10 replies to this topic

[Livingdeadsoul]

Alright, here's a little history on my skin.
I started getting pimples during 7th/8th grade..so around the time I was 12 or 13. I remember that was also the time I started using makeup. I don't know if this is what triggered my acne but ever since then my acne has never gone away. I really don't think it's the makeup though because makeup doesn't make my skin worse..my skin just doesn't clear up.. If that makes any sense? Well, anyway, during the summer before my freshman year I was put on clindamycin 1% and these pills..I don't remember the name of the pills partially because they did nothing for me. Clindamycin did nothing for me either so I stopped using it once I finished the bottle. Over the course of my high school years I tried all sorts of products/home remedies. I have tried proactiv, acnefree, zapzyt, clean & clear, and the list goes on. My acne never went away. The type of acne I have by the way is, I say it's severe but my dermatologist describes it as light. All of my acne is on my cheeks. So it's like bam..so obvious. That is why I have to wear makeup. I can't be ok knowing my skin is not covered with makeup because with makeup I actually like how I look. Ugh, it's horrible. I'll try posting pics on here soon.

My skin right now:
Right now my skin is mostly just acne scars. I have mostly dark spots, some red marks, and I have 2 indented scars on my cheek..I hate those
Currently, I am drinking ACV twice a day. I also don't drink milk and I try my hardest to avoid any dairy products in general. I eat healthy for the most part and honestly I wish I would've done the ACV + no dairy thing earlier because this has helped my skin a lot.

Retin a...
I was prescribed retin a about 3 months ago but I was very scared to use it since I had read almost every horrible initial breakout story. Finally, 3 days ago I was watching videos of people on retin-a and realized something. My acne could be a lot worse. I am very optimistic about retin-a and I've been thinking to myself this: if I start using retin a I'll get an initial breakout and I'll be able to see just how bad my skin can get but after the purging period I'll have the clear skin I haven't had since I was 12 years old (I'm 18 now). And if by any chance retin a refuses to work for me..I'll simply stop using it and get the skin I have now back and I'll just learn to live with it.

Today is Day 2 on retin-a
I have not noticed much of a difference yet. I know it's not going to work overnight lol, but I'm very excited!

My skin care routine.
Mornings:
-PanOxyl 10% BP wash
-Sunscreen + msm cream
-apply makeup.
Night:
-mark. "that's deep" purifying gel cleanser
-retin a .025%

* I'll try posting pics as soon as possible.

[Livingdeadsoul]

Day 3
Although it is only day 3 I am noticing that my skin tone overall is much more even than it was before starting retin a. Maybe it's just all in my head lol I don't know..but yeah no initial breakout yet. Actually I did feel a pimple growing but I applied acv on it during the day and usually that makes them go away. Also, I popped a zit. I know, I know. You're not supposed to pop or pick at your skin especially if you're on retin-a but this thing was so ready to pop! I mean it pratically popped itself. I've been applying neosporin & vitamin k on it all day and in the night when I apply the retin-a I'll try to avoid rubbing any of it near that area.

[Livingdeadsoul]

Week 1
Not much to say.. My right cheek is broken out pretty bad ( 2 under the skin type pimples like right next to each other & 3 nasty looking whiteheads ) my left cheek isn't so bad.. Although the pimple I popped on day 3 left a white-ish mark..but that's normal for me..& it usually fades fast.. hmm. I do have these tiny bumps like near my jaw line on the left side of my face. I don't know if it's the retin-a working or something else but I don't usually break out there or get these bump looking things. Well that is pretty much it. I'll keep you guys updated.

[Livingdeadsoul]

I feel the need to vent.

I just hate acne so much! All my friends have beautiful skin. My brother has amazing skin. I have this huge cyst or whatever it is on my cheekbone. I just popped it but there is still a huge bump. I think there's another cyst under it actually. Ugh my entire right side of my face is swollen. I used to love going shopping and going out. I mean I'm 18! I should be out having fun! But I can't even stand the thought of letting people see me like this. I haven't gone anywhere in 3 weeks. Like seriously I would rather be in jail. Ughhhhhtckfczdvnhkkjcdgbjybv.
On the bright side.. I think the retin-a is working on the left side of my face pretty good.. Or at least I think it is? I don't know. I have these small bumps ...I think that's my skin doing the purging? Blah. I wish I could fast forward time and see if I get the results I want from this.

[Livingdeadsoul]

If anyone is reading this can you please answer my question.. I've been using retin a for about a week now but I have not started peeling..my skin is not dry at all. Is this a bad thing? Also, the cyst I popped..I feel there is another one under it because it has not gone down and I have raw skin there..can I spot treat that and just use retin a on the opposite side of my face only? Or should I spot treat for a couple days until the cyst heals and not use retin a for those days at all..please answer this..someone..anyone. I'm desperate. I can't even cover this up with makeup. I'm wearing a bandaid on it ugh.

[mWilso]

Hi there!

From my understanding, it takes approximately two days after an application for the skin to show the affects of retin a in the form of dryness or peeling (if it's going to happen). So if you apply it on a monday, and it irritates your skin, you may have dry skin appear on wednesday. Or, it may take several consecutive days of tretinoin to cause your skin to react with irritation, days later.

Anyways. Dry skin is a reaction and by product of irritation, that is not necessarily a positive reaction.
You have to keep in mind that this is a long term process and you're just one week into it. I am 98% positive that you will have dry skin at some point with continued use, and you'll probably be annoyed by it when it happens! I understand how much you want to see a change, just for reassurance that something is happening. It will! Just be patient.

If I were you, I would put some BHA and polysporin on that pimple and sleep with a band-aid on it (skipping the tretinoin) for a couple of nights. But, I'm aware that my view is not a popular one due to you being new to the retin-a.

Good luck!

[Livingdeadsoul]

Thank you!
I was reading on other websites that dryness and peeling is not a sign of retin-a working, and the goal is to avoid that from happening. So I guess I'm lucky it hasn't happened to me..yet lol. And the pimple is going down . I know it's only week one but that pimple really got me frustrated haha.

[Livingdeadsoul]

Well it's week 2!
My skin has been doing some purging. I'm not sure if this is the initial break out but I've been getting a lot of nasty whiteheads I've only had one pimple come up since starting retin a. The only thing I'm really worried about right now is that the area where I popped that huge cyst(on my cheekbone) is like really hard when I press on it. And the skin over it is like pinkish white.. Idk it's very weird and I'm worried it won't go away because I've never had anything like this. Ugh. Well I'll just pray for the best.

Edited by Livingdeadsoul, 17 August 2012 - 10:56 AM.

[Livingdeadsoul]

Week 3
Hmm.. Idk what to say. I think the retin a is working because my skin tone overall is just a lot more even and smoother than it was a month ago. I'm STILL worried about the scar from the cyst I popped 2 weeks ago.. The scar is just slightly raised.. and it actually kind of looks like a burn scar, like it's shiny and ugh I just hate it. It's not easy to cover up at all and I just hate it! but yeah.. I can't wait to see how my skin will be like in the next month.

[cristabell92]

Hey I read your story and it sounds soo similar to mine I'm on night 3 of retin-a and I am also scared about the purging period although since I have started drinking acv three weeks ago I have purged a ton. So maybe I won't purge as much...

[Parissa]

I hope you have luck with retin-a. I am on my 6th day and am experiencing a lot of dryness and some peeling