Minocycline and Acne: What Users Say

• Lyn...
• October 22, 2014

Minocycline for Acne "My acne was terrible. I felt like I had tried everything and that my next option was going to have to be Accutane (something I really did not want to try!). I tried like 4 different dermatologists before I was finally recommended to try Solodyn, and within 2-3 months, my acne began clearing and not coming back. I took it for about 6 months, and I had a few pimples (but they were nothing like the ones I had before) and some scarring. I started slowly going off the Solodyn by taking half a pill every day and then every other day until I just totally stopped. It's been about 6 or 7 months since my last Solodyn pill, and my skin still looks great. I usually will have one or two small pimples, but I usually just spot treat with Epiduo."

• azi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2014

Minocycline for Acne "I am 16, and I have been on Solodyn for about a year and a half. The first month I started taking it, my skin cleared way up, but then it got bad again. Now, if I stop taking it, I break out worse than before, so it is really just keeping my acne somewhat controlled, but it had not cleared up my face at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2016

For Acne "My first week of taking this drug was terrible. My acne got worse, and I broke out in hives. I was itchy. I felt ugly, and I was miserable and ready to quit. I didn't even want to leave the house! I continued with it, and one week later, my skin is clearing up, my hives have gone away, and I'm starting to be really happy with the results. If this drug makes your skin worse in the first week, don't quit because it will get better!!!"

• Ivy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2020

Minocycline for Acne "Solodyn made my son's acne worse, and he ended up with pitting and scarring. His pediatrician suggested a milk-free diet due to his Latino heritage. We gave that a whirl, and it really did the trick. No more outbreaks. The same thing worked for my grandson. He had terrible back acne, so we eliminated the milk. Voila, it cleared up. No drugs disrupting the gut biofilm."

• Joe...
• September 26, 2016

Minocycline for Acne "In March 2016, I went with my friend to Rome. Within days, my face was covered in acne. I was extremely depressed and self-conscious, I have never had acne before. I went on 80 mg, and the first 1-2 months, I didn't notice changes. After the trial period, it cleared up, and I've been off for two weeks. I have a few pimples, but it's basically nothing. I wash my face and use a topical. It worked, but unfortunately, it does take time. I'm basically 100% clear now, minus some blemishes, which will go away in time. Stay with it and stay positive."

• Joe...
• September 26, 2016

Minocycline for Acne "In March 2016, I went with my friend to Rome. Within days, my face was covered in acne. I was extremely depressed and self-conscious, I have never had acne before. I went on 80 mg, and the first 1-2 months, I didn't notice changes. After the trial period, it cleared up, and I've been off for two weeks. I have a few pimples, but it's basically nothing. I wash my face and use a topical. It worked, but unfortunately, it does take time. I'm basically 100% clear now, minus some blemishes, which will go away in time. Stay with it and stay positive."

• Gun...
• May 9, 2015

For Acne "I'm 18 and have been suffering from moderate acne for about 3 years now. I started using Minomycin (minocycline) about 2 weeks ago, with this topical lotion that is widely known to treat acne. In the daytime, I use BB cream and foundation to cover my flaws (not sure if that's a wise choice). I have read the views that this is one of those medications that gets worse before it gets better. I have noticed that in the past two days I have started breaking out. I'm not sure if it is the medication, the cream, my daily routine, or just stress, but my condition is getting worse. Seems like I need to give it a few more weeks to see how it goes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2012

Minocycline for Acne "I'm 26 and have been on prescription acne treatments for 16 years. My acne was pretty well controlled in my 20s until a flare-up a couple of years ago. My DR prescribed Solodyn. It took the full 12 weeks to see results. I believe the first 2-4 weeks my acne was even worse. From weeks 12-16, it got remarkably better, and then I phased off of it. It's now a year later, and the flare-ups are starting, so I'm trying another round of Solodyn. I have learned that for some of us, there is no miracle cure. Solodyn isn't a miracle worker, but it has helped me keep my acne under control, and I'm very satisfied with that. My Dr. has me use a gentle cleanser (I use Clinique) and topical gel (Epiduo) along with the Solodyn."

• Sso...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2016

Minocycline for Acne "Worst drug ever -- I am usually not allergic to any drug, but I just took it for 2 days and have the worst body pain, muscle soreness, and feverishness. The list of long-term side effects from this drug is appalling. As a scientist and cancer biologist, I usually take extra caution as to what drugs I consume, but the side effects of this drug are scary, and having experienced it firsthand, I am stopping it just after two days of use. My face is still dry and has acne, and I am close to 40. Hopefully, a topical cream will help - definitely not Solodyn!"

• h24...
• August 28, 2014

Minocycline for Acne "This medicine leaves me feeling undecided and confused. First off, it made me break out badly, and in a type of way I never did before. I had huge cysts all over my back. My doctor said that it 'gets everything out of your skin then clears you up.' I did clear up after 4 months on it. It wasn't until the last month it improved. The problem is that it scarred me everywhere from the cysts. I never broke out on my back like that before, and it actually hurt. I'm hoping the scars become less dark. Bottom line: It broke me out badly for 3 months and then cleared up, and I'm left with scars. My skin is much clearer, but I'm still getting small pimples on my shoulders and face."

• h24...
• August 28, 2014

Minocycline for Acne "This medicine leaves me feeling undecided and confused. First off, it made me break out badly, and in a type of way I never did before. I had huge cysts all over my back. My doctor said that it 'gets everything out of your skin then clears you up.' I did clear up after 4 months on it. It wasn't until the last month it improved. The problem is that it scarred me everywhere from the cysts. I never broke out on my back like that before, and it actually hurt. I'm hoping the scars become less dark. Bottom line: It broke me out badly for 3 months and then cleared up, and I'm left with scars. My skin is much clearer, but I'm still getting small pimples on my shoulders and face."

• Jea...
• January 29, 2020

For Acne "I was put on minocycline to treat a couple of spots of acne that had appeared on my forehead and had not gone away in over a month. 100 mg, twice a day. By day 2 and beyond, I started feeling what can only be described as low, hopeless. I chalked it up to the winter blues. Day 4, I started to notice tiny dots appearing on my forehead. By day 6, these tiny pimples were covering my forehead, where just the week prior it had been completely smooth other than the area that I was treating. I also began to notice zits on my neck and chest. I stopped taking the medicine after day 6. I immediately started to feel like myself again. It's incredible how this medicine affected my mental state. I've been off the medicine for a week now. My face is getting clearer slowly. My chest and neck are still a mess and may be getting worse before they get better. My dermo asked if I wanted to be put on a different type of antibiotic, but I decided I'd rather just give my body a chance to get back to normal."

• Jea...
• January 29, 2020

For Acne "I was put on minocycline to treat a couple of spots of acne that had appeared on my forehead and had not gone away in over a month. 100 mg, twice a day. By day 2 and beyond, I started feeling what can only be described as low, hopeless. I chalked it up to the winter blues. Day 4, I started to notice tiny dots appearing on my forehead. By day 6, these tiny pimples were covering my forehead, where just the week prior it had been completely smooth other than the area that I was treating. I also began to notice zits on my neck and chest. I stopped taking the medicine after day 6. I immediately started to feel like myself again. It's incredible how this medicine affected my mental state. I've been off the medicine for a week now. My face is getting clearer slowly. My chest and neck are still a mess and may be getting worse before they get better. My dermo asked if I wanted to be put on a different type of antibiotic, but I decided I'd rather just give my body a chance to get back to normal."

• Anonymous
• September 28, 2011

Minocycline for Acne "Only on my second week of treatment, but it's not looking so good. I got it to treat some cystic acne on my back, and my skin cleared up quickly the first week. However, I'm tired all of the time, and the cystic acne's coming back with a vengeance. Just broke out with a line of huge pimples down my lower back, which has never happened, and some on my face, all of which are very painful. I'll continue the treatment for a few more weeks, but so far, things aren't looking good."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2017

For Acne "I am 19 years old, and I was prescribed minocycline for my hormonal acne. I saw results in the first 2 weeks. My skin was completely clear, and I had never been happier. Although whenever I stopped taking this medicine, my acne would come back. I stayed on this medicine for 4 months until it stopped working and made my acne worse. It's very effective, but it doesn't last."

• lin...
• April 10, 2013

Minocycline for Acne "I am 26 years old. Never had acne problems, even as a teenager. Started breaking out badly due to starting birth control. Tried different brands... all the same. So went to the dermatologist. Started taking the Solodyn 65 once a day. First few months, no real change. Actually, it unfortunately got worse before it got better. First month, the worst. I was very embarrassed. But good news. Stick with it. It's now been four months, and I finally see a change. It's been four months exactly now, and I am just now feeling comfortable not wearing a ton of makeup. I still use a dab here and there, but nothing like before. Only con is that the pimples I developed while on Solodyn seemed to linger."

• All...
• September 7, 2017

For Acne "Sooo, I was completely turned away from this prescription for about the first 4-5 weeks. I am 30 years old, and I broke out like BAD and was completely miserable! Then, between weeks 5-7, my face started clearing up, and now I only have a couple of pimples. So, my advice is to give it at least 8 weeks before you give up on this medication!"

• Sab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2016

For Acne "I developed cystic acne. I'm guessing as a result of hormones, stress, and genetics. My doctor and I changed what we were using during the second visit since we were doing some trial and error (figuring out what works). Since my skin is not sensitive, we went from a combination of doxycycline, tretinoin, and clindamycin (idk how to spell it) to a combination of tretinoin of higher strength, erythromycin/BP gel, and minocycline. My skin has cleared up in a matter of 2 months with the occasional pimples and some acne scarring."

• Qui...
• March 26, 2016

For Acne "I have had acne since I was 13 when my period started. Anyway, mine was bad to the point people would say, what's wrong with your face? It was sad after years of over-the-counter drugs and acne washes like Clean & Clear and so on, nothing worked. I decided to go see a dermatologist at the age of 26 and I was in tears telling him and just looking at my face. He put me on minocycline 100 mg twice a day, I saw great results in 8 months. So then I went back and he put me on it once a day. I'm about to be 29 in July and I'm still on it. My face still has minor breakouts, like from falling asleep in makeup and Mother Nature. I have to say it's great, I go back in May to get off."

• Lon...
• January 28, 2013

Minocycline for Acne "I took Minocin in my late teens for about 5 years, and from what I remember, I never had a single outbreak or flare-up while taking it. Having said that, if I missed a few days' meds, the acne would break out. Though it never cleared my skin completely, it most certainly helped."

• Hal...
• January 24, 2016

For Acne "I'm 18, and I've been taking this for 6 months, and it's made a pretty noticeable difference. I used to have a new breakout every day, and now I hardly get a single breakout at all. It cleared my face within a month or so and has kept my face clear for almost the entire time, with one exception. It says not to take this medicine with a calcium and iron supplement, and I started taking both, and my face started breaking out again! So listen to what the doctor tells you!"

• ily...
• November 3, 2010

Minocycline for Acne "Solodyn worked so well for me. My dermatologist prescribed it, and now I don't get acne at all. The only bad thing is that when I run out, I almost immediately break out. Oh well. It's probably just 13-year-old acne. It'll go away when I'm older."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For Acne "I've been on Solodyn (minocycline) for about a week now, and it's definitely helped. I never had the bad initial breakout like some do, but my cheek acne hasn't completely cleared up, still getting some cysts and whiteheads. Hopefully, I will get 100% better within the next few weeks. P.S. I went on doxycycline for three months last year and cleared me up completely but broke out worse than ever after I got off of it, so be careful and have a plan when you get off of these kinds of antibiotics."

• the...
• July 23, 2015

For Acne "I have mild to moderate acne. I was put on doxycycline at first and then put on something stronger (minocycline). I was on it for about a year and a half or so. I no longer had any refills left. My regular doctor told me she could no longer prescribe them and that I had to go back to the dermatologist. The first time I was off it, I broke out like crazy, and I'm off it again, and I am breaking out all over my chest and forehead. I'm still on the topical cream tretinoin. I'm hoping it's gonna go away, however, I'm afraid it's not because my skin is very oily and causes acne."

• Poo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2020

For Acne "I suddenly got 2 big cystic acnes on my cheek, and I was worried about it because my skin was clear. So, I decided to visit a dermatologist, and he prescribed me these capsules. It was a 1-month course. I took this medicine from time to time, and all of a sudden, within a week, my acnes got cleared, and I was very happy I got my clear skin back. But after some days, again, I started breaking out, but even worse, and now I still have acnes around my chin. This drug is not good, it does not give permanent happiness. I thought only I was facing this side effect, but there are many users who are complaining about the same thing regarding the capsules."