Doxycycline and Benzoyl Peroxide gel

Doxycycline

Take doxycycline once daily, ideally with a meal and a full glass of water. Sit or stand while taking it, and avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes afterwards so it’s less likely to irritate your stomach. 

Benzoyl peroxide gel

• Wash your skin with a mild cleanser

• Pat dry and wait 15 minutes

• Put a pea‑sized amount of gel on your finger

• Cover the whole affected area with a thin layer

• Let it dry before you use moisturiser or put on make‑up

• Wash your hands again

Use benzoyl peroxide gel in the morning and evening. If you have sensitive skin, start with one nightly gel application before trying to include the second in your routine. 

If redness flares, switch to using benzoyl peroxide for acne every other night and build back up gradually to applying twice a day. You’re not supposed to wash off benzoyl peroxide gel. To get the best results, leave benzoyl peroxide gel overnight on your skin, to unclog pores and fight bacteria that cause breakouts.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that reduces the amount of acne-causing bacteria on your skin and calms inflammation. 

Benzoyl peroxide gel breaks down on contact with your skin, releasing oxygen and benzoic acid. Oxygen attacks the blocked pores where Cutibacterium acnes bacteria like to grow. Fewer germs means calmer, less active spots and faster clear ups. Benzoic acid acts as a mild exfoliant, loosening the mix of dead cells and oil that can form blackheads and whiteheads. 

The gel also dries excess oil, so fresh ‘plugs’ of oil and dead skin are less likely to build up in your pores. Over time you can expect lower inflammation, smoother skin texture and fewer new breakouts. 

Combining the two increases the chance of getting smoother, less inflamed skin by tackling different acne triggers at the same time.

It usually takes around 6 weeks before oral antibiotics like doxycycline make a noticeable improvement in your skin. 

Benzoyl peroxide is an established, effective treatment for reducing inflammatory spots by around a third. Most users see calmer skin and fewer new spots after 4 weeks. You should keep going for 12 weeks before you judge the full results.

Doxycycline may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so use a non-oily sunscreen and avoid using sunbeds. Other possible side effects include nausea, an upset stomach or diarrhoea. Always let your doctor or clinician know if you get severe or persistent symptoms. 

As benzoyl peroxide gel gets to work you may experience dryness, peeling or mild burning early on. You have the option to step down to one application a day if this happens, and try to moisturise after the gel dries. 

Let the gel dry fully so you don’t bleach your hair or fabrics like clothes, towels and bedding. It’s not common to get severe redness or swelling. If you do, stop using benzoyl peroxide straight away and speak to your doctor or clinician.

Doxycycline and benzoyl peroxide can both increase your sensitivity to sunlight, so it’s even more important to follow a good sun protection routine. Apply daily sun block (non oily, fragrance-free) and keep out of the sun when it’s most intense. You should also avoid sun beds.

Full details on use and safety are in the doxycycline and benzoyl peroxide patient information leaflets.