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
June 27, 2008

Pros:

I was very pleased with the results. My face looks great almost all of the time.

Cons:

Back started breaking out and was told to increase to 2 a day. Made me sick. I am going down to one a day.

I have felt bad for sometime now. Never made the connection until I was told to increase to two a day. Not sure I want to continue this treatment, tired of feeling sick. I hate looking like a freak though. Mind you, I am 37 years old and did not have acne as a teen.
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June 17, 2008

Pros:

Works great for body acne. Covered by insurance.

Cons:

Took about 2 months for full clear skin. Caused hyperpigmation, yeast infection, and a little nausea.

I have moderate acne mostly on my chest and back. Minocycline worked better than accutane, however, I have hyperpigmation on my face which I believed was caused solely by minocycline. (This is one of the side effects.) My acne returned within the a week or two of stopping. 100mg daily for 6 months. I currently am using a sea salt solution after my showers and that seems to be working fine.
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May 6, 2008

Pros:

My face is slowly clearing up

Cons:

I have gained 25 pounds in th 5 weeks I have been on the medication.

I will have to wein myself off the medication so I don't have a horrible break out but I can't afford to gain anymore weight.
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April 29, 2008

Pros:

I've been taking it for only a week and have noticed big change in breaking out, it's stopped, except maybe one little pimple I have gotten since I took it.. My face used to be bad,got better, now it freaked out a lil again, so I took this.

Cons:

Side effects suck, So far I have gotten nauesa but that went away, I then got yeast infection. (Since it can cause irritation there) I've only been taking it for a week and this just happened a few days ago. I also think I have a bad kidney as it is.

Bottom line it works, and reduces redness.. but, if you want to suffer the side effects be my guest.. I might see if there's a better option for an antibiotic with not so many risks. Most people can have side affects.. Women who take this, there's high risk of vaginal irritaion because this antibiotic kills bacteria which the bacteria stops yeast infections. Weird I thought I would see someone pointing this out on the first page, maybe didn't want to let it all out.. But hey this is a big risk. I recommend this to people who don't care about side effects.. I might use it till I talk to my doctor about it to see if there is anything else effective that's an antibiotic. Insurence saved me 42.99
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April 21, 2008

Pros:

None

Cons:

#1. Made my fair skin extremely sensitive to sun, heat, excessive emotion.
#2. Although the redness eventually went away, after coming off mino, my acne returned worse than before in places in which I was previously clear.

Wish I had never gone on it.
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April 13, 2008

Pros:

Seems to FINALLY be working. I have been taking this med for roughly seven weeks. I was worried it wasn't going to work and actually thought about taking something else three weeks in. But, I stuck it out and I'm very thankful I did.

Cons:

Takes time - BE PATIENT!!!

I would highly recommend this medicine. I took this with Metrogel (redness) and it has really started working. I have very good insurance and also received a Rx card from my dermatologist for this medicine - so three months are absolutely free. I had perioral dermatitis (bad case) and this has really done the trick. Just be prepared to wait for results. Good luck! I'll try to write more when I'm done with my treatment (3 months @ 90mg day).
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March 27, 2008

Pros:

Scarring acne cleared up from my face and back. Only got the occasional spot when having my period. Did not cause any sickness and took about a month to work

Cons:

Doctors wont let you stay on it!!!!

Been on it a year and a half and have now been told i have to stop. It has been 2 weeks and i look like a lumpy tomato and am no longer leaving the house. Am currently trying to get my gp to re prescribe it and also looking in to an acid tca peel for scarring
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March 26, 2008

Pros:

Cheap, not as intense as accutane.

Cons:

Have to take 2 pills at a time. (NOT THAT BAD!!! Come on!)

Doctor gave it to me because he said I'm too old for accutane now (I'm 20). I got a three month bottle through my mail order insurance pharmacy. It's been cutting down on my severe oil (I have to wash my pillowcase about twice a week) but the acne is still there. I'm not getting off of it because it HAS dried me out!
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March 14, 2008

Pros:

Cleared my skin in about two months. I went from having a new breakout everyday to maybe once a month if anything. Although scarred from 10 years of acne, my skin is much healthier and with regular use of retinA and a topical antibiotic.

Cons:

If you don't take this with food, you'll feel nauseous. This stinks if you don't have a set meal schedule but its not the end of the world.

I'm grateful for this. I was impatient at first but after four months of regular use I see that this was the best thing I could have done. It think it just takes time for your body to adjust so I would advise someone considering this to be diligent and patient.
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February 10, 2008

Pros:

I could see some difference in the amount of pimples i had. Used it for over a month so far.

Cons:

Still get breakouts on the sides of my face, and am now trying retin A combined with it.

It DOES work some, just give it time, and let the old acne scars heal.
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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.