restarting antibiotics?

hello doctor! I was prescribed doxycyline 100mg twice a day for 2 years and last march my dermatologist told me that if i wanted to, i could start weaning myself off of them, but overall my derm was fairly ambivalent about it and seemed to think it didn't matter either way (i don't get the impression that she's very keen in treating acne, either). My acne has started flaring up again and i'm considering restarting the doxycycline... is this something i could do short term or should/could i consider going back on long term? any reservations about taking doxycycline long term for a second round, or in general?

here's everything i'm using for reference (i don't know if this is relevant or important, but maybe something here is...? or maybe there's something that making me break out again?)

Cleanser....................Dr.Hauschka Cleansing Cream (2x daily)
Scrub.................... fine ground walnut powder mixed w/ cleanser (4x weekly)
Moisturizer....................Hazelnut Oil (1x daily... my skin doesn't seem to break out at all from very light oils, but creams or gels break me out?)
Moisturizer....................Pangea French Chamomile Cream (1x-2x weekly if skin is super oily)
AM Treatment.................... Finacea and Clindamycin Gel 1% (derm didn't say which order to use these or which to use every day or which to do less frequently. i have been switching off but i think that i should be doing the clindamycin daily and the finacea every other day?)
Sunscreen....................Epicuren Discovery Zinc Sunscreen (phsyical, no additives, no clogging ingredients)
PM Treatment.................... Retin-A Micro .1%

i wear mineral makeup (jane iredale) and use lip balms with physical sunscreens. i'm vegan but i eat carefully nad healthfully and supplement too. i drink about a liter of water a day... hmm... what else... i'm taking ortho cyclen. i recently re-started ADHD medications after being off fo 6 years (i'm taking adderall (adderrall), 30mg). i think it's making my skin more dehydrated but also more oily (if that makes sense).

this is all probably far more than is necessary but i figured too much is better than not enough... i really appreciate and look forward to any thoughts or advice you might have!

[anne_bluebell]

D'oh! I tried to post this in the 'ask a derm' section, but when it was full I decided to post it here instead, but I forgot to cut out the salutation. I'm sorry, I'm a dope! This was my first post... >.<

[loiloi]

Hi. Oral antibiotics such as doxycycline do not 'cure' acne, they suppress it. So you may need to take repeat courses for as long as your tendancy to acne persists.
Diet has not be conclusively proven to affect acne. However, cow's milk contains hormones and acne is caused by an excess of, or a sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones). Soya milk is a much better choice and is often enriched with Vitamin A and zinc, both of which are essential for healthy skin.
Oral antibiotics are not the only option. Switching to a combined birth conrol pill such as Yasmin, Ortho Tri Cycline or Diane35 will regulate your hormones and clear acne.
Topical synthetic retinoids such as Differin or Retin-A are also very effective. Speak to your doctor about these.
Eloise.

[anne_bluebell]

thank you for your thoughts... i know that oral antibiotics aren't a cure; but i know that they did help the first time around. i was just curious whether or not anyone would have an opinion on continued long term antibiotics, or picking up again after a pause. some people seem to think it's a bad idea, and i was curious what anyone here might think. I'm already taking birth control and Retin-A micro .1%. i was taking a tricyclic and found that a monocyclic was far more helpful for me.

thank you!

[michellegar]

yes i am on doxycycline for  6 weeks now and wondering about long term effects - any info would help.  Am going to try Fangocur products - heard they help.  will let you know

[leorda]

Hi everybody .I am  29 y.o female, and I am from Europe.I read your comments and i think its not right what you are doing....to drink antibiotics for 2 years that"s stupid and very dangerous.Think about your organs.You want to treat the acne but put in danger another organs(in special-liver).In Europe the doctors don`t let u drink antibiotics more than 2 weeks.This is one more thing which made me believe that here the doctors *****.I had heavy acne too ,few years ago and i treat it in  2 weeks there in Europe.they gave me a mixture made from many kinds of medicine to apply on my face every evening before sleeping. and i was shocked how fast that medicine treated my acne.and also i did10 days a transfusion of blood from the arm vein to the butt chick,that helped a lot too.I am leaving in Utah for 2 years now and i had some problems with the skin and i went to4-5 dermatologists and they gave me so much medicine and nothing helped,until i found alone what i had.The same with my stomach:here doctor put me for 5 years on Nexium because of my acid reflux and doesn't help me at all,when in Europe my doc. gave me a treatment for 14 days and 1 ear I didn't know where my stomach was.Now our plan is to move to Europe to live,because from when i came here i have always problems with my health.I can't believe that my husband wants this .And no any more pounds of pills.I am so happy!!!
You guys really need to find a very GOOD dermatolog and to not drink antibiotics so long time.Wish you the best! Sveta!

[jendo]

Anti-biotics might help your acne temporarily, but no pill will cure it.  I am a 27 f who started breaking out since I was 10 years old.  I have tried every single acne medication known to man and worst of all, Accutane.  Not one of them worked except the accutane for the 1 year I was on it.  Since I got off of it I had brain damage and a lot of other horrible side effects that I experience still 10 years later.  

With over 16 years of horrible breakouts and the nasty scars all over my face to proove it, the only things I have found to work is drinking 3 liters of water a day and excersizing until I sweat and cant go anymore.  

Also stay away from the refined sugar and yes, milk, cheese, and yogurt do make you break out.  They are okay when consumed in moderation, and also as long as you drink a lot of water throughout the day.  

Good Acne Riddance..