Doxycycline
Results
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.

 [more]
3.4
1460
Read All About Doxycycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
20.4%
4
35.1%
3
21.8%
2
12.1%
1
10.5%

Used Doxycycline? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
Number of Stars
Choose All That Apply
Clear All Filters
Done
February 22, 2011

Pros:

-I had clear skin for a couple of months
- Controled my oily skin

Cons:

- made me want to throw up if I took on an empty stomach
- Stopped working after awhile

I have never had clearer skin than when I was on Doxycycline, however, after about a year it stopped working for me because I became immune to it. :(
This Was Helpful

Report
January 27, 2011

Pros:

Clears up acne EXTREMELy well first time you use it, can mash it up if it is too big of a pill for you to swallow, good for body acne, gets rid of cysts on your face relatively quickly

Cons:

Stopped working for me after two months (all my sore zits came back like wildfire around my neckline), seems to make teeth look more yellow (I just whiten them), tastes disgusting, pill is HUGE

I used this a few years ago and it worked wonderfully! I got so many compliments on my skin! However, I then went off of it because I had been on it for a few months. While at first my skin still looked good, then I broke out so badly for the next couple of months. I went back on it again 3 months ago, thinking it would have the same effect as it did the first time and get rid of my acne again. However, although it did work for the first two months, it seemed to lose its effectiveness or I simply became immune to it. Either way, it stopped working and now I am on a different medication which seems to be working for now.
This Was Helpful

7 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 20, 2011

Pros:

Fairly cheap.

Cons:

Not good for long term!
Have to take it often to make it effective.

I have been on this for almost 2 years off and on as needed. It has been great for when I was on the medicine. However, it did not produce long lasting results. In fact, I believe towards the end I become immune to it. I should have listened to other reviews. Not worth it in the end.
This Was Helpful

13 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 15, 2011

Pros:

Small pill very easy to swallow

Cons:

Are not very strong

I have been taking these for at least 4-5 months now and they have barely made a difference to my spots so therefore when I have finished this lot I am definitely going to go back to the doctor and get some stronger pills.
This Was Helpful

Report
November 18, 2010

Pros:

acne inflammation seems to be reducing
i've heard this drug doesn't make acne breakout worse before it gets better. So i'm looking forward to no new acne.

Cons:

light stomach cramp (possibly from the coming of my period)

I never had acne issues before. I'm 22 going on 23 at the end of this year. My doctor prescribed me doxycycline and yaz because i had a severe breakout (hundreds of acne all over my forehead, cheeks, jawline, and the space above my lip). I was mortified to see it getting so bad over a period of a week. So i rushed to my doc after minocycline made me dizzy. I took my first doxy pill last night (100 mg) and took my 2nd pill this afternoon. Thankfully, no dizziness. I'm gonna take a probiotic in a few hours as well. So I'm hoping it clears me up. I'll write another review in a month. Oh also, I've changed my diet so I'm hoping that'll help me for the better. I drink nearly 2 liters of water a day. Around 1.5 to be honest. I went from drinking none (a 16.9 oz bottle a week) to almost 5 to 6 of them a day and I'm already reaping the benefits. Waking up without feeling tired and exhausted. I'm depressed about my face going baazerk on me but I put this on myself. I had a horrible diet, drnak coffee like it was nobody's business, and no water. Stressed the hell out of my body over financial, relationship, and family issues. And lack of sleep (4 to 5 hours a night). So I need to fix myself. And to top it off, the only thing i can't control, my hormones went psycho on me. But I'm hoping i'll pee any toxins out of my system. Also I'm scared to start birth control but if that's what will help then it's well worth a shot. Doxy and Yaz please be my miracle drugs! I really want my old skin back. badly.
This Was Helpful

13 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 15, 2010

Pros:

If taken consistently, it WILL fight off bacteria that are not tetracycline resistant, thus clearing acne.

Cons:

You won't know if it will work until you try it for a period of time. It might work completely, it might work a little, and it might not work at all.

Regardless of whether you have taken antibiotics before, know that a good percentage of the bacteria that cause acne are already resistant to antibiotics in the tetracycline family, which includes Doxycycline. You just don't know. This accounts for the mixed reviews you see here. If it does work, there is no reason why your acne would not come back after you stopped taking it. If that happens, it's because your body has changed over the course of time in which you took the Doxycycline (in other words, it's not the Doxycycline, it's you). I'd recommend it as a possible quick fix while your looking for another option to treat your acne. It makes sense to use benzoyl peroxide at the same time, thus fighting the bacteria from both ends. It also makes sense to take supplements that are known for calming down acne, such as zinc and omega 3 DHA. It's far from a miracle drug, and chances are it will not clear your acne, but it may reduce it. For many, this is a good enough reason to try it out. If it's not working at all after about six weeks, it's probably time to move on.
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 21, 2010

Pros:

Breakouts became less frequent

Cons:

Takes about a month to work
Antibiotic resistance

Break outs started to become less infrequent. Skin is still a little red and I still have some acne marks (Hyperpigmentation) but over all everything is clearer.
This Was Helpful

13 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 2, 2010

Pros:

Did a reasonable job reducing acne/inflamation
Easy to take

Cons:

Can mess up stomach if not taken properly
Not a long term solution
Dries out skin

I found this to be a useful treatment in combination with Finacea for my irritated/rosacea/red skin. I was on 100 mg 2x a day, and the first few weeks it was really screwing up my digestion and giving me loss of appetite. I have since reduced to 100 mg 1x a day, and taking the pharmacists consumption advice: take the pill with a full glass of water and then begin eating a meal. Antibiotics aren't a long term solution, so you it's best to do in combination with other treatments (topicals etc.). I also noticed my dandruff was worse, so I think it dries out my skin somewhat.
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 18, 2010

Pros:

I only have to take it once a day
It doesn't dry out my skin too much

Cons:

If taken on an emtpy stomach it causes a little nausea (but it only last for about 30 min)

The first day i took this pill i almost threw up and was going to start eating it with food but decided that i'd just suck it up and try it again on an empty stomach and i'm glad i did becasue i really wanted the full effect of the drug and now i just have a lil nausea that passes quickly. I'm 18 and i recently stopped taking minocycline because i wasn't seeing any results after a month of taking it and I've been on this pill for about 2 1/2 weeks and i'm just starting to see improvement :) I also use a prescribed sodium sulfacetamide and sulfer wash twice a day to help kill bacteria and retin a 0.25% at night to help with the scarring. I've had no major side affects and hopefully i'll be clear in about another 2 weeks
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 1, 2010

Pros:

It cleared about half my acne, just take a little pill once daily, saw results in 1 week.

Cons:

If you don't take this with food, you are liable to vomit.

It is great if you take it with food!
This Was Helpful

14 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 7 8 9 10 11 … 25
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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