5 replies to this topic

[Maleka]

Hello All! I toam starting on Steviamicyn and a oral antibiotic (derived from Tetracyclin). I ahve been using it for a week and a half. I have not seen a big difference yet, may be the new pimples I am getting are a bit smaller, but not that much. Right now I have around 4 papules in my right cheek (were I get almost 90% of my acne, wird no?), some pimples that are healing and a lot of red marks!, so it looks bad, even if the pimples are not there anymore.
I read that I have to wait around 4 weeks to start seing results, so I will try to be patient and keep my treatment.
I have been experiencing adult acne for around 3 months now, it stated very mild but it got moderate, and had left a lot of red marks. I have used Proactive for around 4 years and it really help me to control the acne. But I got divorce and had a lot of stress plus I stopped taking the pill, so I gues all these things were a factor to start with the inflamed acne again.
I did think is was just to go away in a couple of weeks, but nothing worked and started to get worse, so finally I decided to go to the derm and he prescribed the medications I posted above.
Besides that, I have beeb taking Murad Skin Purifying Supplements for about a month now and just started Omega 3. I hope all this helps me get rid of the acne.
I will post how I am doing with this regimen, I hope for the best
Any suggestions? anybody doind same regimen or similar than me? please help, I get pretty depressed!
Thanks you guys!
M

[fletch1978]

sorry for the late reply!
it sounds like you're on a pretty typical combo of meds, using a topical retinoid with an oral antibiotic. now the topical cream youre using also has erythromycin in it, so youre getting a double whammy of antibiotics. ive heard mixed reviews about doing this, as some say it can lead to faster resistance, although i'm not positive about that, so take that with a grain of salt.
the other ingredient in the topical is tretinoin, aka retin-a. it can actually make your acne worse for the first couple of months, but after 8-12 weeks you usually start seeing results. however, seeing how youre doubling up on the antibiotic front, i don't know whether or not you may have a suppressed initial breakout from the tretinoin. only time will tell.
its still very early in your treatment to say whether or not its working, so as hard as it is, try to be patient. even the 'wonder' drug accutane can make your skin much much worse before it works its magic. there seems to be no quick fix for acne, which sucks
let us know how youre progressing with your treatment and this board is here to support you!

[Maleka]

Thank you very much for your reply! It is important for me to know that somebody out there understands what we are going through!
As you said, I am in the early stage of the treatment, but I get desperate! I know you understand this. I think my skin looks a bit better, but not that much, I still get pimples, but I hope they will start to go away, they look a bit smaller, but I have a lot of red marks! but I guess the scar treatment will come after I get clear.
I have an appointment with my derm next week (3 week of treatment), so I am hoping for the best.
I am also on BCP and taking vitamins. For the last 3 months my skin started to get crazy, and it was very fast!, so I think I have to wait at least 6 weeks to see if the treatment is doing its job.
Thanks for your support, I will keep updating what happens.
You are hot!

[jbrown]

I was going to put in my two cents, but wow fletch that was a great answer. Anyway, keep us updated on your progress.

[fletch1978]

np about the support...just ask anytime and i'd be more than happy to help if i can.
i think youre wise to say that you'll deal with the scars after youre clear, because it makes no sense to try to fade scars if you keep getting more of them! for me, though, the tretinoin actually has helped alot in fading old scars and any new ones that form go away much faster now. i think the tretinoin is actually a good treatment for scarring, as well as for acne, so you get a 2 in 1 benefit
just a word of caution though, your skin *may* breakout more during the first month or so of treatment, and if it does, DONT give up! it's actually a sign that the medicine is working, which sounds strange for an acne medicine, but its true. i know that when my skin got worse after starting the tretinoin, i was almost happy because i knew that my skin was responding to it. so even if your skin does get a little worse, hold youre head up and know that its very temporary, and you're skin will look all the better for it

and thank you for the hot remark it made my day!

[Maleka]

np about the support...just ask anytime and i'd be more than happy to help if i can.
i think youre wise to say that you'll deal with the scars after youre clear, because it makes no sense to try to fade scars if you keep getting more of them! for me, though, the tretinoin actually has helped alot in fading old scars and any new ones that form go away much faster now. i think the tretinoin is actually a good treatment for scarring, as well as for acne, so you get a 2 in 1 benefit
just a word of caution though, your skin *may* breakout more during the first month or so of treatment, and if it does, DONT give up! it's actually a sign that the medicine is working, which sounds strange for an acne medicine, but its true. i know that when my skin got worse after starting the tretinoin, i was almost happy because i knew that my skin was responding to it. so even if your skin does get a little worse, hold youre head up and know that its very temporary, and you're skin will look all the better for it

and thank you for the hot remark it made my day!

Hello there! Well here I am again, this is my second week of treatment. I think my skin it getting worse! I know you said it is normal and it means the tetrinoid is working, but I feel very down at the moment I feel I look terrible, I feel I am not pretty, and believe me, I used to think I was!, 90% of my acne is on my left cheek! it is very wierd, I know I have to hold up and wait to see results, but I have so many red marks now! my skin looks terrible! I started today to use ACV as a tonic, I feel my skin soft, and I hope this will also help to get rid of the terible cysts I have and redness on my skin.
I know I am a beautiful person, but when I see myself in the mirror, I just do not like what I see. Please help!
Are you from 1978? I am!
Thanks!
Maleka