Minocycline
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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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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
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March 21, 2011

Pros:

Worked for a couple weeks

Cons:

Mouth sores
bad breath
pain to take

Dont do it, minocyclene does not do anything significant especially if you are on the regimen and it causes a breakout when you stop taking it
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March 3, 2011

Pros:

temporarily cleared some acne

Cons:

side effects - yeast infection and stomach issues
annoying to take (twice a day, avoid dairy within a few hours of taking it, etc)
temporary fix

Cleared some acne which came back as soon as I stopped taking it. Temporary fix, and not really worth the side effects
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February 5, 2011

Pros:

Cleared skin

Cons:

-Lower abdominal pains (went away once I stopped taking it).
-Elevated liver enzymes (went back to normal once I stopped taking it).
-Loss of appetite.
-Acne on back and face came back pretty intensely for a couple weeks after I went off the antibiotic.
-Doesn't give permanent results.

Gets rid of acne pretty quick, but will most likely give some sort of side-effect, some more severe than others. Not worth the little time of acne relief because the acne will be right back once you stop taking it.
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October 12, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up SOME acne.

Cons:

Left me with greenish-blue bruises that haven't gone away for months, (I found out recently that this is due to the high concentration of the drug in my body, and have since stopped taking it)

Take it if you wish, but be really, really careful. If you notice anything odd at all, go to the doctor. (And ask if it could be from the drug, I actually went to the doctor specifically for the bruises, and the doctor had no clue what was wrong, and sent me for some blood tests that came back normal. A few days ago I found out that the bruising was from the minocycline via a 3 second Google search...*fail*)
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August 6, 2010

Pros:

*does clear up skin

Cons:

*side effects outweigh benefits in my opinion
*not a long term solution

I am really torn about minocycline. I really wish I could take it forever with no side effects and no worries, but I have to say its not healthy or safe to be on antibiotics to clear acne you may have indefinitely. it does work so well, but it didn't take me long to feel the side effects - loss of appetite, stomach issues, and this will give ladies yeast infections after some time. I even dealt with all that crap bc it does work so well. But on my 3rd course of antibiotics derm put me on solodyn (slow release) within the 2nd month my mom kept commenting that my hair was falling out, not ther normal shedding. So looked it up online, and saw several ppl have had the same. So, needless to say im off them for good.
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July 30, 2010

Pros:

Only had one giant spot whilst taking it

Cons:

Still had smaller spots
Felt out of it all the time - like I was watching my life on tv
Upset stomach
Constant thrush
Decreased appetite
Hyper-pigmentation (SP)

The drug definately reduced the size of spots but did not stop them completley. Took about 6 weeks to start seeing results taking 100mg a day. I think if I had continued to take it I would have seen improvements but the side effects were just too much and I would have wasted away! May work for some but now I am trying accutane as even though the side effects may be dire, there is more chance of long term improvement.
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July 16, 2010

Pros:

Completely clears cystic acne in about 1 month, Can take with food so is very easy to use on a daily regimen

Cons:

Dizziness, Stomach Pains, Nausea, You might develop a resistance to it

In the beginning, Minocycline was the answer to my acne problem. It completely cleared up my acne in less than 1 month. I was overjoyed and couldn't believe that I had worried about acne in the first place. My doctor made the mistake of changing my antibiotics, and having proven unsuccessful one after the other, my Doctor put me back on Minocycline. It no longer works for me, since I have developed a resistance to it. There was a recent study stating that nearly 25% of people will develop a resistance to a particular antibiotic they are prescribed over time. It was great while it lasted, but in the end it did not prove to have long-term benefits.
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July 7, 2010

Pros:

not much, dried up my acne to moderate extent after 4 months of high dose

Cons:

dark pigmentation, my back looked SCARY (i was shocked and almost fainted), too much of high dose was needed in my case, was still having enough pimples to make people cringe when they saw my face.

I wouldn't recommend it. There are better antibiotics and I found Adapeline to be much better (it's topical, read my review there). Only the pigmentation was bad enough to put me off it.
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June 9, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up acne scars a LITTLE bit

Cons:

Skin pigmentation!!! and some LARGE, painful zits popping up.

I took this medication 4 times within 2 weeks (I was told to start slow) and I noticed a "bruise" on my thigh. Its about 2-21/2" long by 1" wide. Figured out, it wasn't a bruise (there was no trauma to the area and it didn't hurt at all) it was changed skin pigmentation. I contacted my doctor about it and she told me to stop immediately. It's been over a week since I have taken it and I still have this large mark on my leg - dark blue/black. I refuse to wear shorts or a bathing suit in public until it goes away!
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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