Acne.org Products
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
69%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Antibiotics should be used for a maximum of 3 months, provide only moderate benefit to only some people, and may lead to side effects and strains of resistant bacteria. Studies do show they can sometimes 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.
Used Tetracycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 7, 2012
Cons:
*No difference on the skin.
*Hard to swallow pills
*Can't eat or drink diary products while being on this pill.
The dermotologist suggested that taking Tetracycline twice every day for 2 months will give me clear skin but sadly, shes very wrong. This medicine hasn't made a difference on my skin and I've been consistence with it since day 1. The cycle just keeps on rotating... New pimples are growing while old zits are leaving my skin with hyperpigmentation marks that takes forever to go away. In a few weeks, my doctor is finally going to put me on accutane; I just had enough with acne. I couldn't take the low-self esteem, low-self confident, and depression that comes along with it any longer. Acne has been the longest and toughest battle I had to fight against ever since I reach puberty. My decision is set and accutane is the choice I will make. Although Tetracycline wasn't working for me, that doesn't mean it will not work for you. I just had too much sebum production on my face and this medicine couldn't cure it.
February 11, 2008
Pros:
This work great for me at first. My skin cleared up after a month or so. Its cheap too.
Cons:
You have to be careful what you eat after and before you take it especially dairy. After 6 months of being on it I went off and my acne came back worse than it was before. After 1 1/2 years of being on it, it doesnt work anymore.
Tetracycline is a creat product for a short term fix. I have been on it for so long and my body has gotten used to the medication and now my skin is really bad again. The down side is that Tetracycline not only kills the bad bacteria but also kills the good bacteria too. If you ever decide to go off of it, Id be prepared to see some pretty serious break outs. I was on it for about 6-7 months and my skin became PERFECT...then went off of it and my skin got worse than it had ever been. I started taking it again and it never did get better like it had.
July 29, 2015
not worthy
it is really hard to have clear skin with these antibiotics. if it works, whenever you give up, they will come up again. maybe it can be more worthy for mild cases.
January 7, 2014
It actually worked!
Pros:
It's super effective!
No side effects that I noticed
Cons:
Since antibiotics kill bacteria it will not only kill the bad bacteria but the good ones as well...
Risk of getting resistant
Didn't take away acne for good
I took an antibiotic called "Tetralysal" and it is the only thing that has taken my acne away. No side effects whatsoever, I felt great during the whole time, but it took some time before I could see any improvement. When I stopped taking the pills my skin looked great (I would get an occasional pimple, but in comparison to what I used to look like it was fantastic) and did so for another six months, then I started breaking out again like before I started taking the pill... It works temporarily but doesn't take away the cause of the acne, so once you stop the risk of getting acne again is big. But for me who has tried a lot of things, this is one of few that actually worked, if only for a short time.
April 28, 2012
Pros:
Works effectively after a few weeks
Inexpensive
Cons:
Slightly inconvenient to take as it shouldn't be taken with a lot of food or any dairy
May stop working and will have to try something else
Other possible side effects as with any antibiotic
May be hard to stick to dose guidelines if you have an irregular schedule
Not a permanent fix
I took Tetracycline 500mg capsules for about a year and a half, it worked great for most of the time less so if the dose isn't taken exactly as perscribed or if doses are missed. I struggle with cystic acne and this pretty much cleared it up and it made my overly oily skin more managable. It can be very inconvenient to take at times, especially with not being able to eat within hours before or after taking the medication. I didn't really have any side effects except at times some mild stomach discomfort/nausea.
All in all I would recommend it however I would like to drive home that this is a temporary fix and isn't a solution for long term.
April 5, 2012
Pros:
Clears acne after a few months need to be patient
Cons:
Dry skin,
Nausea for the first week or so
Thirst
Initial breakout
Will probebly stop working eventually and you will move onto another antibiotic
I hate to be a downer, I have hormonal acne/adult acne and basically this and dianette and others have cleared my acne up perfectly but once you come off the meds it ALWAYS comes back with a vengence basically its meds for life which to be honest im not that bothered with its just annoying when the antibs stop working and u have to go on somethin else.
Even with accutane it can come back :( but hey a few pills a day for clear skill im up for that!
June 6, 2009
Pros:
Works for awhile then your bacteria become resistant to it.
Cons:
Only a short term solution then your acne comes back stronger and more resistant then before.
I took Tertracyclin when I was a teenager for years. My Doctor swore that it was perfectly safe to take a antibitotic for a long period of time. I know struggle with systematic yeast infections in my 30's. I am now a esthetician and I swear by taking B5 therapy for reducing the oils in your skin which also helps with acne. Its amazing. Its also important to exfoilate your skin at least once a month with a glycolic peel. This has really helped my skin when nothing else has. Feel free to email me if you have any questions tessgooras@[link removed]
October 13, 2008
Pros:
NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN MY SKIN IN ABOUT 1 WEEKS TIME.
Cons:
MADE ME VERY NAUSEOUS...TIME AROUND MEALS WAS HARD TO KEEP TRACK..
THIS PILL WORKS BUT WHEN YOU STOP TAKING IT,YOU HAVE TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN AND CONTINUE TO SEE A DERMATOLOGIST BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WILL COME BACK..
June 4, 2008
Pros:
It is already making my skin softer, clearer, and the scars are even fading.
Cons:
It makes me a little dizzy and sick feeling all the time. I'm going to start taking probiotics to see if this helps!
Good to take while you still have a scar-less face!
January 6, 2007
Pros:
Tetralysal ( Lymecycline) is a good one, don't need to take on empty stomach
Cons:
Darkened my teeth! and also my skin...I thought this would be a great side effect if it looked like a tan but it my skin looks almost a dirty grey on it
This is my morning skin routine;
1; 2 glasses of water first thing every morning with a dash of lemon with the tetralysal tablet
2. Green people organic face wash
3. Panoxyl ( 2.5 % benzoyl peroxide)
4. Liz Earle Organic face cream with spf 15
5. Boots no 5 concealer in cream form
6. Smile, go out and face the world and pretend I have great skin
This is my night skin routine;
1. Wash as above 2. Differin cream 3. Dream about great skin!
Pros:
*Inexpensive.