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Spiro Day 35, Tretinoin Day 26

Posted by shawnabowbawna, 07 January 2013 · 362 views

spironolactone tretinoin retin a benzoyl peroxide

I've broken down and started using the Proactiv repairing lotion even though I have sworn off BP. Besides reducing breakouts it completely degrades the quality of my skin and I hate it. The breakouts that I have been getting from Tretinoin have been too bad though so I've started interchanging it in the evenings. Just after the first night the inflammation reduced significantly. I can finally look at myself in a mirror again. The Aczone that my Dr prescribed for me to use with the Tretinoin was NOT helping at all. Maybe on its own it is fine, but I don't think it was strong enough to combat the initial breakout I was going through.

I was about to give up on the Tretinoin, but I think the minor BP usage with help me get through this initial breakout until I can phase it out.

I must mention that the breakouts are healing FAST. I had an area on my cheek with three big breakouts that all merged into one about a week ago and it has already healed nicely with just a small amount of hyperpigmentation. Simply, AMAZING. The Tretinoin is great for that. If only I could just stop breaking out in the first place...

I feel so guilty that I couldn't keep up the routine that my Dr. prescribed. I have an appointment in a few weeks, so hopefully we can work through this. Until then, its CeraVe, BP & Tretinoin.

I can't say much about the spironolactone. My breakouts have still been on my chin and cheeks. I even started getting cysts under my chin, near my neck, which has never happened before. Its virgin skin

So sad. The spiro may be doing its job just fine, but in combination with the initial breakout from Tretinoin, there is no way to tell.

amoxilworx

Jan 08 2013 08:25 AM

I think you should add topical clindamycin (anti-biotic) to your regimen and an oral anti-biotic like amoxicillin. Just a choice. Good luck.

shawnabowbawna

Jan 08 2013 10:25 AM

I think you should add topical clindamycin (anti-biotic) to your regimen and an oral anti-biotic like amoxicillin. Just a choice. Good luck.

Thanks! I agree, antibiotics can work great-- they do for my brothers. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to oral clindamycin, oral amoxicillin and a hand full of other antibiotics so my dermatologist didn't want to risk putting me on any and prescribed Aczone instead.

beautyZontheinsIde

Jan 10 2013 09:45 AM

I think maybe you are doing too much to your skin. Are you giving back to it at all with a healing moisturizer? When I was breaking out all the time I was constantly stripping my skin and applying a ton of RetinA and/or BPO and it just makes things look worse. Your skin needs moisture whether we like it or not. Make sure you find a non comedogenic moisturizer that works for you (trust me you will feel and look less red and irritated) I personally LOVE LOVE LOVE emu oil. I actually just wrote a blog article about it. Check it out if you are interested! And good luck!

http://aestheticsworld.blogspot.com/

shawnabowbawna

Jan 10 2013 11:00 AM

I've been using CeraVe moisturizer and I love it. I've experimented with a lot of oils: jojoba, almond, castor, argan, etc. in an attempt to use "clean" products and I didn't hate all of them. I'd be willing to try emu oil, but I've been perfectly happy with CeraVe and I don't want to mess with a good thing. At least not right now when I'm already trying out a lot of new products and medications.

I agree, it is totally possible to over do it. I've been switching out retinA and bpo every other night and my skin is starting to improve a lot. I think I might have been over-doing the retinA and the Aczone that my derm prescribed wasn't combating the extreme amount of peeling that I was having... My skin isn't shedding as much now and my skin is healing quite well. We'll see where I'm at in another week or so.

Thanks for the advice!!