AcZone + EryTabs

I'm so pissed that the doctor put me on this instead of Accutane. I don't think anyone understands how it felt when I didn't get the prescription. I explained to him that I've been on almost everything and nothing has worked, but my mom blurted out that I had been depressed in 8th grade (I'm 18 now) and that's what made him change his mind. Pshh. Anyway, since there's not many AcZone threads, I'm trying to help the community by posting one.

My acne could be described as mild moderate, but very persistant. My skin is combination generally. My skin can be really dry, but my nose is oily. That's usually how it is. I wash twice a day. I try to get 12 hrs in between but sometimes with erratic schedules, that's just impossible.

Now, I can't get the AcZone prescription until Tuesday, June 23rd. Wal*Mart doesn't have in stock. I have the EryTabs though, which is simply time released Erythromycin. I got a 30% Glycolic peel yesterday and I don't think it did anything. The peels are free but you have to pay for the visit there, which is about $45..meh, I don't know if I want my 'rents to waste another $45 on something that might not work..

QUOTE

Here's a list of what I've been on:
-Benzaclin
-Retin A Micro
-Differin
-Epiduo
-Topical Clindamycin Solution
-Clindamycin Lotion
-Topical Erythromycin Solution
-Doxycycline
-Tetracycline
-Minocycline
-Benzyol Peroxid
-Proactiv
-Salicylic Acid
-AcneFree

See, I've been on a shit load of products.

I'm going to wait to start posting results bc. I don't have AcZone and I've only taken 1 EryTab pill (yesterday night) so there's very little difference.

I quit smoking. :)

I had 3 cigarettes left, and I crushed them. The main reason for quitting is because I swear it makes my acne worse. If I had clear skin, I'd probably continue . But never the less, I'm done!

Anyone else quit ever? I'm going cold turkey.

Should I try "just cleanse/moisturize" regimen?

My forehead and cheeks are really clear, yet everywhere else where I've applied topicals for years, (chin/jaw/above lip) I break out. I never wash my forehead (it's annoying to do so). I'm kinda scared to JUST cleanse with Cetaphil..should I try it? Do you think I'd be a good candidate for this regimen?

Anyone tried it?

Retin A Micro/18/Male

Well, to start out, I'm 18, live in California, blah blah. I've had acne ever since 13ish. I've been prescribed a lot. My first derm appt I was given samples of Retin A Micro (.04 and .1). The doctor asked a few days what worked better without irritation, I said .1 stupidly. After just 4 nights of nightly application (I was pretty noob and didn't know to go into it slowly) my skin had extreme flaking issues, thank god it was Christmas break. NO MOISTURIZER would help! I stopped treatment after that night. It took about a week and half to turn back to my normal skin. :/ It was horrible. Everything I put on would sting my skin, even "gentle" products. So after a while, I moved to CA and got put on Tetracycline twice a day + topical antibiotic. It worked okay. I wanted more; I read tons about Differin, and I thought it might work. The doc prescribed Differin .1 Gel + Docy once a day. Worked soso, I thought Differin would work eventually. After 5 months, it never really worked. It also made my skin really only (which you will see in the first picture I attach). So I go back to the doctor, and I say I want to try Retin A Micro again, but a low dose, the .04. He agrees and still prescribes Doxy (which I think I will drop after the IB stage because I've been on antibiotics for way too long, like 2.5 years). This is where I stand now. Below is attached pictures. The 1st picture is the day that I picked up my .04 prescription of RAM (notice the oilyness from Differin), and the 2nd picture is 15 days continuing treatment.

I think because I was on Differin before, I'm experiencing clearing faster, maybe not. I've had a bit of an IB (maybe), nothing too bad except a HUGE spot which I'm still battling after 4 days. I hope the good progress continues. The pictures have different lighting, Im sorry, but you can still see the improvement pretty clearly. By the way, I have a big freckle on my right top cheek, that's not acne. XD

Shaving, please look.

Well, I generally don't shave my jawline beard (I trim), and I break out in that area. So I was wondering what's more irritating, shaving it off with a razor, or just trimming and leaving hair there? Could the remaining hair be irritating my skin?

Anyone have any ideas?