33 replies to this topic

[restrictions]

Hi, i've had acne for about 6 years, which has got worse over time. I've been prescribed retin-a 0.025% gel and a 12 week course of minocycline as a last resort before roaccutane. I'm really hopeful.
Days 1-6, not much happened,skin cleared little, then got about 3 spots left of my left cheek, not huge though. Had no peeling or redness as yet.However, lots of red marks from previous breakouts aswell as some shallow indented scarring my dermatologist said retin-a would help with these.

My regimen is as follows:
morning: Simple refreshing gel wash, ibuprofen gel, simple light moisturiser, minocycline 100mg tablet
night: Simple refreshing gel wash, pea-sized layer of tretinoin, simple light moisturiser, minocycline 100mg tablet

My dermatologist mentioned nothing about IB/purge and i'm really dreading it!

[restrictions]

I'm also consistently drinking those drinky probiotic yoghurt things. I'm really scared about IB! What is the ib like? is it a lot worse than a normal breakout? when did it start and finish?

Edited by restrictions, 27 July 2011 - 01:40 PM.

[jellybeanmama]

I'm on a very similar regimen as yours... only I am also using Clindoxyl in the morning( and the night when I freak out and don't use the Retin A). I would love to say that it's going great, but I've also been so afraid of the initial breakout that I've been super inconsistant about using the Retin A. I'm so prone to scarring that it terrifies me. I talked to my derm about it and she didn't seem to think it was a big issue. It's all the posts on here that have scared the Bejebus out of me! Hopefully you are doing a better job than I am. Good luck!

[restrictions]

I'm on a very similar regimen as yours... only I am also using Clindoxyl in the morning( and the night when I freak out and don't use the Retin A). I would love to say that it's going great, but I've also been so afraid of the initial breakout that I've been super inconsistant about using the Retin A. I'm so prone to scarring that it terrifies me. I talked to my derm about it and she didn't seem to think it was a big issue. It's all the posts on here that have scared the Bejebus out of me! Hopefully you are doing a better job than I am. Good luck!

Good luck to you too. My derm told me to apply the retin-a twice a day, i don't think i'm ever going to go that far!

[restrictions]

Day 7
one of the spots on my left cheek is now mahoooosive! Other than that, nothing to report

[restrictions]

Day 9
No new spots again, just some scabs and scars from before. Is this the calm before the storm? I hope not! I realised the dates are wrong, yesterday was day 8 not 7.

[wishing2Bclear]

I'm on a very similar regimen as yours... only I am also using Clindoxyl in the morning( and the night when I freak out and don't use the Retin A). I would love to say that it's going great, but I've also been so afraid of the initial breakout that I've been super inconsistant about using the Retin A. I'm so prone to scarring that it terrifies me. I talked to my derm about it and she didn't seem to think it was a big issue. It's all the posts on here that have scared the Bejebus out of me! Hopefully you are doing a better job than I am. Good luck!

Good luck to you too. My derm told me to apply the retin-a twice a day, i don't think i'm ever going to go that far!

When I first got my tazorac I began by applying it nightly, without cutting it with mouisterizer, even tho im derm said to cut it with 3 parts moisterizer one part tazorac, and to start by applying it every fourth night, and my skin didn't like fall off haha. I mean, yes, I did peel, but the peeling came about 4 weeks in, and stopped after like 2 weeks, and in the end, it was totally worth it. I would try my hardest to be consistent about application if I was you, because I feel like retioniods are the kind of thing where consistencey it is key.

[lilahv26]

I really dreaded the IB/purge too... but honestly it wasn't as bad as I expected from some of what I read around here. You can check out my log if you want to see what the IB looked like for me. I posted pics because I didn't want to just say "OMG this is horrible" and scare people with no context... days 26-52 were my IB period. Yes my acne worsened but it wasn't THAT dramatic. I'm on Atralin which is the same active ingredient as Retin-A.

[restrictions]

I'm on a very similar regimen as yours... only I am also using Clindoxyl in the morning( and the night when I freak out and don't use the Retin A). I would love to say that it's going great, but I've also been so afraid of the initial breakout that I've been super inconsistant about using the Retin A. I'm so prone to scarring that it terrifies me. I talked to my derm about it and she didn't seem to think it was a big issue. It's all the posts on here that have scared the Bejebus out of me! Hopefully you are doing a better job than I am. Good luck!

Good luck to you too. My derm told me to apply the retin-a twice a day, i don't think i'm ever going to go that far!

When I first got my tazorac I began by applying it nightly, without cutting it with mouisterizer, even tho im derm said to cut it with 3 parts moisterizer one part tazorac, and to start by applying it every fourth night, and my skin didn't like fall off haha. I mean, yes, I did peel, but the peeling came about 4 weeks in, and stopped after like 2 weeks, and in the end, it was totally worth it. I would try my hardest to be consistent about application if I was you, because I feel like retioniods are the kind of thing where consistencey it is key.

I really dreaded the IB/purge too... but honestly it wasn't as bad as I expected from some of what I read around here. You can check out my log if you want to see what the IB looked like for me. I posted pics because I didn't want to just say "OMG this is horrible" and scare people with no context... days 26-52 were my IB period. Yes my acne worsened but it wasn't THAT dramatic. I'm on Atralin which is the same active ingredient as Retin-A.

Thanks a lot guys! I've read both your logs and they've both made me a lot more optimistic, i'm glad you're both clear! I've seen your photos lilahv26 and you're stunning!
I thought i was weird getting no peeling, I guess it's still to come! I suppose everyone reacts differently to retinoids, and I should just hope for the best!

Day 10
No difference from yesterday, just the spots on my left cheek have scabbed up. The strange thing is, my skin has been reallly oily recently, but today it's definately drier, maybe the peeling's coming soon? Time will tell. Also, I didn't mention my age earlier, I'm 18 and i'm female

[aprilmay]

You'll do great!! Best of luck to you girlie!

[restrictions]

You'll do great!! Best of luck to you girlie!

Thanks!

Day 13
Not good. IB maybe?
I've got like 4 new big spots, the left of my face looks awful. Hmph.

[restrictions]

Day 14
I feel awful. My dad said to me 'what have you done to your face?' I didn't think it was that bad, i've had worse breakouts. But I've been upset all day, he asked me what's up, at one time i was about to burst out crying, he had no idea. Ugh.

[restrictions]

Little question, I have a tube of retin-a 60g for 6 months,as my next derm appt(6 months, i know, ridiculous, but that's NHS for you) is in 6 months, is it enough? Thanks is advance.

Edited by restrictions, 03 August 2011 - 03:06 PM.

[lilahv26]

Best of luck to you while you're going through your IB. I know how it feels... stay strong. I'm finally getting to the point where I'm glad I put myself through all that but it takes time. Just remember the juice is worth the squeeze in the long run. My skin isn't perfect yet (I got two new spots yesterday ugh) but I'm only about 11 weeks in and I have to remind myself that the spots I'm getting I wouldn't have even really considered "real" ones three months ago because they are so much smaller and less inflamed than what I was getting.

In regards to whether your medicine will last you, if you're really using only a pea size amount (and you should be!) then it should last you 6 months I think. My tube is 45 grams and at almost 3 months I have *maybe* used 1/3 of it.

[aprilmay]

One tube lasted me 9 months!!

Stay strong through the IB, I know its tough but it really is worth it in the end. I broke out weeks 3-11 (yes I broke out for 8 weeks) almost daily. Despite this, I knew the RAM was working because it was whiteheads coming to the surface of my skin. Also my skin around the breakouts (week 9ish?) looked great and I could tell my pores were shrinking. I guess what I'm saying is try to focus on the good however little it may seem!!

[restrictions]

One tube lasted me 9 months!!

Stay strong through the IB, I know its tough but it really is worth it in the end. I broke out weeks 3-11 (yes I broke out for 8 weeks) almost daily. Despite this, I knew the RAM was working because it was whiteheads coming to the surface of my skin. Also my skin around the breakouts (week 9ish?) looked great and I could tell my pores were shrinking. I guess what I'm saying is try to focus on the good however little it may seem!!

Thanks, yep I do use a pea sized amount. Just got to get through is IB :/ But i'm going to try stay optimistic. I hope i'm slightly clearer for when i start university in September (hopefully, lets hope my results are good enough) and i'll have been on retin-a for 9 weeks almost by my start date.

Day 15
Slightly better than couple of days ago, as my skin seems calmer and old scabs have fallen off, but a pretty larg spot has appeared on my chin :/

One thing i haven't mentioned, i've recently come of the BCP dianette, which i've used for just under 6 months for acne, but hasn't helped, so my derm said i could continue with it if i wanted but it didn't seem to be doing much, so i chose to come of as it's just made me more emotional, the only positive effect is that my skin is no longer oily, but the oil wil probably return. I'm scared about the implications of coming off dianette, let's hope retin-a stops it from making my acne a lot worse. I think i'm one of the few people dianette didn't work for!

[clarky2]

I'm on day 29 of a Retin A 0.04%/BP 5%/Oracea (doxycycline) regimen. I'm at my worst so far in terms of the initial breakout. It's annoying because people think I shouldn't be stopping whatever I'm using but I can't because this is part of the process. Let's just think of this as our skin detox

[dykim90]

just throwing a suggestion: try to get a real good sweat going once a day to help your skin slough off the dead skin cells. since retin a helps the skin to push out all the gunk in your pores, your breakouts could be due to the gunk interacting with the dead skin cells. just a suggestion. i propose this because it will definitely help the retin a push out the gunk faster and it will help slough off the dead cells.

i try to work out everyday to get a good sweat going or i go to a sauna.

[restrictions]

I'm on day 29 of a Retin A 0.04%/BP 5%/Oracea (doxycycline) regimen. I'm at my worst so far in terms of the initial breakout. It's annoying because people think I shouldn't be stopping whatever I'm using but I can't because this is part of the process. Let's just think of this as our skin detox

Good luck with the rest of the course, it's tough but hopefully it'll be worth it!

just throwing a suggestion: try to get a real good sweat going once a day to help your skin slough off the dead skin cells. since retin a helps the skin to push out all the gunk in your pores, your breakouts could be due to the gunk interacting with the dead skin cells. just a suggestion. i propose this because it will definitely help the retin a push out the gunk faster and it will help slough off the dead cells.

i try to work out everyday to get a good sweat going or i go to a sauna.

I do steam my face regularly, it feels good! I'm a bit too lazy to work out too much lol, i plan on taking up a sport when i start uni hopefully.I do some trampolining though, well as much as i can!



I haven't described my acne really at all. So, my acne is moderate I believe, but not completely sure. My acne is mainly papules and pustules with closed comedones. I have quite a bit of hyperpigmentation and some shallow scarring. My cheeks are my main problem area, and my forehead usually is the best. I often get cysts aswell, however, not as often. No matter what I do, each spot leaves a scab which often results in a red/brown mark.

Edited by restrictions, 05 August 2011 - 03:29 PM.

[restrictions]

DAY 17
Definite improvement right now, only a couple of small active spots, but lots of hyperpigmentation. I hope it just continues to improve now, but I'm not holding my breath, it could be absolutely awful tomorrow!