37 replies to this topic

[pupcake]

Hi all! I am a 26 year old female who has been struggling with acne since I was about 15 or so. I've been to countless dermatologists and tried countless medications, antibiotics, creams, gels, etc. Nothing helped. When I turned 22 I started to get acne mainly on my chin and jawline. It wasn't the normal acne I was used to, it hurt and felt hard and deep. I think they are cysts. I still get them and decided today to go (again) to a new dermatologist and get medicated.

I was given Doryx once a day and Ziana to use at night time, every other day for the first two weeks. After two weeks I need to use the Ziana every night. I'm really hoping this combo will help, but if it doesn't I have discussed the possibility of going on Spiro with my doctor. I have scarring from the cysts but I don't mind tackling that once I get the acne under control. As far as other medications I am on, I am going to be starting the Nuva Ring at my next cycle.

I am going to try to post pictures here often so I can compare how my skin looks while on the treatment.

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[pupcake]

I just woke up and thought I would post some pictures. The only camera I have for this is my Macbook, so I'm afraid they aren't the best quality. I just washed off the Ziana and my face feels really clean. The Doryx didn't upset my stomach or make me dizzy either, which the Mino did. So far so good?

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[pupcake]

Day 3. No real difference yet, like I kinda figured. Oh well, I'll appreciate the photos in a couple weeks.
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[pupcake]

Day 6. Yesterday my face was so red, itchy and it burned/strung. I realized that I forgot what the doctor told me about using the Ziana every OTHER day at night, and I've been using it every night. Oops. It feels slightly better today and I will be using it every other night from now on. I had to put Aquaphor on my face yesterday because it hurt so bad. Ugh.

Pictures:

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[pupcake]

Day 7. Used the Ziana last night. A bit dry today but not burning. I got a little breakout on my forehead which normally is fine. Hopefully that will go away ASAP.

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[pupcake]

Day 13.
I was supposed to go to the dermatologist today to check in and see if the medication is helping like it should. Unfortunately, my car ran over a HUGE pot hole and my rim/tire are messed up. I can't drive, so I had to cancel my appointment. Total bummer.

I got my period on Friday and I usually break out in deep, painful cysts on my chin from it. However, I only got one slightly painful pimple, and it was much smaller than normal. This was also my first cycle using the Nuva Ring so perhaps that is helping me as well.

Picture update (I think it still look bad in photos but in person my skin looks better):
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[karen_d]

Hi pupcake!

Just stopped by to say hi and wish you luck with your treatment! You seem to be making some great progress already!!!

As for me, I'm on day 29 of minocycline 200mg... and so far no results. But I think its too early to tell... sigh. Hopefully it will start working soon.

Anyways, keep us posted on your progress...

[pupcake]

Hi Karen D! Thanks for the good luck wishes! I hope your treatment starts kicking in. I know how frustrating it is to just wait and wait and wait, ugh. Does the mino make you dizzy or anything? When I took minocycline it cleared up my face quite nicely after a while, but I was so dizzy I had to discontinue.

My skin has been doing well until this morning, when I woke up with two painful pimples, one on each side of my chin. I'm going to call my derm and see if I can reschedule my apt since my car is working now. It sucks.

Onto todays disappointing pictures-
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I really hope this is just my breakouts coming to the surface or something. I just finished my period 2 days ago, so I hope this goes away. It hurts.

***Why do I keep breaking out in the same exact spots?? I ALWAYS break out in the same exact spots on my chin.***

[pupcake]

I am so fucking frustrated. My face totally broke out on the last day of my period. Large, painful acne on my chin. In the same damn places as it always is. My appointment with the derm is next week. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh!!!
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[karen_d]

Hi pupcake!!
Sorry to hear about ur new breakout. I just had a really bad one too. But you've got be strong and hang in there! I'm sure things will get better soon... they have to. Good luck with your derm visit. I still have a month to go before my next derm appointment... but if things don't get better until then, I'm begging her for accutane.

[karen_d]

Hey Pup! Just wanted to know how you're doing.. you haven't posted in a while. I'm barely hanging on. I've anticipated my derm visit.. I'll be seeing her today. I'm a little anxious... but hopefully she'll give-in and prescribe me tane - not that I'm looking forward to the horrendous IB and side effects people talk about - but at least I'll be able to see myself being clear in 6 months. Anyways, hope you're doing ok girl.

[pupcake]

I'm still alive I keep forgetting to update my progress. Up until a few days ago, it wasn't very good so I kept hesitating. I had to reschedule my derm appointment twice, so that sucked too. I am finally going tomorrow though, so I'm excited to hear what she has to say.

My breakouts went away, thank goodness. I have no active cystic breakouts on my chin *knocks on wood so I don't jinx this*. The only marks on my face are old scars, a few tiny red pimples that I don't even mind and I still have bumpy skin. She said the meds should smooth out my complexion, so maybe it will help and it's just taking a while.

Here are some pictures:
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karen_d, I'm sorry you're not doing so well. How did the derm visit go? Maybe accutane is what you need! I hope she prescribes it to you, or she knows of something else you can try with good results!

[5280]

I googled "so fucking frustrated" and "acne" which brought me here. I can honestly say, I know exactly how you feel! I had bad skin when I was a teenager but now that I'm older (23) I get painful jawline chin/sometimes cheek acne and it makes me crazy. I've taken accutane 3 times and am now trying to go sugar free for awhile to see if that helps. My acne is worse than what you have but in the same place. Do you drink alcohol by chance? I keep hearing that I shouldn't but I've heard so many things that I should and shouldn't do to my skin that I'm not really up for giving up alcohol just yet...

I am so fucking frustrated. My face totally broke out on the last day of my period. Large, painful acne on my chin. In the same damn places as it always is. My appointment with the derm is next week. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh!!!
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[pupcake]

Hi 5280,

So funny that the google search brought you to my log! I'm glad it did, I started this so the other people in the same boat would have something to read

I do drink alcohol, and I haven't noticed that it makes my acne any worse. I do think that dairy makes it worse (plus I'm a little lactose intolerant), so I eliminated milk and butter from my diet. I've tried to stop eating cheese but I can't seem to do it for long. I've toyed around with different diets, even eating all raw foods for months. I still had the acne

Are you currently on any medication? If you are a female, you could try Spironolactone. It has worked wonders for some people with adult chin acne.

[pupcake]

Ok, new update. My derm appointment went okay. She basically told me it was too soon to really know if the medications were working as they should be (so why did they make me book an appointment for that day?! wtf). she told me everything looks good so far, and to come back in 3 months. In 3 months she wants to try to start to wean me off the Doryx and keep me on the Ziana. The only active breakouts on my face are small bumps, probably just clogged pores or something. I have no painful cystic acne on my chin (a miracle!) and I'm even on my period right now which usually makes me break out hardcore. I'm so happy and hopeful and glad that this regimen seems to be working with me. I'm sort of still in shock over it working, since I've been to so many doctors and tried so many medications over the years.

I forgot to mention that for the past week, I've had the worst head cold ever. I wonder if that helped clear up my skin somehow?

Picture time! The red marks that you can see in the pics are old scars, which I hope will fade soon. I'm super super pale so it just makes everything show that much more.
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It won't let me post the 3rd pic, it says "Upload failed. The file was larger than the available space." Not sure what that means???

[karen_d]

Hi pup!

Wow, great progress! I'm sooooo happy for you girl!!!!!
You're an unemployed bum like me now! haha Congrats on going back to college. What are you going to be majoring?

As for me, I'm struggling, but haven't lost faith... yet! haha I know things will get better soon... they just have to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my next derm appointment on Tuesday.

[micki1057813]

Your skin looks so much better now! I read through your post and pics. Im 15, and on the same regimen, 150 mg of Doryx, and pea sized amount of Ziana on face, pea on chest and back. Ive never struggled with acne on my chest like this, its upsetting. Really why we are resorting to the antibiotics is because i am sensitive/allergic to tazorac, differin and benzoyl peroxide.
so congratulations on your progress, im hoping mine will improve.
thanks

[pupcake]

I'm so glad my log has helped some of you and given people hope. I didn't really think anyone would read it but I was wrong.

My skin has been okay. Not great but okay. I went on a little drinking-binge partying with my husband last week. I think it made me break out a bit more. Not painful cysts like I used to get, but annoying bumps on my chin (of course). My forehead got a little bumpy too. I'm cutting that out again and I'm going to try to drink more water and juices. Hopefully everything will settle. I feel really stupid for over-doing it like that, especially with my progress but I'm hopeful it will work out again!

[Languages]

You make me want to try Ziana. I'm on Differin and it isn't doing shit for me. I've been on it for 5 mo's and I almost want to say it's gotten WORSE. :/

I'm calling my derm tomorrow, and I think I'm going to ask for him to call in a Ziana prescription.

[pupcake]

Languages, be sure to ask your Dr. for a savings coupon for the Ziana- it's REALLY expensive without it! I hope it works well for you. It seems to help most people who use it, from what I've read online.


Blog update:

My skin has been clearing up since I stopped drinking and being in 'party mode', just like I thought it would. I have ONE pimple that turned into a huge whitehead, but it's from my period. I'm due to get it in like a day, so I know it's hormonal. It's really ugly and gross looking but it's not a cyst like I used to get. One pimple compared to having like 15 at a time- I think I can deal. I actually put a tiny bit of Ziana on it last night to help it come to a head today. It worked!