Doxycycline is a form of antibiotic. It’s often used for a wide range of infections, but it’s also very effective against bacterial acne. It’s a powerful treatment that both brings down acne and calms the underlying inflammation.
It comes as a capsule and you take it everyday. It’s a good choice if you have bacterial acne and creams or gels haven’t worked for you. It’s much stronger and works across your whole system.
How does Doxycycline work for acne?
Doxycycline is a type of antibiotic called a tetracycline. It works by binding to the cells in bacteria and stopping them from making new proteins. This kills off the bad bacteria and stops new bacteria from growing. So it’s an effective way of fighting bacterial acne.
Doxycycline also helps with acne by bringing down inflammation. It does this in two different ways, by stopping inflammatory cells from being made and released. Inflammation is a major cause of bacterial acne, so Doxycycline’s anti-inflammatory effects stop it at its source.
What doses of Doxycycline are there?
The usual dose recommended for acne is 50mg of Doxycycline once a day. Always take the dose recommended by your clinician. Don’t stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor, even if your acne has cleared up.
If your current dose isn’t working for you, you might need a higher one. If you’ve ordered through us, just log into your account and send us a message. We can see if a larger dose might be right for you, or if you need a different treatment.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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How to take Doxycycline
Your clinician will talk you through how exactly to take Doxycycline before you start treatment. If you have any questions, just log into your account and message send us a message.
Try to take your capsule around the same time each day. If you’re worried you’ll forget, you could set an alarm or use a reminder app on your phone;
Swallow the capsule whole, don't crush them or chew it.
Make sure you’re upright when you take the capsule, either sitting or standing;
Drink a large glass of water when you take your capsule;
Take Doxycycline with a meal. It'll lower your risk of getting an upset stomach;
Try to avoid eating or drinking dairy for a couple of hours before and after you take your capsule. Dairy affects the levels of doxycycline that are active in your system;
Don’t lie down for 30 minutes after you take your Doxycycline. This stops the capsules from getting stuck in your throat, so they can move quickly into your stomach and get absorbed.
How long does it take Doxycycline to work?
Doxycycline is absorbed by the body quickly. It reaches peak levels in your blood just two to four hours after you take a capsule. So it starts fighting the bacteria and inflammation causing your symptoms pretty fast. But when you’re taking it for acne, it can take some time for the effects to start showing on your skin.
You’ll usually take Doxycycline for acne for 6-12 weeks, depending on how severe it is. Many people see improvements after just a couple of weeks. But even when your skin starts looking better, you shouldn’t stop taking Doxycycline without talking to a clinician first.
What should I do if I make a mistake while taking Doxycycline?
If you forget to take your Doxycycline at your usual time, just take it as soon as you remember. If it’s less than twelve hours before your next capsule, skip the missed dose and carry on with treatment as normal. Don’t take twice your normal dose to make up for missing a capsule.
If you take too much Doxycycline, get medical attention. Take the packaging of the medication with you so they can see what you’ve taken and how much. If you’ve only taken one extra capsule, it’s unlikely to cause you any problems. Still, seek help if you have any worrying symptoms.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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FAQ: Doxycycline
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Doxycycline different from other treatments for acne?
Answer:
Unlike a lot of treatments for acne, you don’t have to apply Doxycycline straight to your skin. This can be helpful if you have sensitive skin that gets irritated easily by strong topical medications.
Doxycycline is also a bit different from topical treatments because it doesn’t just get rid of acne lesions. It also fights the root cause of acne, by bringing down inflammation and bad bacteria from the inside. If you’ve tried topical treatments but your acne kept coming back, Doxycycline might be a good choice for you.
Is Doxycycline similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
There are a few other antibiotic treatments for acne that are similar to Doxycycline. Oxytetracycline and Lymecycline are also tetracycline antibiotics. So they work in a similar way, but they’re different drugs. Everyone reacts differently to medication, so one might be better than another for you.
There’s also a branded version of Doxycycline that can be used for acne, called Vibramycin-D. It’s a dispersible tablet, so you dissolve it in water and drink it. They work in pretty much the same way because they have the same active ingredient. The main difference is that Vibramycin-D dissolves, may have different packaging and is usually more expensive.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Doxycycline?
Answer:
You shouldn’t drink alcohol while you’re on Doxycycline. Wait until you’ve finished the medication and your acne has cleared up. Doxycycline may make you more sensitive to some of the effects of alcohol, like clumsiness and poor reflexes.
Alcohol also interferes with the effects of Doxycycline. It makes it harder to fight the bacteria causing your acne and bring down inflammation. So it can interrupt your acne treatment, or make it last even longer.
How effective is Doxycycline for acne?
Answer:
Doxycycline is a powerful treatment for bacterial acne. A double-blind study found a significant improvement with Doxycycline treatment over a placebo in people with moderate to severe acne.
A review of the treatment of acne with Doxycycline found that it was just as effective as minocycline. But Doxycycline had a lower risk of side effects like stomach discomfort. So Doxycycline is a safe and effective option if you have bacterial acne.
Do I need a prescription for Doxycycline?
Answer:
You can’t buy Doxycycline over the counter, a clinician will have to prescribe it for you. It’s not right for everyone, so they’ll have to check over your symptoms first.
If you’re struggling with bacterial acne, just talk to us. One of our clinicians will look into your options and see if Doxycycline might be a good fit for you.
Why should I buy Doxycycline online with Treated?
Answer:
Tired of searching for the right acne treatment? At Treated, we can do the work for you. Just tell our clinicians about your health and we’ll let you know your options. When you order Doxycycline with us, we can deliver straight to your door on your schedule. So you’ll never have to rush to pick up your medication.
Our expert clinical team is always on hand if you have questions and we’ll check in with you during treatment to check everything’s going well. If you find Doxycycline isn’t working for your acne, you just have to log into your account and message us. We can find the right treatment for you.
The effect of doxycycline on alcohol consumption and sensitivity: consideration for inducible transgenic mouse models. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 237(10), pp.1129-1133.
A randomized, phase 2, dose-ranging study in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne vulgaris with doxycycline calcium. J Drugs Dermatol., 1.12(6), pp.658-63.
Doxycycline and minocycline for the management of acne: a review of efficacy and safety with emphasis on clinical implications. J Drugs Dermatol., 9(11), pp.1407-11.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
