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 18, 2012
Cons:
None really except that your acne comes back a couple of days after you stop taking it.
I'm a 21yo male with dy acne prone skin, this worked for me really well, I am really impressed with the results, I had no side effects whatsoever in the few months I've been taking doxy, I don't get a sore stomach even if I haven't eaten it's fine for me. I know antibiotics arent ideal but I love that it's cleared my acne right up and I don't have to use BP anymore, which wasnt really working.....its much cheaper too at $3 for a 90 day dose (on prescription)
April 18, 2012
Pros:
Got rid of pimples
Got rid of redness
Did not dry skin
Cons:
Takes a while to kick in
At first acne gets worse
have to plan out meals
I am 14 and have suffered from acne for about 2-3 years. I had tried most over the counter products and a many prescription topical creams but nothing seemed to work that well. My dermatologist then prescribed doxy. I used it for the first month with no results. My acne may have even gotten worse. Then when I was about to give up on week 6 it started to work very well. The redness went away and I stopped breaking out. Now about 7 weeks after I started I have only scars left.
April 14, 2012
Pros:
Lessens facial oil, prevents all types of pimples.
Cons:
They say not to take it with food but you kind of have to or else you feel horribly sick, the capsules get stuck in your throat.
I LOVE Doxy. My skin looks amazing, and I am going to ask my dermatologist if I can stay on it longer. I don't mind taking it with food but if you don't, you'll feel like vomiting. Since I fixed that little dilemma though, I am so shocked at how amazing this medicine works. It has been 2 months so far and I noticed a huge difference after 1 month.
April 1, 2012
Pros:
it works, and fast for me!
little to no side effects when taken with food.
CHEAP at walmart pharmacies.
Cons:
sensitivity to sunlight
having to take it everyday
can't work forever!
i had been strugging with acne since i was in my teens. i kept it under control with a topical gel until i started shaving regularly. then i developed inflammatory acne and topical gels just didnt cut it. well, fast forward to a few years later. i am now 25 years old and after figuring visiting a dermatologist was an investment for my self esteem, i was prescribed this antibiotic. i take 1 a day at 100mg. within a week of taking it, my acne cleared up almost completely (with one or two zits popping up when i shave). i've been on it for a month now and it still works just as good. my face is clear now, no longer bright RED and i just feel better and more confident with myself. i take this once a day and wash my face with neutrogena transparent bar soap. couldnt be happier!
March 26, 2012
Pros:
No new pimples.
Free, publix.
Cons:
-Nausea
-Throwing up
-Body pains
-headaches
It's working so well. No new pimples, it's healing the ones that I have. But, I am really sick all of the time. I missed my chemistry lecture twice this week because I was throwing up and had a headache. It's working amazingly, but at a very high cost, because I am always sick. Word of advice: The bottle says to take it without food. DO NOT DO THIS. I did, and I started dry heaving and throwing up the acids in my stomach, not fun. Take it with food, don't lie down after taking it, and get that tylenol ready because you'll need it. Also, drink hot tea, because this stuff keeps you from sleeping. It's such a good pill, works like magic, but it's whether you want to go through this or not. Luckily, the most you can take this is 1 year. I'm taking it for about a month, and then I'm getting an extraction because once they take everything out, it'll all be gone, then you're put on a roll of other antibiotics and creams that will prevent everything. Please be careful young women who are sexually active, if you get pregnant while using this your baby's life and your life can be threatened.
March 24, 2012
Pros:
Has greatly reduced bumps.
Allows pimples to dissapear overnight.
Works, regardless of whether I am wearing makeup.
Boyfriend has noticed. (Says I am beautiful either way though.)
Cons:
You must suffer through a few days of extra bad acne in order for the medication to surface all of the bacteria and oil that already exists under your skin. Then it should stay clear.
Works great! I've been on it before while in high school, but had to stop when I joined the military because I couldn't be on drugs in boot camp. My skin stayed clear for a while through boot camp and school, and then I started to break out again, so I went to Navy medical and the doc prescribed it to me again. The downside is that I will need to stop tanning in order to avoid dangerous UV rays, because the medicine makes you hypersensitive to the sun. RIP golden skin, hello clear skin. SO worth the sacrifice.
:)
March 19, 2012
Pros:
-quite a big improvement in skin complexion
-less oily face throughout the day
-fairly quick results
-reduction in acne
-reduces redness / inflammation
-increased my confidence
Cons:
-can't take antibiotics forever
Just 4 days into doxycycline, i can already see an improvement in my skin with less rednes and inflammation and my complexion looking a whole lot better than before. I was prescribed 50mg taken 2x daily for 3 wks and 1x daily after 3 wks. Now, I know you can't stick with antibiotics forever, so while our acne may improve in the course of our doxycycline, we shouldn't abandon a healthy diet, hygiene and proper skin regimen.
So far, I have not suffered any side effects. I take doxycycline immediately after breakfast and dinner with a full cup of water.
For all those with acne, I recommend getting a prescription from your doctor, but remember THIS IS NOT THE SAVIOUR OF YOUR ACNE. Yes, it may drastically improve your condition, but be sure to still treat your skin with proper care.
Good luck!!
March 7, 2012
Pros:
Clears skin from the inside out.
Cons:
A little tough on the stomach at first.
Takes some time to work.
I have been fighting back acne (BACNE) for years. I have always been using the topical medications, they did somewhat work but not good enough.
So after I got good health insurance from my work, I went to a very good dermatologist in my area. I really wanted to get on Accutane so bad because I was desperate. However the doctor strongly suggested that I try Doxy first. So I listened to him.
After 3 weeks I have to say that my back acne was 60% gone! I did get some minor random breakouts at first, but they quickly healed. Today I am in my 5th week and my back is 90% clear. I am satisfied with this medicine so far. MY ADVICE ON HOW TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE TO AVOID NAUSEA/VOMITING : TAKE IT SHORTLY AFTER A GOOD MEAL. You will be fine, trust me.
The only thing I am worried about is if I get pulled off this medicine, I really hope the acne wont come back.
TRY THIS medicine before Accutane.
March 4, 2012
Pros:
Amazing stuff. This antibiotic is simply superb! Within two days my acne started to clear up and now (two weeks later) I don't have a pimple on my face!
I've tried various pills (yasmin, dianne) which work okay.. but never give amazing results. I've also tried other antibiotics (bactrim, mino) which just didn't work at all.
Cons:
Upset stomach/ headache if taken on an empty stomach or just before lying down. I take 1 pill (100mg) a day just after lunch and never have any problems.
Try it! Seriously. I thought it would take at least a month to work but it's cleared me up instantly! I also use in conjunction with yasmin, but that wasn't doing much for me and I've been on it for over 6 months now. My acne (light/moderate) was really getting me down to the point where I didn't even want to leave the house for work or uni. Thanks to doxy I'm now acne free and just have a few red spots I need to get rid (probably with microdermabrasion). Highly recommended!!
March 1, 2012
Pros:
Swelling Started to go down within a couple of days. Acne Started to fade within 4 days of usage. so is working faster then i thought
Cons:
None i can think of yet.
Worked Great!! i would highly recommend this.!! Was prescribed this by a dermatologist.
Pros:
- It works like magic (for me)
- I had no side effects
- I had no sore stomach or sickness, even on an empty stomach.