Hedgie, you're so welcome! I just wanted to give my experience with Aczone, since it's so new to the anti-acne market.

Right now, I have to say it's a winner. The Ziana has made my skin so smooth, and while I have dealt with breakouts during this treatment, the Aczone has really been helpful in keeping them to a minimum, and with a few exceptions, really brings down swelling quickly.

So far, so good. I'm still trying to determine if my most recent breakouts were diet-related or an initial breakout.

Right now, though, I'm mostly clear, and very happy!!

Mind posting some pictures?

Languages, I'll try to get around to posting some. Right now, I have my everyday minerals makeup on, so it wouldn't be exactly accurate. If I can remember tonight after I shower, I'll try to take some shots.

Okay. I'm just curious, because I'm on tretinoin (Retin A Micro) too.

Oh that's good. The aczone does seem to dry pimples out quickly, IB's seem pretty short too (at least for me).

Would you reccommend the Ziana?
I'm amazed at your results so far, just amazed

HI everyone,

Here are a few pics. Sorry for the poor quality, as my digital camera blows. Still liking my results. Had a bit too much diary and got my period, so there are a few bumps here and there. But not as bad as my last breakout.





Lemonz...I really like the Ziana. Retinoids are so frustrating, as they require time to work, and success is usually spotty (ha, I like that pun). But so far with this retinoid, I'm really pleased. Perhaps it's the combination with clindamycin that makes it so effective. I never had much luck with clindamycin on its own, so who knows.

I still like the Aczone. If I have any bumps, I usually spot treat once during the day as well. Sometimes this, in addition to the layer I put on in the AM, will dry them up quicker.

Plus, my skin has never been peely on this regimen. I appreciate that so much, as it's difficult to be in treatment, trying to cover your pimples with makeup, only to have the makeup flake off while applying it. I like that I haven't had to incorporate a moisturizer at all. I just use Cosmedicine oily skin spf, and I'm on my way.

holy crap!
Your skin is like CLEAR!


lucky... haha

Gah!

I don't know what it is -- the milk or the hair removal attempts that are causing this current breakout.

I'm blessed. Along with being insanely acne prone, I also have a lot of excess hair. I'm currently using Vaniqa along with my acne creams, but you have to remove the hair before the Vaniqa can work. Waxing or anything that pulls out by the root can cause irritation and then acne, so I'm been relying on a razor. Seems like I always have a breakout after I do this.

Could be the milk, too. Don't know. I've got about 6 pimples, though they are thankfully small, and strangely relegated to the right side of my face.

Growl. I'm trying not to pop the small whiteheads, knowing that I could make them worse. But I hate knowing that a whitehead is on my face.

Okay, so here I sit, so depressed. Seriously, what the hell? I started treatment at the end of Feb, and here it is the middle of May, and I'm having what is probably the worst breakout since I started treatment. 6 pimples, all very red. They didn't look that bad this AM when I woke, but as we all know, after that initial face wash and application of meds, things tend to look worse. What blows me away is how red they are. One is practically brown.

And I'm scratching my head. What did I do? Is something not working? And why aren't the medications stopping the pimples from forming? It's just really frustrating.

After my last set of photos in the beginning of May, where I was practically clear, to here and now...it's a world of a difference.

WTF?

Total a-ha moment. My decline back into serious acne started not long after my gastroenterologist started me on generic Nexium for GERD. And so I'm looking up the side-effects for acid reducers, and low and behold, one of the side effects can be acne.

I've been spotty on taking this medicine regularly, but I just filled this prescription Friday, and have been taking it regularly since then. Then I have a breakout.

So I wonder if my skin has been clear because I haven't been taking it, and then when I do, I get a breakout.

This sucks if it's true, because I do have acid problems, and cystitis, which is also relieved by taking the acid reducers. So, it's acne or stomach/bladder pain?

I cannot win. I'm going to stop taking it for a while and see if my skin clears. Then I'll reintroduce it and see if I have a breakout.

A couple of days and my skin has calmed a bit. I've noticed some things. Forehead is getting bumpier, texturally, and there are a few small pimples there.

I keep telling myself not to expect perfection, that the best I can hope for is management. But really, I just don't need a breakout of 7 pimples at a time. One or two, maybe.

I'll give it a few more weeks. If I'm still getting major breakouts, it might be time to do something other than Aczone.

Hi,
I'm going to start this combo tonight. I was on Solodyn 135 mg (antibiotic) which has worked very well for me. But I have taken it for 7 or 8 months which is considered too long, and sure enough, I have started to experience some of the side effects. My skin and teeth have become discolored (I already have dark skin but it has gotten several shades darker... it's not a huge deal but I don't want to get permanently darker). Also I was on Aczone for a few months.

So my dermatologist has told me I can stop using Solodyn now, and instead use Ziana, and continue using Aczone. Seems like it has worked well for you for the most part. I also think one or two pimples is OK... not ideal but it's not a big deal either. Anyway, I'll update in like a month.

BC,

Thanks for the comment. My derm wanted me to use an antibiotic as well, but I didn't fill the script. I have trouble with antibiotics anyway, and I was thinking that since it was a temporary treatment, why bother? SO I just used the topicals.

It's hard to explain my current dissatisfaction. Right now I have about 5 small pimples on my face. This is definitely preferable to 30, as it was before. Also, a lot of my brown/red discoloration left behind from my old acne is fading, thanks to the Ziana. I guess I just expected 1 or 2 pimples. I had a pretty bad breakout last week, with around 6 inflamed pimples. That threw me for a loop. I've been on these two meds since the end of Feb. I'm thinking I might need something a bit stronger in the AM, something more drying. I'll have to inquire with my derm.

I have to say that my face has improved a great deal, ultimately. I just want it to improve a little more.

Let us know how these two topicals work for you. I wish you luck!

So anyway, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Started this regimen at the end of February, and I'm wondering if it's still normal to be having breakouts. My cheeks are relatively clear, but both sides of my chin are a bit of a minefield.

I just don't get it. I'm thinking of ditching the Aczone and starting back on Dan's BP until my next derm appointment at the end of this month.

I understand retinoids can take 6 months to see the full benefits, but by this point, I think the vast majority of my zits should be purged. Since I have my period, perhaps this breakout is hormonal, especially since it's the chin area. I don't care. I just want to be happy looking in the mirror. I don't want to be obsessed with my face, ya know? Crap.

Well, still having trouble with breakouts. I'm trying something different, and have replaced Aczone in the AM with Dan's BP.

I'm applying the Aczone in the evening before the Ziana. And I bought some MD Forte Glycare cleanser as well to see if glycolic acid helps.

I don't understand these pimples. They're all relatively small, so for that I'm thankful. But they appear in clusters, leaving me scratching my head.

Hi All,

Special Agent, thank you for starting this thread! I hope your change in regiment gives you better results!

Today I was prescribed Aczone to use in the morning, Tazorac at night, along with Doryx. I wanted to join this thread and share my progress as well, in hopes of informing others who are considering trying it.

To give you a brief history of my acne, I am currently 24 and have been having acne for about ten years. When I was younger, it was fairly severe, occurring all over my face. It cleared up a bit for a while when I was on birth control (Ortho Novum 35), using this Neutrogena makeup made specifically for acne prone skin, as well as Pro Activ.

Since then, they discontinued the Neutrogena shade I was using, and my acne became more severe after I switched foundations. I eventually landed on a natural mineral make-up (Bare Escentuals), which seemed to be working fine, along with the Pro Activ, until I got off of birth control. Without the birth control, my hormones basically went out of whack and my periods became irregular.

I have now gone back on birth control only a week ago (Loestrin 24 Fe). My GYN says this should help to balance back out my hormones, and therefore control my acne. I went to the derm today, and as I mentioned above, she prescribed Aczone, Taxorac, and Doryx.

Currently my acne issues are moderate, and primarily on my cheeks and chin. I have scarring issues due to my medium skin tone (I am African American and Native American).

I have taken some first day pictures, and will post them soon and keep you updated on my progress.

Acne is frustrating, but I'm hopeful!

Hi SpecialAgent,

I'm new to this site, and I just wanted to thank everyone here for all their reviews. They've been extremely helpful.

I am also on the Ziana/Aczone regimen. In addition to that I'm currently taking Yaz and started taking a zinc vitamin supplement a week ago. I'm 17 years old and have had acne since I was twelve. I've had problems with cystic acne on my face for about two years now. Up until a little over two weeks ago I was taking Doryx, but I seem to build up resistance to products over time and had noticed that when I got off Doryx so I could take amoxicillin for a sinus infection, my acne cleared up dramatically. I stayed off Doryx for a week or so after finishing the amoxicillin course and didn't have any cysts, but they started up again as soon as I got back on the Doryx. The cysts mostly stopped when I got off the Doryx again. The zinc supplement I'm now taking has been somewhat helpful; my back is almost entirely clear save a few extremely small pimples (which hasn't happened in about three years), my chest acne is a little bit better, and I haven't noticed as many new pimples this week. The redness of my face has also decreased as well. I just got a cyst yesterday, but that could be menstruation-related. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well the zinc works.

As for Ziana and Aczone, I'm also not sure. I really like the Ziana because, like you said, it isn't drying. I had a huge problem with eczema for a few years and haven't had hardly any problems while I've been on Ziana. I've been on the it since December. It has worked extremely well in reducing a lot of the scarring I had, and has seemed to help in preventing new scars. I also don't get whiteheads as often anymore, but there still have been some problems with cysts and I haven't noticed any effect on my blackheads. I haven't been using the Aczone for as long as the Ziana -- since about March. I was told to only use the Aczone as spot treatment, but I've been researching more lately and am wondering if I'd have better results if I used it on my whole face. It worked okay for a while but I had a terrible breakout on my forehead about a month ago, and as I mentioned before I'd been having major problems with cysts until I started this zinc supplement.

I think I'm going to stay on the Ziana/Aczone regimen for a little while longer. I know I haven't had acne nearly as long as some people, but it's so frustrating lately. I'm so tired of the hassle of slathering myself with makeup in order to feel comfortable, especially now that it's summer, and I'd really like something to work and continue working. I'll be starting college soon, and it'd be nice if I didn't have to worry about how I look and could just focus on life.

I'm interested to see how this regimen works for you, and I'll let you know about my progress.

MeerkatWoman,

Thanks for your reply. I totally understand. I'm 33, and have been dealing with acne since 11 year of age. It sucks.

Right now, I have to say that I'm unhappy with this regimen. I've been on it since the end of February. I'm currently in the midst of a bad breakout.

In my previous posts, I've wondered two things: whether I have a sensitivity to acid products (AHA, BHA, glycolic, etc.) and whether or not my GERD medication is making me breakout.

I've been using a glycolic acid wash along with the regimen, and recently started taking omeprazole again for decreasing stomach acid, and I'm wondering if the two have caused this breakout.


I don't know. I'm perplexed and frustrated.

As far as the Aczone is concerned, I've heard that you're supposed to use it all over, and not just spot treat with it. Perhaps you'll have better luck doing it that way?

I have a derm appointment next week. Maybe it's time to reevaluate this treatment and try something else.

Okay, so I'm fairly certain it's the omeprazole I was taking for reflux. This is a shame, because my stomach and bladder have frequent pain which is helped by this antacid. However, I'd rather completely overhaul my diet than take a pill that causes acne. Doing some research as well, it seems that low stomach acid has been linked with worsening skin.

Sigh.

But since stopping the medication, my skin is clearing dramatically. It also seems less oily.

Still, i have an appt next week with the derm, and I think I'd like to try something other than Aczone. We'll see.

Hello All,

Hang in there Special Agent!!!

It's day 10 of my use of Aczone in the morning, Tazorac at night, and one Doxyl tablet daily.

I had an initial breakout that wasn't pretty (however wasn't really that bad, probably 5 new zits). Most of my acne has calmed, and I'd say I now only have 2-3 active pimples (a week ago I had about 10).

I'm not sure how much is which medication, but I didn't have any other serious side effects. With Tazorac, a lot of people experience extreme burning and peeling, while I didn't experience much of either. Sure my skin started to peel a little bit, but it was typically just the dead skin on top of the pimples that were healing, and nothing that a good moisturizer couldn't handle. I did notice more sensitivity to the sun, so it is recommended to use sun screen (however you should anyway).

Most of what's on my face now is dead skin, which I am confident will be gone the next time I wash my face, and the current actives will be gone in a few days.

I assure you, this combination works! Yes, there is an initial breakout, but I am only on day 10 and my face has already calmed down. It was worth it, and I have a loving/supportive fiance who continuously told me I was beautiful despite the look of my pizza face haha... this helps too!

Everyone who's used these products properly, seem to have happy results. Most people who don't (from the hundreds of reviews I've read), typically are either, 1) not using it as prescribed (using more than a pea-sized amount, using it more frequently than they should, using it as a spot treatment, combining it with products that the doctor didn't authorize), or 2) give up too soon (typically due to the initial breakout).

I may be a special case, specifically with the combination I am using and my skin type, but I have had acne problems for over a decade that have prevented me from a lot of things in life... it wasn't mild at all, though it seemed to get better with age, until recently. I'll check back in another week or so to let you know my progress.

Good luck everyone, and stay strong! People who have had acne problems usually have the best personalities, as well as the best friends... because nothing is based on superficiality. I do!