259 replies to this topic

[WildFlower]

quick update:

I ran out of the C2S skin balancing serum (a mixture of vitamic C and SA) about a week ago and decided to try something different in its place. I bought Pure Deming's Intense Gel (the regular one) and I've used it twice so far. I don't like how it feels on my skin and the fact that you have to leave it on for 45 minutes, and washing my face twice, but it will be worth it if I see results. Mainly I would like it to help with red marks, scars, and prevent wrinkles. We'll see.

I haven't been consistent with the RAM, sometimes I use it every other day and sometimes I don't use it for a whole week. Now I'm back to using it every other day.

I had a few little ones pop up...this time on MY CHEEKS (which have been clear since week 13 on Differin!!). I don't know why this happend. It could be the primer, or the RAM, or the Intense Gel, or running out of the C2S, or just PMS. They were tiny so I don't think they'll leave a scar or a lasting red mark.

Skin status now: A small but painful one on the forehead and the two on my left cheek are in the healing stage. I should be getting my period tomorrow, along with the usual menstrual migraine. WoooHooo

hmm I think that changing the topical routine in any way can cause some breakouts temporarily. I wouldn't worry unless you keep breaking out, then you can go back to what was working and maybe try adding back one new thing at a time.

You're exactly right. Thanks bran!

[WildFlower]

Update:

Skin's doing well. It has remained clear since last post, with the occasional tiny pimple here or there. I found out my shampoo was causing my forehead acne and since I've switched to my old shampoo I've had no problems. I've filled my Retin-A Micro prescription and now i'm using it more often. I'm running out of Differin and I dont know if I should refill my prescription or just rely on the RAM.

All of my old red marks are completely gone except one which is very light. I did get some new red marks on my cheeks which are small and minor and only a few. Applying makeup is so easy and convenient these days and it doesn't take long like it used to. I used to get so angry and frustrated covering all my scars and I'm very happy thats over.

My indented scars are slowly but surely getting better. I think the Retin-A is helping. I'm not loving the Intense Gel...it's messy, inconvenient, and smells strong (the smell triggers my migraines!). I wish I got the vitamin C serum instead. I will not be repurchasing the IG. I will still use it up though.

This is irrelevant but I filled my prescription for my migraines as well which has been a relief. No more painful, severe, disabling migraines The medication makes me feel GREAT!

Current status of skin: Clear of active acne

[WildFlower]

Update:

Skin is still doing well. I've been using RAM almost everyday and have been having some flaking around the mouth. I'm still having PMS breakouts, although they're minor. My skin still has a lot of repairing to do. As I have mentioned, I have noticable scarring on my lower right cheek. I want to do something more about it but I don't know what and if it's worth the risk.

Current status: One healing pimple under the chin

[WildFlower]

Now using RAM every night. The dryness and flaking has decreased to a minimum. My esthetician recommended Glytone as a cleanser and Benzaclin to use during the day. So she gave me some samples and I have been using them. I'm not sure about the Glytone, so I haven't been using it consistently but I've added Benzaclin to my morning regimen as a spot treatment. We'll see how that goes.

I have not done the "Intense Gel" mask for a while. I never liked it. However, I'm still doing the glycolic peel once a week or once every two weeks.

Overall I'm happy with my skin.

Current Status: I have a little bump on the forehead around my hairline.

[dwhaa]

Now using RAM every night. The dryness and flaking has decreased to a minimum. My esthetician recommended Glytone as a cleanser and Benzaclin to use during the day. So she gave me some samples and I have been using them. I'm not sure about the Glytone, so I haven't been using it consistently but I've added Benzaclin to my morning regimen as a spot treatment. We'll see how that goes.

I have not done the "Intense Gel" mask for a while. I never liked it. However, I'm still doing the glycolic peel once a week or once every two weeks.

Overall I'm happy with my skin.

Current Status: I have a little bump on the forehead around my hairline.

Hi - glad that you are doing so well!
What is your overall op of RAM vs. Differin?
I am on my way to ask my dr for either one, and not sure what to do.
Thanks,
Dawn

[WildFlower]

Now using RAM every night. The dryness and flaking has decreased to a minimum. My esthetician recommended Glytone as a cleanser and Benzaclin to use during the day. So she gave me some samples and I have been using them. I'm not sure about the Glytone, so I haven't been using it consistently but I've added Benzaclin to my morning regimen as a spot treatment. We'll see how that goes.

I have not done the "Intense Gel" mask for a while. I never liked it. However, I'm still doing the glycolic peel once a week or once every two weeks.

Overall I'm happy with my skin.

Current Status: I have a little bump on the forehead around my hairline.

Hi - glad that you are doing so well!
What is your overall op of RAM vs. Differin?
I am on my way to ask my dr for either one, and not sure what to do.
Thanks,
Dawn

Hi Dawn,

Differin is gentle on the skin, so it's good for people with sensitive skin. It did a great job clearing me up after week 12. However, it doesn't do much for scars or the overall health of your skin. Retin-A-Micro is a stronger retinoid so its not so gentle on the skin. It's a lot more drying and causes flaking (at least in my case). But because its a stronger retinoid, its better at stimulating collagen production, and improving skin tone and texture. I can tell you my skin looks a lot healthier now with RAM than with Differin.

If I had to recommend one to you, I would recommend RAM.

Good luck. Let me know how it goes!

[WildFlower]

Update:

My skin has been dry and flaking around the mouth and chin. I'm looking to switch to an SPF 30 moisturizer. I like the Olay brand a lot but I'm looking for one that is SPF 30 and oil free. I emailed them asking if their SPF 30 moisturizer for sensitive skin is oil free and i'm still waiting on a reply. Acne breakouts have been infrequent, even less than before, thanks to the BenzaClin I added to my morning routine.

The "no diet restrictions" really caught up with me...I've gained 8 pounds since quitting my acne diet. So I've put my self back on a diet as of a week and a half ago and so far so good. I'm working out pretty much every day and eating healthy. I've cut out all the junk food, and even dairy. My goal is to lose ten pounds by June 1st. I think this will be easy because I've already lost a few.

Skin status: Clear of acne but still have minor scars visible.

[Jenstar]

Hey Wildflower - Jenstar here - remember me? I have been using MA since Dec 07. First I tried Ma Ma Lotion and for the past year I have been using primarily NuCelle 10% and sometimes 15%. It kept me about 98% clear but just recently I have been getting some annoying breakouts. I am wondering whether I should change my regimen now and try something like Green Cream or RAM or Diacnealin in addition to MA. What do you think? Have you heard about M2 Skin Care?

[WildFlower]

Hi guys

It has been more than four months since I last posted. I just wanted to give an update:

I'm happy to say that I've been completely and consistently clear since spring!

Now I'm dealing with a different skin problem...scars! My scars seemed to become more noticeable after all the acne cleared. They're not severe scars but still very noticeable under certain lighting and up close, enough to make me very self conscious. Although I've been using the strongest Retin-A, it has only helped by maybe 5 to 10%. After doing a lot of reading on acne scar treatments, I've decided Derma rolling would be the best option for me. I'm going to have these treatments done by a qualified doctor as soon as one becomes available in my area. I called the people at Derma Roller today and they told me someone in my area is getting trained now and will be providing this service in a couple of months. I will be making a "Derma Rolling log" (with pics) when I start treatments so everyone can see how well this treatment works.

So what did I learn from my battle with acne? And what would I do differently?

First of all, I wish I had gone to a dermatologist as soon as my bad breakouts started in 2006/2007. I could have prevented A LOT of the skin problems I went through...trying many different products and spending a lot of money and time trying to clear my skin with OTC stuff, expensive products, diets, supplements, vitamins, changing lifestyle, etc.

I learned that its best to come up with a simple gentle routine, whatever works for you, and STICK TO IT! Just cleanse, treat, and moisturize! Dont keep adding new or different products to your routine. Also, don't try every product someone on the boards is claiming is amazing! What works for one person may not work for another. Let your Derm decide which products to try. Finally I wish I didnt pop or squeeze my pimples. Maybe I wouldn't have any scars now if I didnt do that!

Good luck everyone!

Scar treatment log coming soon!

[WildFlower]

I've decided to add a Vitamin C serum to my regimen to help with the scar repair. I'm going to use Pure Deming's Pure C Serum. Its 16% vitamin C which is in the recommended range for collagen production. I'm going to start using this today, once a day. I must say I'm nervous about adding a new product to my regimen since I've been using the exact same products for months and months successfully. I also want to take Vitamin C 1000 mg daily (to help with scars) but not until I know for a fact the C serum does not break me out. I can only tell if I add one item at a time.

I'm so happy to finally be clear after all these years! No acne, not even during PMS!! Thats a first for me (knocking on wood). Thank you God!

Anyway, I hope my face likes this product! I'll keep you updated.

[dwhaa]

Hey Wildflower! How are you - I am back from a brief time away from here. Doing my log now and hoping to have good results too! I have been ok for a bit but probs with flare ups, and using Tazorac as of late. Hoping for some positive changes.

Glad to see you are clear, even during pms - my big issue as of late.

Let me know how the vitamin c does for you... hope the scar treatments help. There is a place that i am going to that does fraxel and says it helps with scarring... very gentle too, they are saying.

[WildFlower]

Hey Wildflower! How are you - I am back from a brief time away from here. Doing my log now and hoping to have good results too! I have been ok for a bit but probs with flare ups, and using Tazorac as of late. Hoping for some positive changes.

Glad to see you are clear, even during pms - my big issue as of late.

Let me know how the vitamin c does for you... hope the scar treatments help. There is a place that i am going to that does fraxel and says it helps with scarring... very gentle too, they are saying.

Hi Dawn. Good to hear from you! I wish you luck with your current regimen. I'll keep checking your log for your progress.

I'm hoping the C and A (RAM) together give me some major improvement in my scars, and since they're not severe, I have hope. I'm gonna give it some time before I undergo a procedure like Fraxel.

Take care!

[dwhaa]

Hey Wildflower! How are you - I am back from a brief time away from here. Doing my log now and hoping to have good results too! I have been ok for a bit but probs with flare ups, and using Tazorac as of late. Hoping for some positive changes.

Glad to see you are clear, even during pms - my big issue as of late.

Let me know how the vitamin c does for you... hope the scar treatments help. There is a place that i am going to that does fraxel and says it helps with scarring... very gentle too, they are saying.

Hi Dawn. Good to hear from you! I wish you luck with your current regimen. I'll keep checking your log for your progress.

I'm hoping the C and A (RAM) together give me some major improvement in my scars, and since they're not severe, I have hope. I'm gonna give it some time before I undergo a procedure like Fraxel.

I agree! As I get older I will look for more alternatives like that, but not yet! I am sure you are just beautifule and see things that no one else sees!

Take care!

[WildFlower]

Update:

I've been using the Pure C Serum for two and a half weeks now with no problems other than a few microzits the first week. The problem I have is incorporating it into my routine. I don't want to give up something for it, so I cant use it daily like I'd hoped I've been alternating it in the mornings with the BenzaClin. Someday I'll give up the BenzaClin completely and just use the C serum in the morning. I like it. It absorbs quickly and once I add my moisturizer, the stickiness goes away. Plus, I think i see an improvement already...maybe.

Edited by WildFlower, 27 September 2009 - 08:32 AM.

[dwhaa]

teach me...why not use C and the benzaclin in the am? counteract?

Did RAM cause an IB for you?

[WildFlower]

teach me...why not use C and the benzaclin in the am? counteract?

Did RAM cause an IB for you?

Yes, I cant use them together becuase they counteract, unfortunately.

RAM didn't cause an IB for me because the Differin had already done that...A bad one too!

[WildFlower]

Update on scar regimen:

I've reduced my use of BenzaClin to once a week, and have been using Vitamin C serum almost everyday in the mornings, with no breakouts. It has been about two months since I started the C serum. I definitely see improvement, especially on my right cheek. Its strange because my right cheek, which I considered my "bad" cheek is healing faster than the left for some reason, and now the left cheek is my "bad" cheek. However, the scars on my left cheek are different types of scars than my right cheek (shallow ice picks I would say on the left and rolling on the right). So overall, improvement is definite but slow.

I've just added oral Vitamic C to my regimen as of one week ago. I take 1000 mg daily with food. Sometimes I get lazy or forget to take it so I definitely need to be more consistent.

I've been completely clear of acne now for six months!

[WildFlower]

I've completely phased out the BenzaClin from my routine. I'm on my second bottle of C serum and use it every morning. I've switched my moisturizer with Eucerin Q10 anti-wrinkle sensitive skin moisturizer with SPF 15. I researched this before I decided to give it a try. I wanted to switch because I wanted some additional help with wrinkle prevention and scars. I've use it for three days so far, and its fine. I've also increased my dosage of vitamin C to 1500 mg daily and added vitamin D, although I havent started taking it yet.

[dwhaa]

I've completely phased out the BenzaClin from my routine. I'm on my second bottle of C serum and use it every morning. I've switched my moisturizer with Eucerin Q10 anti-wrinkle sensitive skin moisturizer with SPF 15. I researched this before I decided to give it a try. I wanted to switch because I wanted some additional help with wrinkle prevention and scars. I've use it for three days so far, and its fine. I've also increased my dosage of vitamin C to 1500 mg daily and added vitamin D, although I havent started taking it yet.

hi!
How long did it take you to go through the vitamin C serum?

[WildFlower]

Dawn, it took me about two months to go through the 0.5 fl oz bottle of C serum, and I use a lot of it.

Update:
Switching to a different moisturizer was a mistake. I quit using it after the third day because it quickly started clogging my pores. I should've listened to my own advice and "stuck with what works." So I'm back to my old moisturizer, and everything else is the same. I still havent started taking Vitamin D but am taking 1500 mg of C.

I am really excited because now I see a noticeable improvement in my scars...I would say about 50 to 60% improvement and I'm very happy about that I give most of the credit to the C supplement and C serum and some credit to the Retin-A. I say this because I didn't really start noticing a big impovement until I added the C. I'm hoping it'll keep getting better and better.

Edited by WildFlower, 14 November 2009 - 08:26 AM.