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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June 29, 2011

Pros:

Seemed to have cleared acne
Pill form, so you don't need to deal with nasty lotions
Cheap

Cons:

Made me break out in hives all over my body
Made me very itchy

I had been using this for somewhere between one and two months and it seemed to be helping clear my acne but then one morning I woke up and I was really itchy all over. This went on for about a week or two and then one day I took a nap and I woke up and my body slowly began to become covered in hives! It was the scariest thing! This happened twice, along with other times of only small areas being puffed up. So how am I sure it was this medicine? Couldn't it have been a reaction to laundry detergent? Well, I went to the allergy doctor and got tested with a hundred scratches all over my back and it came up that I was allergic to cats, dust mites, and mold. But I told him that I had recently started on this new prescription and he seemed interested so he made an extract to test me with and I came back a few days later. He did a smaller test and it made my skin puff up right away where he injected it. I was allergic. Just because I was allergic, doesn't mean everyone will be so I said I WOULD recommend this product because it seemed to be working as far as acne went. You just may want to consult your allergy doctor and have him make an extract to test you with before you put this in your body, because my experience with it was horrifying. If you suddenly become itchy one day, discontinue use immediately, because this means you are allergic.
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June 29, 2011

Pros:

None.

Cons:

Made skin much worse
Hyperpigmentation
Eating is a hassle
Gross

Made my acne worse with cystic pimples. Made skin super bumpy and distrusting. Made my skin REALLY dark without even being in the sun. Minocycline sucks.
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June 29, 2011

Pros:

Clears up acne including cysts fairly quickly.

Cons:

Acne comes back once you stop. Doesn't do much for me when it comes to body acne.

While on minocycline my acne clears up 95%, having only small pimples that last a day or two. It does a great job of getting rid of the terrible cysts I get around my mouth/jawline. It keeps me clear for a few months but acne does return; though not nearly as bad as it was before. Unfortunately it hasn't done much for me when it comes to body acne.
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June 28, 2011

Pros:

Cleared Acne
Cheap

Cons:

Nothing really
Got a small breakout during the course

It totally worked, i took it for 3 months, my acne was gone except some redness which goes away itself, I got a small breakout when i was about to stop it, but it was because i ate many greasy foods and eggs in which i have a kind of allergy.
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June 27, 2011

Pros:

Inexpensive

Cons:

Horrible Side Effects...

I wish I can recommend monocycline. The second day of taking it, I started feeling extremely dizzy (which was one of the side effects noted) and I thought after a few doses my body would adjust to it. On the third day, I started feeling like I was in a complete zone! It was almost like if I was getting anxiety, and at the same time was experiencing a bit of confusion, which really freaked me out. I am no where close to being depressed or feeling anxious and this medicine gave me a small experience of it. I called both my dermatologist and pharmacist, which both said that I got a rare, but had a reaction to it. It was the capsule that contained 100mg, which was too much for my body at one time. I am now on solodyn 50 mg tablets and so far so good, it's been 3 weeks and no crazy side effect as the previous med, but acne not fully treated yet. My advice is to immediately stop taking minocycline if you experience anything that I experienced!
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June 26, 2011

Pros:

--kept me relatively clear (and completely eliminated bacne)

--seemed to cut down on inflammation (really helped with pustules/cysts).

--seems to kill my appetite

--seems to absorb a lot better than other antibiotics

Cons:

--It was all only a temporary reprieve for me--:(

--Still a pain in the ass to take (all antibiotics are, in my opinion).

--They started giving me purple/blushish skin discoloration!

I took 2 daily for 7-8 months. They are the only antibiotics that seem to work for me (i suspect it's cuz they absorb even if you take them with food--but you still really have to watch what you take them with). Unfortunately, it comes at a price for me--about 4 months in I developed a teeny tiny blackish dot on my calf and later on, a little purpleish discoloration on my lip and tongue. Kinda ironic--plus, it sounds pretty horrible and scary (in fact, i stopped taking the mino and switched to tetracycline for months, on and off after that) but the truth is, I'm not sure I actually regret taking the mino....I scar REALLY easily (half-asian) and while my acne is only moderate, I suffer from the horribly inflamed cyst and pustule type. This stuff was basically the only thing that could stop it in it's tracks (gave me my life back for awhile). Whenever I went off, I would end up REALLY regretting it. The purplish mark on my lip isn't actually noticable (plus, it fades daily due to my perpetually peeling lips) so at that time, it basically seemed like my only option. Still, I'd only recommend it for short periods. Nobody ever bothered to tell me: Antibiotics are not a permanent solution and they may weaken your immune system if you take them too long--like I did. My acne got a little worse in the sense that my body seems to have a harder time fighting the bacteria now. So I almost wish I had just asked for Accutane the first time the antibiotics had failed me (for some reason I didn't think they'd let me, but apparently, my dr was only waiting for me to ask). FYI, I noticed no IB whatsoever with this (or any antibiotic), but I've noticed that to get the best results (again, with any 'biotic) you REALLY have to watch what you eat 2 hours before and after you take 'em (they won't absorb with certain common vitamins/minerals).
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June 23, 2011

Pros:

Clears up body acne

Cons:

Made my acne MUCH worse before it got better. Side effects such as tiredness, headache, dizziness, etc.

About a week into taking this medicine, my acne was 100 times worse than it had ever been. It was like every pore in my body decided to break out in a whitehead. I called my Dr. because he didn't tell me to expect it to get worse before it got better. He said it should NOT get worse and wondered if I possibly had a yeast infection in my skin and prescribed me Diflucan (1-pill, works systemically) and in about 3 days my acne started clearing up. I've been on this medication for 2.5 weeks and the acne on my chest and back is mostly gone, but I feel TERRIBLE. I am so tired - I can't work for more than 2 hours before I have to lay down and rest. I have zero energy. I have a constant low-grade headache that Excedrin/Advil/Tylenol won't touch. It works, but not sure if the side effects are worth it. I'm going to try to stick with it for a few more days and see if the side effects start to subside. Otherwise, I'm going to call my doctor and talk about lowering my dose or alternative treatments.
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June 23, 2011

Pros:

Acne clears up
Less oiliness

Cons:

Appetite increases
Skin feels raw

I started to break out HORRIBLY around December 2010. Before that I had virtually clear skin. I tried Philosophy, Proactiv, and other over the counter products, and nothing worked. I finally gave up and went to the dermatologist because the giant pimples on my face were unbearable and brought me to tears because of how painful they were. He put me on this antibiotic, and also gave me this Retin-A Micro cream. In about 2 months, my skin completely cleared up! Although, my face is now scarred with hyperpigmentation :(. The scars are slowly going away. I'm just so thankful that I'm not in pain anymore. I can actually smile. I almost feel like myself again. The only downside I've noticed from this medicine, is that it makes me extremely hungry. Ever since I started taking this, I have this huge appetite for salty, greasy foods. I don't particularly want any sweets. I feel like I've gained a couple pounds, but I've tried to keep up on my exercising so I don't balloon up. So far, I've been on this for 3 and a half months. I want to stop taking this so I can slim back down, but I'm scared my skin might explode again! Overall, if you are suffering not just from severe acne, but a full blown skin infection like me, take this. It does wonders.
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June 21, 2011

Pros:

- Cleared up most of my acne in 1 month!

Cons:

- Takes forever to start working, didn't see the results until the 4th week, but was amazed at how much it cleared up!
- The 2nd day I took it I had really bad side effects (dizziness, light headed, nauseous, etc.) , but I haven't had any further trouble with it!

After quitting my birth control, I have had an awful time with acne! Before, I rarely had a pimple on my face, but after quitting BC I started getting moderately severe acne all over my face, chest, and back (which I have NEVER had even 1 pimple on my body beforehand). I had tried every over the counter method, supplements, differin, EVERYTHING. My derm finally prescribed me minocycline with a higher dose of differin. The first three weeks I was very discouraged because my acne persisted, however on week 4 my acne took a complete turn. My chest is completely 100% clear and my face has NO active pimples (only previous redness that is healing) . My back is still in the process of healing, but the improvements are definitely visible (3 active pimples)! I will be on minocycline for the next 3 months and cannot wait to see the results! I know people have said they have had issues when coming off the medication, but I am extremely hopeful! Give minocycline a try! It works wonders :).
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June 20, 2011

Pros:

-Easy to take
-works well
-great results
-fair price

Cons:

- If you don't have a full stomach before taking the pill your stomach will hurt...ALOT!
-Takes a couple weeks (1 month or so) to see some clearing up
-mood swings (bad ones)

I went to my doctor because i have acne on my back and chest she sent me this cream and this medication, its great! but it takes patients and time to see the great results. like any other medication it has its ups and downs. i'm only 12, but my skin is the age of a 15 year old, acne sucks! this will help alot ! i recomend it, but of course its what your doctor recomends. :) good luck!
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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