I've never blogged or posted anything on a forum before but here it goes. I felt I needed to this b/c I know I lot of people have spent a lot of time and money over their acne issues; maybe crying in mirror or over the phone to friend. Thinking... is this vain? Should I just accept what's been handed to me? Well I say, "Do not go gentle into that good night..."! ;-)

With the onset of cystic acne at the age of 30 I tried many acne solution products. I paid for many visits to my dermatologist and endured 6 months on Accutane (it gave me Acid Reflux). All worked very little or not at all. Every time I saw a Pro Active commercial I wanted to throw something at the TV! Been there, done that and FAIL!

I've always thought to myself that if I found something that worked even if required a daily regimen for the rest of my life I would do it! I work out several times a week b/c I want to be healthy and strong so if I just found something....anything!

Now I do take into account that I've only been on the acne.org regimen for 2 weeks but so far this regimen has literally healed my face. Among many little pimples that are gone, I had two cysts that are healed, brown spot fading and no sign of a scar! Hallelujah! Nothing, I mean nothing has worked so quickly and efficiently as this regimen. How long will this last? Forever I hope!

So I am saying don't give up! Even if you haven't found what's right for you keep your head up! If you want to keep looking, trying and hoping, do it! It's your skin and no has the right to judge you if you want to keep trying.

I wish the best of luck to those who are on that acne solution path; may you find peace with your skin.

Sincerely,
Gloria

Hey there! I've been reading many of the posts here and really appreciate the time and effort members put into each other's lives.

Sorry this is long and if you read it, thank you - I have appreciated all your contributions to this forum!

My story:

My high school years were plagued by acne...moderate, I would call it. Mainly white heads and acne vulgaris...some cystic. I never went to a dermatologist for it.

In my early 20's, I went to my first derm who put me on doxy 100 which I took for 3 months. Acne improved, then I quit filling my prescriptions and stopped going to the derm because I did not want to be on antibiotics, doxy hurt my stomach because I took it without food, foolishly, and I was just stubborn. I broke out terribly, worse then I ever had after that. My chest was "bumper to bumper" acne. Eventually it healed.

A year or so after that, I went to a new derm who took one look at me and said I was a perfect candidate for Accutane. That broke my heart. Acne was, and still is, an extremely emotional subject to me. I had read so many scary stories about that drug that there was no way I was going to go on it, so I refused. I told her about my previous antibiotic treatment and how I had improved but broke out after stopping it. She said that I "failed" antibiotic treatment. That upset me and I was not interested in going on antibiotics. She wrote me prescriptions for Duac gel in the morning and RetinA in the evenings...which, sad to say, I was sporadic in doing. I hated my skin and derms. It all depressed me.

Fast forward to now...

After working with a girl who had the same struggles I did, and seemed to be succeeding and had beautiful skin, I decided to give dermatology another try. November 2008, I went to a new dermatologist - actually the dermatologist's PA. She started me off on Doxy 100 mg twice a day to get my skin straightened out. Duac gel for morning and Differin for evening.

As time progressed, she decreased my Doxy to 100 mg ONCE a day. My acne got better, but I was still breaking out, especially around my period and was still oily. She gave me samples of Tazorac gel for evening, since they had no samples of RetinA at that time (which dried my skin out)...and then put me on RetinA gel...which I have been taking since.

At the end of August 2009, she put me on Doryx (Brand name doxy 150mg) once a day, because of my breakouts around my period. This was really helping my skin! But a month into it, I developed severe abdominal pain. I thought it was related to my gallbladder, but then it dawned on me that I had been taking this increased dosage of Doryx for a month. So I called and was switched to Minocyline 75 mg. twice a day (2 weeks ago).

Unfortunately, the abdominal pain continued. I took Mino, as I was supposed to, for about 2 days...then went on a weekend trip, in which my stomach really bothered me and I felt as if I was going to get sick. When I returned home, I only took mino 75 mg once a day and two days ago, decided to stop it completely, because my stomach was still hurting and I felt dizzy on it.

I have been reading nutritional advice on the forums here and decided yesterday, to remove dairy products from my diet.

I am anxious about the affects of completely stopping my antibiotics for fear I will break out terribly, as I did 6 or so years ago. I see my derm tomorrow and will tell her what I am doing.

As for now, I put Duac gel on in the morning and RetinA in the evenings. I wash my face with Clinique Mild liquid face soap (twice a day) and I use Olay Regenerist Serum as my moisturizer. When my oil picks up, I put Tazorac gel on instead of RetinA.

It's very frustrating to me that I still suffer from acne. I'm 28 years old, shouldn't this be over with? Ugh...

My friend, which I mentioned earlier with the beautiful skin, has been on all sorts of retinoids, vitamins, zinc, etc and even took Accutane for 7 months...and 3 months after it, begin to develop chin acne. (She is 33 years old.) We are both frustrated.

So, together, our goal is to start a low glycemic diet on 1/1/10.

One step at a time, I guess.

Thanks again for all the advice here!

Hi im new here.
Currently im 16 and have suffered acne since i was 11.I think the reason why acne troubled me was probably because of my negligence on taking care of my face, which links back to the issue of me being lazy; i dont wash my face until 11 when acne started.
Anyway, i realised that was the problem and began applying almost all sorts of medication that i could find.It started well for a few days, but showed no improvement after which.
Now, i think my skin is probably 'immuned' to the different sorts of medication around, which is theoretically impossible.
Then, i chanced upon this site and spotted the regime.So i thought i would give it a shot.
By the way, i had some 'leftover medication' which i want to try finishing before starting on the real regime.If i abandoned them, it would be a real waste of money.Should i or should i not continuing using them?

Hi folks, new here although looked quite a lot on this site. I am nearly 36 and still having problems with my skin. Enough to make me have no life! I feel sorry for my other half. Not only do I not have a life just know but he doesn't either. I can't face anyone. Taken days off work but now forcing myself to go in but just want to sit and cry all the time.
I presently have a cyst (I think) more than 1cm in diameter, scarlet, swollen and blinkin sore! How embarrasing. Grey hairs working their way in, wrinkles and ACNE!
I know many people are worse of than me and I really feel for them because I know how crap I feel with this thing. I feel nobody can look at me seriously, that they are only looking at the cyst and thinking how disgusting it is. It is amazing when you read how many people have a problem with their skin because I don't know anyone on a personal level that does - that makes it even worse! I've got to the stage I am scared to go to bed becasue I don't know what I am gonna wake up with in the morning.
I am on tablets from the doctor and have been for a few years but this cyst keeps appearing year after year in the same place. I do have other pimples but in coparison to this monstor these are bareable. I want to see a dermatologist but my GP won't refer me and as far as I can make out (and I have tried various measures) this is the only way you can see a dermatologist in the UK, even if you want to go private! If anyone knows any different I'd be grateful to hear from them.
I keep reading about corsitone injections, but again I don't know if that is something you can get in the UK? God knows when this succer is gonna disappear. Before Christmas I hope but it has been there for nearly a month and I am convinced it is only getting worse!
I've tried BP, TCP, putting nothing on, hot compress, iced. Nothing working. I want to scream and go into hibernation until it's away. Believe me if I could, I would!
Probably bored you all now so I'll let you go. I'll go spot check again!! Take Care x

Hi everyone! I'm new here. I'm also a little embarrassed that I joined but I am feeling less alone reading other peoples posts. I am 20 years old and I live in Hollywood. I moved to Hollywood when I was just 18. I have had acne since I was 17 years old. When I was 17 my acne wasn't even that bad. I could have a breakout but I wouldn't really think twice about it. I had a positive outlook on life and felt like my acne would subside eventually. Fast-forward 3 years later. My acne is, to me, out of control. I've never had this much acne in my life. I went to the dermatologist about 4 months ago and was prescribed oxyclintin? I think it was called? The long little blue pills. It seemed to work for a second. But after the third week I was on it, the medicine stopped working. I have cystic acne as well. I used to always tell myself that my acne would go away eventually but I am so embarrassed by my acne. I never want to leave my apartment. I am forced to wear make-up. But because I wear make-up to cover up acne, I feel like a freak. Like the boy who wears make-up. I feel so embarrassed. I have tried everything in the book, retinamicro, the little yellow pills that I forgot what they were called, drinking water, washing my hair more frequently, washing my pillow cases, NOT wearing any make-up at all. Everything. The thing about it is I used to have reasonable self confidence. I was able to have fun. Now I feel like I can't find a job because of my acne, or because I have to wear make-up. I don't even want to look at myself. I am just so sad. I want to go on accutane but I'm not sure it's right for me. I hear about blood tests and depression. I'm already depressed, I won't want something to send me over the edge. I used to be fun. I used to go out. I used to have friends. I used to have confidence. I used to be determined to make it in my job field. Now all I do is cry because I can't even face people. I feel so ugly. All I want is my life back. I don't even want beautiful porcelain, crystal clear skin. I would settle for moderate acne. Are there people out there with any advice?

Sign,

WishIWasMeAgain

Hi everyone,

I've been on this website many times to read about different experiences people have had related to acne and to get advice. I've had acne for 10 years and have tried sooo many different things. Nothing seems to work. I'm 24 now, almost 25 and my acne is worse than ever.

I finally decided to register on this site so I can read and share more. Today has been a horrible day because my boyfriend admitted today that my acne bothers him... "I feel shallow saying this, and I know it's way worse for you, but it stresses me out seeing your acne get so bad because your so beautiful." ...How do you respond to something like that? : /

My acne is now cystic and my cheecks are very red and my skin is starting to feel itchy now too. It really sucks. I have to wear so much makeup and I'm always embarassed to meet new people and do different things like hiking, or any physical activity, of course cuz the makeup might come off. Everyone is always trying to give me acne tips..so frustrating cuz nothing works..people look at me and it seems like they pity me...i hate it.

---ahh so depressed today!! Feels nice to vent, especially on a site where I know other people feel the same way. Such a small stupid thing..acne...sucks that it has just a big emotional impact on us.

I've never had anything on my forehead or cheeks...for a while i was certain that i didn't even have pores in those areas. and now suddenly there are cysts and gross bumps and discoloration and anything you could imagine.

on cephalexin & doing a 5% bp wash twice a day. has been two weeks and i see no improvement...in fact, it's only gotten worse

Hello Everyone!

I have been visiting this site for almost a year now and have found many of the topics and discusstions very helpful, inpiring and at many times a source of hope. I am 23 years old and have been struggling with mild/moderate acne for the last 7 years or so. I have tried many types of acne therapy and some have worked while others have been a nightmare. Right now I feel like I'm definatly not on the winning side of the battle. 11 months ago I stopped using my birth control after 5 years and it seems like all hell has broken loose since! My acne has been very severe. I have seen a dermatologist and tried A LOT of treatments in the last few months including: minocyline, tetracycline, doxycycline, two different types of laser treatments, zeno treatments, retinol -A topical treatments, vitamine suppliments, clindets, diet change and more topical treatments than I'd ever like to admit! I should really consider buying shares in a pharmacy with the way I got through cleasers and spot gels!

I have followed every instruction to the T and still in the last two months my skin has not only not improved, but it has gotten much much worse. I've broken out so badly in the last week that my face actually hurts and feels stiff.

I'm now thinking of trying Accutane. It has always been the last option for me and really does scare me with all of it's side effects, not to mention the possibility of it not working at all! A second side effect of my discontinuation of the BCP has been hair loss. It has been very devestating and since Accutane has the possibility of making this worse I'm still very hesitatnt to try it. I'm very discouraged right now and trying to find something to add a little improvement so I don't have to give in to this last resort.

The first place I always look before trying something new is on this site and I have drawn a lot of stregth and support from other peoples struggles and suggestions. I hope that soon I will be able to provide my own solutions, and positive results!

Thank you again to all Members and Guests for all your information and stories, even when others don't tell you, they are very much appreciated and often they give others the strength and confidence to stay positive in their own struggle!

I hope to have good news soon! Have a wonderful day!

Hi all,

I just wanted to post a message of hope to you all. I'm 28 and have been suffering with mild acne since I was about 15. It went away with a stint on birth control pills years ago, but crept back over the years.
I have always had a few spots - I mean never had clear skin and my red marks take a while to fade- with my pale skin. Over the last year, my mild acne ramped up into moderate/ severe acne, with up to 6 cysts at any one time. It was making my life a misery, so I went to the dr who prescribed me Duac and sent me for hormonal profiling.
The results came back with a VERY high level of testoserone, indicating a severe imbalance, and I was prescribed Dianette. I am a couple of weeks into this pill but not holding out much hope, I chcked out this website, having tried EVERYTHING topical which is available, spending hundreds of pounds
I have used Brevoxyl for a while, which is a benzoyl peroxide cream, never in the suggested quantities on this site.
I purchased Dan's products and am 2.5 weeks into the regimen. I am dELIGHTED to report I have not had a cyst since I started and my skin is finally starting to clear. The first week was bordering on comedy. At one point my face turned so hard and flaky it was like wearing a mask. By the end of each day at work, I was literally flaking over my desk. Gross. BUT I persevered. The pustulous clusters of white heads and cysts on my cheeks have just about vanished and now instead of the usual 10 -15 spots at one time, I have around 2-3 and they are much smaller, much less painful and are gone in a couple of days.
I have complete faith that this product is working for me and intend to continue until I am clear. I have bought the AHA and am looking forward to starting to use it in a couple of weeks when my skin is ready, hoping it will continue to even out my skin a bit more.
I might add at this point I have also recently embarked on a plant based diet, drinking green smoothies, not consuming meat or dairy and making sure I avoid any excessive amounts of sugar or caffeine . I am finally feeling less aware of my face. Previously, my skin condtion dictated my mood and I would come home from work and hide away. Now i feel much more confident and am starting to appreciate my looks again.
A big thank you to Dan for sharing this regimen and please, all, keep going when you think it is not working, I am definitely still having my ups and downs with it while my skin adjusts, but I am certain it is working for me!
love B xx

Hi there I'm Alarif, or Al for short.

I don't suffer from acne on my face, but I am still ugly lol! Just a few spots and bumps here and there.
But my back on the other case is another story, I didn't notice I had bacne until I was 14, I'm 16 now and my idea of waiting it out has done nothing. It isn't really painful unless I accidently scratch my back and pop something, another problem is that when I take my shirt(s) off, there are blood stains on the insides. I've just joined a gym and was looking forward to going swimming but then I remembered that my upper/mid back is horrific! I've joined this website because I'm hoping to get some advice on how to treat my bacne, I haven't seen my doctor or a dermatologist or anything like that. I was going to buy the products off the store here, but with the shipping price added it is just too expensive for me. Any advice guys? I appreciate all the help and the people that just read all of that.

Hello everyone! My name is Jamie. Im 24 yrs old and i have acne. (Haha its like a new AA, Acne Annonymous!) I never had acne as a young teenager, when i was supposed to have it, but since i started taking birth control when i was about 18 its been down hill. Ive tried everything. Proactiv, Accutane, Doryx pills, Retin-A, Tazorac, and NOTHING seems to help. It wasnt just my face either, my back got the worst of it. My skin was oily, the topicals would dry it out and make me flakey, i would moisturize and the moisturizer would then make my skin oily and in return.. i would get MORE zits. Not helping!! Especially around the time of my period or when i was stressed out... BOOM! another zit! Yes I touch my face constantly and love popping whiteheads. (yes, its gross, but you know you do it too! lol)

So from 18-24 ive had a problem with my skin. Until I started browsing around this site. I seen someone post about Apple Cider Vinegar... well, I took it to the next level. As well as using it as a toner, I also take a shot (yes, a shot) of Apple Cider Vinegar every morning. It seems to be working VERY well after about 2 weeks of this. My face is no longer oily as it was, which was my worst problem. Ive hardly had a pimple since i started taking these shots and using the ACV as a toner. Im LOVING this!!! I also drink TONS of water and that is good. Im also going to start taking vitamins such as zinc, vitamin d, and omega3.

So my question to everyone is...
1) Do any of you take these vitamins? And if so, have the helped you at all?
and
2) I have scars on my face from previous zits, what helps? Ive heard Aloe Vera.. any other suggestions?

Thanks for the site and the knowing that im not alone in my fight against acne!

I have struggled with acne since middle school, and now I am 18 years old. Back then break outs weren't too bad, and they were controllable, but I have never, ever had a clear face ! A pimple, whitehead or blackhead is always present, no matter what I try. I envy all who have that beautiful clear complexion, and I want it more than anything. I am having a great day when only five are present on my face ! ha

After my eighteenth birthday, my face started to break out super badly, I piled on make up everyday, especially for Prom and Graduation. I even had to at the beach on spring break! My acne seriously started to affect me in so many awful ways. I used to love that person I saw back at me in the mirror, and I honestly thought I was an attractive human being. But ever since I started breaking out, I hate looking in the mirror, I avoid my reflection everyday. My face, mostly my cheeks are filled with painful cysts, and I have tried everything to rid of them. I love life, and I love my family and friends, but my self confidence level is in the negatives right now, and I shut myself out from the things I love because of my acne. Acne is my number one enemy, and I hate you!! Ha right now most of you are probably thinking, wow she is a superficial, pathetic girl. And actually, you are right. I used to be that person who never cared about my looks, I never wore make up and I loved myself. I know that looks do not matter, and I should love myself no matter what, for the person I am on the inside, but I can't do it anymore. Trust me, I have tried and tried. But seriously, I am done trying. I hardly go out anymore with my friends, I hate taking pictures, when I used to love getting ready and dressing up! I don't talk to guys or go out on dates because why would they want to go out with someone with a face like mine! My acne is making me depressed, my parents want me to see a therapist, but what am i supposed to do? Go in there and say "hey my face is ruining my life." ? I am sick of being worthless and so hard on myself. I need this change in my life so bad, before things get worse.

I was scheduled to go on accutane back in august, but my mother wouldn't allow it because she thought it was to dangerous for my health. So she decided to play doctor from August until now, November, but she honestly has not helped one bit.
Her plan:
10 glasses of water a day
organic food only
no red meat, little dairy
regular exercize
sulfur soap in morn and night
tea tree oil
some natural mint lotion
changes my pillow case and sheets everyday
new towels after every shower, and separate face towel
Vitamins daily, morning and night
2 A, 4 B, 2 C, 2 mulit, 2 chromium, 2 optiflora, 4 zinc, 2 E, and 2 garlic

sorry mom, but if I am going to pop 20 vitamins a day, I am pretty sure I can handle accutane. I know my body is probably really healthy now, but it isnt helping my face.

I am eighteen, so this thursday, the 12th, I am getting on the generic version of accutane. BUT I CANNOT WAIT A MONTH to start it. That part is really annoying, but I know it will be worth it.

If anyone can help me and give me some good advice, I have a few questions:

How bad will it get at first? Will i break out super badly? ( I am scared)
What cleanser should I use while on it?
I have about five cysts so ten all together on my cheeks, how long will I have to be on accutane?


I am new at this whole thing, and sorry I wrote so much!
I do believe in doing things naturally for your body, along with my mother, I am only taking accutane because it is my last option. Microderm did not help because my face was too inflamed, body detox didn't make a difference, proactiv made me break out more, and every single face wash, cream, foam, toner, oxy pad things, masks, in every brand at the drug store have not helped ! I have been on four different types of birth control for my acne, no imrovements, and I have been on all that other crap, Retin- A, differin, doxycyline, monocylcline, spirolactone( which made me pass out like 3 times at dance class ha), bactron, tretanoid,...the list goes on. ziana, aczone...I am hoping acctuane will be the final call! I am going to stay positive ! : )

hello folks,

does anyone else have a sweaty/oil face? it's rather strange that i don't sweat as bad in other parts of the body. it seems isolated to my face. as a result, i tend to have to wash my face very often or it'll look like i just done some exercise. i've had colleagues comment on this frequently.

applying isotrexin, which dryes my skin, helps for a bit then the sweat/oil just comes through again.

i should add, i think it's more likely to be oil as i'm not feeling hot or anything.

anyone else experiencing this?

Dear Acne sufferers, Im Cattie. I suffered from acne for a few years and now I'm 110 % cured and I'll let you know shortly how I did it. Like you, I remember reading and listening everywhere that acne was a skin disease that had NO CURE! First, of all that is not true and I'm a walking example of it. second of all it is not a disease it is a condition. Now, I will let you know how you too can free yourself from this dreadful and self consuming condition, so you can start living again and put your head up high and your best face forward. First of all, you will need to detox. You can buy a detox system in a store near you, for some of you it might take only one of this whole body cleanses, and for others even two. It depends how bad you have it, also i recond you buying fiber to take while you detox. The reason why detox is important is beacuse it is literally impossible for any diease or acne to exist if your clean from the inside. The reason why you start getting breakouts in the first place is because you body is so toxic from all bad eating habits and skin products that you develop a toxic overload. That is why I recommend you to stop putting and waisting your money on acne products while you Detox, anyhow chances are you will not ever need them again. Now, I also recommend drinking lots of water only and also to drink fresh homade vegetable and fruit juices. The juices that you drink must be made at home not bought because those have no vitamins only lots of refined sugar that will not help. Also i recommend you take Vit. A,B C and fish oil, also zinc, all of this supplements are easy to buy at your local store and their beneficial for your skin. Also I recommend you to stop stressing about your skin because chances are you wont have to anymore. Well, I would just like to say to you that I hope you consider my recommendations because they truly come from the bottom of my heart because believe me I've been there before and it's time to put an end to it.

Hey all,
I'm new here too. I never had acne growing up, and I never realized how tramatic it can be! I'm 30 now, and about a year ago my face started breaking out. The last 6 months have been crazy. It started with small comedones on my cheeks and sides of my face, which unfortunately I picked like crazy. This led to more comedones and red marks...but I just couldn't stop picking!

In July, I tried Murad Acne Complex, which didn't work and I think caused the cystic acne I have now. I get nodules on my cheeks, chin, and jawline (my forehead is VERY clear). 2 months ago I switched to M2 Skincare (malic and mandelic acid) but I continue to get cysts and my face is very dry. Oh, and I'm using BP during the day on targeted areas.

About a month ago I started taking Zinc, MSM, and Fish Oil. My face continues to break out and I am now trying Niacin, non-flushing kind.

When trying to figure out the causes of my newfound acne, here's what I think:
I took a high stress job about 1.5 years ago.
I started using foundation daily (MAC Studio Fix) about a year ago
I frequently washed my face with hand soap or dish soap when I ran out of my face soap
I stopped birth control 2 years ago
I drink wine/beer frequently
I have a terrible diet and eat fast food, coffee, candy, and soda daily
I wash my face 3-4 times a day
I only get about 6-7 hours of sleep a night
I never washed my make-up brushes

Basically I'm doing everything wrong! So it's not a surprise I got acne. However, I've changed everything but the stress, sleep, alcohol, and diet (those are just harder to fix).

I'm hoping for a solution and I think I was over irritating my skin this summer with all the new regimens. I guess I have come to realize that I need to change my diet. It's not gonna be easy, but hopefully it will be worth it!

Hi there acne.org community

After 5 years with brutal acne... I finally got clear skin - this is my story; I hope it wont bore you.

I went to what we call highschool in Denmark age 15, and I got acne worsening day for day. My father got some nasty scarring on both cheeks, so naturally - I got all worried for the future also.
Little did I know back then, that my biggest problem was my ignorance toward the disease acne.

For everyday it got worse, I got more embarrassed. I began not participating in any social events with the peeps at school - and just go home right after class to watch tv shows and cry inside.
I literally felt disgusting - I mean, I had acne and red spots all over. I began to even hate the few girls that were nice to me, just for having this crystal perfect clear skin. What did they do to deserve that? And what did I do to deserve my acne?

We have a few doctors in the family, and instead of sending me to a proper dermatologist - I just got a prescription for something called "Skinoren". I don't remember what it was, maybe it was benzyol peroxide, but I am not sure. What I am sure of, is that it dried my skin out and burned like hell for even hours after applying it. I had no trouble with discolouration of my clothes, so I guess it was not BP. My acne did not get better.

I got further and further embarrassed, also toward my family - so I never asked what to do.
I just got the treatment, and some face wash.

When you read the following, you might think "what an idiot", or even laugh - but I didn't know better, and I was not going to ask anyone for help.

I thought being rough to the acne would help - so after every wash and shower, I would really rub my towel against the acne hard... very hard. When we left for beach-vacation, I would dive at the beach and use raw sand to rub my acne. I thought it would have a sweet effect with the salt-water.

It all... got worse. I couldn't connect my behaviour and the acne, so I kept on doing what I was doing - and in a desperate attempt to make just a little out of myself to keep up not closing my life... I started using a hair-product (style product). I only showered each morning,... so I actually slept every night with hair-product still in. It did help a bit for my self-esteem, as I thought I took a major step in looks.

As you can imagine, it all got even worse from there - and I was about to break. Not only did the acne destroy my self-esteem, it hurt like hell every minute of every day - even without the stupid treatment. Many of the more severe spots actually felt like a little pulse all the time. I could feel without seeing or touching, every single one of those as they pulsed on my face.

I was finally brought to a dermatologist. She denied me accutane as I have asthma, and apparently therefore not a candidate for the drug. She got me BP cream (not gel).

In the first few months, it helped a little (but I still mistreated my skin, as I still didn't know how to do i properly). Worse... my clothes began discolouring, and I could add that to my embarrassment. I had to stop using BP in the morning, as it would destroy my clothes.

Acne just keeps on coming - all the way to age 18, when my dermatologist actually shows me how to wash and treat my skin like its God. I also get this new drug in gel form called "Clindoxyl". Its BP mixed with antibiotics. It worked pretty well. My acne got from severe to moderate... but the drug just seemed to stop having further effect.

At this time in the story - I would finish high school, and have wasted every second of it on acne. I had no friends and no social stories to tell off when I advanced in school. I gave up. I would continue treating the acne - but I would not give it any further thought. I decided to pretend I had no problem. It worked generally. I got friends, I went to parties, I had fun. I just never had it in me to ever approach a girl for a date or something like that. "Why should I" I thought,... _all_ the other guys had only minor imperfections in their skin for some reason.

When I got accepted into university at age 19, I had 6 months before school would start. I decided to take up the battle actively against acne again.

I changed my life, and it changed me.

For 6 months, I would:
- Eat no sweets
- Have no dairy-product intake
- Drink no soft-drinks
- Drink no alcohol
- Exercise 3 times a week
- Drink only water or healthy juice
- Eat less, as I have always overeaten a little without it ever being a problem, my body is fine (:
- Purchase some face-wash products from anthony logistics (algae cleaner and scrub)
- Use a moisturizer
- Continue using Clindoxyl
- Never use a hair-product
- Wash my hair every second day with mild hair-wash without letting the product getting over my face.
- Spend moderate time in the sun, as I have always been inside all the time and PALE.
- Treat my skin as it deserves

I changed my life completely. I stopped playing me beloved computer games, and enjoy sweets at the same time. I stopped getting pizza on pizza night.

It worked. It finally worked.
The relief was so great I both laughed and cried.... and cried some more and just felt utterly happy all the time.

Acne had controlled my life for so long. Both with pain and embarrassment.

I still can't use BP in the morning due to discolouration of my clothes, but this is my routine:

Morning:
-Algae face wash (anthony logistics)
-Men-Ü moisturizer

Evening before bed:
-Algae face wash
-Loads of Clindoxyl

Once a week:
- Healthy face scrub (anthony logistics)


I still get a spot every now and then... right now I actually have 2 red spots right over my right eyebrow... but thats it. Besides that, my skin is entirely clear and perfect.


I feel so relieved. I feel like I can do anything now.



It feels so good to get it down on paper or in a forum... you know what I mean.

Thank you for listening.


For anyone letting the acne control your life - I know it does, and I will not say you will get over it. I know how hard it is. The advice I will give you is simple, and honest:

Don't let acne control your social life. Never fool yourself, no one will ever be able to refrain from staring at your acne, dislike it or not talk about it when your'e not there. Only your family loves you that much. You can however be sure the very same people might make good friends anyway. The acne does not change who you are.

Too long have I spoken to people while trying to look away or at the ground.

The funny thing is, my mother told me this exact thing... and I thought back then, that she would never understand what I was going through... and it was absolutely BS.

Every time I see someone with acne, I send them a thought of happiness. I know they might need it.

See you around on the forums.

Hi All,

I am Sinduja 23yrs, from Sri Lanka. I joined here to learn about treatments and give advice on acne cure

I'm 34. I've had acne for 26 years with no break. I have no memory of looking at my face and not seeing acne. I've been seeing dermatologists for twenty years (seven of them so far). I've used Accutane twice, Cleocin, Differin cream and gel, Retin-A cream and gel, Tetracycline, Minocin twice, Sulfacet, Erythromycin twice, Zeroxin, Metronidazole, Benzoyl Peroxide, most of the over the counter products and most of the home remedies. All of this has had the same effect as tap water. It's amazing how nothing has even helped me a little bit.

I wash with Cetaphil morning and night.

I brush and floss twice a day and use mouthwash and I don't have cavities or gum disease. I exercise and have a very healthy diet and I'm not overweight. But I take care of my skin and it's never healthy. I can only imagine how better my life would have turned out if I didn't suffer through this for so long. I'm to the point where I believe I will never be acne free. If I live to be 1,000 I'll still have acne.

Hello everyone! I joined this site because I found it to be interesting and because I hope to gain some insight on what solutions there may be for my acne condition. I am a 34 year old woman and a mother of two young girls. I have been trying to deal with this matter for quite some time now. I never really suffered from acne when I was a teen. But it seems that after I bared my daughters my skin took a drastic change. Now with my oldest being only 11 - I am still having to battle with acne and lately it has only degenerated. In the last month I have had a severe breakout and I do not know from what it could be. Of course I can not afford a dermatologist so I was browsing the net and I came across this site. So here I am - hope to hear and learn some good information. Thank you!

Sincere Regards,
dulcebella75

Hello every one,

I am a new member to your community. I hope i can get much more advices to me. Also, i would share my thoughts, opinions, and experiences with the members.
We all together can make all of us happy.
Good lack.

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum. I'm glad to have found acne forums to spread the good news that acne can be fought off successfully! I got rid of acne through Strategies Against Acne. Not everything works for everyone, but that definitely worked for me! There are many cures, so you should pick the one that suits you best.

Hey all,


Today I finally decided to join and read several posts. It is hard and devastating to suffer from acne I have read how others are suffering just like me. I have suffer for the last 15 years from this horrible and traumatizing condition.
I have tried like many all types of creams over the counter and others prescribed by dermatologist I have also taken different antibiotics, at one point my face cleared up for two months, I could not be happier.
However, now my face is horrible, I decided to change dermatologist because I have the worst acne break out of my life. Now I am with Dr Zizmor, and on my first visit he prescribed me accutane because he also said that I have a really severe case of acne. This is my sixth day on accutane I already am experiencing dry lips and constant headaches, my acne is also getting worse, I know it has to get worse before it gets better.

If anyone wants to write back, I am devastated, I can't take t anymore.

Just saying hi and check out my blog for a natural remedy

hey guys just new wanting to make some online buddies i guess...well say hello!

Hi everyone! I'm pathetic_26 and I'm a college student. Obviously, the reason why I joined acne.org is because I have mild-moderate acne. My family had a history of acne and it was passed on to me. They're so many! They practically invading my face especially the cheeks and the upper neck portion. I had acne once but it managed to disappear by visiting a good dermatologist. This is the third time my acne reappeared. What's even worse is that school is going to start on Monday and I still have terrible acne! I'm really scared of the insults, prejudice and of course, the humiliation I'm about to go through. I revisited my old dermatologist on May 23 and I just had my second session last week (I should have started the session on April but my acne wasn't really acting up so I ignored it).


So far here are the prescriptions I have:


A.M:

1 capsule of F2F or Face to Face (Praventin)
Wash soap called Tincture of Green Soap
Clindamycin
Benzoyl Peroxide with Erythromycin Cream


AM/PM

Tetralysal 300mg

P.M

1 capsule of F2F or Face to Face
Wash soap called Tincture of Green Soap
Clindamycin
Retinoic Cream 0.05%



What is the estimated time acne will disappear? I'm really scared. I was planning not to go to school for a week to save myself from embarassment and so that I can have another session during the time.

Hi all,

First post to say hi from another person that suffers with ance.

I have had it since im early teens and am noe just about to turn 30

I have always got spots (not sure what kind) around my forhead for aslong as i can remember but as of the last two years i have been getting VERY large red lumps on both of my cheeks about two inchs under my eyes. I think they are boils but doc says they are mild acne. Mild!! DONT THINK SO DOC!!!!!!!

The doctor first had me on dimox (sp?) which done nothing for me. Im now just started on Tetralysal (lymecycline 408mg) for the last 5 days, so i will see how that goes.

Anyway thats me, looking forward to being clear skined soon.

Ill keep you posted.

Keep your head up people:-)

Hello I've just joined since I have been searching for a cure to my acne for years, and thought I'd get some help from other people who have gone through the same thing. I have had acne since i was 14, and now I am 19. Through that time period, I've used many products such as proactive, clean & clear, st Ives, Neutrogena, and facial masks. I just last summer was using a St Ives apricot scrub, and I realized after using it for a few months it just seemed to get worse. Now I've been trying to find some home remedies, since lack of money to buy all of the drugstores products. I have moderate acne, very oily skin, with a reddish tone. It's incredibly hard to get rid of the redness for me, and it's so hard to cover it up. So anybody else have the same types of issues? I need more insight so I can find the perfect regiment for me.