This article was written to compliment our main article on Antibiotics titled, “What You Didn’t Know About Antibiotics & It’s Relationship to Acne.” We invite you to read this article first, to give you a better sense of how harmful using antibiotics to treat your acne can actually be.
If you have been struggling with any type of acne, then your dermatologist may have prescribed a course of Doxycycline antibiotics. Although the long chemical name of the antibiotic sounds quite complicated, its purpose is actually very simple.
All Antibiotics main intention is to be used to prevent the growth of the acne bacteria that can cause breakouts and inflammation.
Even with all of the frightening side effects of Doxycycline acne medication, does it really provide a true benefit in clearing up your skin?
Let’s take it directly to the source and hear what a few sufferers of chronic acne had to say about their use of Doxycycline on the acne.org forums:
I’ve been on Doxycycline for a few months now. I used to have small pimples on my cheeks and huge zits on my chin. I’ve been using Doxycycline for the oral and Differin for topical use, Doxycycline has a lot of complaints for making your stomach hurt, but it didn’t with me unless I took with milk or water. At first It sorta broke me out, but now in my third month it’s cleared up my skin almost all I only have one zit on my chin and no pimples on my cheeks.
This is my 2nd review of Doxycycline. I wanted to wait a full month before I commented again. I broke out with hundreds of small acne all over my face back in November. I was first put on Minocycline which caused too much dizziness so I was taken off of that and prescribed Doxycycline 100 mg to be taken 2 times a day in conjunction with Yaz birth control, Duac, and Differin. I was put on Yaz because my hormone levels were exceedingly high and was told that Yaz will help regulate me. My right cheek unfortunately became severely inflamed and has finally calmed down after a good month. I still have a number of inflamed acne on my left check but I’m noticing improvement. Bottom line is that doxycycline did seem to work because I no longer have severe inflammation. Although I am left with severe scarring… lots and lots of hyperpigmentation… mainly red marks.
I began taking this August of 2009. By September, my light/moderate acne was clearing up. During October, my skin was a dream for the most part, minus one or two persistant blemishes. November, fine again. Then December rolls around. I notice my skin forming small break-out “areas.” Not worrying, I kept taking my Doxycycline religiously. It all went downhill from there. I either needed to up my dosage because my acne bacteria had “morphed” and conquered this particular anti-biotic or I had to switch to something stronger. It wasn’t until March, after my skin was now covered in SEVERE acne that I stopped taking it, and out of desperation, went to go see a dermatologist and a gynecologist. It has taken me one full year to get my skin back to clarity. I will never treat my acne with antibiotics again.
Doxycycline Acne Medication Side Affects
Doxycycline acne medication can provide some relief for acne and inflammation in the skin, yet it also leaves you at risk for serious sun sensitivity.
When taking this medication, you must vigilantly shield your skin from free radical damage caused by unprotected sun exposure by wearing an SPF every single day, even when it is cloudy outside. If you don’t, you leave yourself at risk for surface discoloration, wrinkles, and skin cancer in the future.
According to eMedTV.com, Doxycycline acne drugs also have such “fun” side effects as:
- Sun sensitivity
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Skin rashes
- Fever
- Liver damage
- Allergic reaction
- Vision changes
Although only 1% of users experience Doxycycline side effects like issues with their vision, damage to their liver, or allergic reactions, it is still a possibility.
The truth is that there is always a potential for side effects if you are treating any illness or physical issue with the use of drugs. In fact, the full list of Doxycycline acne drug side effects on eMedTV.com is actually much longer that those I just listed; the symptoms above are only a small sample of the side effects that you could be at risk for when taking this drug to treat your acne. [2]
So why are dermatologists prescribing such a harmful acne drug to their patients?
Despite the mostly unknown cash benefits dermatologists receive, this is also a drug that kills the bacteria that is a superficial symptom of acne, which could provide a bit of relief to desperate acne sufferers. In fact, you have probably been there – willing to do anything to find a solution to your acne.
However, the good news is that you don’t have to succumb yourself to such harmful drug side effects if you don’t want to! And who would?
The solution to treating even the most chronic acne is much simpler than many people make it out to be. It all starts with a healthy a diet to give your skin the vitamins and nutrients it needs to repair itself and fend off further acne outbreaks. The only “side effect” of a balanced and healthy diet is that you will benefit the overall health of your body and prevent the risk of disease in the future. It’s a win-win situation!
You can start today by making the simple change of cutting processed foods completely out of your diet. Yes, processed foods may be a staple of the standard American diet today, yet they pump your body full of preservatives, additives, chemicals, and toxins that deprive your skin of vital nutrients and even trigger inflammation in your existing acne.
The whole purpose of the food you eat is to provide nutrition so that your body remains healthy and strong from head to toe, and as you make these necessary dietary changes, the first place to shows the signs of your newly discovered health will be in your clear and vibrant skin!
Sources:
- “Prescription Medications for Treating Acne.“ SkinCarePhysicians.com. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/prescriptmeds.html>.
- “Doxycycline Side Effects.” Antibiotics Home Page. 19 June 2009. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <http://antibiotics.emedtv.com/doxycycline/doxycycline-side-effects.html>.
About the Author: Bethany Ramos is an aesthetician and makeup artist with a special interest in using nutrition to heal and alleviate a number of conditions in the skin. You can find out more skin care and makeup tips by visiting her blog at FacebyBethany.
