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
June 27, 2007
Cons:
-you have to keep continuing it
-i took 4 capsules a day and eventually lowered the doze - seemed pretty high to me
-increases breakouts initially
You have to be consistent with it - I stopped for a while thinking I should not be taking a such a high doze of antibiotics - but then my acne returned with a vengeance - I've started them again - 4 times a day and now getting a a lot of acne but I know it'll eventually stop. Also it seems to make my scars look lighter as well. I am of South Asian descent therefore my scars look black as opposed to red and makes my skin tone darker than usual. I think Tetracyline has helped me in that respect as well.
May 30, 2007
Pros:
This worked really well for me- it totally cleared up my skin while i was on it!
Cons:
I had stomach pains in the beginning but they went away after a few months
I was on oxytetracycline for about 6 months and my skin was nearly totally clear apart from scarring, so my doctor told me to come off it. My acne then came back and when I tried to go back on it, it didn't work anymore for me. So I would definately recommend it but just don't come off it too early!
May 28, 2007
Pros:
It cleared up my acne within 2 weeks. Inflammation is down and new pimples ( if any) are very small and go away quickly. Nothing but great things to say! Didn't cause any stomach upset, or other side effects.
Cons:
None
I take acidophilous 2-3 times a day in between taking tetracycline - to prevent a yeast infection and to keep good bacteria in my body. It works, it's affordable, no too inconvenient, and easy! I think if you haven't taken many antibiotics in your life, then this route will work for you. Just make sure to slather the sun screen on when you go outside.
March 3, 2007
Pros:
works good for the first 6 months
Cons:
after 6 months it stops working
good for short term acne loss
October 6, 2006
I started using tetracycline about two years ago(I had been using dianette since the age of 14)after my acne flared up quite severly. It was prescribed to me by a dermatologist and worked extremely quickly. However after a month or two of finishing the prescription my acne flared up to the worst it has ever been. I am now back on tetracycline aswell as the dianette for the last two months. There has been a slight improvement in my acne but it worked alot quicker the first time...I know feel once I finish the prescription again it will flare up like before...For the last few months self confidence is at an all time low and I do not go out as much anymore because of my acne .It was my 21st recently and I wouldnt allow anyone to take pictures of me at my party...Things can only get better right??:)
September 19, 2021
Utterly useless and toxic
Tried it for 2 years in teenage years. Utterly useless. And only found out later it attacks sperm count and that can be transferred to next generation (boys can also have low sperm count).
Try Accutane before this. Headaches and didn't help skin at all. Not at all.
August 14, 2012
Pros:
Clears up most cystic acne
Cons:
may need to adjust dosage accordingly to severity changes
causes diarrhea unless contracted with iron (cannot be taken within 2 hours of each other)
may sometimes cause nausea/lack of apatite
I was 250mg/day until I started getting cysts back during the summer. My doctor then doubled my dosage to 500mg/day because he said it was "unnaffective at 250mg" I had initially started at 250mg during the fall because topical treatments were not working. It did initially clear up my cystic acne, however im not sure if my body has overcome the old 250mg dosage resulting in my doctor doubling my dosage.
August 11, 2012
Cons:
Made face worse than ever
Doesn't seem to work
You can't just go off of it
Dries face and makes skin sensitive to sun
I started taking the Minocycline (tetracycline) Antibiotic orally with the Retin-A .025% topically in the beginning of June. for the first week it did not do anything, and then in the second third and fourth weeks, my acne became by far the worst it has ever been. When my grandparents first saw me, they asked what happened to my face... and you can imagine how awesome that made me feel. I got a bunch of acne on my chin, around my mouth, and around my jaw (and I never had acne here before). But my doctor said it would take 6-8 before it would work so I kept at it. About three weeks ago, I switched my topical cream to Epiduo and it seems to have slightly improved my skin. I do not recommend this because once you go off minocycline, you will break out all over again.
July 2, 2009
Pros:
Worked for a little while
Cons:
antibiotics arent good long term. I became allergic
It was working while i was using it for about a month and then it turns out im allergic to it. Broke out into hives and had to stop using it. I just started going on bactrim, hoping it works =/
May 28, 2009
Pros:
it cleared my skin at first rather well
Cons:
later..after i was taking it for over a year, it entirely quite working and my acne got very very very bad. way way way worse than when i started a year earlier. this happened to be right when i started college.. really made it easy meeting ppl
it will get worse after a while
Pros:
-works fast
-no side effects (at least for me)
-takes care of scarring partially-prevents new breakouts