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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Lymecycline for teen acne

27 replies

bama77 · 19/02/2024 09:39

My DC is 13 and suffers of moderate/severe acne on their forehead. We went to the dermatologist already a couple of times and eventually we have been prescribed Lymecycline. I am a bit worried about taking antibiotic for a long period if time (min 3 months) given there is no certainty it is going to work.

Did any of your teens try Lymecycline, and if it worked did the acne came back once you stopped the treatment.

Thanks to anyone who might share their experience. It is such an awful condition for our DC, which is really affecting their mental health.

OP posts:
ThePure · 19/02/2024 10:01

My DD is on it. She's a bit older (16). She also uses a topical retinoid gel.
I don't think it's had any negative effect on her. A bit of nausea at the start maybe but might be just she dislikes swallowing capsules
In 3 months it has improved her skin from very bad such that people would comment which really upset her to tolerable but not in any way perfectly clear.
I think she's happy she took it

The only thing that is really effective IMHO is Roaccutane which I took as a teenager and you do have to worry about the side effects of that. Similarly the ocp which helps some.
I think lymecycline is probably the easiest option with the least side effects. Also the NICE guidance is that you have to try it before you can have Roaccutane

GoldenTobes · 19/02/2024 10:05

My daughter took these at about the same age (she is 19 now). Took them for quite a few months (sorry can't remember exactly how long for). Unfortunately I think we had some initial success but it didn't last, but don't remember her suffering with any side effects. For her it was a step on the path towards roaccutane (isotretinoin), which did clear her acne up. I agree how depressing it can be, I had acne as a teenager which didn't go away and lasted into my twenties and left me with some scarring. I didn't want the same for my daughter so took her to the doctors to help with hers. The only concern I think I had at the time was a side effect that could stain developing teeth. I can't remember whether she had all her adult teeth but I did read up on this a bit and spoke to our dentist. But obviously our mind was put to rest as she did take them.

Rollergirl11 · 19/02/2024 14:05

DD took when she was 14/15 for around 4 months. No negative side effects and it did clear her skin up. It didn’t come back when she came off it. I think it can make the skin more sensitive to the sun so you need to make sure you up your sun protection if taking in the summer months. DD is glad she took it.

PennyPincher84 · 19/02/2024 17:14

My daughter took it for several months and didn’t have any effect. She didn’t suffer any side effects though so that was a positive.
we ended up paying for roaccutane with a private dermatologist as her mental health/self esteem was being harmed. The roaccutane worked in a matter of months and thankfully she still has perfect skin now.

Original poster
bama77 · 20/02/2024 09:44

Thank you everyone for sharing your DC experience. Much appreciated!

OP posts:
Imneverright · 20/02/2024 21:21

My DD did 2 courses, 3 months each time. Took the full 3 months to work but then acne came straight back after the course.
She ended up 8 months on roaccutane which worked a treat and she’s had perfect skin for several years now. No side effects other than dry skin and mouth. She did have a full face of acne, not just on her forehead.

Jedstre · 25/02/2024 14:15

@bama77 my son took lymecycline age 14 and it didn’t help. The Gp then switched it to doxycycline which she thinks is more effective. It helped initially but the acne came back after the course finished (had 6 months). Started on a second course and now waiting for dermatology appointment. It’s a long road unfortunately.

EverlastingStar · 25/02/2024 14:53

DD took it and it worked brilliantly for her acne which disappeared after 3 months and visibly started going after 3 weeks in

Stop worrying about the fact it's an antibiotic and be glad your GP had the common sense to prescribe something useful that is known to work effectively

If it doesn't work she'll have to try Roaccutane and FFS don't find a negative reason but to give her that either

It's her skin, her MH so let her be prescribed medication that is known to work effectively for the last 30-40 years

Cheshiresun · 25/02/2024 14:54

Yes, one of mine was on that (and tried other antibiotics too). Whilst it did clear the skin, after a couple of months the acne did return, so they seem to only work in the short term.

EverlastingStar · 25/02/2024 14:55

DD still takes the Lymecycline but she's also on the pill and luckily for her she's old enough to bypass any stupid preconceived ideas of mine and can get either prescribed herself so she doesn't have to suffer bad skin unnecessarily

Vettrianofan · 13/03/2024 16:47

DS is on this drug. Has been on it for one year approximately. He is going to be 17 soon. He has a severe form of acne and it has cleared up amazingly well, alongside the Treclin ointment prescribed by dermatology. So far so good.

Good luck for your DD if she decides to go down this route.

Vettrianofan · 13/03/2024 16:50

DS has severe acne on face, neck, chest and his back btw....

AnnaMagnani · 13/03/2024 16:52

DH had it back in the 90s. Worked brilliantly for him however his brother had it worse and had Roaccutane which was also a good experience.

Emmanna · 04/10/2024 15:15

Hello, sorry for jumping on this old thread. I was wondering what was the outcome of your DC's treatment on lymecycline? Did it work and if so, how long before you noticed an improvement. Many thanks

Perfectlystill · 02/02/2025 21:43

My DS has acne on his back and he had been taking Lymecycline for two and a half months to no avail.

I wonder if I should ask for Roaccutane next. I feel very sorry for him.

LarkspurLane · 03/02/2025 11:51

Perfectlystill · 02/02/2025 21:43

My DS has acne on his back and he had been taking Lymecycline for two and a half months to no avail.

I wonder if I should ask for Roaccutane next. I feel very sorry for him.

I would look at roaccutane. Lymecline improved DS skin but only a bit and only while he took it. He's only just started roaccutane but already feels less greasy.
It's not for everyone but the process to get on it could be long, so it's definitely worth thinking about if all other options have failed.

Ivyy · 03/02/2025 14:56

Dd 13 was on it for 6 months and it helped a bit but not significantly. Her acne is mainly on her body though, her face is well controlled with Epiduo and Nizoral for scalp folliculitis.

She's just had a blood test as derm suspects the cause is PCOS which I have and so likely she's inherited it unfortunately. We'll try Spironolactone next if it is PCOS as the bcp isn't good whilst still going through puberty according to the derm. I took Dianette for years from 16 and it's what cleared my acne up.

I'm too worried about the potential side effects to consider roaccutane at the moment where she's still so young, i stupidly went down a rabbit hole online and wish I hadn't, lesson learned!

ChillinwiththeVillains · 03/02/2025 15:35

My daughter has just stopped lymecycline as if stopped working for her after a year of clear skin- I think she was sloppy about remembering to take it tbh.
She is now on spiralactone and treclin which seem to be working. Had to get the soirolactone prescribed privately but it was less than £20 for the medicine- consultation 10 X that.

Perfectlystill · 03/02/2025 23:01

Thank you @LarkspurLane - have done some googling and that seemed to be next. So I'm glad to hear it's working for your YP

I'm trying to see the GP but if they are no use I might see if I can get a one-off private appt as it is upsetting him, particularly as he's going away with a group of friends in the summer and is worried about showing his back.

Ivyy · 18/02/2025 12:30

ChillinwiththeVillains · 03/02/2025 15:35

My daughter has just stopped lymecycline as if stopped working for her after a year of clear skin- I think she was sloppy about remembering to take it tbh.
She is now on spiralactone and treclin which seem to be working. Had to get the soirolactone prescribed privately but it was less than £20 for the medicine- consultation 10 X that.

Can I ask how long it took to see an improvement with Spironolactone?

DD's bloods came back normal but derm said it doesn't rule out PCOS and that we'd need to see an endocrinologist. In the meantime she's prescribed 50mg Spironolactone to start then increasing to 100mg if no side effects like low blood pressure and dizziness.

Did your dd have any side effects?

ChillinwiththeVillains · 18/02/2025 16:15

@Ivyy I would say still ongoing improvement. It mostly stopped an annoying chin break out in about 3 weeks but still not as good as it was on lymecycline originally.
I took her for a facial today and they said her pores looked good and mostly clear so think that's positive.
She is a competitive athlete and has found the impact on her performance noticeable. We hope she will be able to stop it after six months.

Ivyy · 23/02/2025 15:29

@ChillinwiththeVillains thanks that's encouraging to hear, the derm said to give it 12 weeks to see an improvement but from what I've seen online people have noticed their skin improving in less than that.

Also that's good your dd feels her athletic performance has improved, I wonder if it's anything to do with it lowering the blood pressure? Fascinating.

Dd has been on and off antibiotics for 2 years so I do worry about how it's left her gut health. Her skin is really flaring at the moment since finishing the antibiotics a few weeks ago, fingers crossed the Spironolactone will make a difference soon 🤞

Ivyy · 23/02/2025 15:37

Perfectlystill · 02/02/2025 21:43

My DS has acne on his back and he had been taking Lymecycline for two and a half months to no avail.

I wonder if I should ask for Roaccutane next. I feel very sorry for him.

I think it took about 8-12 weeks to see an improvement when dd was on lymecycline.

Has he tried benzoyl peroxide wash in the shower? Has helped dd's bacne but I have to order it from Amazon US or iherb as not available in body wash size tubes in the UK.

Also a salicylic acid spray or toner afterwards, and Adapalene / Differin gel. Sadly it's still not enough for dd so she's now on Spironolactone (it's only prescribed for females for acne though as it reduces androgens which is often the driving force behind female hormonal acne)

ChillinwiththeVillains · 23/02/2025 16:42

@Ivyy ah no, negative impact on performance unfortunately. She is pulling it back but tougher. We assume lower testosterone = less muscle power. Certainly I feel stronger on it as part of my HRT (different ends of the spectrum I suppose)

Vettrianofan · 25/02/2025 06:59

DS has been advised by the GP to stop taking lymecycline now as he had thought of self harming which can often go hand in hand with this drug.

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