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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September 29, 2012

Pros:

works great only when taking it.

Cons:

not a long term solution
acne comes back when my doc reduces dosage, so i can eventually quit.
sebaceous hyperplasia (never had it before minocycline)
slow hyperpigmentation, became darker over a 5 year medication period slowly, it was so slow, i couldnt realize it, until some of my friends who havent seen me in a while noticed it for me, i always used SPF 30 moisturizer and stayed away from the sun, so cant be the sun,

i took minocycline for almost 5 years for moderate acne on face and moderately severe acne on my scalp(scalp folliculitis), everyone knows you are not supposed to take anitbiotics for this long, but since it was working while i was on it, my derm keep telling me to be patient, but came back within few days when dosage was reduced, so my derm would go back to the dosage that worked and wanted to try various different topicals(benzaclin/differin/tretinoin/clindamycin) while keeping the minocycline the same. During this long period, i also changed about 4 derms, and all of them seemed to be a big fan of this 'waste-of-time-and-money' drug, i dont know why. Now I changed my derm for the 5th time, the new derm said i shouldnt have taken any antibiotics for this long, and he immediately changed my oral to sulfamethoxazole/trimethaprim with benaclin in the AM, and tazorac(0.1%) before bed, its been my 3rd month on this combo, it is already working like a charm, my derm has already lowered the dosage of oral(after the first two months of two pills a day), i am on one pill a day now, so far so good, i did not get acne so far, which is good because this wasnt the case with minocycline, i feel like i finally found a break, lets see. Even if this doesnt work and if my acne seems to slowly come back in the future, then i will have no other option but to seek Isotretinoin. Bottom line is that there are lots of medications (topical and oral) out there, also over the counter stuff, which only work on people with mild acne and non-oily skin type, even though they advertise it for oily skin. if you have anything moderate acne or more with oily skin, please dont waste your time, money and dont push drugs into your system/body and become a testing ground for medical statistics, instead educate yourself at this wonderful website and similar ones, and ask your derm/doctor staright away for preffered ones, tell them straight away, you read these and you are confident in t
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September 24, 2012

Pros:

Made my acne less severe within a two months, within five I had no major acne flare-ups at all.

Cons:

Still the occasional blackhead on my cheeks and chin but I think that's probably my oily skin.
Can't wax eyebrows whilst on Mino.
Takes the full six months to fully work.
Increased risk of yeast infection in women.
Can't drink milk prior to or after taking medication.

As an antibiotic it works well to kill off the acne bacteria from within your body. It virtually made my huge acne issues disappear. I took Mino once in the morning with breakfast and once at night with tea. As a first step to stopping serious acne I recommend it.
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September 3, 2012

Pros:

Helps acne, but does not clear it
Skin looks better

Cons:

Do no feel great when taking it

Tgis product seems to work pretty well for me BUT do not drink when on this medication, it lowers your tolerance. I had a real bad experience with it.
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August 26, 2012

Pros:

Nothing, it didnt do anything for my acne

Cons:

I was scared that I would end up with a yeast infection! (I dont think I did but I stopped just in case)

Took the drug for about 6 weeks, it didnt do squat for my acne.
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August 23, 2012

Pros:

Works really well to eliminate the appearance of Rosacea, too.

Cons:

Allergic reactions...read up on them be aware that the allergic reactions do not happen immeadiatley upon taking. My symptoms came on after two weeks of using. I've never had an allergic reaction to anything until now. I took Tetracycline years ago without a problem. Doc said our bodies change and obviously, mine did.

I think it's a very effective pill, perhaps for short term use and it is not a pill for everyone.
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August 20, 2012

Pros:

Cleared up most of my acne

Cons:

Was only effective temporarily
Increases chance of yeast infections
Kills Bacteria in stomach- weaker digestion

For me personally, I don't think it's worth it. My skin started to clear up for a month or two, but then broke out shortly afterwards. I may have grown a resistance to it. If you have mild acne it would probably have stronger results. I don't know how much it cost since my parents paid for it.
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August 14, 2012

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Became sensitive to the sun and got a sun burn in Winter.

Did not help my acne at all.
Makes you feel drowsy.

Not worth the side effects.
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August 12, 2012

Pros:

None

Cons:

Made acne way worse
Drying
Stupid

So I never really felt self conscious about my acne until my doctor said, have you thought about acne medications? Then I was like hmm maybe I should take some stuff. My acne was veryyyy light before my stupid doctor. Then after the first 3 treatments he gave me didn't work, my doctor gave me this medicine: minocycline. After about a month, my acne had turned to moderately severe. It also gave me these ugly raised bumps around my jaw. I do nottt recomend this. I have been on it for almost 2 and a half months now and it seems to just be getting worse. So basically this sucks. But everyone reacts differently to medicines blah blah blah but yeah.
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August 10, 2012

Pros:

Clears Acne and any other bacteria in your body

Cons:

It takes a while for you to see results, and you have to plan your meals around it

You have to take a lot of vitamins while on this pill, and you won't get any side effects.
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August 7, 2012

Pros:

-Cleared all acne
-Inexpensive
-Easy to take
-No side effects

Cons:

-Doesn't help hyper-pigmentation
-Took 3 months to start working

So I almost never bother to review products, but I felt that the reviews on this site for Minocycline are a tad misleading, so I wanted to add my experience. There seems to be a lot of reviews involving side effects for this drug, and I hope that doesn't deter someone from trying it. The amount of people who experience side effects from a drug are a small minority, and those who have a positive reaction usually don't take the time to review products on acne websites any longer, so it's likely that the reviews are negatively skewed. And personally, this medication worked wonders for my moderate/severe acne. After trying tons of over-the-counter acne systems and products, Minocycline was the only thing to keep my skin consistently clear, so I believe it's certainly worth trying if you're dealing with persistent skin problems. That being said, every person reacts to drugs differently, so if you choose to try Minocycline, you should follow the directions of your doctor and carefully monitor your health for any adverse effects.
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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

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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.
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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.
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