"after living on doxcycline for 2 years,finally found winning combo for my perimenopausal hormone/stress induced severe cystic acne! everytime i got off doxycycline, face worsened within 2 months (scarred and inflammed) than when i started. would take 3 months of being back on the antibiotic, along with the retin a/hyperpigmentation combo cream that my derm helped develop before scarring became less noticeable. doxycycline worked well (compared to clindamycin/minocycline/ otc/proactive system and all salicylic acid, etc.); but, didn&#039;t want to live on antibiotics. 3 months changed to bactrim &amp; aczone.  within 2 months, as if i never had acne at all.  no scars. aczone &amp; md&#039;s cream only for last month. no cysts or pimples. clear skin!!"