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 18, 2013
Cons:
Possibly caused minor drying/flakiness around nose when the weather gets cold.
If you have acne, try this for at least a month.
February 24, 2013
Pros:
NONE
Cons:
caused more breaks outs for 3 weeks untill i got a panick attack and anxiety/depression from this drug!
I was a healthy guy now i have to take antidepressants! it totally messed me up in 16 days of using 100mg a night.
February 13, 2013
Pros:
- Cleared up most of my acne!
- The few pimples that I do still get heal very quickly
Cons:
- Seems to give me big pimples on my jawline
I wish I'd gotten onto this sooner! I have suffered through moderately severe acne for about 7 years and although it wasn't as bad as it used to be, it was still definitely there and not going away. My doctor put me onto this and within the first few days I was noticing a difference (he also diagnosed me with rosacea and gave me hydrocortisone acetate cream which has completely cleared up the vivid redness all over my face!).
The only bad point about this in my opinion is that it is giving me big pimples under my jaw. Sure, I'd rather they weren't there, but I'd rather have them than pimples all over my face, so it seems like a small price to pay.
I am still getting the occasional pimple around my period (nothing will COMPLETELY clear up your acne, especially if it's hormonal), but overall my face has never been this clear since before I got acne when I was about 12!
I would definitely recommend this to anyone - it has really helped a lot.
January 21, 2013
Pros:
Less oily skin.
Controls (MY) breakouts.
Cons:
nothing so far
Been on it for about 5 days. My face is less oily. And my face isnt breaking out as bad.
November 27, 2012
Pros:
really gets rid of acne
Cons:
takes a long time, has to be taken with food and lots of water, can cause fungal infections
I started taking doxycycline about a year ago and was on it for about 6 months. I want to say my acne finally was gone between the third and fourth month of taking it. I have been off of doxy now for six months and my acne has not come back. However, I have been using clindamycin, 4% benzoyl peroxide wash, and a retinol cream for maintenance. I am so glad that I took doxy. I contribute much off the success of getting rid of my acne to doxy, because i have tried just the retinol creams and Benzyol before and it didn't work. I would highly recommend this to people with severe acne.
November 11, 2012
I used to have perfect skin but after I came to the UK to study I start breaking out badly. My cheeks and T zone were inflamed and I was miserable. I went through Acne.org and tried everything that had been advised - topically applying manuka honey, topically applying lemon, zinc tablets, duac, clean and clear moisturiser, clinique anti blemish solutions formula, fish oil etc. You name it, I've tried it. Then in September 2011, after visiting my dermatologist, I went on 100mg Doxy twice a day together with Diane 35. I stopped with Diane 35 after a month and continued Doxy for 3 months. I saw no improvement in the first month but in the second, I saw that my skin was slowly clearing up. By the 3rd month, my acne was minimal. After stopping for 2 weeks, my acne started coming back, blobs of cystic acne started appearing and I was distraught. So I was put back on Doxy and tried to slowly ween off the antibiotic by dropping to 100mg once a day. I finally came off the drug in August 2012, it is now November and while my face was never as clear as before and I do always get one or two pimples, my skin condition was much better than the severely inflamed cheeks and T zone I had back in early 2011. I remember feeling so desperate and depressed about my acne, I even stopped going out. I do highly recommend Doxy and you should come off the drug gradually, not stop absolutely. You should also take the drug on a full stomach because I have experienced severe waves of nausea when I first started taking the pill. However, in time you stomach will be able to adapt to the pill and the nausea will die down. I've also stopped taking beans, milk, soya because I found that they contributed to my acne. Also, Avene Cleanance K facial wash I rely on. I'm writing this review so specifically because I remember the state I was in because of my acne and I want to encourage those who feel the same way.
October 28, 2012
Pros:
It REALLY works!
It is consistent and it cleared up my skin.
Cons:
Huge, daily pill. And if you forget it for more than a day or two, I tend to break out.
Headaches is a side effect, and i have had some but its an ok price to pay for great skin.
I've always had a little bit of acne, but it was never too bad. I would break out twice month, usually before and after my period and then i would have decent skin for a week or two. But my skin has always had a hyper pigmentation after a blemish. december 2011 my skin took a turn for the worse and by May my skin had cystic acne, lot of pigmentation was pretty bad. My derm put me on the generic (doxycycline) at first, but that made me sick so i switched and Doryx doesn't. It takes time, but by september my skin is pretty much all clear. It GREAT! I sitll get a blemish or two on my period or if i sleep in makeup, but its not NEARLY as bad and goes away much quicker, and i've learned not to pick at them! I also use Ziana, which i really like, and Aczone which really cleared up the redness and pigmentation (but Aczone takes time, but works wonders). My back was also pretty bad, like i was embarrassed to wear any shirt that exposed my back. My back is completely clear now. Doryx is amazing and it just takes time! Bottom line, started in may and im clear in september, with each week getting better. By the way, I have insurance and the cost of the prescription is usually $60, but my derm gave really great coupon card from the manufacturer and it only costs 25 for a month supply. Just ask the doctor for one!
September 27, 2012
Pros:
Clears acne and discoloration. Stops cystic acne and major breakouts.
Cons:
If taken alone can make you naseaus.
I love this medication. I have light acne and I took it for one whole month and my acne cleared up and I never had to wear makeup. The only issue was after I took it for a whole month I was acne free for 3 months. Then my acne came back. So my dermatologist told me to take it for 2 days twice a day before or when I get a breakout. It works.
September 22, 2012
Pros:
clears skin!
less oily
Cons:
-nausea if you don't take it with food
This antibiotic really does work, you just have to give it time. I started seeing results within one month, and after being on it for five months my skin was crystal clear. The only downside to this drug is that you can't take it forever and your acne can comeback once you stop taking it.
September 22, 2012
Pros:
Cleared all cystic acne
easy to take
cheap
didn't experience any form of sickness
Cons:
does take some time for it to work
3-6 months
i suffered from severe acne for 2 years. i tried every reigime, product, natural remides and diet however nothing worked. i finally got the courage to go to the doctors. i was prescribed 50mg of doxycycline a day along with washing my face with benzol peroxide. i was told it would take 3 months to work, literally by the end of the 3rd month all of my large cystic acne stopped. it did take another 3 months to clear the others and scareing up. however it has now been over a year i have been on doxycycline and my skin is perfect. you need to understand no one product will work you need to attack the bacteria from the inside (doxy) and the outside ( benzol)
please try this, i know how upsetting acne can be and it may take some time but trust me its worth it to have the confidence and your life back
Pros:
Had severe acne since early teens, just learned to live with it. I think it was about 7 years ago that I went to the dermatologist for something else, and he noticed my acne (which I figured they could not do anything about) and suggested I take doxy. I noticed a difference after about a week, in about a month I did not have a single pimple. After a couple months the doctor lowered my 'theraputic' dosage to a 'maintenance' dosage and the acne stayed gone. I still have the acne scaring, but n