3 replies to this topic

[cvd]

Hi all --- I need some support this holiday. My mom died this Thanksgiving and my derm took me off all antibiotics and spiro last month...and I'm stressed and sad. And I have no one to talk to since I'm too old to be dealing with this and no one my age breaks out...I've seen maybe one or two other older people who struggle with this and I feel so sorry for them...then of course realizing that others must be feeling the same way for me (@#$%).

I've been doing pretty well compared to many younger people who deal with this but all the same my skin has been flaring up a bit...patches of redness, swelling (...which scares me into thinking another cyst is coming on...), some small pimples and then a couple of cysts over the past month that I've had to deal with (...hate - HATE - the pain, redness and pus of cysts...).

I've been following the recommendations of my dietitian and also following my allergy diet but I'm still flaring. Yes...it's less but still eneough that I am getting depressed. Usually I would be taking a short course of antibiotic right now to calm things down but my derm won't do it...period...she says I can't do antibiotics anymore. She also will not do any hormones because I have a family history of strokes. She prescribed Oracea but it doesn't really do much of anything...although I think I might do it just because I can't stand doing nothing. The retin-a keeps me mostly clear but like I said I still can flare-up somewhat.

I am so tired. I would like to wake up for a couple days in a row without anything happening on my face. Wouldn't that be incredible? It would be so nice to not see any whiteheads or swelling or redness and especially not any blemishes that magically appear overnight.

I've been following the allergy diet and dietitian's recommendations for only a month so I keep hoping. But I get tired of hoping...and wishing that something would work. Yes --- accutane worked and full strength antibiotics worked...as well as hormones and full strength spiro but you can't keep taking these things for decades. The docs won't allow it.

So depressed...and I was so hoping to look nice for Xmas.

[melissa6980]

Hi cvd,

I can totally understand your being stressed and sad with all that's going on. I know those natural remedies take some time to be totally effective. Have you ever looked into laser/light therapies? Who knows, you may not need that, the natural remedies with the tretinoan may be enough, but it's always an option.

I read about people on earthclinic.com using airborne tablets when they feel a cyst coming on, I tried it, it may have helped but I was also using ice, I took about 4 tablets in 24 hours.

Benzoyl peroxide (Proactiv's 2.5%) or Tea tree oil (10-20%) keeps smaller pimples from growing for me so they stay tiny and sort of absorb or open and drain inconspicuously on their own within a few days to a week. If I do that, they don't leave red marks. I only needed to apply about twice a day to the spot to help.

Also, I had some swelling and a lot of redness around a small bump on my cheek Tuesday, which made it look huge and I put warm sea salt compresses on it Thursday night and took 1 tsp. of turmeric in water twice on Thursday and it was way less red and smaller by Friday morning. Now it's just a smaller pink bump, not very noticeable.

I just wanted to say that I appreciate all your posts and the way you encourage others, you do make a difference. You are very beautiful inside, and I bet you are still beautiful on the outside in spite of any redness or flare ups. We are always tougher on ourselves than others are on us. I typed up a list of bible verses that I use to encourage myself. If you are interested, send me a message, I'd be glad to send it to you if it would encourage you.

Take care, wish I could hug you.

-Melissa

Edited by melissa6980, 24 December 2011 - 04:26 PM.

[cvd]

Thanks so much for your support Melissa --- it helps! Things turned out better than I thought they would. The swelling I thought for sure was turning into a cyst went down after I applied overnight a spot tx my wholistic derm recently prescribed called "Sodium Sulfacetamide 10% and Sulfer 5% Lotion". She said it works really well for cysts. I have not had a good spot tx while using tretinoin cream because you're not supposed to use other topicals at the same time (..so I can't use BP, etc...) but she said this lotion was originally developed for rosacea so it's really mild but still effective and can be used while using tretinoin cream. I just apply the tretinoin cream around it and it seems to work the same way as the topicals you mentioned...the redness and swelling goes down.

As it turned out my skin is doing okay (...a xmas miracle...) which amazes me since I thought for sure I'd be dealing with a terrible flare-up. One thing I've noticed since faithfully following my allergy diet and suppliment regime is that my skin may act up (gets a bit bumpy, some red spots and swelling) but then nothing happens...not like before (ie developing into a cyst, etc.). In fact it behaves like as if I had started an antibiotic regime. I still get one or two teeny tiny whiteheads but everyone gets those...even people with what looks like clear skin...and I don't worry about them.

I appreciate your advice and am curious about the tumeric...do you drink this? I put tumeric on my brown rice but had never heard of drinking it.

Yes send me the verses!

[melissa6980]

That's great that your skin is doing better. Mine's been smaller red bumps and tiny whiteheads lately, I'm guessing all the scratching my forehead and having bangs over it is the cause of the supersized cystic acne I had on my forehead. That's great the sodium sulfacetamide + sulfur is working great for you too. I put a little bit of water in a glass and then add a teaspoon of turmeric. It's kind of bitter that way though so I only use a little water, so I've taken it in a few sips. I have just water on hand too to wash it down afterwards. Merry Christmas! )