3 replies to this topic

[The Dude]

Hey guys,
I posted this a few days ago..but for some reason it got deleted. So here it is again
Recently, I had a derm appt., because I haven't had one in a really long time and I've been battling with mild-moderate acne since I was about 16 or 17 (im 19). I've been doing a hollistic approach since the beginning of summer 07, by drinking lots of water, eating healthy, and applying ACV as a topical. I have seen a lot of improvement since then, but I still break out around my mouth and chin. When I went to the derm, before he even really checked out my face, he started filling out a perscription for tretinoin .05 and doxy. I've been taking 100 mg of doxy twice a day since tuesday, but I'm still afraid to use the tretinoin. My acne is only mild now, with just some blackheads and sometimes a pimple or too, as well as redmarks. I really dont want to experience a terrible month long initial breakout, so that's why I haven't touched the tretinoin. I guess my question is, if my acne is doing alright (not ideal, but at least bearable), should I risk using the tretinoin and looking like shit while I'm at college? or should I hold off it for a while, see how the doxy works, and continue doing my old regimen? Does the infamous IB affect only those with severe acne, or will it turn my mild acne into severe acne? I really don't want to have to make my face return to a bunch of redmarks that I've worked so hard to get rid of since summer. Any suggestions? Thanks

[brandon1021]

I've been on it for about 2 months now, the first few weeks were hell. Your skin flakes and becomes extremely red. But this was only in my case, some have had other experiences with it. I had pretty bad acne when I started on it, and now two months down the road its all pretty much gone. I've just got hyperpigmentation. But from what I've heard it treats that aswell so overall; Bad in the beggining and gets better

[yuzer]

Results vary from person to person.

I've been using Differin (It's like your Retin-A) and Doxy since August for mild yet highly persistant acne. Now I have noticed my skin is less irritated, and acne has gone down about 75% (not completely sadly). I personally have a redmark issue (every little pimple leaves a redmark for about 6 months to a year for me) so I'm trying to make that 100%.

The first month of use I didn't break out any more than usual - Don't be afraid. If the Retin-A's causing you to break out like mad, ask your Derm for Differin Cream. I have extremely sensitive skin and Differin didn't break me out.

The sooner you deal with this problem the sooner it'll go away (hopefully). It just takes some time.

[peteyboy]

I used Differin and did not suffer from an initial breakout. Retinoids work in the same way in dealing with acne, so I would assume that I wouldn't have gotten a breakout had I used tretinoin instead. Differin is formulated in response to the complaints of irritation of tretinoin, so for most people, it would cause less skin irritation.

Anyway, I was taking 2x100mg of doxy while I was using Differin. I think it had some part to play in suppressing the initial breakout. There is no way to know for sure though.

Its really up to you to decide whether the RISK of a initial breakout is worth it. It's a gamble for you really, because for most people their skin is so unsatisfactory they have nothing to lose.

If I were you, I'd try doxy first and see how it goes. Nevertheless remember that antibiotics lose their effectiveness as time goes by, especially if you take it long term, so if your acne is stubborn you might have to use tretinoin eventually.

Good luck.