Oxytetracycline for acne

[TwoToTango]

DS has acne and was prescribed Oxytetracycline tablets. He has been taking them for 4 months now.
The GP did say they took a few months to show any significant progress. His acne has improved - spots are less red and smaller but I thought after 4 months there might be more change. Is/has anyones teenagers used this antibiotice for acne and how long was it before the acne cleared up?
Is it too early to return to GP - should I wait a bit longer?

Thanks

[TwoToTango]

bump

[lbab1702]

My DD is taking them and has for several years. On their own they had little affect, then she was put on the pill too. The combination of both has cleared her face but not touched her back. We're now waiting for referral to a dermatologist. I'm not very happy that she's been taking anti biotics for so long, but Dr says it's fine and DD is relieved that at least her face is better (she can keep her back covered) so doesn't want to stop taking them, just yet anyway. It did take a good 6 months for any improvement so I'd keep going with it for a bit longer.

[TwoToTango]

That was my worry - takin antibiotics for so long - I;ll give it a bit longer then before going back. thank you

[superram]

I am 38 and never had teenage acne. Prescribed for 2 years and no great improvement. I truly believe mine is hormonal.

[JustDanceAddict]

My DD is on lymecycline for hers - it's been 3 months and has really helped. Was mostly on her back and some on her face (was getting worse on face when we went to gp). GP said to come back in 2 more months to see how it is then. Initially she said she'd prob be on it for 6 & should notice difference after 3. She is 13 and I think we nipped it in the bud so to speak. DH suffered badly as a teen with it and his back is very scarred. Think it's quite low dose for spots - hasn't seen to have affected her adversely in any other way.

[TwoToTango]

Thanks for replies. DS acnes was quite bad (on face/back) when we went to doctors - wish I had taken him earlier and nipped it in the bud as you said JustDance. Probably sounds stupid but I didn't realise you could get prescribed antibiotics for acne - only found out from a doctor at a walk in clinic when we went on a totally unrelated matter.
Think i'll give it another coupld of months and then go back to GP if no further improvement - I think 6 months is long enough to get a good amount of improvement.

[Heavens2Betsy]

Ds was on oxytetracycljne for ages and it did nothing at all.
He's now awaiting a referral to the dermatologist and is on lymecycljne and a topical retinoid cream which seems to be working a lot better.

[Stillunexpected]

DS1, who is now 17, was on ABs for 2 years before we went to a dermatologist! In retrospect, I wish we had moved forwards and asked for a referral earlier. He started on Oxytetracycline, then went onto Erythroped and finally Lymecycline. Initially, all of them seemed to work to a certain degree but nothing really helped with any great improvement and after a few months they seemed to either plateau or in the case of the Lymecycline, go backwards. Eventually last July he saw a dermatologist who prescribed Roaccutane, which I was very nervous about him taking, but we didn't seem to have many other options at the time. He started on 40mg, then moved to 60, but it was really only when he hit 80mg that it started to improve matters significantly. His chest and top of his arms are now completely free of acne, face is also almost 100% better and the only area remaining where he still has some noticeable acne and the occasional boil-like spot is his back. He has now finished with the pills (took them for 6 months) and just uses a cream to keep his skin in check. It has made a huge difference to him.

I can't remember how long he took the different ABs for but you should be seeing your GP regularly anyway? DS usually only got 2-3 months worth of pills and the GP would then evaluate what was happening. I think you could probably take this AB for a few more months but after that I would be pushing for a change of medication. Good luck!

[Heavens2Betsy]

Roaccutane is the next step for DS
I'm very wary of it though especially as we are going abroad this summer and it makes you more sensitive to sunlight
I'm really hoping he won't have to take it

[Stillunexpected]

Yes, DS1 started about a month before we went abroad and he has a Saturday job which involves him being outside almost all day so it was quite a challenge to consider the sun sensitivity aspect of it. We used sun cream recommended by the dermatologist and did a lot of nagging! The only other side effect which DS had was an increased sensitivity to cuts and scrapes. Because his Saturday job is physical, any knocks or bruises which he got seemed to take a lot longer to heal.

[Roseformeplease]

My DS did everything for more than a year - gels, antibiotics etc.

Push for dermatology appointment and the miracle that is Roaccutane. Many of the scary side effects (deformed babies) are mostly girls. Yes, you do have to be monitored BUT it is life changing and (so far) results are permanent.

[bilule]

antibs did nothing for dd1 although dd2 is just beginning to take them
roaccutane was literally a miracle cure