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
March 24, 2008

Pros:

1. Acne has minimized and I never wake up with a sudden break out (as with other medications) 2. Face is never too dry, only when I use other ace medications with this one
3. Never makes me feel sick

Cons:

1. Price
2. I still have acne after 3 months

So far it helps more than it hurts, but I want to continue to use it and see what happens.
February 15, 2007

Pros:

I am not sure how well it work, as I have only been on it for a week.

Cons:

All acne treatment does not seem to work.

This is so frustrating. I have been suffering from acne for five years now. I hoped that by the time I was 27, it would be over. I started off with moderate acne and now it is mild. Though it is mild, I get at least one pimple a day. I went to my derm and she was real mean to me. I tried explaining the history of my acne problem and she basically did not want to hear it and just suggested Duac, a topical medication. First off, it is not normal to get one or two pimples each week. So I mentioned minocycline as a possible treatment and she responded by saying, "fine. I will write you a persciption, but I don't think you need it." I then said, but I keep breaking out all the time, so maybe it would be a good idea." She replied by saying, "What do you want me to perscribe you, I don't really care?" I couldn't belive her response. I feel so depressed right now and I don't know what else to do. Acne is really making my life horrible. I don't want to go to work.
April 27, 2012

Pros:

-Helped the underground pimples I had along my jaw line
-Easy to take
-Overall complextion began to look better

Cons:

-Developed rash after a month!
-Light dizziness
-You have to avoid the sun
-Take twice a day

I really thought this was going to be it for me and finally finding something to help my acne situation. Unfortunately, I developed a rash-type thing on the back of my hands and up my arms about after a month of use. It just came up out of no where, it was pretty werid. So ofcourse I stopped and it went away after a week. My dermatologist now has me on Clindamycin and Amoxicillin? I was pretty bummed when I had to yet again switch up my treatment....
May 31, 2011

Pros:

Clears up acne
Easy to take
No side affects (for me, at least)

Cons:

Haven't encountered any

My dermatologist put me on this about two weeks ago and I can already see a bit of difference. I take one pill everyday and then I apply Clindoxyl Gel (also recommended by my dermatologist), a topical gel. My skin is smoother and there is less acne. It says that there may be side effects (headaches, dizziness) but I didn't encounter any. I think it's worth a shot.
March 22, 2011

Pros:

Clears up skin pretty quickly, cheap

Cons:

Not first choice antibiotic for what I was treating, caused dizziness, lightheadedness and vertigo, drowsiness, not good for those who have to drive every day with such symptoms, strict schedule for eating times

I went to the dermo for blackheads and he insisted on treating my (non existent) acne. I have been an acne sufferer for 11 years and ever since being on birth control they have subsided. I did however develop a staph infection from picking at my blemishes. Dermo gave me 75mg of minocycline, ten days 2 times a day to clear up the infection. After day 3, I started having dizziness, became light headed, and everything felt like a dream. I felt AWFUL. (I took Dynacin back when I was 14 when I actually had acne issues and it didn't have this affect, or any others at all. Apparently mino is pretty strong.) I almost passed out one night while shopping and took myself off of it the next day, and found a different doctor and meds to treat my infection. Honestly, this medication freaked me out and scared me. I do not like feeling out of control, and I did not like how random these dizzy spells were. Mild vertigo generally was persistent throughout the day. I NEVER had this prior to taking the meds, and it stopped once I was off. It apparently has stronger side affects on females than it does on males. If you want this for acne, make sure it's a LAST RESORT. It does work, however you become resistant to this stuff after a certain amount of time, and it's never good to take antibiotics for extended periods. You may have something more dangerous or serious in the future that this type of medicine is used for but won't be able to handle (see MRSA) due to resistance.. Acne is only skin deep and is just an annoyance. Exhaust other methods and medications before using this. And for the record, I only usually get small blemishes here and there at this point in my life. Once I stopped this medication, side affects still lasted a couple days and I actually had a breakout for the first time in 3 years. It will most likely only work while you are on it, but once off you go back to the way you were or worse, from the things I have read here and elsewhere. Be cautio
March 15, 2011

Pros:

None

Cons:

After 13 days a horrible rash developed, hives all over skin, swollen joints. I also developed an intolerance to lactose and gluten due to the antibiotic killing all the intestinal flora.

I wouldn't recommend this pill to anyone.
November 21, 2007

Pros:

no side effects, wasnt too hard to take or get, stopped most breakouts, insurance paid for it alllll babeh

Cons:

stopped the breakouts but didnt improve much

ive always had a bit of acne but only stuff i could really notice cuz I'm a freak about my skin, im 16 now and this summer was when i started getting acne where i never did before which really bothered me, so i told my mom to take me to the doctor and they gave me minocycline,i was on this drug for about 9 weeks, and within the first 2 weeks i saw some results and some people even said my skin looked great, my skin isn't too bad in the first place but its one of my top priorities, and its always on my mind. my progress just stopped so i kept taking it with minimal results, i dont know if my dose was too low but i was taking 50mg twice a day. so ive recently been to the derm and instead of uping my dose he just prescribed me accutane, i didnt know my skin was bad enough for that but i guess any level can take it. we will see how it goes though wish me some LUCK! oh and ill recommend it cuz its worth a try right.
May 30, 2010

Pros:

no side affects

Cons:

-did nothing for my acne

I was on doxycycline before and just when it was starting to work on my face it made me get severly sunburned so I switched to minocycline. Minocycline made my acne worse. Now i'm trying birth control pills because maybe it's more a hormonal thing. Wish me luck!
June 1, 2011

Pros:

Cleared skin
:)

Cons:

Clear skin is only temporary
--
I threw up a couple times ( Not a big deal to me)
--

My doctor prescribed me this, and I started with one pill a day. Within the first week I had clear skin, but it all came back. So over a month after starting it, I upped my dosage to two pills a day. My skin drastically improved within a month and, by the next month I was clear ( except for the occasional cyst thing that didn't take long to go away) My skin was awesome for about 3 months, which totaled me being on the pill for about 6 months, when I noticed my firsts bacne spot come up, and I think I got a couple on my face.. so I assumed that my body was becoming immune, I weaned myself off. My acne never really became severe, I went on birth control, for about 3 months.. well my acne is pretty much severe again at the moment, I'm still on birth control, and I'm on a new antibiotic. I highly recommend this stuff for a temporary clear. Though it may last longer for other people, or even keep them clear :)
May 28, 2011

Cons:

Our son used Minocycline for 9 months and developed toxic drug induced acute hepatitis and an arthritic like disease. After 6 weeks his liver enzymes are decreasing but his arthritis symptoms are still with him as is his acne.

Not worth the risks

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.