Minocycline: Does it help cystic acne?

For the past 7 years, I have been suffering from cystic acne. I would normally get 1 small cyst which wouldn't be too terrible except when it went away it left behind a scar. I'm not talking about a red mark either (I get those too but I can live with red marks...the scars are a whole different story)! It would leave behind a small indented scar.
If you've read my previous posts, you'll see (pictures) the damage those cysts have caused. I was left with a ton of little holes on both side of my lips. For the past 2 years, I have been picking at the cysts. BIG MISTAKE! Picking at the cysts left a couple of medium sized scars including 2 icepick scars in my smile line where it now looks like a wrinkle!

What Minocylcline did to my skin

Before I started dermarolling, I went to see a dermatologist who prescribed Minocycline. I took 50mg daily and I was only allowed to take it for 4 months because of the side effects (which I will discuss in my next post). During those 4 months, my skin was fabulous! Not one single cyst appeared. I felt great! I was happy and I was hoping this effect would last once I was off Minocycline.  Unfortunately, that was not the case for me.
Once I was off Minocycline, I started getting 2 cysts at a time. That had never happened before. I lived with it for a few months and then went back to my dermatologist who once again prescribed more Minocycline. That would be my last try and I was hoping for the best. After I finished the prescription, my skin got worse. I now break out with 6-8 small cysts a month and they aren't just near my mouth anymore. They now appear on my forehead and in between my eyes.
I want to make it clear that even though Minocycline did not work for me doesn't mean it won't work for you. I've heard that some people take it and never get another cyst again. Others end up having worse breakouts after they are off the medication which was what happened to me.
If you've taken Minocycline, feel free to comment about your experience with it.

Dermarolling: Recent breakout has caused red marks

 I have had another bad breakout and now I've got red marks that are taking waaay too long to disappear. This past month I got 6 cysts. They aren't huge but they leave red marks and a couple look indented but the skin is fine. It's just red. Isn't it weird how sometimes redness makes the skin look indented?
As soon as these red marks clear up, I'll post more pictures of what my skin looks like now. I really love how the scarred areas are filling in. Like I said before, it works on the small scars the best and that's what I am full of.....A whole bunch of little clustered scars (on both sides of my lips). I've got a few med. sized ones too and those have healed a bit too but I am not expecting a miracle. I know scars can not vanish completely and that's fine with me.