12 replies to this topic

[spacetravler]

So I am back again after a failed Tetralysal 300mg course. I ended that course in the beginning of February and today I was at a skin specialist (waiting time was around 2½ month) and we talked much about accutane. Since I have mild acne today there was a slight concern of either to perscribe it or not but he did not say 100% no. The problem was I need to do a antibiotic course with a local treatment in order to leagaly be able to get accutane. My last antibiotic course with Tetralysal 300mg had no local treatment, I just used water.

I told 'em that I did not want to use BenzoylPeroxide or any other cream for that matter because I did not want to compromise with less outbreaks vs red skin. Anyway since there was a dead end to accutane before I try this there was not much I could do or say. The only positive side is, if this do not help it seems I will be getting accutane (which is comforting).

I just don't know if I am going to use Epiduo or Differin, I got both perscription so I can pick whatever I feel like. I am slightly leaning towards Epiduo since I have already tried Differin once before but at the same time I want to stay away from BensoylPeroxide. In any case I will start the antibiotics today and on Friday night I will try some cream.
Update:
I will use Epiduo.

Male, 21 years old (22 later this year)

• Cleansing will be only water for now. I am cleansing with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and using Ole Henriksen moisturizer. Cleansing again with only water + Olay Complete SPF 15 Sensitive Skin (A.M. and P.M.)
• I use Jojoba oil as a shaving cream/oil when I am shaving (usually every third day). I use Gillette Series Shave Gel, Pure & Sensitive now instead. I feel I get a even better shave then with Jojoba oil, and I can pick it up locally without the need of ordering it online.
• Ery-Max 250 mg (Erythromycin) :: Two pills twice a day.
• Using Epiduo before bed time every day.
• Taking ABCDE and Zink suppliment every day.

Starting date antiboitic: April 22, 2009
Starting date local treatment: April 22, 2009
Estimated time: 3 month

Quick link
Day 3, Day 7, Day 8, Day 16, Day 19, 1 Month, 1 Month 2 Weeks

[spacetravler]

Day 3

On Wendsday night I tried some Epiduo and Differin on different side of my head (for my scalp acne). I also put on a little epiduo as a spottreatment for one pustule. I did not want to use anything on my face yet before I knew how my skin would react to it and I was surprised. There was no irritation and no itching. I was even kinda generous on the amount on my head because if it fucks up there, no one will really notice.

The next night (Thursday) I applied Epiduo on both my side of scalp acne and I also applied a little more Epiduo in my face (chin area and around nose). No irritation and no itching. I only applied a thin layer but still... as I remember I get irritated very easy but perhaps my earlier experience with BenzoylPeroxide 5% and 10% has made my skin 'BenzoylPeroxide tolerant'. Still... that was kinda long ago. I remember Dan saying that above 2.5% it starts to get irritated and I never tried 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide before so perhaps he was right or I am still Benzoyl Peroxide tolerant.

Bottom line is, I am kinda excited again. Perhaps Epiduo will make a good work because my skin looks kinda good today but its not just today. My skin has constantly getting better since February for some reason (without treatment). Its soon summer but I have not been out in the sun really so I can't really be that... maybe I am outgrowing acne? Time will tell.

On the antibiotic part I already experience some side effect like stomach pain from time to time and I feel a bit nausea. Felt when I was at work earlier today that I was about to throw up...

[spacetravler]

Day 7

Ow ow ow ow! I am experience som burning and kinda massive redness in my face... guess it took a couple of day before it kicked in. Now it looks like I have a sunburn... a bad sunburn. I also get wierd skindisorders from the antibiotic's side effect (which is a common side effect) that looks like red areas that usually come in the morning and goes away later the same day.

The positive is, I don't have stomach pain and I dont feel nausea anymore. I also don't have any real pustule active either, so if all this burning redness would go away it might look kinda good. I was hoping to shave today but its just to irritated... ugh.

[spacetravler]

Day 8

Gonna take a break with Epiduo... my skin can't just take it anymore and I look like a complete fool with all that redness. Gonna hold up a couple of days then we will see. Still gonna use the antibiotics though.

[spacetravler]

I am looking for a moisturizer with SPF 15, a light which leave the skin elastic and smooth but most importantly. Doesnt leave the skin look greasy. I used some Ole Henriksen products the last month and they are not bad but they are expensive stuff. I think the cleanser is a little rough (that is why I am only using water right now) so I am going to try the popular Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It is also not expensive.

If anyone have any suggestion on the SPF moisturizer, feel free to comment but I am now leaning towards either an Olay or Aveeno SPF atm. Still doing some research and readin reviews.

[spacetravler]

I think Olay Complete All Day UV Defense Moisture Lotion, Sensitive Skin is the ultimate choice and after some research it is also something that Dan himself favors. I hope it works for me because that is what I am choosing.

Going to call my derm and see what he think I should do about Epiduo because it was ridicoulus how much burning, irritation and redness it has caused with a thin layer usage.

[Tyga]

Keep us posted on what the derm says about the Epuido. That's a fairly new topical, isn't it? I only tried Erythromycin for a couple of weeks. I feel guilty. I should have given it more time to work. I'm clear right now because of Doxy.

I also use Cetaphil mild cleanser. I prefer the pump over the bar. I'm in the market for a new moisturizer, so maybe I could give Olay a try.

[spacetravler]

Thanks for stopping by, will inform what the derm will say. Today after I feel a lot better, the burning and redness has gone done rather much but still not good. I have a fan that blows on me constantly. Luckily I was free from work when it started to get out of hand and am free until Monday. I will also use the pump over the bar of the Cetaphil cleanser, I just assume the bar will get more bacteria and stuff on it. I will probably recive the moisturizer and cleanser next week, some holidays here this week aswell = no post going forward + weekend.

[spacetravler]

Day 16

Cool, my skin is pretty much back to normal now. I think this antibiotic is working for me, I got no active pustule in my face atm, just the red after some previous pustules. My diet is also really much better, no sugar at all and healthy good rich food. Before I could easy get a soda from time to time and so but not now, not sure if that has helped some too. I can't get hold of my derm until June 10th though so me and you guys have to wait for that response. Now I only hope that if it is the antibiotic that is helping me... that I wont build up resistance too it. Also the side effects are gone, no weird skin disorders or what to call em.

I received my Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser also, I have used it only once but I kinda like it. It don't seem to dry out my face or anything and I get a 'fresh' feeling after I have cleaned it.

over and out

[spacetravler]

Day 19

Wanted to add for my own personal note, I broke out with a tiny pustule below my nose that disappeared really quick. I also got two small pustule on my chin that also disappeared quick. There was a third pustule on my chin that is still active but not that big... not the size of my usual pustules. And one more came back below my nose, slight different place then the first that is still active. Not sure if its connected to the use of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser since they came rather quick. If I continue to break out I will make a hold of using the cleanser just to be sure.

[spacetravler]

1 Month

Well, 1/3 of the treatment is done but I am still breaking out. It's better then when I started it. Some of those big nasty pustule have done comebacks which is a downer. As I said I also stopped Cetaphil now for a while but since I am still breaking out and such I guess that is not the case for my recent breakouts. I am now using the Olay SPF moisturizer which is ok, it feels nice to have some sun protection now. I will talk to my derm in about ~15-20 days on the phone and I will see then how it looks and what she will say about the Epiduo. If she starts talking about other creams etc I will stop using the antibiotic and let my self break out bad until my next appointment and say that I used it even though I didn't in order to obtain accutane. I am kinda done fucking around now. Don't get me wrong though, I would really like the antibiotic to work and perhaps can keep my acne in control for maybe if I do outgrow it. But around 8 years of acne is starting to tear up the soul in me now...

[spacetravler]

1 Month 2 Weeks

Not much to report, tried the Epiduo again as a spot treatment without success. I think I am safe to say that I am back to square 1 again, call from my derm at Wednesday. What a pointless and hopeless disease...

[spacetravler]

Last input in this thread.

I talked to my derm and all I could hear was how difficult it is to obtain accutane and how bad it is rather then talk about my current problems. It seems to be easier to obtain Plutonium then accutane for me. I will just continue this course until 3 month has passed since my prescription on Ery-Max will only last me that much. The derm will book a new appointment which I will know later when it will be, I heard on the phone something like "December" but when I was visiting the Hospital on my first appointment I heard "August" so we'll see. I will then beg for accutane and if I don't get it I am not sure what to do because there is nothing else I can try then accutane...? I done everything I can, with diet, skin picking, right shaving gel etc. I will probably buy it online in worst case scenario. Might need to book a new appointment for depression.........

take care all... *waves*