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First, I would like to state that I am in no way affiliated to DKR or whatever. But when I like something I want to review it and to give motivation and support to you all.
About me... I am 26 yo, living in France, and acne has always been a burden for me. It started at 15 yo, getting quickly nodular cystic acne, and my whole face was covered. I did not care at this time. I was enjoying myself, blowing the zits, and everything. My mother brought me to a derm in order to get cleared and I got :
1/ Erytrhomycin : was good at spot treatment but no prevention
2/ Benzoyl Peroxide : 10% concentration, it was just redness and pain
3/ Minocyclins and other AB : had a good effect first, but my spots continued to appear
At this part of my life, I was a total nerd : spending hours on computer, with an anxious mind. But I started to feel the need of a gf and was unable to have one, especially with my face. So at 18 I got Accutane, a first and very long 9 month course.
I did not experience very harsh side effects and it cleared me totally. I felt alive and clear and did not mind my acne, but my lifestyle was horrible : smoking, weed, partying day and night, no sleep... After 1 year, my acne came back badly.
I did not react well to this. I was on my early 20s, and started to become very self conscious of my skin. I spent 1000s of euros (yes, 1000s) on skin care, from supermarket ones to Dermalogica and other expensive brands, and did never clear out.
So my derm prescribed me Accutane, 2nd course, 7 months. Cleared me totally with a nice and smooth face, no problem during 6 months.
Then I started to have acne again. Not so badly, it was something like 6 or 7 spots at a time, but my face looked like crap, very stiff, like it was not breathing and all.
I discovered acne.org... And after being very hesitating (US products, not sold in France, etc...) I ordered 2 big kits and commited on it. During 2 years.
It started harshly (redness, itchiness, stinging) but after some weeks I was crystal clear and no new breakouts were encountered. What a change !
I used AHA, Jojoba, etc;.. and everything was cool, it was totally unexpensive (something like $20 a month) and worked great.
Here was the result (sorry, no before pics on the comp...) :
Yes, incredibly smooth and wonderful skin on me. This is possible. I am lucky because I never scared a lot (only a bit on my temples)
After 2 years I told to myself "ok this is time to stop".
I had a trip in US West Coast doing the national parks, hardcore hiking , etc... and stopped regimen, and started using other products. It was fine at first, but after 2 months my skin was a disaster.
I tried everything again : Avene, Paulas Choice, Shiseido, etc;.. Everything was horribly expensive and lead me to despair, anxiety and bad feeling.
So today, I decided to start again DKR and start again to be one of yours.
Because, this is the best regimen I ever found :
- it's quick, for a male, only 2 products and no special smell
- It's affordable (!! very important, i am tired of spending hundreds on useless bullshit products)
- There is a strong community
- Dan is a wonderful guy
- I don't want to lose my current girlfriend being crazy about my acne
There were only 2 drawbacks :
- the bleaching effect : have to use white shirts at work, and chose quality clothes or they get stained
- sometimes a "heating" effect on my skin, making me sweat a bit but nothing crazy
Here was my routine :
- Morning :
Cleanser under the shower
Putting on clothes (important to avoid bleaching)
Treatment when dry - wait 10 mins in order to allow BP to penetrate fully
Take coffee / breakfast
Moisturizer
Evening
Cleanser under the shower
Treatment - always allow 10 mins to BP to penetrate
AHA or Moisturizer with jojoba
I take :
- Omega-3
- Solgar Multi-Men vitamins
And workout 2 to 5 times a week. If I workout at mid-day, I just cleanse my face with a bit of water to wash off sweat.
I shave with 2 blade shaver but mostly with electric shaver not trying to get a perfect shave, mostly just trimming.
I try to get fresh air when possible and not staying closed in my office, and take no more than 2 coffees a day (mostly 1...)
What I figured makes me breakout :
* Too much dairy : a bit is ok, but too much is deadly.
* Stopping regimen : deadline is like 10 days. If I break longer, I break out.
* Shaving against the grain with blades is an instant killer
* Sleep privation on a long period
* Casein Protein Shakes are instant killers too (whey seems ok, creatine seems ok too)
* Raw eggs (yeah, Stallone style on rocky : instant killer)
* Too much coffee
* Smoking then going off cigarette on some times make me breakout too
* Lack of sun. I am much clearer when I tan a bit and reasonbly than when I stay inside all the time
* Codeine OTC painkillers
I understood, finally, that Acne was an illness. My family, and one friend got it too. When we stop regimen / taking care / medication for some, acne comes back, no matter what.
There is no topical cure. Accutane, as a medication, works for some but for others it is just a temporary relief. It doesn't prevent inflammation response on long term .
Thank you if you read everything, I hope it can helps. If you want some feedback / motivation, feel free to PM me.
And I wish you all courage if you experience severe, or even milder acne.
