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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August 19, 2010

Pros:

-Clears acne
-Small, easy to swallow

Cons:

-Must take after meal
-Stomach ache in beginning
-Hard to remember
-Possible effects on good bacteria in body

I didn't notice much of a change in my face till I looked at pictures from a few months ago. Wow, what a difference! I actually look in the mirror and see a nearly clear complexion. I take it once a day (100mg) in the morning after breakfast. I also put on sulfacetamide sodium (a topical cream) twice a day. I had started on two, but I felt uncomfortable with taking antibotics so my derm said I could decrease it to only one. I still get breakouts but my skin is better than before. Also, I do not get stomach aches any more (they stopped about a few days after I began).
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August 18, 2010

Pros:

I only have to take it once a day
It doesn't dry out my skin too much

Cons:

If taken on an emtpy stomach it causes a little nausea (but it only last for about 30 min)

The first day i took this pill i almost threw up and was going to start eating it with food but decided that i'd just suck it up and try it again on an empty stomach and i'm glad i did becasue i really wanted the full effect of the drug and now i just have a lil nausea that passes quickly. I'm 18 and i recently stopped taking minocycline because i wasn't seeing any results after a month of taking it and I've been on this pill for about 2 1/2 weeks and i'm just starting to see improvement :) I also use a prescribed sodium sulfacetamide and sulfer wash twice a day to help kill bacteria and retin a 0.25% at night to help with the scarring. I've had no major side affects and hopefully i'll be clear in about another 2 weeks
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August 14, 2010

Pros:

+ gets rid of those red, swollen, painful pimples
+ clears zits and little spots
+ 1 pill a day so its easy to keep track

Cons:

- skin is dry
- redness is a little more noticeable
- must plan a time to take pill
- stomach ache and slight dizziness
- takes awhile to work
- there may be a slight purge in the beginning which is the initial breakout but its moderate

Drink plenty of water. Its recommended to have a somewhat empty stomach before taking it but to avoid a stomach ache you should eat a little snack before or after. I'm 19, female and have tried all the antibiotics throughout highschool. I've been on doxy before with benzaclin and differin 0.1% as my topicals and it was pretty decent. Now i'm on again but with benzyol peroxide and differin 0.3% instead. I was about to go on accutane but I couldn't take the risks and chickened out. I'm hoping this gets rid of the zits and painful pimples like it did before. I took tetracycline and that worked pretty well for like 8 months so I decided to stop. Well, acne came back, not too bad, but still it sucks. Tetra is more likely to cause yeast infection so i'm on doxy. Take tetra first if you are still unsure about doxy. Minocycline?...SUCKS.
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August 13, 2010

Pros:

-Worked very quickly
-Cheap

Cons:

-Hard to take as directed (timed proper and no vitamins timed proper)
-It's a drug so you have to keep taking it : ( I want to go all natural)

I have been taking this for about a week and have seen a HUGE improvement in my skin!! I was soooo broken out when I started this pill... It was to the point that I wouldn't even leave my house, I'm a picker which of course made it look 1000x worse than if I would have just left it alone... ANYWAYS so I'm a 25 and have completely clear skin. Yay!!!!! OOOOH make sure to take PRObiotic sometime in the middle of the two doses or 3 hours before or after your pill so you stay healthy. Antibiotics kill all the bad and GOOD bacteria in your body. <3 Good luck! P.S. I haven't taken it with food as the directions state to "Take medication on an empty stomach 1 hr before or 2-3 hours after a meal." My docotr told me that the effectiveness drastically decreases if you take food with it.
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August 11, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up about half of my acne

Cons:

Take with food
Stops working when you stop taking it.
You cant take for long periods of time

I am just about 30 and have looked far and wide like most of us for a cure. I started years ago with proactive and other over the counter meds that helped until I stopped taking birth control pills and proactive at the same time then it was all down hill. Solodyn was my first prescription and worked very well until I stopped taking it. Now Im getting off of Doxy with two topical creams one with benzoyl one with retinal-a and a face wash with salicylic acid. After the first week of the driest red face ever my acne started to go away but over the next 6+ months of taking Doxy my acne has come back. I am still on my search and have just ordered KAVI skin care system.
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August 8, 2010

Pros:

-started working in a week
-cleared up most of my acne after a month
-cheap
-easy to swallow

Cons:

-dried me out pretty bad
-couldn't take supplaments 2 hours before or after the medication
-left behind nasty red marks (post infmalatory hyperpigmentation)

Well, I gotta say it DID help get rid of my acne but my face isn't clear. Where every cystic pimple was, it left a red mark, more red/brown than the pimples I left alone before. My face was also left pinkish but it became white again after some anti-inflammatory foods. It was pretty fast working, and I didnt really hit a peak where it got worse before getting better. Just improvements, getting better and better. (recommend using doxy with epiduo)
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August 6, 2010

Pros:

Thus far, nothing.

Cons:

It doesn't work.

I've only been using this for about a week now in conjuction with Ziana and honestly, my skin has been getting WORSE. I have horrible breakouts now that I have been put on this regimen and after reading these reviews I am seriously nervous about continuing my regimen.
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August 1, 2010

Pros:

It cleared about half my acne, just take a little pill once daily, saw results in 1 week.

Cons:

If you don't take this with food, you are liable to vomit.

It is great if you take it with food!
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July 27, 2010

Pros:

-Simple, effective acne treatment.
-Cheap. 10 dollars with no insurance.
-Does not effect Birth Control pills. (My dermatologist said this was not proven.)

Cons:

-Must be taken with food, no dairy!
-Women are prone to yeast infections.(eating yogurt daily should help minimize this.)
-Do not take and then lie down. Stay upright for at least half an hour. Medicine could travel up your throat and burn. Feels a bit like acid reflux.
-Chance of slight nausea.

I was told I have hormonal/pre-menstrual Acne. I am 26/f and decided to seek professional help after my Acne turned Nodular/Pustuler. Currently, I was prescribed 100mg of Doxycycline twice daily, along with a 5% Benzoyl Peroxide topical waterbased gel the dermatologist gave me. I haven't had any problems, though it is slightly frustrating that you must take with appropriate foods and be extremely consistant with the antibiotic. The goal is to treat the bacteria from the inside by constantly having the antibiotic in your system, and treating it on the outside w/a topical. I have had slight nausea, but nothing too bad. TAKE WITH FOOD, and do not lie down after you take it. Wait half and hour. I have been on this for a few weeks and already see a difference. Though I am still getting a few breakouts, they are not as big, and go away quickly. Be patient with this. Results will show early on, or definitly by 2 months. I reccommend giving it a try.
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July 21, 2010
Ive only taken this for 2-3 days now, ill probably write another review later. My kind of acne is not the nodular, pustule types but i tend to get loads of whiteheads over my nose and sides of nose area because I constantly sweat loads there. The whiteheads and sweat also constantly make my nose look really red. What ive found is that doxycycline has stopped my sweat production in this area which was one of the main reasons why i got so much acne there. It has calmed the whiteheads from coming and therefore my nose does not look red. One problem i do have now though is that it makes my face feel really dry and tight all over but jojoba oil helps this. Ive had this problem for years, doxycycline is the only thing that has stopped this.
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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