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
April 27, 2010
Cons:
Didn't clear my skin after 2 months of use, I am still breaking out consistently.
You can't use it forever.
You may become resistant to it.
Decreases appetite (may be good for some people, but not me)
Didn't do a thing for me, but neither did other tetracyclines.
April 22, 2010
Pros:
Helped clear up face- cleared up after about 2 weeks
Cons:
Acne returned after about 6 weeks
Had terrible reaction after 3 months where pain in throat, chest, back prevented me from eating for a week until I stopped taking it. Went back to normal after stopping.
It was a nice 4 weeks I was clear and healthy but the inability to eat without pain wasn't worth it.
October 27, 2009
Pros:
None yet.
Cons:
Extreme nausea when taken without food.
Been taking doxocyclin for a few days now and conditions have worstened. Hoping for the best.
October 26, 2009
Pros:
Works for many people.
Generic is very affordable.
Cons:
Bacteria become resistant.
Upset stomach.
Not always a long-term fix.
Doxy works by directly killing the bacteria that causes acne. Once doxy is discontinued, the same bacteria come back because they are a natural part of everyone's skin. Depending on various individual factors, this may or may not lead to the return of acne.
Furthermore, doxy is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that also affects other, beneficial bacteria, such as those in your GI tract, so can make you nauseated. Definitely take doxy with food to avoid this, but be sure to wait two hours before having any dairy or iron because it interferes with absorption.
Also, doxy should not be taken by young children (especially those under 8) because it interferes with bone growth and can stain teeth,
Sadly, bacteria can become resistant, making doxy completely ineffective (like happened for me).
Overall, doxy is a very useful medicine to clear up skin but, once clear, you should look into switching to something else to avoid becoming resistant and the other side effects.
September 16, 2009
Pros:
Just started it. It is an antibiotic, so it should help. I'm not worried about that.
Cons:
No cons
Long-term use of any antibiotic won't work. Your body will build up defenses against it and can't work. That is why there is so much of that MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. The body will become immune to the drug. You shouldn't be taking antibiotics for a long time. Just sporadically, until your acne clear, stop taking it and at the first sign of a breakout take another capsule. But do not take it everyday forever....that's not how antibiotics work. If some of you have been taking antibiotics daily for months, no wonder it isn't working anymore. Your body has built up a resistance to it.
August 15, 2009
Pros:
Clear skin
No new pimples
Cons:
takes a while to get in your system. about 3 months for full effects but totally worth clear skin.
upset stomach if no takeen with food
This is a great antibiotic for people wanting there acne to fade away. just remember that clear skin just doesnt happen over night. stick with it for the whole 3 months and you will see a whole different face.(Clear Skin)
June 27, 2009
Pros:
cleared my skin
Cons:
after 11 month i immunized to it and i had a breakout. My back looked 4 times worse than at the beggining.
didn't work for me but my bacne was realy severe,
May 5, 2009
Pros:
Cheap easy and effective
Cons:
Is Causing me o have appetite problems (never hungry)
is cheap, and hey it works, ive had minimal results over fou days, but its only been 4 days i cant complain i have no moe black heads.
April 16, 2009
Pros:
clear up skin. No side affects (at least for me)
Cons:
takes a WHILE to work.
Bad inital breakout
I am on my 5th week on Doryx and FINALLY seeing results. I am not 100% clear but definitely clearing up. The 3rd week I broke out SO bad. I was about to call it quits but after reading some of the reviews on Acne.org and talking to my Derm I decided to give it another few weeks. From what I read and what my Derm said it takes time to see the effects of antibiotics and it typically gets worse before better. I think many times we are quick to assume it isn't working if we do not see "instant" results (aka within a week). My suggestion is to give doryx 6 weeks to see an improvement, even if you get worse before you get better. I really believe if you have a horrible initial breakout it means that the antibiotic is working, it is just getting all the crap to the surface. I took accutane a few years back and the same thing happened. I hope my review helps anybody who was in the same position as me a few weeks ago. Upset with the initial break out and questioning whether to continue with tre
April 15, 2009
Pros:
90% clearer skin. I used to have bumpy pimples all over my forehead, chin, and back in addition to large red zits. Now my skin is perfectly smooth and I have only a couple small blemishes left.
Cons:
It takes about 6 weeks to see the initial results, and over three months for full results. If I take it in the morning and don't eat breakfast, I will get nausea.
Despite the slow process, this is the only product that has ever gotten rid of my acne. It is absolutely the best thing to treat moderate to severe cases.
Pros:
May work well for some people!
Easy to take
Cheap