Acne.org Products
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
November 30, 2008
Cons:
No significant improvement.
Not recommended by me.
October 9, 2008
Pros:
almost immediately resolved my large cystic acne.
Cons:
hasnt completely cleared all of my acne.
this was my first try at an oral medication used specificaly to treat my acne; for years, ive used OTC cleansers and creams. after the second day i noticed that most of the large, cystic acne on my body drastically improved. but, i have yet to see all of my acne disappear - i havent had a "breakout" since taking this medication. ive been pretty cautious about taking it (ive read some of the "horror" stories on here). ive only been taking it once a day (as opposed to twice). i try to not take it after ive just eaten a large meal because of what others have said about nausea, but personally, i havent felt ANY of those effects...or headaches, lightheadedness, etc. ive been side-effect-free! i will eventually take the medication twice a day in hopes that it will clear all of my acne, but im afraid that i will eventually develop a resistance to the antibiotic and will be stuck with all of my acne again.
October 2, 2008
Pros:
noticed its reduced redness, since ive been using it for about 2 weeks
Cons:
takes time to work, stomach aches etc.
have dinner then take tablet and only drink water for the rest of the night. dont wash your face if you can help it ive noticed the med works quicker if you dont put any washes on it, splash of water at the most. Be patient, be excited i believe in this :) good luck
August 3, 2008
Pros:
Starts working in 3 to 4 days! (at least for me it did) Clears up red pimples. Calms down facial redness on nose and cheeks.
Cons:
Don't take it on an empty stomach or you will puke! Take with full meal.
Easy once a day treatment.
June 24, 2008
Pros:
It's definitely clearing my skin. Easy to take. Cheap.
Cons:
Hate the idea of long term antibiotics, so I take a probiotic, which itself is expensive.
I take Doxy as a part of a regime. I don't know how it would work alone. I've tried just about everything including dietary detox, which does help, but even with that I still got the deep cysts around my period and still had acne in places other than my face. I'm 41 years old and have it on my neck, back and shoulders, which I never did as a teen. I'm not sure how long I'll stay on, but it really has helped amazingly well. I haven't had any of the stomach issues, surprisingly, but I have taken it near a (dairy free) meal on purpose. I'm also on topical clindamycin for my back and Differin, which as a bonus is helping the fine lines on my face...YAY!
May 13, 2008
Pros:
Really reduced the amount of acne on my back and chest
Cons:
Hasn't done much for my face yet
I've been using doxycycline for 2 months now and the only difference it has made for me is reducing my back and chest acne. Unfortunately my face is still getting loads of breakouts. I wonder why?
May 9, 2008
Pros:
Haven't had any pros yet.
Cons:
My acne is getting worse than it was.
I haven't encountered any problems with photo-sensitivity yet, but I also spend the majority of my day inside, and wear SPF makeup. If I eat it with meals and don't lay down for 2 hours afterward (what they recommended) then my stomach is fine. I've been taking it consistently for a month and my acne is just getting worse. And the other reviews here worry me that if I even consider going off of it, my face will get even worse. I'm not so sure about this drug.
May 7, 2008
Pros:
Doesn't have many side effects if you take it with food
Cons:
Doesn't really work
I've been on doxycycline for a LONG time, and it has made my acne go from horrific to acceptable, but it hasn't done much else, and I'm trying something new now.
April 25, 2008
Pros:
seems to have cleared my skin
Cons:
Horribly expensive
makes stomach sick
I was given Rx for Doryx, filled at pharmacy and was told it was $ 250.00. ( My insurance covered $100.00) so I had to pay difference. I can't imagine that this is better than normal doxycycline. Why not put me on something else? I do see results though. It has been 1 week. and Im burning in the sun and itching alot. too $$$
April 23, 2008
Pros:
It definitely works, eventually. It's a medication you have to be very patient with. Reduced redness, less whiteheads, breakouts from monthly complications aren't as bad, more controlled.
Cons:
It doesn't work if you drink milk one hour before or after. Watch what you're eating for calcium and iron before you take it.
I've gotten noticeably tanner, but I've accepted that this is also due to my genes. Using sunblock is a must!!
I was prescribed this in January of '07, and I'm terrible at routine so I did not take it regularly. I finally kicked it into gear about a month ago along with fish oil and topical vitamin E. I've been taking it regularly at 12:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. every day. Twice a day, 100 mg.
Ever since most of the strange swollen whiteheads on my cheeks have disappeared, only a couple left to go. Definite disappearance in redness, I now have an almost even complexion. All I had to do was follow routine and drink lots of water with it! It's all worth it. I don't think I'd recommend it for anyone that has BEYOND mild acne, it might not be as effective. Could be wrong, though.
Pros:
It worked a tad