31 replies to this topic

[moxie1]

Intro & Day 2:

I've had acne since I was 13, and am now 41. I've been on Cleocyn T, Salicylic Acid (prescription), some oral antibiotic (years ago), benzoyl peroxide, alpha hydroxy, etc.

My acne is on my face, neck, chest, and back. I guess the benefit of acne at this age is people must assume I'm younger than I am, right? I think in the last year, my chest and back started moving from what I would consider moderate acne, to mild. I was thinking hey, maybe I'm finally growing out of this! Still lots of acne, but mild and mostly not painful. My face mostly breaks out around my chin and jawline. Over the past couple of years, my neck has gotten very bad. I've had really painful breakouts on my neck, and they never seem to really go away. Sometimes I get hive type breakouts on my neck - where my neck is okay in the morning, and after a day in the sun, I come home with 25 large inflamed pustules on my face, neck, and upper chest. After the pustules go away, I'm left with a lot of redmarks. Benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy were not helping my neck enough, so I decided to visit a derm finally, after not seeing one for years.

I studied the boards here for a couple of months before going to the derm, came up with a regimin, and learned as much as I could about medications, and people's experiences. I came to the derm with my existing regimin all typed up, and a list of questions. After hearing some people's negative experiences with derms, I figure it would be best to come really prepared, to make sure I had all of my questions answered, and told her all of my concerns.

She said my regimin was fine (anotherwards there weren't any products on it that were bad). However, obviously it wasn't working well enough. She said she noticed my neck when I walked in the office. Ack - I feel really self conscious about my neck.

She put me on Solodyn 65 mg/once a day. I told her I was concerned about longterm antibiotic usage (I've had a problem with multi-drug resistance for UTI's before), but she said different drugs are typically used to treat UTI's versus acne. She gave me a 4 month prescription of Solodyn. She also told me to switch from using my regular cleaner, to using Triaz (benzoyl peroxide 6% foaming cloths) or Sumaxin (sodium sulfacetamide 10% and sulfur 4% cleansing pads) once a day. So, I'm trying both out to see how I like them. I'm just hoping the benzoyl peroxide doesn't bleach clothes (even though you rinse it off). I went through a period in my life wearing just white shirts! Never again. Right now its turtlenecks every day. Oh to be fashionable....sigh. She told me to skip the Alpha Hydroxy (because of my sensitive skin), and that I can keep using my 2.5% benzoyl peroxide at night.

She also suggested accutane, but said I could try the antibiotics first. It sort of sounded like she thought accutane would be the solution in the end, but that its best practice to try antibiotics first. I wouldn't call my acne severe - my neck acne I would guess is moderate, and my face/chest/back are finally more mild. But I guess given my age, how long I've had it, and that it hasn't responded well to some other things, she thought I was a good candidate. She suggested talking to my obgyn next month about starting Yaz, in case I decide to go the accutane route.

I'm planning a vacation this summer though....and don't think I want to be on accutane when I'm so far away from home (Switzerland!!!!). It sounds like a real hassle with all of the ipledge stuff and tests, so it would be better to wait at least until after my vacation to start. And, maybe Solodyn will do the trick. But again, the longterm antibiotic thing scares me (as much as accutane scares me!).

[Mumble]

Wish you the very best Moxie1! I'm taking Minocycline too! Two 50mg tablets a day, one in the morning and one a night (as shown in my signature). Mine is called Alphapharm Akamin (generic brand). It's just my 11th day on them. Keep us up to date!

[moxie1]

Day 3

Thanks Mumble.

My doctor said my skin would probably get worse before it got better. Have you noticed any changes yet? I took a photo yesterday to keep track..will get around to posting later maybe. I'm supposed to go back in 2-3 months so she can check to see how its progressing.

I tried the Benzoyl Peroxide foaming cloth this morning. It foamed well...will see if it ends up bleaching my clothes. Doesn't appear to irritate my skin (10% benzoyl peroxide in cream form did).

So, I'm terrible about remembering to take pills. I take B12 pills too, and even though I have a pill box, I forget a lot. So, I came up with the idea of setting an alarm on my cell phone at the same time every day to remind me to take my Solodyn. Yeah!

[Mumble]

Day 3

Thanks Mumble.

My doctor said my skin would probably get worse before it got better. Have you noticed any changes yet? I took a photo yesterday to keep track..will get around to posting later maybe. I'm supposed to go back in 2-3 months so she can check to see how its progressing.

I tried the Benzoyl Peroxide foaming cloth this morning. It foamed well...will see if it ends up bleaching my clothes. Doesn't appear to irritate my skin (10% benzoyl peroxide in cream form did).

So, I'm terrible about remembering to take pills. I take B12 pills too, and even though I have a pill box, I forget a lot. So, I came up with the idea of setting an alarm on my cell phone at the same time every day to remind me to take my Solodyn. Yeah!

Haha, as long as you remember to take it, whatever works. So far for me, little improvement, on my chin, but nothing really. I'm using Epiduo (0.1% Adapalene and 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide) as my topical. What brand of 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide are you using? By the way you can see my log in the Antibiotic Logs forum also. My link is in my signature. It's called 'Mumbles Minocycline and Epiduo Log'.

[moxie1]

Day 5

I've now tried the Sumaxin wipes for washing - they foam less than the BP wipes, and they leave a slight sulphur smell. I'm guessing that I'm the only one who would notice the smell though - not anyone around me. It doesn't really bother me. I think the BP ones were leaving my neck a little red. I'm going to ask for a prescription of the Sumaxin ones, just because you don't have to worry about clothes bleaching with them.

I haven't noticed any improvement yet. But just concentrating on my face and neck, I don't think I have any new breakouts. So hey, that's a start. I had asked my derm about my neck - told her I couldn't tell what the difference was between acne and redmarks. I used to put BP on red marks and nothing was happening - so I wasn't sure if it was just old acne and BP would do nothing??? Or if it was just existing acne that isn't going away. I really can't tell. The derm resonded - well its all acne - its just blending into each other. Hmm... So if my whole neck turns red, it will just be 1 pimple? haha.

I'll follow your log Mumble. I am using Neutrogena 2.5% BP once a day. I had tried Alpha Hydroxy before on my neck. It didn't make me peel, didn't clear my neck or prevent new acne. And I'd have to wait an hour after showering in order to not make it burn. Tried it for 8 weeks, once a day. It made my neck itch a lot. So, I think my derm wanted to stay away from a lot of topicals, because my skin is sensitive.

Here's a photo day 2 of my chest. A little too dark to show my neck. I didn't ask my derm about how severe she thinks my acne is. I assume my chest is mild - there just is a lot of it.  2010_02_lynn.jpg   899.84K   44 downloads

[moxie1]

Day 6

Side Effects

I didn't expect to have any side effects - maybe an upset stomach or something. I'm taking Solodyn with some food (packaging says this is okay), so no stomach problems at all. I'm eating yogurt once a day, and may also buy probiotics, based on my derm's recommendation - to prevent yeast infections.

Day 4 & 5 though I found myself really tired, and lightheaded. I had a 5 hour drive on Day 4, and had to stop after 2 1/2 hours, because I felt like I was going to fall asleep while driving. Was grocery shopping that evening, and just felt very lightheaded in the store. I had slept enough, and had eaten enough, so I assume this was a result of the drugs. Next day, just very tired as well. Hoping this is temporary, because I have to work today.

[moxie1]

Day 6 continued...

Back to work today...luckily not as tired. Every day I ask my partner if he thinks my skin looks better yet. Nothing really changed yet. Sometimes I think my neck looks less red, but not sure. For those of you who have been on Solodyn before, does it fade redmarks? If so, after how long? The same point when it clears you up? Since I can't tell the difference between redmarks and active acne, I'm wondering what I'll look like after 2-3 months.

Also, what is typical - does your derm leave you on Soldyn until it stops working? Or do they give it to you for 3 months, take you off, put you back on, take you off, etc? If it takes you 2 months to clear, then you go off after 3 months on it, it seems like you wouldn't be clear very much. I forgot to ask my derm how long she was planning on giving me antibiotics for (assuming that they do work).

I've told my partner a little bit about accutane. He is not pleased that I'm considering it. He'd rather that I have acne - I showed him the Ipledge flyer that my derm gave me. The side effects scared him. When I told him it was a chemo drug, he was worried that big patches of my hair would fall out. He was scared about the loss of libido that Yaz apparently causes some people

Moxie

[moxie1]

Day 8

No really noticeable change in my skin. Small new whitehead on my nose, a large pustule (picked it) on my jawline. Neck might be a little less red, but not sure. No significant new breakouts at least. And some acne is heeling.

Drowsiness continues. Was drowsy at work yesterday. Just made it hard to be as mentally alert when people are talking to me. Also have felt drowsy at night when driving, so have to be very careful about that, and not drive if I don't have to. I have to drive to work though! I'm wondering if this drowsiness will last for the 3-4 months I take Solodyn, or will my body eventually become accustomed to it, and I'll feel normal again? I can't see taking this drug more than 3 months if it will make me sleepy all the time. I'm not sure how long my derm was planning to have me on it. She gave me a 4 month prescription "just in case", and said to come back after 3 months.

I want to get through the 3 months to see if this actually clears me up though. I haven't had clear skin in nearly 30 years!!!!

Moxie1

[moxie1]

Day 10

Drowsiness comes and goes. Sometimes I'm not bad, and sometimes I all of a sudden get lightheaded or very tired. I don't get any other side effects other than those 2 symptoms.

I took a new photo today. There is definately improvement already. It looks like I have the same number of spots, but they are much less inflamed. And, no new bad breakouts. I also have had some non-red lumps on my neck for months (nodules I'm guessing?), and they have reduced in size by a lot! My neck is starting to feel less bumpy.

I picked up my 30 day supply of Sulfacetamine wipes. I had thought the doctor said to use it once a day, but the 30 day supply had 60 wipes, so I'll be using them twice a day. I don't like the brand they gave me as much as the samples the derm gave me. The medicine seems to stick more to the packaging than to the wipe, so I feel like I have to wipe the medicine out of the package to make sure I get some.

I've been trying to find out more about other people's Solodyn experience. What happens after 3 months? Do their doctors take them off? And for how long? I don't want to live tired all of the time, however if it works it would be nice to continue to use it.

 2010_02_20_lynn.jpg   808.37K   27 downloads

[BroadwaysBlackBelt]

Have you talked to your Doctor about the lightheaded side effect? On the insert that came with the antibiotics, there should be the normal side effects, then the ones that if they appear you stop immediately and go to your Doctor for.


Your acne does look like it's improved though.

[moxie1]

It's actually listed as a normal side effect. So is drowsiness. Haven't mentioned it to the doctor. Was going to wait to see if it lessened over time as my body got used to the medicine, or if it would stay this way.

[moxie1]

Day 11

I've been trying to use 2.5% BP every night, but it still seems too strong for my neck. I've always had problems trying to do BP every day. My neck has a little dryness/flaking - but that is easily solved with moisturizer. But I hate how BP turns my neck blotchy red, and gives my skin a wrinkly texture. Maybe I'll try every other day on my neck. My face and chest seem to handle every day better.

[moxie1]

Day 12

My chest has gone back to looking more inflamed. Oh well, I guess it was too early to be seeing results - patience. Nothing much new popping up - I think its just existing acne getting redder.

This weekend I picked up some probiotic pills. It says to take 1 pill, 3 x a day. I'm starting to fell like a major pill popper. I also eat yogurt during the week, so hopefully between the pills & the yogurt I can prevent any yeast infections from the antibiotics.

...
Day 12 evening

 2010_02_22_lynn_smaller.JPG   14.55K   28 downloads

Comparing photos to before, it does look like brand new actives popping up. Maybe 8 or so, most on my chest, some on my back, one on my belly. I feel disappointed, because it had been looking better. But my derm had warned me it would look worse before it gets better. And I know it can take 3 months to see results. At least they aren't on my face or neck.

One piece of good news - I didn't have a problem with drowsiness/lightheadedness yesterday or today. Woohoo!

Edited by moxie1, 22 February 2010 - 10:06 PM.

[moxie1]

Day 16

Not too much new. The drowsiness and lightheadedness I was getting before appears to have completely gone away. That's a relief!! So no side effects from taking the antibiotics anymore.

Face has been staying clear. Neck is feeling smoother, still red marks all over though. I hope the antibiotics will help reduce them. I new nodule? behind my ear. Chest and back have a number of actives - doesn't look like much improvement there.

Anyone have a good website for identifying acne types? I've looked at the pictures on acne.org, and still can't tell the difference between a whitehead, blackhead, papule, pustule, nodule, cyst...

[moxie1]

Day 19

Its that time of the month, and hey - I'm not breaking out. Woohooo! No new acne. Skin has lots of red marks and healing acne, but they are looking less inflamed than before.

Side effect? I was out of town over the weekend, and had a headache pretty much all weekend. Head is throbbing today. Just checked, and its safe to take ibuprofen while on Solodyn. Waiting for it to kick in. I don't get headaches too often.

We had a little sun this weekend, so I was careful to wear sunglasses, as I know you become more photsensitive on with this drug.

I told my partner we should remodel are bathroom, because I spend so much time in their nowadays.

[moxie1]

Day 20

Okay, maybe I spoke to soon. I have a few new pustules today. Small one on my face. Large ouchy inflamed one on my neck, one on my chest. Not too bad. They will get BP tonight.

Took some non-drowsy cold medicine today, and hey - it made me very drowsy. Won't do that again during work hours.

[moxie1]

Day 24

Okay, I did break out at that time of the month - all of the pustules are healing but leaving more red marks. I also have 4 new what I think are cysts on my back. Otherwise in general, seems like I have less acne, but not clear. I think I have milia on my neck. I've had it for less than a year, but I never had this type of acne before. The antibiotics haven't helped with it yet.

Going to my obgyn this coming week. I might be asking for BCP if I think I will be going on accutane in the future. If I'm not going on accutane, I don't want to take them, as I already have a good primary method of birth control. My derm recommended Yaz, but I've read some bad things about it.

I've joined a gym, and now am working out at lunch. That means a 3rd shower during the day. I know washing 3 times a day isn't good, but if I do cardio, I have to shower.

[moxie1]

Day 25

Here is a photo of my chest/neck from last night. My neck is basically just red/purple marks, and one healing pustule. My face is clear. My chest and back are still breaking out a bit. Using BP at night on actives. I am not using anything yet to fade the red marks. I'll talk to my derm about them when I see her. I don't even know how long it takes for them to fade for me typically, since in the past I've just continued to break out and get new ones constantly. So I've never been red mark free for years. I'm wondering if antibiotics will completely clear my skin. From what I read, around 17% of people are mostly clear after 12 weeks. And the mean reduction in inflammatory lesions is 43% I think.

 2010_03_06_Lynn_smaller..JPG   41.77K   32 downloads

[moxie1]

Day 27

I saw my gyn today, and talked about a second method of birth control, in case I decide to go on accutane. My partner's vasectomy is my primary method. I mentioned that my derm recommended Yaz, and had said some people went on Yaz and decided not to go on accutane, because Yaz did such a good job of clearing their skin. My gyn doesn't believe in using BCP at my age to control acne. She didn't like Yaz either. I told her I would only need BCP for a short period - 6-8 months, so she was okay with that. She prescribed me Loestrin. I don't think I'll start on it until I see my derm in May though. I want to see how the antibiotics do by themselves, and want to talk to the derm more before deciding about tane. I'm pretty pleased with my skin now. I mean yes, I still have acne, but probably 50% less than originally, and my neck is doing sooo much better. I still have red marks all over it, so it still looks broken out, but I realize it is just healing. I actually feel a cyst or something forming on my jawline today. Ow. Bummer.

[moxie1]

Day 31

Last active on my jawline came to a head. Picked it finally, and now I have another purple mark to add to the collection. Today, 2 more new actives on my jawline. Bummer. There are still some small cysts on my back, but I haven't really been paying attention to them..

Edited by moxie1, 13 March 2010 - 05:56 PM.