5 replies to this topic

[M.D.]

Hi All,

A bit of background about me - i am a 26 yr old female suffering from moderate cystic acne along the jawline and lower cheek.

My skin has always been a problem but I would describe my acne before as mild. However, starting in mid to late February, I began experiencing an explosion of deep, painful cysts along my jawline and cheek. I am assuming it is hormonal as it coincided with taking the emergency contraceptive pill the week before.

I have been prescribed Duac, clyndamycin, Atralin and Augmentin, all to no avail. It is now almost May and my skin is as bad as it's ever been. I went to the doctor's today and was prescribed Lymecycline (tetralysal), to be taken twice a day.

To caveat, I had an outbreak similar (but much, much less severe) to the current one 3 years ago. I was prescribed Lymecycline then too, but also started the birth control pill (microgynon) at the same time, and while my skin did clear up I can't say which one ,if any, was the cause.

This time round I have done the same thing in the hopes that history repeats itself.

I will keep a log and keep you all informed... any experiences on lymecycline appreciated.

[M.D.]

It's been 6 days now on the lymecycline and I THINK I am seeing some improvement.

My existing nodules are definitely less red and most have flattened out. Started noticing this happening around day 2/3, so pretty fast moving. It improved to the point where I started thinking about how to deal with the scarring instead of the actives!

However it looks as if my skin's taken a step backward today. there are a couple of painful cysts popping up along my jawline, though you can't see really them so that's a small relief.

Thinking maybe because I'm coming up to my period my hormones are acting up causing the jawline acne... but I am on the birth contol pill so I would have thought hormones would be regulated (first pack only though).

Anyway, in summary, things are looking up - I no longer want to cry when I look in the mirror (with makeup on). Fingers cross these new cysts die down and I can move onto the acne scar treatment phase!!!

[M.D.]

End of week 1

Skin is definitely improving by quite a bit. Bumps have all flattened out and the 2 spots that have popped up are not the nodule variety, more like small pustules. Those,I can handle!

Been using Dr nick Lowe's oil control cream on the spots/scars too, and perhaps I'm being optimistic but I swear they are starting to fade already.

Still have 2 painful bumps on my jawline that won't go away though . Let's hope the Lymecycline tackles them next.

[TraceyG]

Hi Was interested in your post as have just returned from seeing the Nurse with my 16 year old daughter about her acne. She has been on tetralysal 300 one a day for nearly 7 months with little improvement. She has just been prescribed Microgynon 30 to take alongside the tetralysal and was wondering if you had been prescribed Microgynon 30 or 20 as I have just read on line that the dose of levonorgestrel in Microgynon 30 is too high and may worsen acne.

Hope you can help this very confused Mum!!!

[rainsores]

I'm currently on Tetralysal 300mg x1 a day, and Microgynon 30 x1 a day and my skin is far from perfect at the moment, and I've been using these two in conjunction for the past year.

I use Microgynon for contraceptive reasons foremost, and I'm too scared to change my pill because I gained so much weight on Dianette! Although Dianette cleared my skin, I then found myself unhappy with my body! Microgynon doesn't help my skin at all I don't think, although it also hasn't made me gain any weight and my emotions are fine.

Tetralysal gave me a huge break out when I first started on it and eventually calmed down, but I never feel my skin has ever been clear since on it and it's started to gradually get worse these days.

Time for a change I think!

[Mark`]

hope they work for u!they didnt for me