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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3.4
1460
5
20.4%
4
35.1%
3
21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

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March 20, 2013

Pros:

Completely cleared my acne after 3 months (as expected).
No extreme treatment needed.

Cons:

Need to remember to take twice a day with food.

My acne was incredibly severe - pimples everywhere, and they would never disappear. But after I took this after a week, I started seeing a difference. Then eventually after 3 months, my acne was completely cleared up. Huge improvement and relief.
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March 7, 2013

Pros:

Clears skin

Cons:

Headaches
Remembering to take at certain times of day - no interaction with calcium

Month 1 my skin got really bad - I nearly quit but don't, keep going. Month 2 my skin started to slowly improve. Month 3 was up and down but an overall improvement. Month 4 my skin was clear, no new spots and was just left with acne scarring. Month 5 my skin looks better than it ever has. Yes, there are some side effects and downsides but honestly keep perservering with this and you will ultimately get the results you want. I can't recommend it enough!
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February 10, 2013

Pros:

Cleared up my acne
I actually felt confident about my skin for the first time ever
Breakouts were easily controlled

Cons:

Cant stay on it forever, health risks
Takes about a month to start actually working

Doctor put me on this last year, did nothing much for a month... then bam! My skin just got better and better, it would heal from pimples super fast and my skin had never been as good. Had no probs with nausea as I took with food and sat upright after taking the pills. I'm trying the pill now instead as a more long term solution, hopefully it works as well!
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February 7, 2013

Pros:

*Acne cleared in two weeks
*Face smoother
*Smaller pores

Cons:

*Skin is dryer sometimes-easily fixed with moisturizer
*Acne gets worse during first week... But be patient it gets better

I was prescribed doxy about two months before my wedding because I had a couple of breakouts on my forehead and around my hairline. Once on doxy and an acne cream I began to see immediate improvement. The doxy is supposed to flush out all of your pores so that is why it will seem worse at first. To speed this process up I just dabbed some benzoyl peroxide-based acne cream on the breakout area and it cleared in about a day or two! I recommend you start the treatment on a Wednesday or Thursday so you have the weekend to allow your skin to improve...also if you're a woman you can take the whole weekend to go makeup free and allow your skin to breath :)
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December 30, 2012

Pros:

- Works fast.
- Inexpensive with my insurance.

Cons:

- Makes skin dry and flaky but moisturizing can fix that.

I'm 22 and I've had acne since the age of 15. In the last three years it has gotten so severe that I decided to see a dermatologist. He put me on 150 mg of this once a day. It's been over two weeks and I am floored by the results so far. I have cystic acne and nothing has ever worked for my face before. I have a couple of bumps on my jawline and everything else is clear. Pimples that would normally take weeks to heal are gone in two days.
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December 28, 2012

Pros:

*Helped clear skin for many months
*Easy-just pop a pill twice a day
*Cheap with insurance

Cons:

*Ended up causing my breakouts after about a year
*caused stomach aches if I hadn't eaten enough before taking it
*made me susceptible to sunburns

My dermatologist prescribed me doxy to clear up my moderate to severe acne and it helped stop the breakouts. It took 2 months for it to really start working but then, my skin was great for about 10 months. Then, for some reason, my acne started coming back, looking more and more like it started out. Eventually I stopped taking it and my acne cleared a bit. Not perfectly, but not quite as bad. It's waxed and waned and I still haven't a permanent solution. I'd say if you're desperate, try it.
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November 16, 2012

Pros:

clears acne

Cons:

it takes time to work

I suffered acne since I was about 13. I tried every OTC products but nothing worked, and they just made my acne worse. Now I'm 18, I finally decided to go to the derm. I asked for Accutane, but she said my acne is not that worst. I just have a lot of acne hyperpigmentation. She also said it's frustrating treating acne because nothing works overnight and immediately, so I need to be patient.She prescribed me 100mg doxycycline hyclate 2x a day and epiduo at night. On my first month, I broke really bad. I felt it's not working or it does not suit my body. On my second month, my acne started healing. Now I'm about to start my third month, I only have 3 acne. I'm just hoping after I stop taking it, my acne will not go back.
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November 12, 2012

Pros:

Affordable.
Helps with the inflamation.
Got to be patient.

Cons:

takes a while for some people.
dryness on lips.

I'm a 24yo male. I never had ANY acne problem until I got 20. Before that I had a VERY clean face. Then I had a HORRIBLE BREAKOUT I visited the derm 1 year after that (horrible mistake), and she prescribed me Tetracycline(I was asking for accutane but she told me that my acne wasn't that bad) and it helped a lot but not entirely. I took it for 6 months. Now I have 4-6 cystic acne lessions, and some Post inflammatory hyper pigmentation. I had a visit with a different Derm 7 days ago. She prescribed me Doxy for a month taking 100mg a day. The second day I got a cyst near my nose, and one near my lip. I got upset because of that, but this morning i woke up and... I think it's improving. This is my last try before going for Accutane. I'm going to keep you guys updated in a few days. And good luck, this website helps a lot because all the information and reviews but, if you have an acne problem PLEASE go to the Dermatologist. Even if you have to save some dollars, and not going anywhere on the weekend. Your face worth it.
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October 3, 2012

Pros:

-Cleared up acne completely within a month and a half
-Hardly any pimples while on Doxy
-Made any appearing pimples smaller/less inflamed/healed quicker

Cons:

-Increased skin sensitivity
-Started to lose effectiveness after about 7 or 8 months.

I was put on Doxy about 7 months ago to use in conjuction with Epiduo gel. After about a month and a half, my acne was gone. This combination kept my skin very clear for about 7 or 8 months. Now, my acne is starting to return. It is still mild, probably milder than when I first stayed Doxy, but the Doxy unfortunately has lost its effectiveness. I'm now looking into trying another antibiotic to keep my acne away.
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September 9, 2012

Pros:

Suppresses/controls most new acne within the first two weeks of treatment.
Visible control of pustular & papular acne

Cons:

Thrush (serious feminine discomfort)
Dry lips
Skin sensitivity to sun

Prescribed for facial acne, 1 pill 100mg. Full course of treatment for doxy is about 7 months. Twice a day for 5 months, with improvement & acne control, lowered to once a day for 2 months. Repeated this treatment 2 times thus far. First course in 2010, acne came back - second course in 2012. Found that it helped to suppress new acne from forming. But in using to control acne that had already erupted or was slowly surfacing, not effective. In those circumstances, doxycycline alone was not enough, found that treatment of acne had to be complemented with either topical adapalene or tretinoin. Stagger the intake of 1st pill & the next a strict 12 hours apart. Taken too closely and the good bacteria will also be destroyed by medication resulting in thrush. Can be alleviated by Canesten however, thrush returns because of continued doxy intake.
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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