the pill because it made my stomach very upset to the point where I was on my knees in front of the toilet about a half hour after taking the pill (before I learned the bread trick), and I have a strong stomach. Try not to eat or drink dairy two hours before or after taking the pill because lactose hinders the abilities of the pill. Also, make sure that you drink a whole glass of water when you take this pill because, like I mentioned, it once got lodged in my throat and that was a horrible experience that could have been avoided if I had just had more water with it. I know that it sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for such a tiny pill but I can honestly say, despite all the turmoil that I went through, I would do it all over again because I know that the result is the flawless skin that I have today.
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January 3, 2012

Pros:

1. Works fast.
2. Easy to administer.

Cons:

1. Possible side effects.
2. Only a short to medium term solution.

Doxycycline works for me. It took only two weeks on a 100mg dose (2x a day) to dramatically clear my face up. There are occasional pimples now, but it is so much better than before. Antibiotics might only a short term solution as the bacteria will return once you stop taking them, but the prescription period can serve as a window, a break from the agony of acne. Also during this time one can try other treatments such as AHA/BHA, and if the pores are nicely exfoliated by the time you finish the course, the acne might not return with a vengeance. For those still struggling with various treatments: keep at it! It is as true as it is cliched that different things work for different people. I've tried honey masks, changing my diet, azelaic acid, lymecycline, Differin - all to no effect. Thankfully Docycline still works for me. Thanks be to God.
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December 31, 2011

Pros:

- Gradually clears up acne
- reduces redness and pimple size
- very inexpensive
- easy usage

Cons:

- takes a long time to see results
- doesn't completely clear acne
- makes skin sensitive to ultraviolet light

This pill does clear up most acne in time. I have been taking one pill a day for 6 weeks and about half of my acne has been cleared on my face, chest, back, and shoulders. My dermatologist said to wait 3 more weeks before seeing full results. The redness and size of my pimples has decreased as well. It does take a while to see results so you must have patience. Unfortunately I can't use this pill in the summer because of the sun sensitvitey and I am not spending my days hiding under an umbrella. All in all, this pill has work rather well for me but results vary for everyone and therefore if I were you, I'd give this perscripiton a try.
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December 23, 2011

Pros:

Works amazing ! i saw a difference on the first day ! but it took about a week for all my blemishes to clear

Cons:

feel sick if not taken with food
need to use sunsceeen on face!
apparently you break out after you stop taking it

it works incredible , but you have got to sit up or be up for 2 hours you can not lye down ! wear sun screen or you will get pigments (brown sun marks on your face) take food before you take the pill other then that it works extremley well , works really fast worth a try ! works for most people and i suggest you get your doctor to also perscribe a benzac wash ! my doctor perscribed the benzac was also and the doxycycline also for $28 alltogether but $3 for a perscription 90 days of doxycycline
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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