Minocycline
Results
Side Effects

Minocycline is an oral antibiotic that works by fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation. It should...

Minocycline 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 taken once a day with food, at the same time every day.

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3.2
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5
15.8%
4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

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April 12, 2011

Pros:

Stops acne forming only for a short while even if you eat a lot of fried stuff.

Cons:

It didn't completely clear my skin, just basically didn't do much.

The results are different for everybody. And it didn't help me.
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March 31, 2011

Pros:

I couldn't take it long enough because of intense side effects--but I have used doxycyclin (another tetracyclin) before with some success.

Cons:

After just my first pill, I had bad side effects. Flu-like symptoms (chills, achiness, fever), stiff joints, and moderate dizziness/nausea. I could live with the dizziness, but the flu-like symptoms were so severe that I couldn't function normally.

I'd be very clear with your doctor about the potential side effects. I regret that I didn't push my doctor more, particularly since this was not my first reaction to a tetracyclin. They say side effects are rare, but I'm skeptical. My main advice would be if you try it, ease into it. Start with one a day and see how your body reacts. I found that my doctor immediately jumped to prescribing oral antibiotics, etc. without having a thorough dicussion of my medical history. My advice would be to push the doctor to discuss all other potential causes and options before starting any oral medication.
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October 30, 2010

Pros:

-completely cleared up acne
-really helpful for reducing redness
-no side effects
-inexpensive

Cons:

-takes a really long time to start working
-major breakout after about 3 months which left scars

minocycline is simply AMAZING. It takes a really long time to start working but its worth the wait. The best thing about it is that it has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces redness a lot - the first thing i noticed while taking it was that my skin became a lot less red after about a week. Getting rid of the actual acne took a lot longer. My skin started clearing up after about 2 months but it was quite a small difference. Everything went well (no new acne appearing) until about the third month when i was halfway through the treatment. I had the biggest breakout i have ever had - i have never seen my skin look so bad before. Antibiotics are not supposed to cause a breakout (apparantely) so it MAY have been because of stress, but i'm still leaning towards the antibiotic being the cause. I had blemishes where I'd NEVER gotten them before - my temples, all across my cheeks etc. It lasted for about 3 weeks but then my skin started clearing up again. I'm now up to my last month of taking it and my skin is completely free of acne - the only thing that is keeping my skin from being flawless is red marks from the breakout i had, but they're slowly fading. There were no side effects at all (although i was only taking 50mg) and it was so cheap. Overall I'm really happy with minocycline and I'd definitely reccommend it.
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July 9, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of redness in face
Clears up bacne
Clears up acne , eventually

Cons:

Long time to work
Side effects

I have never had acne until this year. I was on proactiv for a bit but that didn't help at all. As my acne got worse my doctor prescribed minocycline and clindamycin. I have been on both medications for a month now and my face is less red, my bacne is completly gone and my acne on. My face is just starting to clear up. The only bad thing about this medication is how long it takes to work. When it does start to work though it produces good results.
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June 24, 2010

Pros:

Clearer skin than I'd had in years by the end of 6 weeks!

Cons:

Headaches and nausea after each dose
Could not take with food - had to be hours away from it twice a day.
Constant yeast infections that wouldn't go away entirely, even with Diflucan
Acne comes back within a month or so after stopping.

As a last resort before moving to isotretinoin (Accutane), I let the dermatologist give this a shot. He said he uses it regularly himself, and it was worth a try. I used it with topical Retin-A at night and BenzaClyn in the morning. For the first couple of weeks, my face got much worse and was covered with little red bumps as everything surfaced. By the end of the six weeks, I had clear skin that was smooth to the touch. Lots of compliments from my peers. The downside was that I had 3 or 4 yeast infections within a six-week period - that awful itchy kind that just don't seem to go away. Between those and the nausea and constant headaches each time I took a dose (twice a day), I opted to move forward with isotretinoin instead. I am so glad I did! Now I'm finishing my 5th month of isotretinoin and my skin just glows. I hardly ever get a single pimple. Definitely worth exploring if minocycline doesn't leave you happy/you can bear the minocycline side effects. My biggest concern is the damage that you're doing to your body by being on antibiotics long term - especially such strong ones as these - with no end in sight. Something to consider. But minocycline definitely works!
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June 9, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up acne scars a LITTLE bit

Cons:

Skin pigmentation!!! and some LARGE, painful zits popping up.

I took this medication 4 times within 2 weeks (I was told to start slow) and I noticed a "bruise" on my thigh. Its about 2-21/2" long by 1" wide. Figured out, it wasn't a bruise (there was no trauma to the area and it didn't hurt at all) it was changed skin pigmentation. I contacted my doctor about it and she told me to stop immediately. It's been over a week since I have taken it and I still have this large mark on my leg - dark blue/black. I refuse to wear shorts or a bathing suit in public until it goes away!
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March 2, 2010

Pros:

clears up acne pretty well, but if you have anything worse than moderate, you probably need something stronger, or a combination

Cons:

dries skin out a little; not as effective as i wanted it to be

good for moderate acne to keep under control, best if used in a combination with other products
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March 2, 2010

Pros:

- Significantly reduced my acne
- Helps control flare-ups

Cons:

- Causes my skin to flush easily
- Taking it 2x/day
- Reduces effectiveness of oral birth control pills
- For women- high risk of yeast infections which means you have to stop taking this until infection is treated

Have been taking minocycline for 10 months. Began taking this because my light/moderate acne worsened and I developed moderate and embarrassing (large papules) back and chest acne at age 21. After a year of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid OTC treatments, I went to a dermatologist who put me on this. I began noticing results after 2 months, and by month 5 my back acne reduced to maybe 5 zits a week and face acne was back to light/moderate. Then (at 5 months) I began taking Differin too (avoided it bc without insurance it's expensive!). Now, at 10 months my face has light acne (no big papules any more; still have small bumps a few times a week and blackheads on nose and forehead) and maybe only one or two zits a month on my back. The scarring is starting to clear up a bit too from the Differin. I'm happy with my results and may actually be able to wear tank tops this summer, but my acne has not entirely disappeared. Also, I am tired of taking an antibiotic 2x/day and my face/neck/chest flushing so easily (especially from just one drink at the bar).
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February 8, 2010

Pros:

I was using clindoxyl gel for 3 months before my doctor prescribed minocycline. When on both it cured my cystic acne after 2 weeks, and since then slowly stopped the occurrence of other blemishes. I have been on both products for just under 2 months now. Although, I still have red marks but that'll take time to heal.

Cons:

I was on 100mg, twice a day, at first. The dose was too much and caused vertigo and loss of apatite. My doctor lightened the load to 50 in the morning (since my symptoms were mainly in the mornings) and 100 at night.

My face hurt from the cystic acne and minocycline got rid of all of it.
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November 19, 2009

Pros:

Works great for my acne.

Cons:

Doesn't work if food is in your system.

The thing to remember is that since no two people are alike, the same goes for acne. What works for some, will not work for all. For me, minocycline worked wonders. About a year and a half ago, my mild acne all of a sudden transformed to moderate/severe. I was getting those nodular/pustular bad boys, ya know, where it actually looks like your face is changing shape...scarring, bleeding, non-stop ridges popping up everywhere. Finally I went to a new dermatologist who prescribed minocycline. I'd say within 2 weeks, I started seeing a difference, and it only got better. As with any acne treatment, you have to stick with it. None on them work overnight. For those of you taking it for a few days, and thinking about quitting...you have to give it more time, it might work wonders for you too. Today, a year and a half later, I'm still taking it.
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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