3 replies to this topic

[Kallista]

Aloha all,
So I had my first PDT yesterday, and was pleasantly surprised. It was nowhere near as uncomfortable as I had anticipated. I followed the pre-procedure rules very carefully, no sun exposure for a week before (which is hard here in Hawaii). The derm left the Levulan on my skin to incubate for an hour and then I spent 15 minutes under the blue light. I can tell you that I did feel a slight tingling sensation and some minor burning, but nothing compared to the burning sensation of benzoyl peroxide/glycolic acid.
Today my face is slightly red and feels dry, but really doesn't bother me at all. I wonder if all the years of harsh chemicals on my face has toughened it up so that the side effects of the PDT are not too bad. I did not wake up with any new acne like some have reported. I currently have some cysts along both jawlines and maybe 3 active pustules but it is all the leftover brown spots that really make my skin look hideous. There are probably at least 40 or so of these leftover marks on my cheeks. I have read that PDT will also help in clearing the brown spots, so I am very hopeful.
I have decided to stop using BP for good, which is a scary thought since it has been the only thing that has worked for me. About 6 months ago, suddenly I started getting age spots on my face (and I am only 30!!!) which I have read can be caused by long-term use of BP. Not to mention I am tired of my clothes, towels, sheets, etc. all ending up stained from the BP. And if that crap bleaches clothes, I don't even want to know what is is doing to my skin. So, I have ordered some products that are basically herbal but with salicylic acid. This also is scary for me, since the only time I tried SA my skin got worse.
So, my new acne battleplan is PDT (up to three initial treatments and then possibly every 6-18 months as needed) and the botanical SA cleansers. I also use an SPF 30 every morning on my face. Here in Hawaii, our ozone layer is thin due to the centuries of volcanic activity, so UVA/UVB levels are much higher.
A closing thought in all of this: When I browse through all the posts and read all the different regimens that fellow sufferers are using, I am astounded. I don't think there is another group of people who take better care of their skin/diets/lifestyles than those of us who battle acne. My own husband has perfect skin and he washes it in the shower once a day with whatever bar happens to be availabe (usually something like Lever2000 or Irish Spring, whatever was on sale when he bought it. He won't use the stuff I buy him because it is "too expensive to use") What is up with that???? I will grow a second head before I will ever be able to use whatever was on sale to wash my face with. And with my luck the second head will probably have even worse acne. (Quite the optimist aren't I?) I still can't help but wonder that maybe if I stop my skin neurosis and just wash it with bar soap once a day, then maybe I can be clear-skinned too. But even as I type the words, I know it's a delusion. If it were that easy, I wouldn't belong to this message board. Neither would any of you.
I will let you know how my new battleplan works. In the meantime, I wish all a happy, clear-skinned holiday!!

[Kallista]

Hi again,
Just thought I'd mention how it is going. I had my first PDT three days ago, face looks good. I had a little redness and skin flaked around my breakouts, but otherwise not bad. I think some deeper cysts along the jawline are coming to the surface which can be a little painful. My skin does seem smoother, but it is too early to tell. I have read that real results are after 3-5 treatments.
I am SOOOOO SICK of having acne. Anytime I go anywhere, all I see are clear faces. In restaurants I enviously watch clear people scarf down the 1/2 pound greaseburger with fries while I rearrange the salad leaves on my plate. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy salad and 'healthy' foods. But why do these freaking people have it so easy??? And where are all of you who have acne, because I feel like a smallpox victim in a sea of the clear and smooth skinned.
I watch the Discovery channel and notice that native/aboriginal/tribal people never seem to have acne. Is it diet related?? I wish I knew. I can tell you that in the past I have eaten practically nothing but leaves and berries for 3 months, and my acne got worse. I have taken Tane twice, and had relapses both times. I have used every topical gel, cream, ointment, wash, toner, moisturizer available. I haven't tried urine or semen like a few others on this site, but I tell you if this PDT doesn't work, urine and semen may be my last options.
And only other acne sufferers could understand how you could be so desperate as to milk your fellow boyfriend or husband, or pee on a cotton ball for a possibe solution to the enigma that is acne.
Although at this point, I am starting to think that maybe there is no solution. Maybe I just need to accept it and move on with my life. I have a great job, a great husband, and great kids. Why does this acne have so much power over me??? I just can't stand it anymore.

[njc6]

Hi again,
Just thought I'd mention how it is going. I had my first PDT three days ago, face looks good. I had a little redness and skin flaked around my breakouts, but otherwise not bad. I think some deeper cysts along the jawline are coming to the surface which can be a little painful. My skin does seem smoother, but it is too early to tell. I have read that real results are after 3-5 treatments.
I am SOOOOO SICK of having acne. Anytime I go anywhere, all I see are clear faces. In restaurants I enviously watch clear people scarf down the 1/2 pound greaseburger with fries while I rearrange the salad leaves on my plate. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy salad and 'healthy' foods. But why do these freaking people have it so easy??? And where are all of you who have acne, because I feel like a smallpox victim in a sea of the clear and smooth skinned.
I watch the Discovery channel and notice that native/aboriginal/tribal people never seem to have acne. Is it diet related?? I wish I knew. I can tell you that in the past I have eaten practically nothing but leaves and berries for 3 months, and my acne got worse. I have taken Tane twice, and had relapses both times. I have used every topical gel, cream, ointment, wash, toner, moisturizer available. I haven't tried urine or semen like a few others on this site, but I tell you if this PDT doesn't work, urine and semen may be my last options.
And only other acne sufferers could understand how you could be so desperate as to milk your fellow boyfriend or husband, or pee on a cotton ball for a possibe solution to the enigma that is acne.
Although at this point, I am starting to think that maybe there is no solution. Maybe I just need to accept it and move on with my life. I have a great job, a great husband, and great kids. Why does this acne have so much power over me??? I just can't stand it anymore.

Yea I know how painful acne can be but look on the bright side- that you have a wonderful family. Please keep us posted on your progress and let us know if this treatment is working.

[blacksheiladog]

Hi again,
Just thought I'd mention how it is going. I had my first PDT three days ago, face looks good. I had a little redness and skin flaked around my breakouts, but otherwise not bad. I think some deeper cysts along the jawline are coming to the surface which can be a little painful. My skin does seem smoother, but it is too early to tell. I have read that real results are after 3-5 treatments.
I am SOOOOO SICK of having acne. Anytime I go anywhere, all I see are clear faces. In restaurants I enviously watch clear people scarf down the 1/2 pound greaseburger with fries while I rearrange the salad leaves on my plate. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy salad and 'healthy' foods. But why do these freaking people have it so easy??? And where are all of you who have acne, because I feel like a smallpox victim in a sea of the clear and smooth skinned.
I watch the Discovery channel and notice that native/aboriginal/tribal people never seem to have acne. Is it diet related?? I wish I knew. I can tell you that in the past I have eaten practically nothing but leaves and berries for 3 months, and my acne got worse. I have taken Tane twice, and had relapses both times. I have used every topical gel, cream, ointment, wash, toner, moisturizer available. I haven't tried urine or semen like a few others on this site, but I tell you if this PDT doesn't work, urine and semen may be my last options.
And only other acne sufferers could understand how you could be so desperate as to milk your fellow boyfriend or husband, or pee on a cotton ball for a possibe solution to the enigma that is acne.
Although at this point, I am starting to think that maybe there is no solution. Maybe I just need to accept it and move on with my life. I have a great job, a great husband, and great kids. Why does this acne have so much power over me??? I just can't stand it anymore.

Kallista:

No sugary words here, but as a parent of a child who suffers from acne, I can tell you that I would trade places with her in a heartbeat if God offered the deal to me. Sometimes our own thoughts are worse than the thoughts of others. During some of her worst teenage acne breakouts, pictures show my sweet daughter smiling and happy, and I knew then that she understood she is loved unconditionally.

Yes, most who do not suffer from acne cannot possibly understand the pain and discouragement, the isolation and despair. But you are not alone, whether it is just talking to someone on this forum, faith in a higher power, family that loves you no matter what, or friends who accept you and see the person, not the condition. But just as we feel no one really understands our situation, we cannot understand the life of a quadraplegic, or the life of an abused child, the pain of terminal cancer, or what a homeless person deals with daily. We have much to be grateful for, and you have a good grasp of that perspective. So does my daughter. It will take you a long long way.....

The ALA/Bluelight treatment (Levulan+PDT) has helped my daughter's cystic acne breakouts, and provided clearing for about 8 months. She has done this for the last 3 years, once per year (with microdermabrasion before application of the levulan). It is a painful treatment, and involves many days of peeling and having to be indoors. It's sort of a last stop before accutane. So far we have not used accutane out of fear of side effects. But even accutane is another "trial and error" product, which works miracles for some, and not so well for others, and in some cases, terrible long lasting side effects.

We spoke with a specialist today, and he said acne is a trial and error game. He suggested trying many things, even lots of different topicals and antibiotics, and not to be discouraged when something does not work. Like Thomas Edision said when they asked him how he felt after 50 light bulbs did not work, he said "I'm 50 tries closer to my solution". Treatments that work for some, just do not work for others. People will swear by whatever worked for them, and it's very disheartening to try and have no help from the exact same product. On another thread we are investigating blue light treatment devices, and hoping to determine if we can duplicate the effects of the 420 nm light that Clearlight and Blu U machines, at a much lower cost. But although that frequency of light kills PAcnes, given sufficient power levels, it does not have the same efficacy on all people, and they admit 70% get benefits, but that means 30% don't.

This is a medical condition, it's not your fault, you're not alone, and just posting on this site has probably helped others to know they are not alone.

Best regards, Dan