2 replies to this topic

[jaybirdmanpupp]

Today is the worst acne day ive ever had i just feel dejected like alot of you guys. Im on tetracycline for about 3 weeks and adapalene aka differin for 2 weeks . Today i see about a zillioin new zits forming and this initial breakout is takinga lot out of me. MY acne went from moderate to definatley severe . im wondering if i should go on accutane or give this a chance what do u guys think , has anyone else had this problem?

[willow569]

I had a bad flare up from Differin - it does happen to people pretty often. Some people get an initial breakout during the first couple of months, and then start to clear up and get great results. Others (like me) just keep breaking out on it. I quit using it after 9 wks, since I didn't see any signs of improvement and the acne I was getting just stuck around for weeks (which had not happened to me prior to using Differin). After I went off it, I found an acne clinic that got me clear using facial and over the counter topical treatments. I rarely get breakouts any more.

So, its hard to say if you are just having a typical IB or if your skin just doens't like the Differin. Most people say to give it 10-12 wks before deciding.

[laindenver]

I really feel for what you're going through. I had a similar problem with retin-a micro. I stuck with it for 7 and a half weeks before I gave up. It turned my moderate cystic acne into VERY severe cystic acne. I still don't know what would have happened if I stuck with it longer but it was so debilitating and depressing for me that I just couldn't handle it. I think if you're deciding whether to stick with a retinoid or not you just have to go with your gut. If your emotional pain outweighs possible benefits you might want to stop. On the other hand clear skin could be just over the next hill. Thats what makes retinoids so hard. I ended up on accutane after I gave up on retin-a micro. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

I really feel for what you're going through. I had a similar problem with retin-a micro. I stuck with it for 7 and a half weeks before I gave up. It turned my moderate cystic acne into VERY severe cystic acne. I still don't know what would have happened if I stuck with it longer but it was so debilitating and depressing for me that I just couldn't handle it. I think if you're deciding whether to stick with a retinoid or not you just have to go with your gut. If your emotional pain outweighs possible benefits you might want to stop. On the other hand clear skin could be just over the next hill. Thats what makes retinoids so hard. I ended up on accutane after I gave up on retin-a micro. Good luck with whatever decision you make.