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[gems19810]

Hi everybody, been lurking for a while and thought I'd introduce myself.

I first got acne when I was about 9 years old, was bullied terribly in school and it destroyed my self confidence. I had large cysts and whiteheads all over my face, back and chest. Doctors tried every medication around at the time - oxytetracycline, minocycline, zineryt, quinoderm etc etc and I was referred to a dermatologist several time but they wouldn't allow me to take accutane until I was 16 years old, by which time my life and relationships were pretty much ruined.

Accutane cleared up my acne beautifully. I had wonderful clear skin and could finally get up in the morning without dreading what I would look like in the mirror.

I had a relapse when I was about 19 and had another course of accutane which sorted me out, plus I was put on Dianette which made my skin and hair grease free for the first time ever.

Since then my skin has been clean and clear for several years, until a couple of months ago.
I am now 27, was living in Thailand and returned to the UK in November.

My skin has broken out horribly. I have large cysts on my jawline and cheeks, plus lots of red marks and scars wherever I have had a spot before. My skin is lumpy and generally red looking and sore. I have lots of little whiteheads on my chin and around my mouth. Strangely my forehead is completely clear.

Have been to the docs about this and he gave me Differin. I had a really bad reaction to this and all the skin round my eyes went red and really sore so I had to stop taking it.
Then I tried the Dermalogica Medibac skincare regime. This also made my skin really sore and flaky. My doctor says that my skin is too sensitive to apply any topical medications, so I have now been prescribed oxytetracycline - 250mg 4 times a day.

I'm also taking Dianette and my dietary supplements include - Zinc, Iron, MSM, Glucosamine, Evening Primrose oil, St John's Wort and Burdock Root.

I don't understand why my skin went from clear to having severe acne in the space of about 8 weeks. At 27 I feel I'm too old for this and to make things worse I'm a schoolteacher so have to put up with several children staring at me and my terrible skin all day. My doctor won't refer me to a dermatologist until I've been on the antibiotics for 3 months, which sucks because I know that accutane is the only thing that works for me, so I will have to put up with looking like a smallpox victim until at least May!

Any advice, comments or suggestions would be much appreciated.

[helpmegirl]

AWWW ! oh my goodness. I feel your pain. It is truly awful isn't it? I am 20 and I just started breaking out with acne all over my cheeks. And I have no idea why. I have had clear skin for twenty years..until six months ago. I honestly do not know what is wrong with me or what I am doing wrong. I am drinking tons of water. I run all the time. I went to the derm and he prescribed me tetracycline twice a day and differin cream at night and nothing is helping. I am still breaking out . and it is so discouraging to have to try to cake on make up when I never used to wear any at all on my face. I feel ugly and like trash all the time. everyone says its not as bad as i make it out to be..but its all i think about..and I feel like I can't be happy until it is gone. Differin is bull crap and I don't think its doing anything for me..honestly!
My forehead is completely clear too! and..its so weird!!! the acne is only on my cheeks! its the weirdest thing ever..!! You need to stop taking the crap and after those three months of antibiotics are up..you need to demand accutane. If you know that's what works for you..stick with it! I need to be on that stuff!!...I don't know if my doctor will prescribe it tho..because my acne is what he considered.."mild" but gosh. I feel like its severe. its an illness and an ugliness that is eating up my life and my soul and i can't take it anymore! i know this doesnt help! But i promise you..you are not alone. I am 20 . and just started this terribleness! i don't know when it will go away....but let me know how that antibiotic is treatin you! then u need to get back on that accutane if u kno it will work!! btw..if u have any suggestions for me!!...i would love that!