111 replies to this topic

[Willow3]

Diane day 49:

Well, I'm really not getting new pimples on my face or chest. I am still purging in these areas though. My lower back is much better, but I am still getting some pimples there. My upper back is still purging, but they are getting red and inflamed sometimes. Still no side effects from Diane, so I think I am home free. I know I will continue to purge right until 12 weeks is up. Also, I should start seeing even more improvement from the Diane in the next couple of months.

I just wanted to add that I stopped using SA completely, with no consequences at all. It is nice to have one less product in my regime. Also, I barely using BP, only sometimes in the morning as a spot treatment.

[Willow3]

Diane day 57 (week 11 for RAM):

As long as I don't pick, my face and chest are clear. I got a big breakout ob my upper back in the last week, it is starting to heal up. I can tell that it is still due to purging. The skin on my back is hicker, so I'm sure it will take longer to respond. I have no redness or irritation anywhere from the RAM. Sometimes i will get a bit of flakiness around my mouth if I use too much there. I also have not had any issues with burning. I know before I said that I want to go off of it, but I have changed my mind now that all the sid effects have diminished. My skin isn't red, itchy, or flaky anymore. Also, I'm not excessisvely flushing when I run outside in warm weather, and I'm not burning. Further, swaet doesn't irritate my skin at all right now like it did before, and I can wear regular sunscreens on my face without a bad reaction. Basically everything that bothered me about the tretinoin has gone away with the RAM. It is definitely a very effective treatment for my, my forehead is smoother than I have ever seen it. I am so glad I tried the micro formulation. I'm almost out of the purging stage, I'm hoping it will be done next week, and then maybe all i will have to do is wait for red marks to fade. Oh, I really don't mind that I can't tan when I'm using the micro, I don't have time anyway.

I should start to see Diane 35 kicking allot more in the next three weeks, I am excited for the. My skin should be so clear with this combination of traetments, especially considering I could keep improving from the RAM for another 4.5 weeks, and another 4 months with the Diane (or longer).

[caffeinefree]

Glad to hear you're doing well! I'm just starting week 7 of Retin-A (regular, not Micro), and your comments are very encouraging ...they also make me want to go try the Micro. Maybe I'll finish out my tube of Retin-A, and then go see my derm about getting a prescription for RAM.

[leilauk]

hello Willow3,

Im so happy for you. Your progress sounds amazing!

I am now on my second week of Dianette (Diane) and have had what I think is an initial breakout (on my lower cheeks and jawline so I know it is hormonal)

But now my face and back are starting to clear.

The red marks are quite anoying though as they are taking so long to fade.

Have you heard of skinoren (azelaic acid)?

I am using this along with the dianette to fade the marks left buy the acne. It also helps with active acne and all of my many blackheads on my nose have compleatly gone!

What is purging?

Feel like I should know what this is so excuse the bimbo question!

I love it that I have had no bad side effects from dianette, only good ones especially the boob growth. After only 11 days they feel fuller.

Did yours continue to grow thoughout the weeks?

Good luck following your regeime through. I understand how frustrating it can all be (the topicals) and time consuming!


Can wait for the day when all I need to do to keep my skin clear is just take a tiny pill every day!

[~Bobbi~]

Hi Willow, I just got done reading your whole log. I'm thrilled to see your getting better and better with the RAM and your BCP. I used to suffer from pretty bad bacne and a bit of chest acne too. I used to put on every topical I could get my hands on but nothing ever really worked for me in those areas. I'm 28 now and it has pretty much just gone away on it's own. I will get the occasional spot here and there but nothing to stress about. I can totally sympathize with you on not being able to wear certain clothes. It sucks to get up the morning and get dressed only to realize you have a huge pimple on your chest. Back when I had the body acne I had pretty much no facial acne, now it's the opposite. Any way just wanted to let you know your not alone. Keep updating on your progress.

Bobbi

[Willow3]

Glad to hear you're doing well! I'm just starting week 7 of Retin-A (regular, not Micro), and your comments are very encouraging ...they also make me want to go try the Micro. Maybe I'll finish out my tube of Retin-A, and then go see my derm about getting a prescription for RAM.

I would definitely go for the retin-a micro. My back and chest were so irritated and flaky on the retin-a, and now they are irritation free. It si also so much more effective!

hello Willow3,

Im so happy for you. Your progress sounds amazing!

I am now on my second week of Dianette (Diane) and have had what I think is an initial breakout (on my lower cheeks and jawline so I know it is hormonal)

But now my face and back are starting to clear.

The red marks are quite anoying though as they are taking so long to fade.

Have you heard of skinoren (azelaic acid)?

I am using this along with the dianette to fade the marks left buy the acne. It also helps with active acne and all of my many blackheads on my nose have compleatly gone!

What is purging?

Feel like I should know what this is so excuse the bimbo question!

I love it that I have had no bad side effects from dianette, only good ones especially the boob growth. After only 11 days they feel fuller.

Did yours continue to grow thoughout the weeks?

Good luck following your regeime through. I understand how frustrating it can all be (the topicals) and time consuming!


Can wait for the day when all I need to do to keep my skin clear is just take a tiny pill every day!

Purging is when the stuff that clogs pores is brought to the surface, usully retinoids do this. I'm so happy that you are tolerating the Diane well. My boobs continued to grow for serveral weeks. I went up an entire cup size in the end. Good luck!

Hi Willow, I just got done reading your whole log. I'm thrilled to see your getting better and better with the RAM and your BCP. I used to suffer from pretty bad bacne and a bit of chest acne too. I used to put on every topical I could get my hands on but nothing ever really worked for me in those areas. I'm 28 now and it has pretty much just gone away on it's own. I will get the occasional spot here and there but nothing to stress about. I can totally sympathize with you on not being able to wear certain clothes. It sucks to get up the morning and get dressed only to realize you have a huge pimple on your chest. Back when I had the body acne I had pretty much no facial acne, now it's the opposite. Any way just wanted to let you know your not alone. Keep updating on your progress.

Bobbi

Thanks for the encouragement. Everyone I know has perfectly clear skin on their bidies, so i do feel like I am the only one sometimes. I hope I will out grow it someday, but for now I am not counting on it!



Thanks everyone for all your posts! It really encourages me to keep up with this log.

[Willow3]

Diane day 73 (week 10); RAM week 14:

It has been awhil since I have posted. I was finishing exams, and then our internet kept going down.

My skin has been doing very well. During my 12th week of RAM I broke out allot on my back, but that has all haeled up and nothing else has emerged. Definitely by the end of week 12 i have noticed a drastic reduction in purging, nad therefore a reduction in breaking out on my body. Currently, my chest has one pimple that is almost healed. My upper back is clear (still some red marks, but they are not very visible). My face is also clear of inflammatory acne, I still have some clogged pores (I don't think those are going to go away pompletely, but I don't care because they are not very noticeable). My lower back has two pimples that are healing at the moement. The red marks on my lower back are no longer red, they are more of dark splotches, which I know is the final step before they fade. So overall, only three pimples! I'm not picking at my back or chest anymore because they are basically clear, so I think this is definitely helping them stay clearer. I am picking at my face some, all the clogged pores are so tempting!

I still have no side effects from the Diane that I dislike. The irritation is totally gone from the retin-a.

I have almost reached maximum results with the retin-a, I think they say there is improvemnt until 16 weeks. I'm at the point where the Diane should steadily be helping my skin more and more. I'm sure i will still get the odd small breakout for the next couple of months. But overall my skin should look better and better as the alst of the redmarks fade.

I think the combination of meds will be very effective onece both have reached full effectiveness (this probably won't be until 6-9 months for the Diane). I am looking forward to going backpacking and camping and not having to freak out about my skin breaking out.

[leilauk]

Hello Willow3!

Glad to hear of your progress.

Just wanted to let you know that after being on Dianette for less than a month my face chest and back are compleatetly clear!

Just red marks on my back that I am trying to fade with azelaic acid.

I dont know if its the dianette that has cleared up my skin but it seems quite likely as I have not responded to any other treatments so well before!

I have been on lymecyclin for two months as well and been using the azelaic acid morning and night and started dianette just over three weeks ago and cant beleive I am clear!

Have always had about 10 or so spots on my back and now I have none for the first time in 2 years (my bacne first appearewd 2 years ago)

Just had to share my progress am so impressed with the treatment!

Just wanted to ask you if you know anything about the effects of tanning while on dianette, is it really bad?

Also have you noticed any of the veins on your thighs being more noticable? I have heard this happens with dianette/diane35 and think im just being paranoid!

I Dont want to come off this pill as is the best medication have been on.

Thank you for all your advice and for sharing your progress with us.

[Willow3]

Hello Willow3!

Glad to hear of your progress.

Just wanted to let you know that after being on Dianette for less than a month my face chest and back are compleatetly clear!

Just red marks on my back that I am trying to fade with azelaic acid.

I dont know if its the dianette that has cleared up my skin but it seems quite likely as I have not responded to any other treatments so well before!

I have been on lymecyclin for two months as well and been using the azelaic acid morning and night and started dianette just over three weeks ago and cant beleive I am clear!

Have always had about 10 or so spots on my back and now I have none for the first time in 2 years (my bacne first appearewd 2 years ago)

Just had to share my progress am so impressed with the treatment!

Just wanted to ask you if you know anything about the effects of tanning while on dianette, is it really bad?

Also have you noticed any of the veins on your thighs being more noticable? I have heard this happens with dianette/diane35 and think im just being paranoid!

I Dont want to come off this pill as is the best medication have been on.

Thank you for all your advice and for sharing your progress with us.

Congratulations! I am glad to hear you skin has cleared up! You don't have to worry about tanning or sunexposure with Diane. My concerns are because i am using the RAM, which means i cannot tan. I haven't noticed my leg veins becoming more obvious, from everything I have read this is not a common side effect.

[Willow3]

Diane week 12, RAM week 16:

Well, I basically have no irritation or side effcts from either med. My face and chest are consistently clear, or what i would call clear. I still get some blackheads and whitheads, and little tiny poimples that are barely niticebale and go away in a day. Good enough for me! My lower back is mostly clear, i have two that just popped up last night, but they are small and will go away in 3 or 4 days. My upper back is either almost clear or mildly breaking out. probably on teh heavy side of mild acne. most days I would wear a tank top anyway. i have reached maximum results with the RAM now, so i know i definitely need to be on the Diane to clear my back. the Diane should just be kicking in now, and I should steadily see impeovement for the next 3 to 6 months. Overall I am very happy with my skin, I no longer feel disgusting when I look in the mirror. It will be nice when my back is completely clear, but in the mentime I feel great about how my skin looks. I'll keep updating every couple of weeks.

[~Bobbi~]

I'm so happy to hear things are going so well for you!! Just in time for tank top season.

[217106]

Diane week 12, RAM week 16:

Well, I basically have no irritation or side effcts from either med. My face and chest are consistently clear, or what i would call clear. I still get some blackheads and whitheads, and little tiny poimples that are barely niticebale and go away in a day. Good enough for me! My lower back is mostly clear, i have two that just popped up last night, but they are small and will go away in 3 or 4 days. My upper back is either almost clear or mildly breaking out. probably on teh heavy side of mild acne. most days I would wear a tank top anyway. i have reached maximum results with the RAM now, so i know i definitely need to be on the Diane to clear my back. the Diane should just be kicking in now, and I should steadily see impeovement for the next 3 to 6 months. Overall I am very happy with my skin, I no longer feel disgusting when I look in the mirror. It will be nice when my back is completely clear, but in the mentime I feel great about how my skin looks. I'll keep updating every couple of weeks.

i just wanted to say that it is very encouraging to see how positive you remain throughout this entire process!!! i am also on diane 35 and just finished my second pack and i am going to start my 3rd pack in a couple of days. i experienced the awful initial break out and i currently have a new nodule. hopefully it will heal more quickly that the others did. while i cannot say that i have seen a significant improvement i am going to stick with the treatment since i know that it takes time to see improvements and your constant posts of your progress are motivating! i am happy that your skin is clearing up nicely and hope it only gets better!!!