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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3.2
1600
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5
15.8%
4
28.7%
3
25.1%
2
15.9%
1
14.6%

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September 11, 2011

Pros:

This has been working very well for almost a year now. Has virtually no side effects (apart from the good bacteria being destroyed in your gut but that can be fixed with pro biotics). Also it's really cheap (with insurance). Also many don't realize this but, this anti-biotic has proven studies that say it does not develop bacteria resistance as common as the others do.

Cons:

Can't take it with food (or after eating).

If you are taking this and you've noticed odd trends (like it some what works sometimes but not other times) then it's because you are taking it NOT on an empty stomach. I've found the only way it gets rid of everything is taking it in the morning when I wake up, waiting 2 hours and then eating.
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August 16, 2011

Pros:

clears acne very fast

Cons:

breakout after using it

I had my first breakout about a year ago and used topicals (tretinoin & ethromycin) for a few months and they werent working. so my derm perscribed me minocycline and it cleared up so fast, within 3 days i saw awesome results. it kept me clear for about 4 months when i used it, but after i went off it i broke out again, because I stopped using my topicals (bad idea). So if your using this, keep using your topicals with it so that when you stop using minocycline, you dont break out as bad.
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July 26, 2011

Pros:

Has cleared up red, angry skin. Can take with food. Blackheads have improved.

Cons:

Had some headaches the first week, but adjusted afterwards.

Definitely recommend. I've noticed some people said they were on 200mg per day and felt ill - always contact your doc - My daughter has been on 2 x 50mg a day and although she had some headaches the first week, she's fine now. The improvement in her acne is amazing - it's been three weeks and it's settled down so well. Previously used Doxycycline for 3 months and did not have as good a result. We are using this in conjunction with Epiduo gel every night (Adapalene/BP combo).
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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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December 20, 2010

Pros:

it works

Cons:

your body gets used to it and then it becomes ineffective

this is a good solution for a short term basis. i personally didnt have a lasting effect. my body became used to the medication. be ready to break out once your finish the cycle and get on another medication ( i suppose this is depending on severity )
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November 16, 2010

Pros:

Got rid of large, painful bumps quickly.
Helped soothe redness.
Cleared me up about 90% in just over two weeks.
Easy to take.
No side effects at all.
Free! (Covered by my health care plan)
:)

Cons:

None for me!

I have been taking minocycline approaching three weeks this friday, and it has worked wonders on my skin! Two months after coming off the birth control Yasmin in the summer my face exploded with acne, much worse than what I had previous to going on the pill. It was very devastating. I didn't want to leave the house, which is not like me at all. I finally decided enough was enough, and when i had spent a pretty penny on multiple acne kits, spot treatments, at home remedies and the whole nine yards, i went to an acne clinic and saw a dermatologist. She was fantastic. She immediatley prescribed me mino to clear up the mess on my face, and we talked about adding in Spironolactone in three weeks at my next appointment (since my acne is VERY hormonal, around my mouth, on my chin/jawline, and nose). So far I am very pleased with the results of Minocycline! Even if it is a temporary fix, it did do the trick for the mean time. I am also back on birth control, but now am on YAZ, for one month now. Here's to clearing skin! Hope this helps. :)
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September 3, 2010

Pros:

clears cystic acne in as little as a week

Cons:

occasional headaches, must take on empty stomach

I take 100 mL, in one pill, daily, before eating. I call this, "my wonder drug". I SWEAR by Minocin! I don't know why I began to develop cystic acne, but Minocin was/is the only thing that has helped/worked! Within one week, my cysts (which were severe) were gone! I had over 15 cysts all over my face, and Minocin cleared them up. Unfortunately, I was still left with hyperpigmentation (which I get treated with microdermabrasion session), as I am Jamaican and Black skin tends to pigment easily. I've been using this since January and it is now September. I know I can not take this forever, and as there are many other antibiotics out there, I'm not TOO worried. I have also found that refraining from eating yogurt helped, as I stopped in January, before I began Minocin. While doing this did not reduce the number of cysts present, I did see that it stopped the growth of new ones, to an extent.
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April 23, 2010

Pros:

didn't use it long enough to see any.

Cons:

made me suuuper dizzy and feel terrible.

i had bad side effects of major dizziness causing nausea. i stopped after a week and am now on birth control.
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January 3, 2010

Pros:

Cost $1 with insurance.
Easy to get a prescription for.

Cons:

This made me break out with cystic acne!! Worse acne than I ever had my entire life! I started getting blotches of acne(like 6 pimples in one spot) on my back, face, shoulders. I threw it away!

This stuff is definitely not for everyone.
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January 21, 2013

Pros:

Completely clears acne
no side effects when taken short term
got rid of cysts & nodules

Cons:

it gets worse before it gets better

The first three weeks it pulls everything to the surface, the last week it clears. give it a month
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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.
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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:

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  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

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  • 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.
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Red flags:

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