dermo changed me to differin and oracea wat now

[boct]

hi Dr Rockoff,
                   Im an adult male in my mid 40s with acne.i have been taking minocycline 100 mg to 200 mg a day sometimes and using retin a micro 0.1% gel every night for 2 years.I have been getting alot of acne for the last 2 or 3 months so i went to my see my dermatologist.he said since i been taking minocycline 100 mg daily for 2 years and using the retin a micro 0.1% for 2 years and im still breaking out i should try something new like it may be wearing off....he put me on oracea 40mg once a day and differin gel 0.3%....i was reading the paper that comes with oracea~doxycycline and it says it doesnt kill bacteria now im getting worried because minocycline does kill bacteria now im worried i will break out more from the oracea.it says its for rosacea but doest oracea work to kill acne to or no?and the differin gel 0.3% isnt this not as strong drying to dry up pimples as retin a micro 0.1%?why do you think he changed everything i dont wanna break out more for this stuff im thinking of calling the office friday and asking him but hes always so busy..do you think this is a good change or bad and why.im trying to uunderstand how the differin gel 0.3% not as strong as the retin a mico 0.1% i was on and minocycline 100 mg daily to 40 mg a day oracea for only redness and not pimples would help ?seems like it would make it worse..please explain...thanks for your time and help dr

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No need to be nervous.  Antibiotics work as anti-inflammatory agents in acne, not as bacteria-killers.  If you've been on the minocycline that long and you're still not clear, it does make sense to try something different.  And Differin 0.3% is an excellent product, not a bad change from Retin-A, again since you're still not clear.  If this regiment doesn't work, your doctor may consider some other regimen or perhaps Accutane.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[boct]

Ps i forgot to say that i wanted to try accutane but he wants me to try this first..im really nervous about going off the minocycline and retain micro.