Retin-A and Sunscreen

I am on my last month of Accutane and my derm is going to start me on Retin-A to help even my skin tone and help with redmarks once my course is over. I am wondering what type of sunscreen people use.

I avoided the sun like the plague while on Accutane, except for the summer I used Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock Lotion SPF 45, and I hateddddd it, but couldn't find anything better. It makes my face feel a little oily and it feels like it makes me red or burns me a little.

I HAVE to have something that is waterproof/sweatproof, because I tried Eucerin Sensitive Skin Everyday Protection Face Lotion + SPF 30, and it left a white film whenever I sweat or if it rained. Obviously it wasn't waterproof/sweatproof.

What do you guys use? I use CeraVe moisturizer in the day and at night, but no sunscreen. I figure the Retin-A might be a long-term thing if it goes well.. but I am afraid it might make my face a little red :/ Topicals have always given me hell when it comes to cheek redness, and I have a little tane-burn now. So I want to be extra careful with the Retin-A.


SUGGESTIONS???

It needs to be Waterproof/Sweatproof and no particular SPF value, I will only use it for basic everyday use.

My Tane Log Replies welcome!!

I have been replying to a few threads already and I decided to finally make my own log. I will post pictures in a few days, but I will start off with a brief skin history.

I started breaking out really bad when I was about 14 years old, mostly around my forehead and then my cheeks and back, and after a year or so of using over the counter junk I decided to go to the doctor. Over the course of a year I was on several different meds such as: Differin, Triaz(benzolye Peroxide) and eventually Accutane. My skin started to clear around month two of Accutane, and my doctor took me off of that. Which was a mistake, obviously, it's suppose to be a 6 month treatment. After growing frustrated with prescription meds I decided to continue with the over the counter treatments, mainly Proactiv, and I used that type of medication until recently, when I went to the Derm and she put me on Accutane again, and said that I was taken off way too early last time! Damnit.

Soooo a little about me:

I am currently 19 years old and I was put on 40mg a day. The real reason for me doing this is I am just being tired of looking in the mirror and not being happy with myself, and only having moderate self confidence. I am also shy and a not very happy person when I have a breakout, and it really affects my life. I would like to find a girlfriend, but I never talk to girls when my skin isn't looking decent(which is about 70% of the time) because I am extremely self conscience. I also don't like approaching new people or making new friends because of this as well. Another reason is that I am sick and tired of worrying about what products I should try and what skin care combination's will work.

My skin condition when I was put on Accutane this time was not horrid(I think), and probably considered mild to moderate and most of my breakouts occurred on my face, and they were usually whiteheads, or closed comedomes(not cysts I think? Or small ones if they are). I have light scarring on my cheeks and some on my forehead, but they are fading faster than I expected since being on Accutane.

My back Acne has since scarred over, and I rarely get a breakout or zit there. I have 2-3 scars on my right jawline where I use to pick obsessively, and after my tane treatment is over I hope to get these removed or worked on in some way. I also hope to get a Tattoo on my back to cover up my existing back Scars.


Accutane Experience so far:

Weeks 1-4: The first few days I did not notice that big of a change, however around day 5 I noticed my skin was nowhere near as oily, but I started getting an IB that consisted of whiteheads around the edges of my lips and this lasted a week and was really embarrassing . The last 2 weeks before my first checkup visit was kind of a up and down experience, after the first 3 weeks my skin slowly started to clear, however I started breaking out a bit around my cheek. I experienced the normal side effects (dry lips, skin, nose dryness) and I was not too bothered by them, except for the nose dryness, because I would get nosebleeds.

Weeks 4-6: My checkup appointment went fairly well, and my blood work turned out fine. My derm said she thought my skin looked a little better, but I think she was just being nice and trying to keep me motivated. My skin looked kind of ok for a week or so after this, but then I started getting another breakout. This breakout is mostly on my cheeks, which is my biggest problem area. I don't know if anyone else has had this problem but, I swear that this spot under my skin that I have had for 6 months that wasn't noticeable at all, but I could feel it if I touched it, just had to surface. Damnit . I have had that spot for about a week and I think it's slowly getting better, but it's not going away fast enough!
I am also having trouble with a spot on my right cheek that's about an inch by an inch, and it's right in the area where your cheek bone is located, and is directly across from your eye. I keep breaking out there for some reason.
Also, my skin has been feeling really REALLYYYYYYYY weird lately.. It doesn't feel as dry as it did the first month, it barely flakes and I can go the night and maybe the day without it peeling or flaking...It feels kind of greasy, but it still doesn't shine as much as it use to, and it isn't that oily. You know how your skin feels when you go camping and it feels kind of clammy? It feels like that.. Maybe it's my moisturizer? I use cetaphil moisturizing lotion, and I recently started using the Cetaphil SPF 15 moisturizing lotion or whatever it's called. Has anyone else had this problem????? I am getting worried my dose isn't strong enough or something.

Today:
And here we are today and I just finished taking my Day 46 pill. I decided to post this to vent my frustrations mostly, because I am almost finished with school for this semester and I have a big speech/presentation on Thursday, and I have like 3-4 spots that are really pissing me off. There is one on my forehead that's taking forever to go away, and is more like a scab now because I picked at it (fuck me). I have two spots right under my eye/near the cheekbone, and my old 6 month friend that decided to surface a week ago and looks like a f****** pea on my face. I am terrified about Thursday, and I welcome any spot treatments or tips that might help those spots! I am using neosporin for the forehead/scab spot, and I just started applying tea tree oil at night for the others. The only positive is that, besides those spots, my skin is looking "ok" and I think my overall color is getting better. My face isn't quite as red as it use to be.


It's almost been two months, and I thought I would see more results by now . I know I have to stick it out the full 4-6 months because it takes that long to work, but I feel bad atm .

7 MORE DAYS UNTIL THIS SEMESTER ENDS AND SUMMER BEGINS AND I CANT WAIT!!! I will nearly finish my treatment before next semester starts, and I will be a completely different person by then!

I hope so anyway!!!!


P.S. Replies are welcome!!!