10 replies to this topic

[swab]

hello i have had acne since i was 13 and i am now 18, for the past two years i have been on dermatologist prescribed medication because proactive wasn't working, i am so glad i found this forums i wish i would have searched years ago maybe i wouldn't have acne today if i done so, i just recently ordered b5 "PANTOTHENIC ACID" im hoping this will work better then the prescribed medication because that really dries my face out bad and its seems not to be working.
i have moderate acne on my face chest and back.

I have been taking Tretinoin cream 0.025% with a mixture of pills (at different times) because i kept going back to my dermatologist and telling him this is not working and he prescribed me another pill and kept me on the cream, but the pill i am currently on is "smz-tmp 400-80mg Generic for septra 400-80mg" and i was wondering if i should stop taking the pills and the cream when on b5, i really dont think they are working and they really dry my face out. also when i read more on these forums i will probably buy somthing else because i have really dry skin.

thanks for your help guys and gals im so glad i found this forum

[Wynne]

You're taking a generic Bactrim/Septra, an excellent broad-spectrum antibiotic. It generally works quite well for acne-related skin infections. It does not usually cause dry skin; the tretinoin might be causing the dry skin. Do not stop the antibiotic without the okay from your doctor. The antibiotic kills the bacteria that causes the acne.

If you haven't been taking it very long (less than a week), remember that it generally takes a while for it to be fully effective. Some people begin to clear in a few days, some take weeks, some take months.

You could add a sensitive skin moisturizer to your mix. Tretinoin creams can be very irritating and drying. Stay out of the sun whilst on the Tretinoin.

[swab]

well during the day i do use clearisal some 3 step stuff but i only use the loation not the wash, i noticed if i do not do anything just the antibiotic i break out pretty bad, i noticed i really only break out when i eat really fatty foods like checkers or burger king, and when reading about the b5 they said it unclogs your pores ( im hoping this works ) so when i get the b5 just take that and my antibiotic?

[Wynne]

well during the day i do use clearisal some 3 step stuff but i only use the loation not the wash, i noticed if i do not do anything just the antibiotic i break out pretty bad, i noticed i really only break out when i eat really fatty foods like checkers or burger king, and when reading about the b5 they said it unclogs your pores ( im hoping this works ) so when i get the b5 just take that and my antibiotic?

If your doc has also prescribed the tretinoin cream to take, that is a good thing to use, too. Tretinoin helps the skin exfoliate (shed) the dead layers. It helps the pores clear up, thus eliminating acne. It even mitigates fine lines and wrinkles!

I do not know about b5 in combination with antibiotics, but some antibiotic's absorption isn't as good if taken within a certain time of taking vitamins, minerals, or antacids. You should ask your doc about B5 taken in conjunction with the antibiotic. It might be perfectly ok.

[JR86]

how long have you been using the tretinoin? only use it at night when your face is cleaned and completely dry. just use a tiny amount on your entire face. if it is too irritating start using it only every other night. keep taking the antibiotic and be consistent with it until the doctor tells you to stop taking it. you can add the B5 to your regimen but keep using the prescriptions your doctor gave you. you will probably eventually be able to stop the antibiotic but continue the tretinoin. also, it is OK to put a moisturizer right on top of the tretinoin after you apply it to prevent dryness. exfoliating will help with the flaking caused by tretinoin.

[swab]

how long have you been using the tretinoin? only use it at night when your face is cleaned and completely dry. just use a tiny amount on your entire face. if it is too irritating start using it only every other night. keep taking the antibiotic and be consistent with it until the doctor tells you to stop taking it. you can add the B5 to your regimen but keep using the prescriptions your doctor gave you. you will probably eventually be able to stop the antibiotic but continue the tretinoin. also, it is OK to put a moisturizer right on top of the tretinoin after you apply it to prevent dryness. exfoliating will help with the flaking caused by tretinoin.

thanks for the tip the irritation really isn't the problem the acne is, i noticed my pores are pretty big compared to people around me (same age) and i read that b5 helps that so im hoping that will stop new acne from comming, and i have been using tretinoin for over a year now

[LiliVG]

I tried B5. It's expensive cause you have to take so damn much of it to see any results, and it made my acne get waaay worse before it got better. For about a week I looked and felt like utter sh*t. Then when it did get better, it was never completely gone, it reduced my acne by maybe 50%. It wasn't worth it to me.

[swab]

Do you think i should go with fish oil, i heard alot of good things about that

[LiliVG]

I don't know about fish oil, I've never really tried it. but that's because I was worried about mercury in it. I kept coming across people saying that flax oil was a better source of omega 3s because there are no heavy metals in it. I tried flax seed oil for a while. It kind of helped my skin feel softer, I could feel a difference in the texture of oil being produced by my face, but I can't say it reduced my acne any. I tried that for a couple months.
Right now I'm taking digestive enzymes and Acai powder, and I'm getting great results with it I've been taking the digestive enzymes for about 1 month so far and the Acai powder for almost a week. I can really see a difference, I'm not letting go of these! I'm 80-90% clear with those so far, and getting better everyday

[swab]

I don't know about fish oil, I've never really tried it. but that's because I was worried about mercury in it. I kept coming across people saying that flax oil was a better source of omega 3s because there are no heavy metals in it. I tried flax seed oil for a while. It kind of helped my skin feel softer, I could feel a difference in the texture of oil being produced by my face, but I can't say it reduced my acne any. I tried that for a couple months.
Right now I'm taking digestive enzymes and Acai powder, and I'm getting great results with it I've been taking the digestive enzymes for about 1 month so far and the Acai powder for almost a week. I can really see a difference, I'm not letting go of these! I'm 80-90% clear with those so far, and getting better everyday

where can i get what you got?

[swab]

I don't know about fish oil, I've never really tried it. but that's because I was worried about mercury in it. I kept coming across people saying that flax oil was a better source of omega 3s because there are no heavy metals in it. I tried flax seed oil for a while. It kind of helped my skin feel softer, I could feel a difference in the texture of oil being produced by my face, but I can't say it reduced my acne any. I tried that for a couple months.
Right now I'm taking digestive enzymes and Acai powder, and I'm getting great results with it I've been taking the digestive enzymes for about 1 month so far and the Acai powder for almost a week. I can really see a difference, I'm not letting go of these! I'm 80-90% clear with those so far, and getting better everyday

where can i get what you got?

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