Ok starting tonight i am starting this regimen. I have finally decided to get on a topical regimen and it was between Retin A .01% or benzaclin. I figured since i have been using benzaclin as a spot treatment only the past 6+ months and it worked as a spot treatment when it is suppose to be used as an topical over all affected areas, i might as well try this first. I was also considering using retin A at night and then using benzaclin in the morining. So hard to decide lol.

I am going to need a little help though as far as application goes. If i do not get responses by late tonight i guess i will just wing it as best as i can

What i plan on doing is washing face gently with the acne.org cleanser and then applying a thin layer all over chin and letting it set in. Not sure if i should moistuirze over it tonight or not? I will start off by only doing it at night to see how skin reacts and then maybe after a week do it night and day, but untill then i will spot treat the actives during the day.

I am hoping applying benzaclin w/moisturizer will help clear and keep my acne at bay. If this does not work then i will move on too Retin A. I will give it 3 months, depending on how much i figure out by trial and error applying this all over chin for first time.


So tonight it starts and currently i have spot treatment on a nasty nodule on left of my chin and about 3 smaller pimples that are fading. Red marks all over chin and on bottom lip line. I might also try to incoporate the acne.org AHA as a moisturizer as well a few times a week to see how that goes, but after a couple of weeks or so. Anyway here goes nothing.............tonight will be day 1. Praying for the best

This post has been edited by JayQ: Oct 29 2009, 07:27 PM

Edit: Still just going with benzaclin only at night regimen first lol. Retin A if this doesnt work.

This post has been edited by JayQ: Oct 29 2009, 07:26 PM

Ok so for the first time i just applied benzaclin all over my chin and try to spread a thin layer, and also did my forhead. It is so hard to get in even on chin because of my stubble and hair, its so thick even when shaved. Plus i was not sure how much to put on my finger for just the chin and forhead. Any suggestions?

This post has been edited by JayQ: Oct 29 2009, 08:47 PM

DAY 1


No significant changes. Cyst on left side is going down and flattening out from spot treating it during the day. Still trying to figure out how much to pump out of pumper for chin and also how to spread it smoothly over my thick stubble. Its like trying to spread it on sandpaper lol. I guess i will try to shave right before i apply that might help.

So i just got that one cyst and blemish on left side and a tiny active in middle. I moisurize about 15mins after applying the benzaclin then add a little bit more over cyst to keep killing that punkass lol. I am using the acne.org cleanser as well. Then same but just spot treat in morning. TTFN

DAY 2


Ok so far so good, no new actives and cyst on left side is completely flat now just all post inflamatory pigmentation going on, lots of tiny red marks on left lip still too. No new actives at all so thats good, but it is only day 2.

Anyway one thing that is bothering me is when i apply the moisturizer on after benzaclin dries a little, it burns quite a bit and tingles. Is this normal? Does that mean the benzaclin in working into the skin?

Try wainting about 15 minutes after cleansing before putting on the benzaclin. You just need a thin layer all over your entire face. Stay away from the sensitve area under your eyes. You could also try using the Rentin A every third night instead of the benzaclin since they work differently. That way you get the benefits of both. Just use a thin layer of the meds and wait 15 mins or so after washing before you apply

I did wait the first night but found it was harder to apply and read in here where someone mentioned it is easier to apply if skin is just a little damp and found that was true tonight. I do wait about 15min before i apply the moisturizer and that is when the burning/itching starts. I only apply all over chin. I still am thinking about the Retin A .01% gel at incorporating it at somepoint, but im scared as hell to get an horrible IB from it:S

DAY 7


Well i am hitting week one and my chin looks like it could be starting to purge already. I am feeling a sore cyst/nodule forming right on center bottom of chin and it hurts to touch. I have small nodule that has formed on left side and a one active that is going away. Could i be purging this early?

The first 3-4 days things were starting to look good hardly anything happening, and now my chin hurts. I am hoping it is the purge i guess only time will tell. I just really hope this benzaclin regimen at night is working :S

This post has been edited by JayQ: Nov 5 2009, 10:15 PM

what moisturizer are you using?

Cetaphil. I am not moisturizing tonight thou, just waiting until morning and seeing how that goes.

oh

when I was using Neutrogena it used to burn too, but it shouldn't be irritating

Ok i think i am going to start applying benzaclin morning and night. The only problem is i will only be able to do it 4 days out of the week because i am in the military and have gym mon wed and fri mornings and only have time to shower and moisturize to get back to work on time.

My question is if i do it the other 4 days will i make myself worse than jus doing it at night and being inconsistent with some days twice a day and other days only at night?

bump

DAY 11

Ok well i was going to wait till the 2 week mark for the next update but thought i would go ahead and update today since i have started to see improvement at the severity and healing of my acne on chin. The two sides of chin between mouth and bottom of chin i would always get severe inflammed acne and the skin around it would be soooooooo red and rashy making it look 10 times worse. Time and time again for over a year i would get one on right then it would always form an ugly head and take forever to heal then i would get one on other side with same symptoms.

Well i have already formed one on both sides but this time it stayed subsided and didnt inflame much and never came to a head. Before it would come to a head and i would pop it and it would always form at least on more head before it would heal and dry up.

Now it they are already healing and going away. It looks so much better, and i never ever thought i would be complimenting on how my pimple looks hahahaha, but its true it just stayed red where it formed and no rashy skin around it and no head with healing speeding up.

Hopefully soon it will just remain clear for good. Right now i am applying at night w/ no moisturizer. My skin is kinda used to the benzaclin so it doesnt flake to much and i apply a good amount of moisturizer in morning. Also i will be incorporating applying benzaclin in morning too here and there to see how that goes. Anyways i will still give another update at 2 weeks. Right now have have a pimple on left and right side, left side is about dimenished, and right side is just now starting to go down and heal.