Minocycline
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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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December 28, 2009

Pros:

dries big acnes

Cons:

can't stop..acne pops out:(

i have been taking this antibiotic for past 2 months..it has been helpful on drying up my acnes..Last week i cud'nt take it for 4 days due to emergency situation..and i noticed right away that my skin is breaking out terribly. i realized that i should be very punctual on taking it everyday until my skin clears up well(hopefully)...i will still stick with IT and see how well it works on 3rd month...
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December 23, 2009

Pros:

Easy to take (can eat with meals, just not dairy)

Cons:

I think it made my red marks more prominent, did not work at all to help my acne

I took Minocycline for about 5 months, and it did not improve my skin within that time period at all. On the contrary, my skin worsened to the point where I had to take Accutane. I'm not sure if Minocycline is the reason for this, or if it was just bound to happen anyway. The 5 months I had taken Minocycline were the worst 5 months of my life, because my skin was so terrible. I'm sure it will work for people with less severe acne than me. I know many people that have taken oral antibiotics with much success, however it did not work for me. I wish I had taken Accutane instead of Minocycline, it was much more effective.
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December 21, 2009

Pros:

some improvement in day3 .my skin cleared some what.i will take only when my acne is worse...

Cons:

blurred vision,nausea,illness,body pain, feel ver very sick,always to be to take rest.

i have taken this antibiotic before two months no use. i only take it when i have lots of acne.now i am taking this for my bacne.my acne is due to dandruff daily i should wash my hair with anti dandruff shamp otherwise my shoulders full of acne.when i use head & shoulders shampoo my acne will mild on my shoulders,just four days i have stopped using shampoo because of dryness,now i have lot of acne on my shoulders.If i use anti dandurff shampoo(H&S) my face full of pigmentation,dryness,scary but no acne on shoulders.i dnt know what to do.I am sure acne is mainly because of dandruff especially acne on shoulder and back.Use daily antidandruff shampoo on ur hair u wil see difference within a week.Now i am taking mino it make me very very sick like patient came from hospital. God only can help me. now my acne is fading mino make it into small acne.But my eyes are paining blurred vision, i dnt know whether i can take this tablet.i will take mino only for a week then i stop.Lot of medicines available for acne without these serious side effects.I know my acne is mainly due to dandruff i try to slove dandruff problem then my acne automatically fade.I tell to every one If ur Scalp is clean ur face also clear.Mino is ruining ur health keep it in mind.Take it for short not for long term.
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December 21, 2009

Pros:

cleared face completely in 5 days!

Cons:

awful side effects (nausea, diarrhea, sweats, dizziness).

For over a year, I'd been struggling with a persistent breakout of large, painful whiteheads and cysts on both cheeks that I'd been unable to get rid of with any topical treatment (including four months diligently following the Acne.org regimen). I finally gave up on the OTC treatments and went to a doctor, who told me that it was a case of bacterial acne (i.e.; as opposed to hormonal acne). She prescribed 100mg, to be taken 2X/day. After only five days of taking it, my acne had completely disappeared. However, my body obviously could not tolerate the medication, as the whole time I was taking it I had chronic nausea, diarrhea, sweats, and dizziness. It was pretty awful. My doctor told me to stop taking it immediately, Luckily, my face has remained clear for three weeks now, and although I am still sort of "waiting for the other shoe to drop" (as the expression goes), I am feeling very happy overall! I don't know what I'd do if the acne ever came back, though, since I obviously can not go back on the medication.
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December 19, 2009

Pros:

None...

Cons:

No improvement, waste of time and money

I took minocycline for three weeks, and was very optimistic because it was the first prescription acne treatment I had ever tried. I was in the state of mind "Well if a DOCTOR prescribed it to me, it's gonna work!" So I started taking pictures of my face everyday to watch the improvement. I didn't see any. Then one night about three weeks in I had a few strange little rough bumps on my chest. I woke up that night in a severe itch on my stomach and scalp. I thought maybe I had gotten bit by a bug, because that is what the marks looked like. That is until they spread over my entire body. It was the most painful experience of my life. I had to go to the emergency room because I was having an allergic reaction & my lips swelled up like a duck! The reaction took over three weeks to go away. It was horrible! AND NOW I HAVE A $1,000 ER BILL!!!!!
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December 18, 2009

Pros:

I can't remember the last time my skin was this clear of acne. I've had acne for about 10 years now. I've been using topical clindamycin for a couple of years but I couldn't seem to catch up with the new breakouts.

Cons:

Some nausea if taken on an empty stomach but otherwise well tolerated.

I take one 50mg tablet daily with meals. During the follow-up with my GP one month after starting minocycline, I was disappointed that I was still having breakouts. However, after a bit more persistence, the results started to show. I do get a zit every now and then but who doesn't? It is much easier to manage zits that do appear with topical antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide now that I am on minocycline. So for those of you who have just started, hang in there.
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December 16, 2009

Pros:

Helped clear my skin some what. I have back, chest, and face acne. (Sucks but oh well). Anyways this antibiotic helped clear it up in the time I took it.

Cons:

I got really really sick from it. I could not eat because I was so nauseous.

I took it for 2 weeks but could not take the nauseousness anymore. After I stopped taking it it took 3 days to feel like myself again. But it did do what it was supposed to do it cleared my skin as much as it could in those two weeks. If it did not make me so sick I would totally keep taking it! Also it cleared up my chest and back acne which NOTHING has ever done that!
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December 16, 2009

Pros:

it starts working right away

Cons:

u do feel a little dizzy and you should make sure with ur doctor on when it is the best time to take it (when before or after a meal)

also kind of expensive

im using differin with the pill. i started differin a day ago and i already see results! and i have severe acne which finding something that worked so fast is crazy. i have used everything over-the-counter and nothing worked and today is the first day that im using minocycline 2 doses of 100mg a day so hopefully it will work!
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December 15, 2009

Pros:

Reduced bumps, redness, cystic acne, white heads, etc

Cons:

Gave me nausea at times

I have tried all the over the counter products, Proactiv/benzil/salycic acid/tee tree oil etc. I recently broke out bad, going from moderate acne, to severe.... and it was really getting me down and depressed (my confidence is usually never low) but I was experienceing very low self esteem. I recently went to the derm and he gave me minocycline and prednisone. I take one 100mg Minocycline and two 20mg Prednisone. I also use topical creams retin-A at night and metro gel, during the day. its my first week and I can see and feel a difference. I can at least now cover some of the redness up with my bare mineral ID (bare essentual) makeup (the only thing that doesnt make me break out). I hope this helpes for people out there wondering what to do about severe acne. I am waiting a few months then may start accutane so my acne goes away for good.
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December 13, 2009

Pros:

Affordable

Cons:

In my experience I believe the side-effects far out weigh the benefits to this medication. eg: vertigo (dizziness), heartburn, diareha, nauseua, headaches

I have never had any major problems associate with acne in the past. I've only experienced typical breakouts over the years until recently. I'm 36 years old and have discovered that acne can develope at any stage in your life regardless of your age. Because of this I was petrified that I woke up with this huge cyst like lump on my face one morning. I got in with my doc and she said it was a cyst that needed to be removed. She put me on Minocycline and referred me to a dermatologist. I'm on week 3 of this medication and my face is breaking out EVERYWHERE. I don't get it, I dont have problems with acne but as soon as I started this medication, my entire chin broke out with deep, painful bumps. I'm going to continue the meds because its being prescribed for the cyst (which by the way is getting a little better). Which leads me to my conclusion, this medication clearly isnt for everyone or every need, however it can be helpful it some cases.
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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