Doxycycline
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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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February 9, 2013

Pros:

Skin is a little less oily during midday peaks of the day.
Bumps and roughness of the scars become less prominent after a couple of weeks of use.

Cons:

Moderate spots still remain (personally for me along my T-zone) .
This IS NOT a miracle drug and in most cases probably won't give you clear skin after a couple of months of usage.
Very oily skin still remains during warm and humid days.

I was prescribed this encapsulated oral drug a couple of months ago and I have seen minor/moderate improvements. If you have very oily skin like myself then you will be quite satisfied with the results. As I've said this is not a miracle worker like everything you'll have to patient and wait out until you start to see its effects and even after taking the drug for as long as I have unless you're very lucky your skin probably won't fully be rid of acne, spots or blemishes.
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November 21, 2012

Pros:

my skin is better
side effects very minimal

Cons:

took 2 1/2 months before acne started clearing up.
Don't like the idea on being on antibiotics

I am 39 and have been dealing with adult acne for 6yrs. now. I have tried so many products and nothing worked, I was starting to get really bummed and finally resorted to meds. The first month on Doxy was tough to get through - acne got worse. 2nd month it would come and go. I'm in my third month and I have a few pimples but it is way better then it ever was and I feel more confident about going out. The derm told me hormones are triggering the outbreaks and I would have to go on hormone meds too if I want to be totally clear. But not willing to do that at this point. I highly recommend taking probiotics when you are on Doxy to minumize side effects of drug and for overall health. Make sure you eat when taking the pill and drink plenty of water too. Gotta be patient with this drug. I just hope when I go off of it the acne doesn't come back, I don't want to be on meds forever! I recommend Doxy because it sure beats being depressed and feeling awful about myself. I'm glad I held out till month 3 to see some results.
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November 6, 2012

Pros:

It's free at my pharmacy.
It's reduce all signs of cystic, blackheads, and whiteheads.

Cons:

It takes awhile to fully have some effect, I'm not sure how my skin will react when I don't take it anymore and frankly I'm a little worried, but hopeful!

Give it a try.
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October 1, 2012

Pros:

cleared acne

Cons:

nausea inducing
caused gastric ulcers
dried out skin
difficult to swallow

This product did clear up my acne. However, it gave me very dry and flaky skin. It is also very hard to swallow! THIS PILL GOT STUCK IN MY THROAT, AND ERODED IT, CAUSING AN ULCER. I also had one stick to my stomach. It is one of the most painful things that has ever happened to me. I was on a liquid diet for months. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE SWALLOWING IT, STOP TAKING IT RIGHT AWAY.
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September 29, 2012

Pros:

* My scars look better
* Slightly smaller pores
*Fewer whiteheads

Cons:

* Super dry lips ( I have to apply Vaseline like 10 times a day, because my normal Chapstick isn't moisturizing enough)
* Still bad breakouts ( only been using it for 4 days though)
* My face is red all the time

I've tried like 6 or 7 over the counter products, & my acne still looked horrible. So I head to a derm & she gives me doxy, cetaphil, atralin, & alcohol pads. I haven't seen a big improvement, but it hasn't been very long. The pill is shaped oddly & was slightly hard to shallow ( or is that just me?).
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September 4, 2012

Pros:

-Cheap
-Nothing so far yet, I guess I will have to be patient.

Cons:

-Dry Lips
-Bad Breakout at first
-Made me have low self-esteem and lowered my confidence

I am using the oral antibiotic Doxycycline with the topical cream, Adapalene (Differin). I started out with moderate acne, but after about a week and a half, I broke out bad, and can now classify it as moderately severe. Hopefully, it goes away as it has gotten me really down. I am in college right now and its hard for me to want to go to class. From other reviews, it seems it takes time, so I'll be patient. I'll keep updates on here
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August 21, 2012

Pros:

- Cheap.
- Easy to take (small, no taste etc.).

Cons:

- Only works for a short length of time.
- Increases skins sensitivity.

In the first few months of taking Doxy there were amazing results. People were noticing the differences in my skin then when the 8 - 9th month began, i started getting moderately severe breakouts on my cheeks and chin. They've now moved down one side of my face and slightly down to my neck. My skins began getting as bad as it was before, if not worse.
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August 15, 2012

Pros:

1) stop me getting big painful ance sores
2) did moderately control ance
3) easy to take

Cons:

1)made skin very sensitive, resulting on itchy sores on my thighs
2)made skin much worse as soon as you miss doses
3)sunburn easily :(

I had moderately bad ance, took doxycycline for nearly 2 years, and it did work quite well for the first year or so, however my ance never cleared up. Stopped for one month to see if it was causing the itchy little sores on my thighs.. it was.. But went back on since my ance became terrible again. But even on it I would still become covered in ance and recieve the odd big painful under-the-skin pimple once a month. Basically I think this treats the wrong cause for my ance personally. Overall, it worked but not well enough. I've recently stopped taking it and plan on going to the docter to try something new, and I actually believe my skin is now worse than it ever was. And I've only been off it for a few days...
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July 17, 2012

Pros:

Slowly clears acne

Cons:

1) Takes at least 2-3 months before you see any results.
2) Did make acne worse initially
3) Causes discharge.
4) Must also take Probiotics to prevent and cure discharge.

Profile: 28 yr old female South Asian Poor diet Moderately Severe Acne, mainly cystic acne around chin and neck I was on Doxycycle 100mg/day for about 3 months. I noticed it BEGAN to work in the 3rd month. Initially it made my acne worse like I was told. However, by the fourth month I began to take Minocycline because I wasn't sure if Doxcycle was working (but it did) and Minocycline was stronger and supposedly works faster. Which it did but results only last 2- 3 months. I was back on Doxycycle 200mg/day by my 6 month but saw no results in the 1st and 2nd month of being back so I quit taking it. My derm said Doxycycle and Monocycline are beginner antibiotics.
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July 14, 2012

Pros:

-cleared acne somewhat
-little to no side effects

Cons:

-felt nauseous for about 10 minutes prior to taking it (on an empty stomach, if the nausea is unbearable, eat a few crackers before taking it, mine wasn't that bad though)
-initial breakout was a little bit of a pain, didn't last too long though, I'd say about a month or 2 at the most
-my face was never quite clear, time of the month breakouts still sucked
-my face was "clear" for maybe 4 months, then things got progressively worse and I'm back to where I started

About a year ago I was given doxycycline, I think I was on 50mg a day. It was a low dosage because my acne at the time was maybe 5-10 papules and a few whiteheads, nothing severe. My initial breakout might not have been completely from doxycycline either. Keep in mind when you are starting a new regimen, you are stopping usage of the products you previously used. In my case, that is how it was. I was using duac before and switching between face washes every week, which I think was a contributing factor to my skin deteriorating, but that's another story. Anyway, the ib looking back was not horrid, but it was bad from what I was used to. Realistically, if you have light acne, you are not going to break out into full blown cystic acne with one antibiotic, probably not even moderate acne. I had about 4 more pimples then usual popping up every week, but they weren't inflamed because the antibiotic took care of that. It is never as bad as you think it will be. Anyway, so once the ib was over, I never experiences extraordinary smooth, flawless skin. I had bumpies and I had red marks, and when that time of the month hit, you could bet nothing was stopping a few red nastys from popping up on my face. At the time though, I was just happy that I could manage the acne, if I could cover it with makeup I thought it was fixed. Well months go by, and my skin got worse gradually. So gradually that I never noticed until I looked back on pictures I took a year ago on here. So months later, here I am writing a review to share what I went through. Bottom line, everyone's body has the potential to become immune to an antibiotic. I was on it for a year, I saw it coming. I went into this expecting it to be an easy, permanent fix, and it wasn't exactly that.
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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