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
1394
5
15.6%
4
29.3%
3
24.9%
2
15.9%
1
14.3%

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January 2, 2012

Pros:

Cleare skin

Cons:

Extreme allergic reaction

After taking this drug for several years, I suddenly began to have debilitating joint pain and extremely high fevers (104 and higher). See Mara from Chicago, below). After weeks of scary testing with possible prognoses of things like cancer, lupus, and hepatitis; doctors finally figured out it was the minocycline causing it. Of course this doesn't happen to everyone, or even most people, but like other reviewers, I'd advise people to be wary of side effects when using this drug.
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December 31, 2011

Pros:

Helped clear up acne

Cons:

Hives!
burned esophagus

This works for some people but for me the side effects were too much. I would get hives regularly and you have to drink this with LOTS of WATER because it can eat away at your esophagus and cause an awful burning feeling near your breastbone. I used this for a while and the burning was the only problem so I got off. I used it a year or two later (drinking lots of water) and the hives were a big problem.. I'm not allergic to anything!
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August 29, 2011
My health insurance covered it when I used it, all it did was make the fluids in my blemishes yellow. I got frustrated with the recurring yeast infections it gave me and stopped taking it. Maybe if I had taken live cultures/more yogurt my body would have adapted better but having acne and constant yeast infections just didn't seem worth my time.
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July 30, 2011

Pros:

Mildly cleared up my acne

Cons:

Still have bad breakouts every few weeks

I take 200mg a day and I still break out pretty bad a few times a month. I'm looking to try a new medication. I'm going to try birth control because I think my breakouts might be hormonal...
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July 19, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up acne and body acne

Cons:

I started getting too many side effects

I still had some acne after taking this for 1 month so my dermatologist told me to start taking 100mg twice a day instead of once a day. I started getting extremely nauseous after this so I went back down to 100mg, but the nausea didn't go away. When I first started taking it I got extremely dizzy and had horrible headaches for about a week then my body adjusted. I also had indigestion problems for a while. This does do a good job eliminating acne, but for me the side effects just weren't worth it.
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July 13, 2011

Pros:

- small pill easy to swallow
- can be taken with food!

Cons:

-dizziness
-initial breakout

I've heard great things about this product, but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Heres what happened: Even though I'm in the 100lbs range I was prescribed 200mg per day. I've read on a couple of sites that the recommended dosage for my weight range is about 45mg per day. I had just gotten off of doxycycline because it stopped working on me. I developed some kind of yeast infection, so because of my overload on antibiotics ( I was on doxy for a year) minocycline didn't work on me! I got a breakout after starting mino and was dizzy all the time. Unfortunately, I had to stop using it because I had finals coming up and I couldn't handle the side effects. These side effects are more common in women than men. Maybe I'm just one of those women that can't handle the medication, maybe the dosage was too high for my weight. Or maybe since I already had a yeast infection it was a bad idea to continue using antibiotics. There were a few things working against me there. I hope those of you who try it have better luck than me.
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June 17, 2011

Pros:

Clears up red, inflamed acne

Cons:

Acne came back worse after discontinued use
Makes hair extremely greasy
Dairy consumption limited
Takes WAY too long to even start working

I've been taking these damn pills since late April and only saw minimum results until late May. It did manage to clear some of my big zits and small bumps, but after finishing my 2 1/2 month cycle, a week later, my acne came back with a VENGEANCE. I started breaking out in places I haven't broke out before. The Retin-A I was taking with the Minocycline also seemed to lose it's effectiveness after a month. And to top it all off, it left my hair EXTREMELY greasy, like I could squeeze all the grease out of my hair and use it to fry up some french fries... That greasy. So daily-washing is a must. Plus, I'm a growing boy, I NEED MY CHEESE AND MY MILK, waiting two hours before and after taking the pill to eat dairy products is too much of a hassle for me. It may clear your acne, but if I were you, and my dermatologist told me I was going to be taking these pills, I'd ask for something different.
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June 8, 2011

Pros:

Helped clear large inflammatory acne.
No overall side effects.

Cons:

Broke my skin out horribly for the first three months.

Minocycline did not work for me sadly. It broke my skin out all over my face for the first three months I was on it. My skin became smoother but the acne marks were still there. I visited a naturopathic doctor and with help of diet change, vitamins including zinc and fish oil, among other natural remedies I am seeing great improvement.
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April 14, 2011

Pros:

-Took away some pimples in 2 weeks
-Cost me nothing

Cons:

-Didn't clear up my face
-No food

This cleared up my chin some, but didn't produce remarkable results. I have been taking this for about a month and a half
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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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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.
  • 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