I am at the end of my tether. My skin is going from bad to worse. I had some success with acupuncture but after about 6 weeks the skin slowly started to decline again and i ran out of money after 16 weeks so i stopped it. Now my face is worse than it has ever been and hurst so bad i want to cry.
I have horrible lumps on my face that for the most part dont do anything but hurt and look hideous. When they come to a head occasionally i push the sides and release the infection but the lump just stays there. Sometimes there are periods where they dont hurt as bad (by this i mean i am not aware of their presence every second of every day because there are hours when i dont feel them). There is definately some kind of infection cos the skin is red and hot, i am taking trimethoprim but have been on it 3 weeks now and it doesnt seem to be dealing with it at all. About the same time i went on Differin but have heard that it may not do anything for hormonal acne so wondered what anyone else had to say about it?
I am even putting cider vinegar on my face now cos i have heard wonderful things about its anti bacterial properties but i am now so negative about everything i read i am not hopeful it will do anything. I just want to feel normal again so i can plan my wedding
Jessical,
topical retinoids are the best and strongest possible medication in use for acne (cystic or normal) before heading up to Accutane. What are Topical Retinoids?: Topical retinoids are formed from vitamin A and help to unclog pores and increase cell turnover. Retinoids include retinoin (Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Avita), tazarotene (Tazorac or Avage) and adapalene (Differin). I notice you are also using other types of skin creams/cider addition to Differin and you should not use this medication with any other medicated skin care products, which may dry out your skin (i.e., benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid) because it also if used before of after Differin can decrease it effectiveness. You have to give retiniods a good 6-8 weeks before you will see results (and the same goes for your antibiotic that you are on). Cytic acne that is hormal is very difficult to get rid of unless you are either on BCP or Metformin. The best tactic to fight the acne would be a mix of BCP, Met, and your current regime of anti-b and Differin. If not, Spiro and Accutane are your next steps. I personally use Differin, BCP, and Met. I personally do not want to take Spiro or Accutane and so just deal with the pimples left over from my current treatment. Also, you have to give BCP a good 3 months and Spiro around 6 months to a year to work.
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
You are a true star for answering my queries. I know I am impatient but i remember once on Minocycline the acne started to improve at least after a couple of weeks. I know it is stronger which is why i am probably immune to it now as the last 3 month prescription didnt work.
I have put vinegar on my skin the last couple of mornings but has done nothing to stop the pain of the zits that are there so i am going to discontinue and just persevere with the differin i guess. I had dry skin for the first 2 weeks and an outbreak of horrendous cysts but now the drying seems a little better although the cysts still remain and i have some nasty painful zitty spots under my jaw which keep coming.
I too want to avoid Spiro and definately accutane. I used to take multi vitamin an zinc before starting acupuncture with chinese herbs but i stopped them when i started with the chinese remedy. I am no longer on those and am thinking of including zinc again...and possible saw palmetto. Do you think this would be advantageous? Sorry to bombard you with questions but i know you have had some success and need to know what i am doing will be worth it!
Jessical, are you on BCP or Met? I know I keep stressing those but being on either one of those would help from the inside to balance out the hormones and reduce that cystic acne on the "hormonal" areas of the face --- chin, under jawline. Why not try the zinc again? I personally have not used anything interally, only externally as far as "natural" remedies. I used to use a zinc colored cream to cover up my acne spots and it seemed to do a fairly good job. As far as saw palmetto you could give that a try, some women have success and others do not (it really is a mixed bag). Maybe start one and give it a few months, then if that doesn't work, try the other?
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Anyone found Differin worked for their PCOS acne? 
