Oral Antibiotic
Reviews
3.2
1954 Reviews
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
54%
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
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 they can reduce severe acne in the short term, 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 Minocycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
17.3%
4
27.7%
3
24%
2
16%
1
14.9%

Used Minocycline? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 21, 2009

Pros:

Cleared my skin completely

Cons:

After 6 months my acne came back times 10. Its not the typical acne with red and inflamed but skin colored bumps (comodone acne) I have never had this type of acne before. Now I am trying to find a way to cure it

I was never told about the side effects of Minocycline. I have developed a greenish bluish bruise like on my leg. This med is extremely serious and should not be taken for a long period of time. I blame the Minocycline for my bumps that I have all over my face!!
September 22, 2009

Pros:

Worked well

Cons:

If you use it for a long period of time, dark spots will form on your face. Sort of like scars, except not from picking.

I was using it with differin and my face was great. Not completely clear, though. Some small pimples on my hairline, but it was okay. Then my mom and derm. switched everything on me and my skin got horrible. Now if I switched back, it would be too weak.
September 12, 2009

Pros:

I have taken Minocycline for nearly 6 years and it has proved very effective at controlling my acne and reducing redness/scarring. I cannot fault this drug as it has been a life saver for me.

Cons:

None

After having had 4 (!) courses of Roaccutane during my early 20s to tackle my very bad acne (which particularly effects my back and chest), my dermatologist prescribed Minocycline as his preferred antibiotic to control my condition. It has generally worked very well for some years and it is with much sadness that I now have to stop taking it as I am about to try and start for a family (not sad about the family bit of course, just that I have to stop taking this drug). I have had no ill side effects and I would recommend this antiobiotic for anyone who has moderate to severe acne that needs to be controlled. It significantly reduces inflammation, redness and oiliness. Unfortunately within 2 weeks of coming off it though, the spots and redness have appeared with a vengeance. I have now been prescribed erythromcin which is apparenlty ok to take if you are pregnant. I'm hoping it's as effective as Minocycline
September 7, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up acne a little bit.

Cons:

I had a permanent yeast infection as a side effect of minocycline.

The side effects are NOT worth it.
August 23, 2009

Pros:

i have been taking this medication for two months no pros

Cons:

hard to avoid the sun in the summer but definately don't feel good.Severe headaches and depression

think i should go off it starting tonight.Don't know why my dermatologist put me on the capsules anyway.I only have rosacea.
August 4, 2009

Pros:

clears up your skin after a while.

Cons:

YEAST INFECTIONS!!!!!

It's best to take this on an empty stomache.. Your stomache may get a little upset, but no to much. I recieved so many compliments after a while of using this. Only thing is...you have to wait a while. Change is not really immediate. I took it two years ago, stopped and now I have started again.
July 31, 2009

Pros:

Not really any. clears up for a little while?

Cons:

makes yo very sunsensitive and it just doesnt really work

I have used it for 3 months and i noticed a differnece in about a week but then after a couple of weeks it went back to normal. :(
July 14, 2009

Pros:

clearing acne as we speak. absolutley no side effects for a month and a half.

Cons:

mass breakout on start of month 2 on it. red marks are left!

buy it if you havent given it a try before. it may or may not work. but nothing usually works for me, and this is looking very promising. i have moderate/severe breakouts, and sometime i have minor/moderate but this stuff has only just kicked in for me and has stopped the daily breakouts im getting, while my skin in trying to heal the old marks and scabs from the breakout i had one month into the meds. i have been on 50 mg twice a day, but have recently just uppped myself to 100mg twice a day to see if this helps. only problem with that is that ive only got 4 rpts left on my script and hopefully the doctor/derm with give me more scripts.
July 13, 2009

Pros:

I didn't have the problems some mentioned, like photo sensitivity.

Cons:

Didn't work at all. Made acne worse than EVER.

Bottom line is I just don't think this product did anything to me at all. Not only did it not do anything bad, side effects wise, it didn't do anything good. If anything, my acne is worse than ever. This might be due to the drug, but it might be due to being taken off of my last routine (simple straight up clindamycine, worked fine). Either way, I can say I am angry as can be. I used it to get them off of a select area, but it didn't work at all, and I now have the worst acne ever. Company who made this and dermatalogist shouldn't have a job. As far as severity: It was light before. Now its moderate to severe. I am so upset.
July 10, 2009

Pros:

I have been A LOT of creams, gels and pills. This has worked wonderful for me. I have adult cystic acne and this seems to work .

Cons:

I was nauseated at first but got over it after I started taking it at night before I went to bed. Drank lots of water-it's good for our skin!

This has worked for me but I also have stopped drinking soda, that seemed to make me breakout worse after I consumed it. The ONLY makeup I use is Bare Essentuals and that works great if you have the $$.

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.