Oral Antibiotic
Reviews
3.4
1734 Reviews
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
56%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Side Effects
Medium-High
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.
Read All About Doxycycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
20.7%
4
32.9%
3
22.1%
2
12.7%
1
11.5%

Used Doxycycline? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
July 26, 2008

Pros:

cleared up cystic acne, unclogged nose pores, skin was de-congested, cleared up a terrible breakout I had in february

Cons:

pain to remember to take
hard to remember to take it in mornings when, msde me nausous (sp) and I often threw up in school, running late
annoying to have to take pills, pretty strong

eat something with it, and if you do you shouldn't feel it, it's a good backup acne fighter I dont recall any flare ups after taking the pill (i get this stuff free from my mom)
June 23, 2008

Pros:

cheap works well

Cons:

I take a probiotic to ward of a yeast infection

it works really well!!
May 28, 2008

Pros:

None

Cons:

Upsets your stomach no matter what you eat or when you take the pill. Seemed to have the adverse effect with me and actually turned my mild-moderate acne to a full flair up that took Retin-A to zap up.

I was prescribed this by my dermatologist and why I dont know. I explained to her that I have sensitivity to antibiotics. This product made me sooooooo sick. I could not even eat because I was so naseated. The product caused more acne for me and now I have more scars from the breakouts this caused to prove it.
May 26, 2008

Pros:

it's a charm! it got rid of my zits in less than 2 days. in a month, i'd say my skin was about 90-95% acne free. it's also really cheap!

Cons:

i read that taking antibiotics daily for more than 6 months is bad for you. plus, after 2 weeks of not using it, everything goes back.

if you want quick fixes, this would be a good temporary solution i guess. it's just not something that i think should be taken for more than a year. check your dermatologist.
May 26, 2008

Pros:

Nothing really, did very little to help my acne.

Cons:

headaches. stomache aches.make sure you take it with food. sometimes i took it food and i still got some of the worst stomache aches of my life, I even vomited.

Gave me problems and didnt help my acne at all.
May 25, 2008

Pros:

Has helped with little acne on my face

Cons:

you get a little sick if! u dont drink water with it & eat a little to

ive only been on doxy for a lil more then a month and so far i think its working its not geting worse so im sure its geting better, i dont have bad acne but i do get a few zits on both sides of my face in the same area so im hopeing in a few more weeks they will be gone
May 8, 2008

Pros:

I used this all throughout high school and I really feel as though it worked

Cons:

Now when I try to get back on it I feel that I may be immune but I do think it worked during most of high school

I wish I had never stopped using it because a couple years later my acne is crazy and I should have remained on it. It was so successful I thought that I was fine, but when I went off it my face went crazy.
May 7, 2008

Pros:

SEEMS TO NOT LET PIMPLES OR CYSTIC PIMPLES GO CRAZY LIKE BEFORE. CHEAP, AND NOT HARD ON MY STOMACH

Cons:

DOESN'T GET RID OF EVERYTHING. MORE SMALL BLACK HEADS AND WHITE HEADS. BUT ITS BETTER THAN BEFORE.

THIS PRODUCT SEEMS TO BE WORKING SO FAR. KEEPS EVERYTHING ALOT LESS IRRITATED. I GET HUGE CYSTIC ACNE ON MY CHIN MAINLY. SINCE I HAVE TAKEN THIS IT HAS CUT THE NUMBER I GET BY 3/4. MY FACE IS ALITTLE BUMPIER THAN NORMAL . BUT AT LEAST IT IS NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS.
May 3, 2008

Pros:

Cleared me up in 3 weeks
Cheap and just has to be taken once a day

Cons:

None, I guess I have a tough stomach. I never had problems with nausea and the likes
Eliminating milk from my diet caused constipation

Give this a try. I was hesitant to take oral antibiotics at first, but my derma convinced in the end. I'll be on it for two months. For the first two weeks, i took two 100mg dosage. Then it was tapered off to just once a day. The acne therapy she designed for is a two-month Doxy maintenance and when I'm clear already, we'll switch to topical antibiotics. RIght now, I am also using 0.01% tretinoin at night and 10% AHA lotion in the morning. Now, I am not only clear but my pores are less noticeable too. I have oily skin hence I have not experienced terrible dryness and painful peeling from Tret and AHA. I am happy with DOxy and I just hope the effects won't be reversed when I get off it.
April 21, 2008

Pros:

It temporarily keeps acne from reappearing.

Cons:

I don't like the taste of the tablet.
It melts real fast in your mouth if you leave it in there too long without water.

I woud use this, if your patient. It works eventually, I did see some difference from when i started a few months ago.

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.

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.