314 replies to this topic

[celebration]

Good news! I went to visit my parents yesterday. Hadn't seen them since Christmas. When my mom saw me said, "Wow! Your skin looks SO much better!" That was awesome

Unfortunately, I was a bad girl, though. I ate greasy food, and skipped my regimen last night and this morning. Now, a tiny red bump that I had a few days ago has turned into a cyst. It is near my left temple, so now I have matching cysts on both sides of my face. Lucky me.

I'm back on the CSR bandwagon tonight. The redness has gone down quite a bit, so it's prob a good thing that I took a little break afterall.

[celebration]

I appreciate the support from a lot of people on the boards. And I'm not looking for compliments or kudos or anything. I posted my album so that I could keep track of my progress on Dan's Clear Skin Regimen. If you want to make suggestions about how to work the regimen, I welcome it. But please don't tell me to take accutane. Thank you.

[Sixx]

So cool what your mom said!
Hope you had a good time =)

[Brandy]

alright! your mom noticed! That's always reassuring to know you are on the right track, and Celebration, if you EVER need regimen advice or have questions, feel free to PM me.

[celebration]

Things are goin pretty good with my skin. It gets better everyday I've cut back to doing BP only once a day because I was getting so red. I'll go back up to twice a day in a couple of days. My face really needed a break, though, and the healing is still progressing just as well. Last night I tried out an Epsoms Salts trick that I read in the forums. Guess what? It worked! Here's what I did:

Poured about 4 tablespoons of Epsoms Salts in a little bowl.
Added about the same amount of very hot tap water (has to be hot so the salts will melt).
Swished it around til the crystals dissolved.
Dipped a square of toilet tissue in the salt water.
Tore the square into four little pieces.
Applied each piece to a separate bump/cluster of bumps on my face.
Left it there, stuck to my skin, overnight.

Gosh, wouldn't ya know, when I peeled off those pieces of TP this morning, there was a difference. My two cysts flattened out considerably. And the two clusters of little pimples dried up a LOT. Kind of a cool thing. Not sure I would do it all the time because A) it would probably dry out my skin and B) I don't want to stray from Dan's regimen yet. Still, it did help, so I thought I'd log the experiment for future reference.

[celebration]

Well, I'm going out to a movie matinee with a friend. I love going to dark movie theaters!!! So, anyway, I just put on makeup and I think I look a little less hideous than I did a week ago. It still looks like the wrong color, probably because it's clashing with the redness underneath. But I'm not ready to go up to a makeup counter and talk to some gorgeous girl with perfect skin about makeup. Can't do that yet... (I used to use Clinique, but ended up getting Cover Girl just recently because I could do so without interacting with anyone!) Anywho, I really played up my eyes and lips Oh, I also have to wear my hair up because I haven't gotten a hair cut in a few months...yup, you guessed it. Too embarrassed to walk into the salon with the horrible skin. I also need to get my eyebrows waxed... This is all because my skin looked really good up until a couple of months ago. When you go from "Hey, I'm an OK looking girl!" to "Holy mother of God, who is that grotesque creature?" when you look in the mirror, it is sort of debilitating. Ah well... I'll get through it somehow! [attachmentid=3345]

[QueenAmy]

As a serial picker I do not recommend flourescent lights in the bathroom! Good for makeup, BAD if you love picking like I do. Every time I travel on business I can't help myself in the hotel bathroom. I sit on the counter and attack my face with every implement available- bobby pins are the best. It is so satisfying to get all the gunk out, and pick everything until you realize just what you have done to your face! I have actually given myself MORE zits by doing this, and my colleagues must wonder what the hell I did to myself when they see me the next morning. Nope, dull regular bathroom lights are the best, although I must admit I look at myself in several mirrors in several rooms after applying my makeup every day, just to make sure it's ok. Celeb, you are fortunate to be at home where you don't have to wear it while on the regimen. I try to not wear makeup as much as possible, but when I leave to house, I have to. Even if it's just going to the grocery store or the gym. Yes, I wear makeup to the gym. Keep up the good work everyone!

[celebration]

You sound just like me Queen Amy! I also wear makeup when I workout. Unfortunately, I sweat a lot and constantly blot my face with a towel, which takes the makeup right off! What's a girl to do?

[Sixx]

ahh...dont feel bad, I wear makeup EVERYWHERE...
I like the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation, it doesnt break me out at all. I think your makeup looks really good tho...still afraid to go to the salon? I can relate, but its because Im going thru a major hair shed right now thats why I dont want to go.
So what did ya go see at the movies?? I just saw King Kong...it was a cheesy story, but the effects were phenominal!

[mae]

HI Celebration. Just want to empathize! My skin went crazy in August. I have waited since then to have a haircut cos I couldn't handle having someone seeing my face up close with my hair all pulled back. Also didn't want to have to stare at myself for an hour. But the good news is that with the regimen my skin is clear and I just called this morning to book a haircut! So hang in there. It'll get better. And you'll feel pretty again.

[celebration]

ahh...dont feel bad, I wear makeup EVERYWHERE...
I like the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation, it doesnt break me out at all. I think your makeup looks really good tho...still afraid to go to the salon? I can relate, but its because Im going thru a major hair shed right now thats why I dont want to go.
So what did ya go see at the movies?? I just saw King Kong...it was a cheesy story, but the effects were phenominal!

Maybe I'll try Neutrogena's makeup. I've never, ever had luck finding the right shade in Covergirl. Back in high school, when MOM was paying for makeup, that's all I ever wore. Not that I'm rolling in the dough now, but decent makeup is something I like to treat myself to. Why is your hair shedding? Is it really noticeable? Poor thing. I wish I could give you some of my wild mane!!! Oh, and we didn't end up at the movies. My friend had to go pick up her son early from the skating rink, so we just hung out for a little while in Downtown Disney (it's about 10 minutes from my house).

HI Celebration. Just want to empathize! My skin went crazy in August. I have waited since then to have a haircut cos I couldn't handle having someone seeing my face up close with my hair all pulled back. Also didn't want to have to stare at myself for an hour. But the good news is that with the regimen my skin is clear and I just called this morning to book a haircut! So hang in there. It'll get better. And you'll feel pretty again.

Thanks Mae! As soon as my skin clears up a bit I'm gonna book myself a nice day at the salon! I know what you mean about staring at yourself in the mirror for an hour. I'm always sitting there critiquing myself while she does my hair P Congrats on your clear skin!!!! Yippee for Dan's CSR!!!

[Sixx]

I wish I could have some more hair! lol thanks for offering =)
Its not noticeable to anyone except me really, thank goodness...I still have a full head of hair, its just way thinner than it used to be. (I can really tell when I make a ponytail, compared to how thick my hair was before all this started, its a smaller diameter than it used to be.) As far as the cause...well, Ive had about $3K worth of bloodwork all to no avail. I have an appt. with an endochronologist on March 1 to see if she can translate my test results and find a problem.
*le sigh*
Im not losing as much hair as I was...back in August-November I was losing a handful every time Id wash my hair...and let me tell you, Id much rather have acne than go thru that.
This is the 3rd time Ive had a shed like this. For some reason, my body is going thru cyclic sheds every Fall for the past 3 years and I just need to find out why so that it can be fixed.
Im still losing more than I would consider normal every time I wash my hair...but its about a 10th of what I was losing, so I consider that a "good thing" lol
I hope to figure all this out soon, there are a couple things in my bloodwork that raised some flags, such as a very low ferritin (iron stores...for which I have been on iron supplements since then) and a high SHBG, which is an protein that the liver produces. Im afraid that somehow I may have damaged my liver because of some major antibiotics that I was on the first time to ward off infection after a surgery, then I was on some really big ones for a double kidney infection that almost killed me last year...then my doc put me on tetracycline for acne (which I discontinued last summer.)
Sorry for such a long post =/
guess I can sum it up to that I hope I can figure out a problem...and that the problem is fixable.
thanks for asking =)

[celebration]

Aww, Sixx. What an ordeal. A couple of my close friends have had "unidentified" conditions, where they had to see doctor after doctor, and get all kinds of tests. It took some persistence, but they eventually found out what was ailing. (one had a bacterial infection in her heart, the other has a rare nerve disorder) So, my best advice is to be as proactive as possible. Since you are here on acne.org, acting on your desire to be cured of acne, I'm sure you will do the same with your hair loss. It sounds like you've been through some tough stuff, health-wise, for such a young person (late 20s right?). Hopefully, you will soon be able to put it all behind you. In the meantime, I'd love it if you kept me posted on what you find out!

[Sixx]

Thanks =)
Im also on a hairloss forum..so yeah, Im persistant. I recently was doing some research and have found some symptoms that I have that are related to an overgrowth of Candida, which is in everyone's system at all times, but if you are on antibiotics, birth control and several other scenarios, the Candida can become overgrown and cause a whole range of problems...such as hairloss AND acne.
I was on lots of antibiotics...so this may have allowed this situation to occur. This is another thing I am looking into.
but yeah, I promise to let you know what I find out!

[celebration]

Skin is doing alright today. Seems like almost everything has dried up. I have this patch on my cheek that keeps going from "one big cluster of zits without a head" to "individual zits with white heads". It's like they keep coming together, then moving apart. It's weird. But the patch is slowly getting smaller. I think I have these cattle rounded up!!! Anyway, I started taking minocyclen yesterday. I'm also going to be doing stuff to reduce stress (like I have any?). If anyone has any good stress-relieving ideas, please share them!!!

p.s. Must not pick...must not pick...must not scrub face, even though you are dying to do it...

p.s.s. One of my clients wants me to come to work for her full-time. I've been avoiding discussing this with her because I'm embarrassed about my face. Ya see, she does marketing for plastic surgeons, so appearance is obviously going to be a factor. I just made an appointment to meet with her on February 8th. I'm not a religious zealot, but in this particular case, let's all pray for a great healing *laying on hands*

[Sixx]

Dont pick and dont scrub!!!!

*this message brought to you by Overpickers Anonymous and will self-destruct in 5...4...3...2...heehee...*

Just checked out your "today" pic and OH MY GOSH!!!! WOW!! The improvement is phenominal!!!
Keep up the good work!

[celebration]

*this message brought to you by Overpickers Anonymous and will self-destruct in 5...4...3...2...heehee...*

I love it!!! The O.A.

Oh, and my other group-thingy is now CurlyGirls at naturallycurly.com. I'm thinking I'm going to need glasses soon, after all the computer time, which would mean a new support group that I'd have to join. It's a never-ending process....(NICE mental picture: thick glasses, curly hair, acne. did I mention I have a cat?)

[cool as kim deal]

Oh, and my other group-thingy is now CurlyGirls at naturallycurly.com. I'm thinking I'm going to need glasses soon, after all the computer time, which would mean a new support group that I'd have to join. It's a never-ending process....(NICE mental picture: thick glasses, curly hair, acne. did I mention I have a cat?)

You've the face shape to pull off a great pair of glasses, though. You wearing glasses would be more sexy young librarian-like than old spinster-like, judging by your album.

[celebration]

Oh, and my other group-thingy is now CurlyGirls at naturallycurly.com. I'm thinking I'm going to need glasses soon, after all the computer time, which would mean a new support group that I'd have to join. It's a never-ending process....(NICE mental picture: thick glasses, curly hair, acne. did I mention I have a cat?)

You've the face shape to pull off a great pair of glasses, though. You wearing glasses would be more sexy young librarian-like than old spinster-like, judging by your album.

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[claud]

You look cute with glasses. Your hair is really pretty.

Skin is doing alright today. Seems like almost everything has dried up. I have this patch on my cheek that keeps going from "one big cluster of zits without a head" to "individual zits with white heads". It's like they keep coming together, then moving apart. It's weird. But the patch is slowly getting smaller. I think I have these cattle rounded up!!! Anyway, I started taking minocyclen yesterday. I'm also going to be doing stuff to reduce stress (like I have any?). If anyone has any good stress-relieving ideas, please share them!!!

p.s. Must not pick...must not pick...must not scrub face, even though you are dying to do it...

p.s.s. One of my clients wants me to come to work for her full-time. I've been avoiding discussing this with her because I'm embarrassed about my face. Ya see, she does marketing for plastic surgeons, so appearance is obviously going to be a factor. I just made an appointment to meet with her on February 8th. I'm not a religious zealot, but in this particular case, let's all pray for a great healing *laying on hands*

Well, when I feel stress out I usually work out. Um... also watching movies decreases stress...

I also play video games. XD