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Acne still under control for now, the clearest I've been in a long time (no new pics, but you can see my previous blog entry for pics if interested). Have had only two new zits this week (before, I'd expect at least 5 new ones every morning!). And when I do get new pimples, they do not come to a head. They are barely visible and don't get nearly as inflamed as before. This is incredibly exciting, I'm 25 and have been dealing with acne since I was 10! I had read such good things about a tretinoin/clindamycin/oral antibiotic combination that I asked my doc about adding some products. Even though I was improving with just the Tretinoin, she went ahead and agreed to prescribe Clindamycin 1% lotion to use twice daily. I feel like this has really kicked things into high gear (may be in my head, who knows). She also gave me a Rx for Doxycycline 100mg 2x/day just in case I start getting that dreaded IB, but asked that I not get it filled until give the Clindamycin/Tretinoin combo at least a month. I took Doxy 9 years ago, but wasn't consistent with it. I'd be willing to give it another shot if I think I need to, but right now I'm hoping to avoid it if at all possible. I've been reading about resistance to Clindamycin, and learned that BP can help prevent resistance, so I plan on grabbing a 2.5% BP product over the counter to use along with my Clindamycin in the morning. I also still plan on switching my Dove soap to Cetaphil cleanser just as soon as I get to the store. Still have peeling, so skipped Tretinoin a couple times last week. Peeling did reduce because of this, but not completely gone, and luckily I did not break out. Red marks are still all over the place, so I still look like I'm broke out, which is frustrating, since my skin is feeling so smooth to the touch now. I read that Hydroquinone is not really effective on red marks, they are more for brown marks. All my new marks are red, but I do have older marks that are brown (I am Caucasian, with a medium olive tone, it's a deeper natural tone compared in general due to some Native American down the bloodline). So I have reduced my use of Hydroquinone, just using it a couple of times a week, and only on the brown spots, and leaving the red ones alone. I have started using some old Proactiv toner after cleansing since it contains 5% glycolic acid in hopes it will help with the hyperpigmentation. I will consider a glycolic acid peel in the future, but not anytime soon, plan on letting my regimen just do it's job for now without doing too much to freak out my skin. Over the past few days, my skin has been getting REALLY REALLY OILY (weird to be peely and oily at the same time!). Not sure if it's due to the addition of clindamycin, Proactiv toner, or just stress due to the fact that I'm moving/it's finals/ had an argument with the bf. I am going to start taking Panthothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) because I have read that it significantly reduces oil. I plan on trying different doses until I find the lowest dose that is effective. It is something I have taken before, but like the Doxy, I was not consistent (I had a hard time swallowing pills in the past so it made it hard to stick with!). I feel like my boxcar scars look worse, but I read other people who said this happened to them before it got better, so I'm trying not to let it get me down. I just hate that make up makes them MORE noticable!!! I also got a bumpy red rash from over-applying Tretinoin to a zit I could feel forming on my chin. Still working on getting that to clear, but it's being very stubborn! BE CAREFUL WITH OVERAPPLYING TRETINOIN! But overall I continue to be happy with the progress I am seeing. Let's hope this trend continues.
I didn't plan on making my blog entries so long, but I want to be able to look back on them and track my progress, and this really helps to remember what I changed/when I changed it/outcomes of changes.
So here is the updated routine (going ahead and indicating the couple of changes I will be making in the next day or two as well)
Morning:
Cleanse with Cetaphil
Proactiv toner (5% glycolic acid)
Clindamycin lotion 1% and BP cream 2.5%
Cetaphil moisturizing cream
Night:
Cleanse with Cetaphil
Proactiv toner
Clindamycin lotion
Tretinoin gel 0.025% 30-60 min later
Cetaphil moisturizing cream
***Hydroquinone 4% lotion on brown spots 2-3 times a week
Oral Meds/Supplements:
Tri-Sprintec birth control
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) daily, no set strength yet
