Does anyone have any experience with minocyclin and tretinoin to treat acne? Ever since my 2nd was born my skin has freaked out and I get acne for the first time in my life at almost 30.

The tretinoin (Retin A) I have done tons of research on and pretty aware of it, but Im not fond of the idea of being on an antibiotic for 3 months. 

Well to hell with this antibiotic. I took one pill and I feel like I am in lala land. Not a care in the world. Way to trippy feeling. Boo...fail. 

I did. Not a thing. So I switched to tea tree oil. Nightly cleansing with noxema cold cream. Works like a charm. After spending tons of money on other crap sold in stores and in magazines. 

Are those the pills that you have to be on 2 forms of birth control for?!

I have such bad acne (the painful kind) that they were going to put me on that stuff but wanted me on 2 forms of bc even though I practice abstinence. I see no need to poison my body with birth control (when I have bad reactions to from bc to begin with) when it is not needed to prevent pregnancy. So right now, I just deal with the painful/ugly acne. I will check out the noxema. 

That ways my thing. I dont want to be on hormonal BC and have all that crap in my body. I did it for 8 years. I am over it, so we visited this way to treat this crap going on. She said if I was on the pill I would need back up methods while on this antibiotic, but said since I am not on the pill that I can continue as normal. Thats really weird that they want to put you on BC when there is no need. Seems bit much. 

Well the type of med they recommended for me you actually HAVE to be on 2 forms of birth control (even if you have your tubes tied, you have to agree to a second form of bc) and sign a waiver of liability or something like that because the medication is that dangerous to a fetus that you cannot risk an accidental pregnancy. I tried to explain.. I DON'T HAVE A PARTNER and don't want one.. lol.

So I passed.. if the chemicals are that dangerous to a fetus.. do I really want to put that stuff into MY body to begin with? On top of bc?! No thanks! 

accutane is the two forms of birth control :)

and it causes horrible birth defects (like 100% chance if you get pregnant on it, your child will have defects)

Old doc I worked for had to be a witness for a trial concerning it. The drug is a PIA for all those involved. Females two forms of birth control, monthly visit for 5-6 months (is the normal treatment time) if you go outside a 45 day window, you get kicked out of the system, you have to take pregnancy test every visit, some docs require labs as well that have to be done 3-5 days prior to visit. It however is extremely effective.

ETA: even 13-14 year olds on the meds have to be on BC. 

Yikes.. I wish I could find something just as effective without being so harsh... I have acne scarring because of the bad acne that I get and it's very painful. 

That is crazy! However, if someone has extreme acne, I would assume they would go through extreme measure to clear it up.

if the chemicals are that dangerous to a fetus.. do I really want to put that stuff into MY body to begin with? On top of bc?! No thanks! 

I agree with you on this one. I have been trying to do the all natural skin/body care methods, but I cant get the skin care down, so retin-a it is. On the plus side...its supposed to be a great anti-aging gel. 

Let me know how it works for you and if you have a bunch of side effects from it.. If I ever get this insurance stuff figured out.. I might check it out then. Like stated.. no need for bc so an antibiotic doesn't scare me.. it's having to take tons of stuff at once to handle one problem that I am not a fan of. 

most antibiotics/creams only work while using them, once you start it's going to come back unless you either "get through the stage" or "fix what is causing it" (hormone imbalance etc)etc. It's a band-aid, not a cure. :/ 

I'm on doxycycline, benzaclin and differin for about a month now, and haven't had a breakout since. And haven't felt any affects of the antibiotic, not did they put me on birth control. 

not did they put me on birth control. 

you don't have to be on BC to take antibiotics. :)

Accutane isn't an antibiotic. 

Due to my circumstances, there's no need for birth control- but the doctor told me it was standard protocol because of the risks that antibiotics can cause in fetuses.

I know accutane isn't an antibiotic. 

I guess you're missing the point.it is not protocol to put a female on birth control who is just on antilbiotics ( no matter which one)... that is of course as long as the doc doesn't believe the acne is hormonal based. 

most antibiotics/creams only work while using them, once you start it's going to come back unless you either "get through the stage" or "fix what is causing it" (hormone imbalance etc)etc. It's a band-aid, not a cure. :/ 

This is a great point. This will be something to talk over with her at my follow up. 

I use Arbonne products. I am currently using the RE9 line and have used the FC5 line. It's working great. My skin is better and the acne I do have isn't scarring and it's going away.