Hi,
it would be great if you can answer my problem!!! i ‘m 20. I never had any acne problem before my clear was clear all the
time. Then suddenly i got a few cystic acne which are so painful and leave scars. I am so scared i went to see the doctor and she prescribed me with doxycycline. I have been on it for 2 months and it’s good. But i still have one month’s dosage. I am very scared once i stopped taking doxycycline all my severe acne will come back and even worse!!! but i
dunno how to judge when to stop taking the medicine. Some say for 3 months some say take it for 6 months. I dunno if doxycycline has cleared up the bacteria inside my skin. although it looks good now i’ m afraid if i stop it’ll break out again!!! so what is your advice? is it very bad if i take it for 6 months? is it true that the good bacteria in my body
is also killed and will my immune system be worse after taking the medicine? Thanks a lot for your help!

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Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

You do not mention the dosage, but there is evidence that a low dose (20mg daily) of doxycycline may be sufficient for acne. The treatment often needs to be continued for 6 months, and sometimes even for a year or two. The treatment is generally well tolerated and there should be no problem with your immune system. You need to discuss with your doctor whether you want to stop the doxycyclin at 3 months and see what happens, or whether it’s worth continuing another 3 months. If the acne persists, you might want to see a dermatologist and discuss isotretinoin treatment, which is highly effective and often results in complete cure. On the other hand, doxycycline seems to work for you, and you can stay on it until nature will take over and the acne will resolve as you age.?