Doxycycline
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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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20.4%
4
35.1%
3
21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

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May 6, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up my skin in 10 days
easy to take
works fast
tried many other treatments only one that worked for me

Cons:

If you don't take it with food you will vomit

Best acne treatment for me but everyone is different. I tried proactive, Retina A, Triaz, and tetracycline. This is the only one that worked for me I am so happy now :) Plus at target its only $4
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May 3, 2011

Pros:

Worked fast

Cons:

Messed with my birth control
Quickly stopped working
HAD A HORRIBLE REACTION TO IT

Doxycycline worked somewhat well but not really. After about 3 months my body freaked out from it and my throat started swelling shut and it hurt if I ate ANYTHING. Took over a week to figure out it was the antibiotic and by then I was so fatigued from hunger. Stopped taking it immediately and noticed nothing different in my skin after that, so obviously it wasn't really doing anything. My doctor just shrugged when I told him. It may work for you, but if you're on birth control, it'll mess that up because antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of those. Also, you have the chance of becoming dependent upon it for your immune system if you take it too long.
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May 2, 2011

Pros:

Works very quickly.
Very effective.
Not irritating.

Cons:

None

This Tetrycycline Antibiotic is one of the best products that I have been prescribed. My dermatologist prescribed this to me on the very first vist, and has continued prescribing it to me because of how well it works. I recommend talking to your doctor if you feel like your acne is out of control, because this pill worked fast, and was effective.
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April 29, 2011

Pros:

Cleared red spots
Scars seemed to disappear

Cons:

Sun sensitivity
Stops working immediately

I took doxycycline after being diagnosed with lyme. After researching the pill, I realized it was the reason my acne was clearing up, not my new facial wash. I'm looking into getting some for an acne treatment but I spend a lot of time in the sun so I'm concerned about that. Because it wasn't for acne, the dosage was probably a lot higher than necessary.
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April 25, 2011

Pros:

-Clears acne on body as well as face.
-Fewer breakouts, and large pimples go away slightly faster.
-Fewer whiteheads.
-Few side effects for me.

Cons:

-I have to regulate when I take this since it won't work as well if you eat calcium, magnesium, etc.
-I still broke out around my time-of-month, so this doesn't control hormones.
-My skin is still oily.
-I still use topical treatments.
-It takes a couple months to see results.
-Stops working if you stop taking it.
-Possibility of developing resistant bacteria.

With this product, my skin stopped breaking out for the most part. Now I only seem to get acne around my time of month (a few bumps on each cheek) and with maybe one bump each week in between. I still have acne, but my skin used to get a few new bumps each week, and doxy has really helped. My skin is finally starting to look smooth. I take the pill 2x daily, and a 2 month supply costs me $20 with insurance. ... As an antibiotic, doxy kills the bacteria in your body, including those on your skin. But it also kills the "good" bacteria that help regulate your digestive system. Eating yogurt can help replenish the "good" bacteria. Doxy hasn't really caused negative side effects (knock on wood!) but for those with sensitive stomachs, this product may be too harsh. However, I'm afraid long-term use will lead to the development of doxy-resistant bacteria. I also do not know what the long-term side effects are. ... I still use topical treatments with this, and have been using Retin-A to help fade scarring. Before, Retin-A didn't do much because it didn't control bacteria, but now that I'm on an antibiotic, the Retin-A is working to help fade scars. ... Doxy works best if taken 2-3 hours before or after consuming calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron or zinc. So basically, take this between meals or it won't work as well since it bonds to those elements. This takes a while to get used to. ... Bottom line, I still have acne which occurs around my time-of-month, and my skin is still very oily. I am still an acne sufferer, but doxy has reduced the magnitude and frequency of my breakouts not only on my face, but the rest of my body. I would recommend this for those who can handle taking an antibiotic and are willing to change their schedules and/or eating habits to accommodate this medication.
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April 22, 2011

Pros:

None

Cons:

Made me throw up in the morning
Makes privates itchy
Skin didn't improve and get worse

I thought throwing up in the morning wouldn't be that awful if my skin got better, well my skin didn't change at all. After a month of throwing up sometimes or just being nauseous I decided I couldn't handle it. To top it off I made me so uncomfortable down under. Didn't work, period.
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April 22, 2011

Pros:

Did not dry out my skin

Cons:

Did absolutely nothing for acne.

It did absolutely nothing and was a waste of time.
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April 21, 2011

Pros:

- actually cleared acne by 90%
- very easy: just pop a pill once a day

Cons:

- takes quite a long time (for me, 6-8 months)
- reduced degree of, but did not eradicate monthly breakout

Yes, I would recommend this, but just keep in mind it takes what seems like forever to work, and in the end I still got monthly breakouts which would take half a month to heal completely so in the end I was only about 95% clear for 1/2 the time. If it interests you, I am now on birth control pills to "keep my hormones in check" which I believe is the sole problem of my acne.
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April 21, 2011

Pros:

Easy to take
No side effects
Better than minocycline!
Better face in about a week
Confidence boosted

Cons:

Chapped lips
Sun sensitivity

I have been taking this pill for about a week and a half and I have been getting comments about how my face is clearing. I took minocycline for about 2 months and it made my skin worse! I really din't have any hope in doxycycline but it is really helping and I hope my skin will only get better!
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April 18, 2011

Pros:

I have better things to say about Satan than this antibiotic.

Cons:

- Broke out in places I didn't even know acne could exist.
- Lots of itchiness in the scalp
- Experienced itchiness in the rectum area as well as discharge
- Stomach constantly growled.
- Extreme nausea when I didn't take it with lots of water and food.
- Had break outs of lots of whiteheads while on it.
- Made me lose hope in ever clearing up acne

After a month and half of being on this pill, I decided the side effects were not worth the small chance that the acne would clear up. "It gets worse before it gets better." The "getting better" part never happened. I also noticed that ever since I took this pill, the skin in the middle of my forehead has an indent in it. Not attractive. When I began this treatment, my acne was already on the path of worsening. I hesitate to say this antibiotic caused my acne to get worse, but at that VERY least, it did nothing to stop it. I never had so many whiteheads until I started taking it. I suffer from acne on my back, upper arms, forearms, face, thighs, legs, and feet. It couldn't do anything to stop any of it. The itchiness was completely unbearable and the rectum itches was embarrassing. This pill ruined my confidence. This antibiotic has the most positive reviews out of any of the others, and still couldn't do anything for me. Shame.
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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:

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