Lymecycline - acne experiences

[IAlreadyHadOne]

I have just started Lymecycline today alongside Epiduo Gel for acne. My acne is not severe but is pretty constant around my chin/jaw area and it has been making me feel down and insecure for a long time. I thought with not wearing make up for 2 months (due to only leaving the house to work) my skin would have calmed down but if anything it has got worse.

I am wondering if anyone has been on this medication or similar and can share their experiences?

I think it takes around 6 weeks before I start to see results but I really hope it works! The information leaflet says it helps with black and white heads but those aren't my problem so fingers crossed it works for other types of spots.

Thanks in advance!

I didn't find it helped me that much but what did a lot more was the prescription differin cream, which I think you could get from a Gp. If you haven't already tried it, I'd really recommend the la Roche posay effaclar H range, which a dermatologist told me to use. Last year my acne was so bad I looked like I had purple welts on my face and now, as long as I use the range rigorously, I don't have much acne at all.
I found the antibiotics made me feel quite sick and the acne usually comes back when you stop using them

I've been on lymecycline on and off for many years. My acne is hormonal and now I only need to take it every couple of years. My acne totally clears up quite quickly and then after 18 months to 2 years it starts to get worse again. When I go back on it, the acne clears up in a couple of weeks. So it works for me

Lymecycline really helped me! I’m 47 and earlier this year had a terrible acne flare up. It started to clear after about 2 weeks of starting the capsules. It’s on repeat now, my GP said I wasn’t to come off it for the foreseeable future.
I’m so happy with my clear skin.

I've been on this treatment for almost a week now.

I am finding the Epiduo Gel absolute agony, did anyone else find this?

@IAlreadyHadOne I've got the Differin gel and that was tough going at the beginning. At one point I had to stop it for a week as it made my skin so sore.

I gave my skin a rest for a week and now I use the bare minimum amount as I found if I use too much it just makes my skin burn and I end up with sores and big patches of flaky skin.

Benzyl peroxide made my skin sore. It’s only 8 weeks later that my skin actually looks much better. I had a breakout and my skin was flakey and sore. Yucky. Thank goodness I’ve not had to leave the house!

Have you tried layering on moisturiser first, then the cream, then more moisturiser?

Or contact therapy - put some on for 10/15 minutes then wash off? There’s a couple of studies on it that showed it’s almost as effective as leaving it on. With far less irritation.

And you only need a tiny bit, I think I was putting on too much at first. I tried it every couple of days using contact therapy and then tried every other day at night with loads of moisturiser before and after the cream.

Antihistamines helped with the itching.

You could ask to try other topical creams. Nothing worked for my son, lymecycline , differin, emuvate, epiduo, roccutane etc. (terrible side effects on roccutane). His face was covered, went through an awful time .The dermatoloist kind of gave up and the GP suggested Protopic which has worked brilliantly he uses the mildest one 0.03% and has the stronger one for a bad flare up (but hasn't needed it for a year or so). He also uses Dermol 500 moisturiser.

Thanks all, it does seem to be working (I know its too early to tell) so I am willing to continue.

It is possible that I have put too much gel on, i will use a smaller amount tonight. The dry skin is spreading to my eyelids (certainly haven't put any cream around there) and when I put the cream on it really stings/burns up my cheeks, again, i don't put the cream on my cheeks.

It hurt so much last night that I did use E45 plain moisturising cream which did help to soothe it. My skin isn't particularly red, not swollen or anything so I guess its doing what it's supposed to!

Here is my chin (excuse any rogue chin hairs, I haven't been able to pluck while its so painful!)

It didn't make any difference for me, the only thing that worked for me was changing to dianette (contraceptive pill specifically for acne) it worked wonders.

Just seen your pic, I also suffer with dry skin especially on my chin like you and I use L'Oréal moisturiser for very dry skin you can get it in wilko for around £5 comes in a round tub I'd highly recommend it, it doesn't break me out like many others and helps my skin not be so dry.

Thanks Holly, have ordered some from amazon!

I'm glad you have found what works for you, i have just looked up dianette and it sounds ideal - stops excess hair growth too! Definitely one to think about in the upcoming months as I will be looking to start a contraceptive tablet too.

I had the weird eye skin too even though I wasn't putting it near there. I developed very dry brown under eye bags

But nearly 3 months in and it is working. I also seem to have had success by dermaplaning my face and I'm using the contraceptive ring which appears to be improving my skin without all of the other shitty side effects I usually get from hormonal contraceptives.

It didn’t work for me so they ref me to dermatology for roaccutane which was fantastic.

BEST drug ever.

Thats reassuring Mushroom. And actually yes to the eye bags! I have noticed that mine are more prominent too.

I will have a look into dermaplanning, i have seen there are some little tools you can buy. I usually get my face waxed and threaded which is probably not the best for my spots.

I've heard a lot people recommending roaccutane Fluffy, both on here and IRL, does seem like a miracle drug! I will see what happens after using this treatment for 3 months, nice to know i have other options if this doesn't work.

It was so weird. It happened basically overnight. I looked quite unwell for a week or so.

I got tools from Amazon. I've only done it once but it made an immediate difference to how my skin and scars looked.

I tried it, found it only made a very very small difference and I kept getting thrush!! I’ve never had thrush before. Stopped taking it and the thrush stopped.

My acne is milder than yours OP but it is constant and gets me down. I don’t want to go on anything as strong as roaccutane so right now I take a skin vitamin and iron tablet every day and that has a made a significant difference to my skin.

I was on lymecyline multiple times, probably adding up to over a year. In my experience I became resistant to it OR it stopped working when I came off it. The only thing that worked for me was roaccutane. Please dont be fooled by the bad press, roaccutane saved my life

Also, I’ve tried dianette - it did help the acne but my boobs grew enormous and I had. I sex drive. Microgynon made me feel very depressed and actually suicidal (only time in my life I’ve felt like that) so I now have an IUD contraceptive and stay well away from hormones, I think I’m sensitive to them. Just be aware of changes other than your skin, it took my a while to twig each time!

I dont recomend dianette. The UK is the last county in Europe it is legal in. The sife affects are severe blood clots and I understand you cant be on it very long so any help with the acne is short lived

I tried this combined with benzoyl peroxide. Had various pills. Nothing ever worked.

I've just finished a 6 month course of roaccutane (it's actually called isotretinoin now) and I haven't had a spot since the first month on it! I have had some side effects but nothing unbearable. I'm nearly 40 and have clear skin for the first time since I was in my early teens.

Your chin looks a lot like mine used to.

My daughter is starting her second dose of this but not for acne. She was prescribed 90 days but the pharmacist has only given her 84. It has been a nightmare getting this as it has taken two visits and several phone calls so can we let go the other six or does she need them? Thank you.

Sunshine, not sure what your daughter is taking the medication for but if her doctor has prescribed her 90 days I would try and take them for 90 days! It may be a faff but it seems a shame to stop so close to the end.