41 replies to this topic

[DemiPuppy]

Awww I love Demi!

So I got the job, yay! I started on Tuesday. That's the good news. The bad news is I had a new cyst develop, I got so mad. My skin was pretty good and it wasn't even PMS time, I don't know where it came from. I had to start a new job with a monster on my face, I was hoping the cysts were done. I've heard it takes 3 full months to see success with RAM and I'm only 2 months in.

Hooorrrayyyy!!! Congrats on the job! Awesome news!! I'm sorry about the cyst - I woke up to new cyst one in the works today too, of course on my lower chin/jawline - so I feel your pain. They are the worst! We get so excited about having things to look forward to and then this happens to us!! What gives! You only have 1 month or so to go --- your in the homestretch!! Just a little bit longer for ya! Keep your head up at your new job - I am sure things will go great!!

[DemiPuppy]

Day 24

Well it is official my face is a disaster and I leave to go visit tomorrow. Not only are blemishes all over the place but the cooler weather has made my face dry so I am flaking on top of that. I so need to get my behind to ULTA to get that DDF moisturizer. I am gonna be so embarrassed of my face at the wedding on Saturday night. I am hoping a miracle comes and takes these things off my face. I believe I read that between weeks 3-4 is the 1st IB. I am right in the thick of it with day 24 today.....But I am almost 1/3 of way there. I figure at Christmas time my face should be looking good. Which will be awesome because we take alot of pictures around the holidays.

Yesterday was a bad day as well... I left the house on accident (cause I was in such a rush) and forgot to put on makeup! And my face is not exactly looking the best right now. I had to go to work with no makeup... alls I had with me was powder and mascara. I stuck it out though. I was proud of myself for not going to the store on lunch to buy some foundation....

Also... have a question... When I get out of the shower in the AM, my face stings and burns. Maybe irritation? It has started doing it for the past 3 days or so. Basically since it started to get cool outside. Is my face just dry or is the RAM doing this? What do you all recommend for me to do? Skip a night of RAM or just moisturize more?

Demi this past weekend sitting on the blankie I sewed for her with my new sewing machine!!!

[Jaka]

Sorry to hear that Demipuppy I know how you feel... I am from Canada and live in the US, and I had to go home for a visit right around my first IB... it was SOOOOO embarrasing to see my friends and family with lots of red gross cysts all over my face. I tried to cover them up as best I can but it's hard to hide them. I was literally in tears every day. It makes you not want to go out, do anything. Right now I must be in my second IB, since I'm on around week 8.... It's not as bad as the first IB, but still crappy. And now I'm getting painful zits along my jawline.... Damn hormones!

I think the dry, cooler weather combined with Retin a is making your skin sting.... That happens to me too. I think moisturizer should help that!

I really hope you have a good weekend, try to anyway! I know it's hard.... This weekend I have friends visiting from Canada so I wish my skin was clear for that.

OH and I love the blankie you made for Demi! She is a lucky puppy

[DemiPuppy]

Day 32

I'm back from vacation! Wedding was nice, Buffalo was cold, Hockey was awesome. It's been awhile. I am officially past the 1 month mark but not seeing much of a difference yet. Face is still exploding with nastiness. Near my right ear and right side of face and still a cluster bunch on my chin. I'll try to keep the faith. Mom said my face isn't that bad --- I think she was just being nice. She knows how stressed out I've been about it. Trying to be diligent with the moisturizer - I find it hard to wash my face, tone, RAM and then have to wait 20 minutes to put the lotion on. I usually just want to go right to bed. I am still dry on the chin where all the explosion has been taking place and in the corners of my nose. Pretty oily everywhere else - powder does the trick nicely in this case.

Friends are flying into town tomorrow. Life has been so super busy with working 55+ hours a week, trying to hang on to a social life and visiting etc... Hopefully in another month my face will be a bit better and in 2 months it will be perfect. Here to wishful thinking!

Jaka - Did you live in Ontario somewhere? I have been to Niagara Falls & Toronto tons of times, LOVE it there and Montreal a few times as well.

[ladybug123]

Thanks for posting your experience, i find it very helpful. I am currently in my 7th week of using retin-a and I'm not seeing the result i had expected. No new breakout this week but i do feel one coming and it's right around the area where I usually get breakouts. I'm really frustrated that the marks left behind from the first IB still visible. Is it me or do you still have marks/scars from the first IB as well?

I hope with time, we both will see the results we wanted.

[Jaka]

Demi, glad you enjoyed Buffalo!! I lived in Toronto 15 years, Montreal 12 years, and I moved to Philly to be married I love Canada, that's where my heart is!

My Mom said the same thing when I went home, my skin wasn't so bad. That's what Mums do I guess. Try and make us feel better.

I wanted to ask you, have you read any of the Niacin threads in the adult acne section? Because I was still getting cysts last week, less than before the RAM but still. Enough to make me feel desperate. I'd been reading the threads on Niacin for quite awhile, it works for alot of people. My doctor told me zinc and niacin are good for skin health. So I went to Target and bought 500MG NO FLUSH Niacin and started taking it Monday night.... It's too early to say if it's been working, but I feel like it might be.... It's a natural vitamin, maybe you can do research on it and decide if you want to try this as well. It could only help, not harm!!

Demi is soooo cute with her pumpkin

Thanks for posting your experience, i find it very helpful. I am currently in my 7th week of using retin-a and I'm not seeing the result i had expected. No new breakout this week but i do feel one coming and it's right around the area where I usually get breakouts. I'm really frustrated that the marks left behind from the first IB still visible. Is it me or do you still have marks/scars from the first IB as well?

I hope with time, we both will see the results we wanted.

Good luck to you, I still have red marks/scars from my first IB. I have red hair, light skin so red marks take a long time to fade for me. 7 weeks is still early, give it more time!! I really hope it works for you

[DemiPuppy]

Day 37

Gots me a biggin' cyst on my chin. I am trying not to let it bother me... but I am sure it is because of monthly hormones... whats a girl to do??? Oh well. Those others have all gone and I have marks to prove that they were here. Nothing else really to report which is good news. Face isn't AS dry. I did however get a 20% off coupon for Ulta... I am tempted to go get the DDF and a new hair straightener. My friend has been using Makeup Forever Matte Foundation and swears that it help hide my IB marks that I still have. I think that this weekend I will go to Sephora and have them put it on me for a day and decide whether I like it or not. We will have to see how much Demi's vet appt will be tonight. I think she scratched her eye, it is a weird blue color. I hope it isn't anything serious.

Jaka - No, I haven't looked into the adult threads about Niacin and Zinc. I will have to check it out!! I really hope that it works for you!!

Ladybug- I am happy that my blog is helping you. I am sorry that you are not getting the results you hoped for. Just think though... you are half way there!! And I am def still seeing the marks from the IB as well. It looks really bad without makeup but when I put makeup on it kinda hides them. I also have fair skin and blonde hair so you can see them very easily. I too wish they would just go away.

Boat Demi:

Edited by DemiPuppy, 27 October 2009 - 06:51 AM.

[DemiPuppy]

Day 43

Things looking up. Face is looking aright at best. Got that same big one on my chin along with it's friend. Nothing else to report.

Had fun on Halloween with friends. Demi does indeed have cataracts which will cost a small fortune for treatment.

Super head tilt and some tongue action:

[Jaka]

Awww glad to hear things are looking up Demi. Me too, I'm almost at the 3 month mark. Haven't had a new cyst in 2 weeks or so, but not sure if that's RAM or Niacin. I started Niacin 2 weeks ago, so it could be that improving my skin as well.

[DemiPuppy]

Day 52

No news is good news right? Well, my face is doing ok, i guess. I was sick with a cold for the past week so I have been blowing my nose non-stop. My face is sooooo super dry from being sick. I even used Puffs Plus!! Oh well. I am applying moisturizer as much as possible and drinking a ton of water. I am so embarrassed with how absolutely dry my face is. Flakes all over my chin and under my nose!! It is horrible!!

One new pimple coming in smack dab right in the middle of my forehead!! But no new cysts!! Just one by my left ear, but I'm not complaining!

I also stopped using the Bare Essentials Revver- Upper because I felt it was making my skin shiny and greasy. Which it was because as soon as I stopped using it my t-zone was better. Oh well.

Baby Demi:

Edited by DemiPuppy, 12 November 2009 - 08:22 AM.

[Jaka]

Baby Demi is SOOOO cute I want to cuddle her!!

I started RAM in August, and now that fall is here my skin is really suffering. I guess over the summer I was oily, now this dry cold weather is making my chin area bright red and peely, it didn't do that before. It sucks, I'm moisturizing but it's still dry. I am doing better too, but I've realized when my worst breakouts are - during my ovulation cycle, I always get a cyst or two. I am still not completely clear. I won't consider myself clear until I go a full month without ONE spot!!

[DemiPuppy]

Day 59

I am almost at the 2 month mark!! That means 2/3rds of the way til perfect face (hopefully)! I am happy with the so far results. My friend and I were talking this past weekend and she did remark that my face looks much better than it did a month ago. It felt really good to hear that. It is almost "that" time of the month again so we will see if anything new pops up. I have 2 cysts on the left side of my face near my ear - but I don't think they will turn into anything. Other than that things are looking really good.

But on a bad note: the face is still sooo dry in certain areas. So I went out yesterday to the hippie store and got some of the Jojoba Oil that I have thinking about trying. I came home and rubbed it on my face for a few minutes to loosen up all the flakes and then washed my face. Clearly a great difference already! I also put a few drops on my face this morning before my moisturizer. Face actually looks smooth! I can't believe the difference already! And my skin is not looking oily like I thought it would. I think I will start doing this maybe every other day - I am not sure how often to do it...

Demi rolling around with Ellie the Elephant:

[Jaka]

Glad your skin is getting a bit better!! Question, are you on any antibiotics as well as the Retin A? I was on doxy for 3 months, I just stopped.... I'm so scared to stop!! I hope the RAM is enough

[DemiPuppy]

No, I am not on any antibiotics, just the RAM. I am actually not under any supervision of a Dermatologist at the moment. I found this tube of Retin A Micro in the drawer from when I was getting my face in order for our wedding. It is a desperate attempt at making my face look good again. I was on an antibiotic when I was going to the Derm, it was called Doryx - which is basically doxycycline but with a delayed release. When I went off of it shortly after the wedding my face was still good with just the topicals. At that time I was using the Benzaclin topical daily with the Retin A Micro being applied every 2 days and the Plexion STC mask once a week. About a month later, I just went down to the Benzaclin daily.

Today I woke up with a new pimple on my chin and on my left cheek along with a cyst near my right ear this time...Skipped the Jojoba Oil as well.

[Jaka]

Oh I see.... I don't want to be on the doxy anymore, hopefully it helped me thru the IB and now I am just on RAM and taking Niacin.... My skin is pretty good until my monthly cycle, then some new cysts come.... I really hope my hormones level out soon, and the RAM helps clear my red marks.... so many old red marks all over, GRRR....

Have a good weekend with Demi!!

[DemiPuppy]

Day 71

What a busy week or so I have had! Holy cow! Thanksgiving was wonderful! Made my 1st turkey and all the fixins!! Still have turkey coming out the wazoo!! Had friends drive up from Atlanta to spend the weekend with us! It was nice! Sorry I haven't updated, I have a feeling it is just me and Jaka that read this thing anyways. And maybe a few lurkers.

Face current status: Disaster. Trainwreck. Gross. I have a gazillion spots on my left side of face. And about a gazillion more on my chin. Two on my forehead. One under my right eye and 2 on my right side of face. Some are whiteheads and some are cysts. I am not too sure why because my face WAS looking pretty good. I was starting to light at the end of the tunnel. I am guessing maybe another initial breakout??? But yet the red marks from the 1st one has yet to go away. So I look extra nasty.

But I am telling yas, if my face isn't better by my Anniversary in late January I am gonna have to buy the Benzaclin and suck up the cost that I don't wanna spend on it. But if it works I guess I will have to. This has been really hard on me mentally and my poor hubby that has to deal with the crying and my saying I look ugly. At this point I feel like I just should have paid the extra money to get the Benzaclin and I wouldn't be enduring all this right now. My face would have remained perfect and I wouldn't be dealing with all of this. Now I am kinda mad at myself and disappointed in my decision to try the Retin A Micro. I am sick of the ups and downs of this. One week face looks good and now it is horrible again. I can't take this much longer.

I just really hope that this will all be worth it in the end. Sorry for the rant.

Here is my little cutie from when she killed her froggie stuffie, she was sooo proud of herself:

[DemiPuppy]

OK - So I just looked up info on the RAM website - It says full results shown in week 7. I am waaaayyyy past that. Looks like I am giving up on the RAM. This is sooo not worth it. Going to Walgreens after work tonight to pick up the Benzaclin and clean out my wallet full of cash.... Ugh.

[Jaka]

OK - So I just looked up info on the RAM website - It says full results shown in week 7. I am waaaayyyy past that. Looks like I am giving up on the RAM. This is sooo not worth it. Going to Walgreens after work tonight to pick up the Benzaclin and clean out my wallet full of cash.... Ugh.

Ugh, that sucks!! I heard it takes longer than that, the website probably lies to us so we keep buying RAM. Alot of people say 3-4 months. I am on month 4, definitely improved but still breaking out.... it's so annoying!! Is Benzaclin a cream as well? Maybe I should try that too LOL.

[DemiPuppy]

Day 2 of Benzaclin

Stopped the Retin A Micro. Picked up the Benzaclin which now comes in generic!! Hallelujah!! I am so happy!! Pharmacist said it just recently became available for generic!!

So we will see where this takes me.... hopefully back to how my face has looked for the past couple of years when I was using the Benzaclin.

It sure will take a while for the zillion red spots to go away.

Also good news is that Sephora sent me a $15 gift card via email and I will be most def using that to go get that Makeup Forever Matte Foundation and Foundation Brush that I have been wanting. Should also hide my left over red marks.

I'm trying to be positive!!

P.S. Jaka - Yup, it is a topical cream.

[Jaka]

Good luck Demi, I really hope this works better than RAM. Please come back to keep us (me LOL) updated!!