By: Marilyn Thompson


Doxycycline, a derivative of tetracycline, is a common prescription medication for inflammatory acne. This antibiotic is effective in lessening the impact of the bacteria responsible for clogging skin pores and causing acne.

Body hormones increase secretions of sebaceous glands. Increased oil secretions clog skin pores leading to an overgrowth of normal skin bacteria-Propionibacterium acnes. This bacterium destroys the inner lining of your skin pore. This destruction allows dead skin cells to accumulate within the skin pore. The inflammatory response is acne.

How Does Doxycycline prevent Acne?

Doxycycline stops production of protein necessary for the growth and development of Propionibacterium acnes, bacteria responsible for causing acne. Lack of protein disables this bacteria and it slowly dies.

Dosage of Doxycycline

Take 50 to 100 mg of Doxycycline twice a day with your food. Acne response to doxycycline treatment is visible within three to six weeks. Some patients experience increased acne before it starts subduing.

Side Effects of Doxycycline

Mild side effects of Doxycycline include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dark, or swollen tongue. Doxycycline increases your sensitivity to sun causing sunburns if exposed to sunrays. You can continue with doxycycline medication but inform your physician about these side effects.

Serious side effects of Doxycycline include severe headache, changes in vision, genital sores and itching, sense of confusion, allergic reactions like swelling of lips, face, and difficulty in breathing, liver damage causing abdominal discomfort, severe fatigue, and unusual bleeding, blood problems like easy bruising, fever, etc. Discontinue doxycycline immediately and consult your physician for alternative treatment.

Who Should Avoid Doxycycline?

No one under the age of eight should take this medicine as it adversely affects growth of bones and teeth. Nursing women should avoid it for the same reason. Pregnant women should also avoid this drug as it could cause birth defects. Liver and kidney patients should avoid this drug as it could cause severe adverse reactions.

Effectiveness of Doxycycline Treatment

Doxycycline is among the many oral antibiotics effective in treating moderate to severe acne. There have been numerous studies and research over the last two decades to analyze effectiveness of this antibiotic. Results prove its effectiveness among patients with severe and moderate acne.