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
December 2, 2006
Cons:
It can make your stomach hurt/make you feel really nauseous if you take it on an empty stomach, so make sure to eat with it! (trust me, I learned the hard way!)
It's definitely worth the money and effort of taking it twice a day.
November 25, 2006
Pros:
Don't need to take it so strictly. I take it at different times at night each day - still works.
Cons:
None
They won't give me a repeat prescription, and there is only 28 in a bottle. So i have to pay gap every month at the doctors to get a new script
I didn't find I had stomach problems, and I never take it with food.
I first was on it a few years ago and it worked amazingly. Went off it because my mother didn't like the idea of me on antibiotics.
I decided i wanted to go back on because of all the cystic pimples I was getting. After 1 month I still haven't gotten rid of the all dark spots from scars, Ive had a few little pimples but they go away over night with benzol 10% cream. BUT NO CYSTIC PIMPLES. which is what I wanted!
October 24, 2006
Pros:
It works like a charm! really really well! least for me it did!
Cons:
antibiotics are dangerous and if youve ever taken a single dose of them you have a candida yeast over growth in your body which can be harmull in many ways. they also supress your immune system.and it comes back but not as bad.
i took it twice. cleared me up like a charm both times.
October 23, 2006
Pros:
Very Cheap
Used as an anti-malarial while travelling, so it was 'double duty'.
Cons:
Made me sick to my stomach if I did not drink with lots of water and food.
Didn't so much work.
Better than nothing, but not by much. I still had cysts and bad pimples. (I would say the medication reduced my outbreaks by 10%.) Plus, taking antibiotics for this long creeps me out. Your body is probably building up a resistance. Save yourself some time and try something different. This just isn't going to cut it.
October 12, 2006
Cons:
I've been taking doxy for 3 weeks now and I still see no results. So far, I havent experience any side effects. It might help some people clear up fast but not to other. "Its expensive".
It might take a "few" weeks to show improvement.
May 31, 2013
Helped with acne but dried out my skin and made me sick
Pros:
cleared up some acne
Cons:
stomach problems
dried out skin
A few years ago when my acne was very severe I went to a dermatologist and requested accutane but was told to try this first. First of course I broke out worse the first month, then my acne started to clear up. However, this drug made me very sick. Even though I would make sure to take this on an empty, I threw up constantly and always had stomach pains. It also made my sensitive skin very dry. I now only use natural remedies for my skin problems and have had great results.
January 27, 2013
Cons:
Nausea
Vomiting
I flowed everything my doctor said eat a big meal wait 3 hours afertward to take it! I even did the opposite neither work still nausea and vomiting! I can't say if it was effected because I had only taken it for a week.
October 7, 2012
Pros:
Cleared cystic bumps on chin in 2 days
Free at Publix pharmacy
Cons:
Hard to swallow at times
Pills made me excessively tired and hungry
Broke out on the left side of my cheeck
My derm prescribed this to me along with tretinoin gel. I took it for 2 months then my derm advised me to stop taking them. I feel better overall not taking the pills. I was constantly tired and hungry. Once I stopped taking the pills I felt like myself, energectic and happy.
August 27, 2012
Pros:
Helps with inflammation
May work a little better if used with topicals such as retin-a creams.
Cons:
Vaginal discharge
Naseau if you do not take it with food
I have very severe acne all over my cheeks. on one side I have nodular cystic acne that was highly inflammed. This helped with inflammation but not with getting rid of acne itself. I still get break outs every day....accutane looks like my only option now.
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...
Pros:
This antibiotic is amazing! I had moderate acne all over my face, and about 2 months after I started taking doxy, my face was totally clear! I still get some pimples around the time of my period, but it's a 98 percent improvement!