I decided to start this blog, not only for my sake but perhaps someone else who is experiencing similar feelings/problems.
I had minor acne growing up, zits here and there, nothing serious. I visited the dermatologist in high school, went on Doxycycline for hormonal acne. I mostly would get a big "under the skin" zit here and there around that time of month. Was on that on and off, when needed. Then my senior year I began getting tiny, little bumps (barely noticeable) across my forehead. They never came to a head, weren't painful and doxy did nothing to them. Back to the derm! She diagnosed them as pityrosporum folliculitis. Which is basically (don't quote me on this!) an overproduction of yeast, that clogs/ does something to the little follicles on your face..but is by no means acne and in fact is often confused with it. She put me on Ziana Gel, a round of Ketaconazole pills and a sulfate/nizoral cleanser. A few weeks later..goodbye little bumps! Time goes on and here I am, about 2 years later. I began to get those same little bumps on my forehead and tried to get rid of them myself, as my insurance doesn't cover the derm and a poor college student does NOT have that money. I called my regular doctor; she put me on a round of ketaconzole and got me ketaxonazole cream as well. Weeks passed, and no results what so ever. So I found a derm who is covered by our insurance and went in. She said she thinks they are just clogged pores. Well, I said okay and she sent me off with new medicines in hand. My new medicines: Retin A Micro and Solodyn.
I am now 25 days in, almost a month. My skin tone is definitely improving but I think I am now experiencing the initial breakout. My chin and lower cheeks are getting the big, under the skin ones and forehead small bumps kind of turn into a bigger bump, dry out and seem to disappear a bit. My tone overall is really nice, and I think it is helping- yet it is hard to tell exactly with this IB going on. Here is what my current regimen is:
Morning:
Wash with cetaphil cleanser
Use Cerave lotion
Evening:
Solodyn pill
Wash with cetaphil cleanser
Apply pearl sized amount of retin a micro
(neosporin, cerave on really dry spots)
I was wondering a few things.1. What is the best thing to use on red marks left behind? They seem to be taking forever to fade! (neosporin, vaseline, vitamin E?)
2. When have most begun to see results, and anyone have similar clogged pores on forehead or hormonal chin/lower cheek cyst/deeper pimples?
3. Any tips or ideas in general?
I know I can expect worse before better and this medicine does not work for everyone. My idea is, if this doesn't work it’s just one more thing I have tried- no worries! Thank you all in advance, I'll continue to update and would love to hear about others experiences/stories/results!



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