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
December 28, 2012

Pros:

less breakouts after a week and a half of taking.
After stopping i didn't start breaking out bad again for a couple weeks.

Cons:

I was on Minocycline twice a day before i had some kind of allergic reaction. It basically happened over night. All over body aches...swollen hands and feet, some joint pain, mainly all over muscle soreness and stiffness. There wasn't a muscle in me that didn't ache in some way. I stopped the medication because my dr. thought it was related to the minocycline. He put me on naproxen and vicodin because I literally could not get out of bed without extreme pain.
He then sent me to a rheumatologis

I had a bad reaction to minocycline which is weird because i was on it when i was a teenager with no issues. It works great, just be forewarned that reactions can happen..and they can be very serious.
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December 23, 2012

Pros:

Very cheap here ($12 AUSD for 28 days worth) but i think this is because part of the cost is covered by the goverment PDS scheme, very effective for me for most aspects of my acne, no side effects that i've noticed

Cons:

Doesn't do anything to combat the cystic outbreak that I very occasionally get when i have big hormonal fluctuations but I use Diane 35ED birth control to help with that aspect (note i have noticed mood changes with that medication but nearly all birth control does that to me)

Talk to your doctor and make sure you watch for the listed side effects but I love this product it has changed my self esteem vastly - not only the appearance of my skin but also my skin is much less 'nobbled'. it doesn't really touch my blackheads (which aren't too noticeable anyway) or any hormone-based breakouts
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September 24, 2012

Pros:

Made my acne less severe within a two months, within five I had no major acne flare-ups at all.

Cons:

Still the occasional blackhead on my cheeks and chin but I think that's probably my oily skin.
Can't wax eyebrows whilst on Mino.
Takes the full six months to fully work.
Increased risk of yeast infection in women.
Can't drink milk prior to or after taking medication.

As an antibiotic it works well to kill off the acne bacteria from within your body. It virtually made my huge acne issues disappear. I took Mino once in the morning with breakfast and once at night with tea. As a first step to stopping serious acne I recommend it.
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September 3, 2012

Pros:

Helps acne, but does not clear it
Skin looks better

Cons:

Do no feel great when taking it

Tgis product seems to work pretty well for me BUT do not drink when on this medication, it lowers your tolerance. I had a real bad experience with it.
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August 14, 2012

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Became sensitive to the sun and got a sun burn in Winter.

Did not help my acne at all.
Makes you feel drowsy.

Not worth the side effects.
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March 25, 2012

Pros:

none for me.

Cons:

upset my stomach, caused dizziness, and female gyn issues because antibiotics in this group interupt the body's pH level.

I personally would not ever take this antibiotic again because I had bad side effects from it within 7 days. It may work fine for other people though.
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February 9, 2012

Pros:

clears cystic acne
heals existing pimples fast

Cons:

Severe side effects: Hives, severe itching, constipation, weird dreams

Antibiotics have been the only thing that worked to clear my acne. My acne came back so my dermatologist prescribed solodyn this time. While I was only on it for a month it worked great to clear my skin! I saw a noticeable difference right away. But 3 and a half weeks into it I began experiencing severe hitching and broke out in hives. I don't normally experience side effects with medication but the itching is unbearable. I didn't take the pill for one day to see if the itching would stop and I broke out with two HUGE cysts on my cheek. I can't take this any longer because the hives and itching are so bad. I say give it a try because you may not experience any side effects and it definitely works to clear cystic acne.
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February 6, 2012

Pros:

It really does help with fight acne or cystic acne like mine.

Cons:

none really. I became nauseas randomly 15weeks into taking the medicine so i stopped taking it for a few days and changed my diet (added more protein) and started up again and was fine and haven't experienced that again.

In my opinion it does work it just takes what seems like FOREVER to see results. I started to see some change by the 7th week. It still was rough but a lot better then when i started that is for sure! Another thing is it will get worse before it get's better. Im still currently on mino and it's been ?25weeks and luckily i'm not immune yet and i'm actually seeing the best skin i've had since i got this random cystic acne last year. I would suggest asking you doctor for clindamycin phosphate topical solution to add to your treatment. Since i've been using that duo and eating lots of veggies everynight along with taking fish oil, a multivitamin, and biotin. I've seen such a major difference and effectiveness in my face. I wish i would have done it sooner. Hopefully you don't have to be on mino for as long as i have though. I finally found a doctor who will prescribe me isotretinoin (aka accutane) because i do not want to have to depend on taking mino forever just to keep my skin kinda ok and then go through hell again with my face if i were to become immune to the antibiotic. I don't recommend isotretinoin i think you should try everything before going to this extreme but i've exhausted all options and treatments and ready to try this last one. Goodluck to all fighting this hard fight!!!
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February 5, 2012

Pros:

It helped out with my back and chest acne, but it hasn't completely cleared it up

Cons:

Blurred vision
Depression
Dizziness
Change in my... reactions, idk... i get scared more easily
I cant feeekin fall asleep at night!! It is just
soooo hard
I dont see any results on my face

I take 200mg of this stuff, and it barely helps Im really scared of getting those more serious side effects, im worried about that I feel more depressed and thats a problem, because i dont feel the same anymore and all of a sudden my mind is filled with the negative things about life. Its hard to go to school. Life feels hard to deal with now.... I have been on differin gel, clyndamycin phospate lotion, this,and prednisone My derma will soon prescibe accutane and see how it works out for me... i really hope it works, i heard very good reviews, but im scared of the sideffects Hope my acne gets better....
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January 31, 2012

Pros:

might have worked had i stayed on it. not sure but probably not

Cons:

-depression
-made face worse
-can't get go out in sun and get daily sunlight which is good for your skin

i went to the dermatologist because i kept getting severe breakouts on my neck after shaving. she took one look at my face w/out closely examining it and prescribed me this. this was the worst decision of my life for taking it. i took it for about a week and my face was so much worse than it was before. i had been prescribed for two weeks btw. it also made me severely depressed as a result. i have been off it for about 3 days now and my face has cleared up so much just by using a little hot water w/ lemon juice, Cetaphil face cleanser twice a day, and some desonide lotion 3 times a day. honestly i think i had razor bumps/razor burn and not a lot of acne but she still prescribed me this to kill the infection i guess but it did not work for me. im not a doctor but unless you have tried other options and given up then i guess try this. just remember your acne will get better just have faith in yourself and God and you'll be fine i promise. but all in all i don't reccomend this. try my solution i mentioned earlier. it might work. God bless!
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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.

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.