Doxycycline
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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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1460
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20.4%
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35.1%
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21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

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June 25, 2011

Pros:

-Clears acne well
-(When I was one 2 a day) cleared facial redness

Cons:

-Hard to remember to take sometimes/timing after I eat is sometimes awkward
-Not being consistant can cause a very minor relapse (maybe 1 or 2 zits)

I take one 100mg once daily (a half hour after dinner). Although it is recommended to be taken 2hrs after you eat, my dermatologist said a half hour is ok for me (and I never get nauseous this way). I've been taking it for over a year, and I have close-to clear skin. At one time I might have 1-3 active pimples, but most of the time they are hormone related or caused from my hair products around the sides of my face. I would say my skin in pretty clear. I was taking it twice a day, but I was uncomfortable with the amount of antibiotics this meant, and I saw that one was just enough to control my acne. After about a year, I wouldn't say it has decreased in effectiveness. It seems to do its job if I regularily take it.
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June 19, 2011

Pros:

Did wonders for my skin for about 8 months and slowly started to stop working.

Cons:

You have to be very careful about when you take it.

I loved this antibiotic. It worked amazingly at first, I just wish it could have lasted longer ):
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June 2, 2011

Pros:

Cheap
Easy to get without insurance
works slowly...but it does work

Cons:

NAUSEA
You must be patient to see results

I seem to be affected every summer by skin issues...beautiful all winter long...as soon as summer hits, the problems start. Doxy is easy to get even w/o insurance...most minute clinics will write a script and if you live in the south east U.S. many Publix pharmacies will fill the script for free :) The down side, as hard as it is to do, it must be taken on an empty stomach to work its full effect as quickly as possible. This could be a big deterrent for some, but trust me its worth it...(Ive taken 600mg Bactrim horsepills that did not have the nasty side effects like 100mg of this)...I was prescribed 100mg 2x per day for 30 days...reduce to once a day for the remaining 30. It only took 2 days and three doses before the Doxy had me balled up in a fetal position with nausea...The nausea will pass within an hour and probiotic pills help reduce the nausea a great deal! But nothing with milk products or high calcium content! My best advice is to take your dose when you have nowhere to go for a few hours and can lay down and rest...I highly recommend NOT taking it before going out anywhere for at least one hour! One side effect I did notice immediately though was that the Doxy raised my body temperature by 2 degrees and I was sweating bullets after the first dose! One of the listed side effects is fever, but it seemed to hit me particularly hard...It felt more like my metabolism spiked more than anything though... As far as results go, within 2 days I could see that no new spots were forming especially overnight, and thats when most people seem to be hit the hardest. Be warned though that ANY new spots that were beginning to form when you started the Doxy will run their course. This seems to be a major frustration for many people who've taken this. After two to three weeks there should be noticeable clearing....BE PATIENT! I recommend taking omega 3 oils with the Doxy as well as it will make your skin dry out considerably...especiall
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May 12, 2011

Pros:

Less Acne

Cons:

Bloating / Frequent peeing,
Slight stomach ace,
Tired

I'm on day 6 and I definitely see a good change in my acne but I'm bloated and always have to go to pee! This may be why some people say they gain weight on it. It slightly suppresses the appetite too though.
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April 25, 2011

Pros:

-Clears acne on body as well as face.
-Fewer breakouts, and large pimples go away slightly faster.
-Fewer whiteheads.
-Few side effects for me.

Cons:

-I have to regulate when I take this since it won't work as well if you eat calcium, magnesium, etc.
-I still broke out around my time-of-month, so this doesn't control hormones.
-My skin is still oily.
-I still use topical treatments.
-It takes a couple months to see results.
-Stops working if you stop taking it.
-Possibility of developing resistant bacteria.

With this product, my skin stopped breaking out for the most part. Now I only seem to get acne around my time of month (a few bumps on each cheek) and with maybe one bump each week in between. I still have acne, but my skin used to get a few new bumps each week, and doxy has really helped. My skin is finally starting to look smooth. I take the pill 2x daily, and a 2 month supply costs me $20 with insurance. ... As an antibiotic, doxy kills the bacteria in your body, including those on your skin. But it also kills the "good" bacteria that help regulate your digestive system. Eating yogurt can help replenish the "good" bacteria. Doxy hasn't really caused negative side effects (knock on wood!) but for those with sensitive stomachs, this product may be too harsh. However, I'm afraid long-term use will lead to the development of doxy-resistant bacteria. I also do not know what the long-term side effects are. ... I still use topical treatments with this, and have been using Retin-A to help fade scarring. Before, Retin-A didn't do much because it didn't control bacteria, but now that I'm on an antibiotic, the Retin-A is working to help fade scars. ... Doxy works best if taken 2-3 hours before or after consuming calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron or zinc. So basically, take this between meals or it won't work as well since it bonds to those elements. This takes a while to get used to. ... Bottom line, I still have acne which occurs around my time-of-month, and my skin is still very oily. I am still an acne sufferer, but doxy has reduced the magnitude and frequency of my breakouts not only on my face, but the rest of my body. I would recommend this for those who can handle taking an antibiotic and are willing to change their schedules and/or eating habits to accommodate this medication.
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April 21, 2011

Pros:

- actually cleared acne by 90%
- very easy: just pop a pill once a day

Cons:

- takes quite a long time (for me, 6-8 months)
- reduced degree of, but did not eradicate monthly breakout

Yes, I would recommend this, but just keep in mind it takes what seems like forever to work, and in the end I still got monthly breakouts which would take half a month to heal completely so in the end I was only about 95% clear for 1/2 the time. If it interests you, I am now on birth control pills to "keep my hormones in check" which I believe is the sole problem of my acne.
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April 3, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne
Clears pretty quickly (3 weeks)
Does its job well

Cons:

Extreme Sun Sensitivity
Can't take with Calcium

I am a first-timer to acne prescriptions and have to say I am very satisfied with my experience so far. I am on Doxy along with Atralin at night and Acanya in the morning. It has worked great for my moderate acne and I started seeing visible results within 3 weeks. My skin is now clearer than it has ever been and only breaks out slightly (1-2 pimples) around that time of the month. For me, the downside of doxy was my increased sun sensitivity. My light skin never had problems with sunburn before and has always tanned well. I went to Florida for Spring Break and was fine the first day, but then got SLAMMED with sunburn the next day. I was still applying sunscreen, but got a horrible burn on my hands, feet, and face. This wasn't like a normal sunburn, it was extremely painful and itchy. Aloe didn't help much, I mainly used black tea bags to relive the pain. It's starting to heal now (after 2 weeks) but still looks pretty bad. My feet have also formed blisters. Now I will be extremely careful in the sun, because I cannot go through the burning pain again! The only other downside is that you cannot take this with Calcium - so sometimes it was annoying to find foods without Calcium. Calcium makes it harder for your body to absorb the medicine. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to people with light to moderate acne! It really worked and did what it said it would do. Just make sure you stay out of the sun! Hope this helped someone!
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March 29, 2011

Pros:

Number of cysts and nodules went down. It will also shrink the size of them as well. Breakouts don't occur as often.

Cons:

Doesn't totally get rid of acne. Mostly just helps lower the number of cysts. You really need to remember to take it every night. If not then you might breakout over night.

I really do like this medication. I really didn't want to go on it at first since I hate swallowing pills but I'm glad I did. I get painful cysts and nodules on random spots on my face and this medication helped lower that number. Now I get fewer painful bumps though this product isn't a magic pill I still get pustules and my pores are still clogged. I do get nodules whenever my time of the month comes around but most of the time they are a lot smaller so long as I don't pick at them. As far as eating before is concerned I normally take these right before I shower and haven't experienced throwing up or anything like that. But I would just make sure you have eaten dinner before hand and have a little something in your stomach. It may just be that I hate swallowing pills but if I don't take the pills ( I use to take 50mg now I take 100mg) with a good amount of water I feel the pill in my throat which makes for an awful nights sleep. My mother has buys it for me but with insurance it costs $5. Reading online it says that without insurance it costs 30 dollars. This is very good for people who have moderate acne like me.
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March 25, 2011

Pros:

-stop cystic formation
-free! (otherwise very cheap)
-decreased nodular acne under skin

Cons:

-took a bit to see slightest improvement (over a month)
-hearing distortion

have been on this medication at 150mg/day along with topicals: Epiduo (morning) and Aczone (night). I added these topicals a week and a half ago and have seen enormous improvement since. I had uncontrollable persistent cystic acne for 4 months. I am happy to see signs of my clear skin coming back. This is my first experience with severe acne at 20. The dermatologist considered Accutane for my skin that's how bad it is (just to put things in perspective). I had a $35 coupon from the company and insurance covered the rest so the prescription was free. I'd suggest calling the company and getting such help or coupon codes. In addition to this treatment I am soon to undergo Isolaz Laser Treatment to completely rid the acne from my life so it never returns after my antibiotic is over.
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March 1, 2011

Pros:

Clears Acne
No Tummy Problems
Skin Glows

Cons:

Little Dizzy After Taking It

I have suffered with acne for so long and i was prescribed Doxy 50mg a month ago, i am on my 2nd course now which is the 100mg and wow my skin looks amazing! I have so much confidence now and everyone just says how beautiful i look all the time.... TRY IT and eat food with it and you wont get tummy pains.
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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