59 replies to this topic

[AllynRose]

I hope you are not feeling too sad right now, sending you lots of love!x

Aw, thank you.

[AllynRose]

Met up with my cousin today. She has the exact same kind of acne I have. We started talking about skin, and I learned that all the women on my dad's side have acne issues. Man, it really is a genetic thing.

I was screwed from the start because my mom had it bad too.

Anyways, my skin's been doing good. No active spots despite buffalo wings, taco bell and chocolate. I could never do the holistic thing, lol. I LOVE food.

Edited by AllynRose, 30 December 2011 - 12:20 AM.

[russell pattay]

from the last pictures, your face looks SO amazing compared to your first few posts!
after two weeks of calling my doctor & the pharmacy, i finally got a refill! good luck with yours!

[AllynRose]

I just finished the first tube, but luckily I have a second one!

I'll be seeing the derm again next week as a check up. So far, so good. I have a little cyst by my mouth but I have to stop and be thankful for how much better I've gotten, instead of bitching about one blemish.

Gosh. Clear skin spoils me rotten.

[AllynRose]

I gotta say, this website gives me anxiety sometimes. So many people shouting their opinions like fact and so much conflicting information.

In the end I would say just trust your doctor.

A little thought for anyone who's ever felt the same way on here. It's actually why I stopped going on halfway through my Retin-A treatment.

[PaulH85]

Yeah, I would say that the best thing is to take a look at the information that's out there and then work out which parts are right for us. I read so much conflicting information when I started researching and in the end, I just turn those things into a check-list. Then it was a case of trial and error until I found what worked for me, regardless of whether or not those things worked for others because we're all totally different.

[AllynRose]

I think you were on the topic I was referring to in my last post, the one about diet and acne.

I completely agree with you. I just get frustrated with people who insist diet is everything for everyone. I've done all sorts of long-term diets without the smallest improvement. I wish I had worked, but it just didn't.

Obviously that's no excuse to be unhealthy either, but I don't sweat it anymore if I eat Taco Bell once in a while. I know Epiduo's got my back

[SeanDelaney]

Hi AllynRose!
I'm a new member to this site. In fact, I only joined because I randomly found this thread while doing research on Epiduo. Seeing your amazing progress has given me the faith to keep up with my Epiduo. I actually started Epiduo sometime in September before college but because I wasn't seeing immediate results I got discouraged and did not use it regularly as prescribed. Sick of my acne I finally vowed to myself that I would be incredibly strict with Epiduo and apply it every night. So far, I'm on day 39 of consecutive application. Every night I wash my face with warm water and Cetaphil's "Gentle Skin Cleanser" as recommended on the Epiduo website. Then I apply Epiduo to my entire face and hairline. In the morning I, again, wash my face with warm water and and the cleanser and then apply Cetaphil's "Daily Moisturizer" with spf 15 (or something). I know, thanks to your thread, that retinoids take 12 weeks (three months) for skin cell turnover. I'm in the beginning of month two and so far my acne has only gotten worse. I knew this was to be expected because Epiduo is sort of purging all of the hidden pimples beneath my skin. But by month two I thought it would stop. I feel like I get a new pimple everyday. I have acne on my cheeks, chin, forehead, and hairline. Epiduo used to really burn but I think that was because I was applying too much. And my face is pretty dry but the moisturizer helps a lot. Anyway, I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing is normal because I'm not seeing much positive results just yet.

[AllynRose]

Hi AllynRose!
I'm a new member to this site. In fact, I only joined because I randomly found this thread while doing research on Epiduo. Seeing your amazing progress has given me the faith to keep up with my Epiduo. I actually started Epiduo sometime in September before college but because I wasn't seeing immediate results I got discouraged and did not use it regularly as prescribed. Sick of my acne I finally vowed to myself that I would be incredibly strict with Epiduo and apply it every night. So far, I'm on day 39 of consecutive application. Every night I wash my face with warm water and Cetaphil's "Gentle Skin Cleanser" as recommended on the Epiduo website. Then I apply Epiduo to my entire face and hairline. In the morning I, again, wash my face with warm water and and the cleanser and then apply Cetaphil's "Daily Moisturizer" with spf 15 (or something). I know, thanks to your thread, that retinoids take 12 weeks (three months) for skin cell turnover. I'm in the beginning of month two and so far my acne has only gotten worse. I knew this was to be expected because Epiduo is sort of purging all of the hidden pimples beneath my skin. But by month two I thought it would stop. I feel like I get a new pimple everyday. I have acne on my cheeks, chin, forehead, and hairline. Epiduo used to really burn but I think that was because I was applying too much. And my face is pretty dry but the moisturizer helps a lot. Anyway, I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing is normal because I'm not seeing much positive results just yet.

Sean, I'm really glad my words were able to help. My derm never explained retinoids to me, so I've used almost all of them and quit because of lack of results. The two times I stuck it out - I got clear. I hope you have the same success. I think people who claim to get better after a few weeks just have very mild acne cycles. I remember having the ugliest, deepest zits by the end of month 2 and thinking "What the hell, shouldn't this stuff be working?" But by the beginning of month 3 it was calming down. I'm 99% clear now

The dryness is normal. In fact, that carried on way past my 3rd month. I still deal with it from time to time, but much less now. I've read that the burning means it's working. I would have to agree, because mine burnt like hell up until VERY recently. And some nights it'll randomly burn again even though the day before it didn't.

Keep us updated! Good luck.

[Beender20]

Hey Allynrose,

I read through some of this, not all, but it seems like you've had success with epiduo. I've been using it since dec 16th and really have seen great improvement since the start of the 3rd month; no active acne just red marks. However, whats up with my face being oily?? Do you know if this will go away at the end of 12 weeks? For everyone else it seems to be drying out their face but for me it's just oily! It's very frustrating and honestly the oily skin is now more annoying than the red marks. My face was dry for like the first week but ever since then its been oily. Any help? I have my follow up derm appt. on March 6th so hopefully I can get something different if this doesn't do the trick. The thing is though it works great for acne it's such a shame it's making my face oily..

[AllynRose]

Beender,

I had that problem ocassionally, but it ceased around the 3rd month. However, when I was using Retin-A the problem just did not go away. Maybe Epiduo doesn't work well with your skin chemistry, in the same way Retin-A didn't work with mine. The way I see it, your options are a) Switch to a different retinoid and hope for better results b) Add a drying acne cream into your regimen - something with BP or salicyclic acid or c) Deal with it.

I recommend trying out the second option and then if necessary, the first.

Good luck

-----------------------------

Sorry I haven't been posting much guys. Busy semester. There isn't much to report. Face is clear.

I developed folliculitis on my chest and back as a side effect of all that antibiotic use messing with my skin chemistry. Oh well, I've been to the derm for it and it's already clearing up on it's own. They gave me Tersi Foam, which I found out I am allergic to and then a Sodium Sulfacetamide soap. I'm currently not using either and it's doing well. I think I'll try the soap later.

Edited by AllynRose, 22 February 2012 - 09:39 PM.

[AllynRose]

Wah. Clear skin spoils me, because now I care about every little blemish. I had a cyst above my lip for two days and now it's a scab since I still keep picking at my skin. Whoops. Other than that, I'm still clear. The cyst is in a place where I don't use Epiduo (above my lip, in the mustache area) so I'm wondering if I should start using it there. Thing is, on the usage directions they say not to use it around your mouth. Hm... But that's where my acne is

[curulunu]

Hi! I kinda recently started using Epiduo, along with Doxycycline (I was sorry to read that you had terrible problems with the nausea, fortunately I haven't experienced such side effects) and this entire thread is really giving me a lot of hope! It's been about a month and my skin is definitely "bipolar" as you've mentioned. One day I'll wake up and be impressed with my skin, then the next day, or even later that day, my skin will like be in ruins. It's discouraging but I have to keep telling myself that it'll get better. Or... I hope it will. I really hope my skin will be clear by the third month like yours, May is a big month for me haha (prom, graduation, then I'm going to Europe shortly after. Lots of photos, yikes.) I'd like to add that the Doxy has really cleared up my body acne pretty well, my back is essentially clear and my chest is clearing up for sure.

[AllynRose]

Sorry I haven't really come back for updates. This website reminds me of some of the most difficult times in my life, so I find it hard to log on. I hate seeing the pictures of my skin all broken out.

I'm doing pretty good. I'd say I get 2-3 spots a month now, but Epiduo definitely keeps things under control. I don't wear much make-up anymore.

I still pick at my skin when I'm stressed, even though there's nothing left to pick at.

[PaulH85]

Glad to hear things are going well and you've found what generally keeps you clear.

I don't suppose the odd spot is really a big deal but I can appreciate how it not might feel that way for anyone with previous skin issues. That's kind of where I'm at with it these days. Guess it all comes down to keeping things in perspective.

I'm the same with picking as well - can often find something to pick at, even though there isn't really anything there. It's just a habit and it'll be broken in time.

All in all, seems like you've got things under control. That's a great feeling!

[KennyDeWyze]

hey you!!!!
i am on Tactuo(Canadian's version) + Doxy as well.
i think ive been taking Doxy 3.5 weeks now, and using Epiduo 3Weeks
dont really know how Doxy does to me, it hasnt cleaned my skin yet, i have no side effects with taking doxy though
keep using Epiduo everynight, for sure the first week was like hell. it stunk, dried my face out,redness on my face,i was down!
since using Epiduo for 3weeks, i have more ance on my face now(Damn it)
, especially on my left cheek, and both sides of forehead, Horrible!
maybe thats the "initial breakout"? holy,
reading reviews say, 4-8weeks will see the improvement,
hope its real.

[sandra23]

Hi AllynRose!
I'm a new member to this site. In fact, I only joined because I randomly found this thread while doing research on Epiduo. Seeing your amazing progress has given me the faith to keep up with my Epiduo. I actually started Epiduo sometime in September before college but because I wasn't seeing immediate results I got discouraged and did not use it regularly as prescribed. Sick of my acne I finally vowed to myself that I would be incredibly strict with Epiduo and apply it every night. So far, I'm on day 39 of consecutive application. Every night I wash my face with warm water and Cetaphil's "Gentle Skin Cleanser" as recommended on the Epiduo website. Then I apply Epiduo to my entire face and hairline. In the morning I, again, wash my face with warm water and and the cleanser and then apply Cetaphil's "Daily Moisturizer" with spf 15 (or something). I know, thanks to your thread, that retinoids take 12 weeks (three months) for skin cell turnover. I'm in the beginning of month two and so far my acne has only gotten worse. I knew this was to be expected because Epiduo is sort of purging all of the hidden pimples beneath my skin. But by month two I thought it would stop. I feel like I get a new pimple everyday. I have acne on my cheeks, chin, forehead, and hairline. Epiduo used to really burn but I think that was because I was applying too much. And my face is pretty dry but the moisturizer helps a lot. Anyway, I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing is normal because I'm not seeing much positive results just yet.

Sean, I'm really glad my words were able to help. My derm never explained retinoids to me, so I've used almost all of them and quit because of lack of results. The two times I stuck it out - I got clear. I hope you have the same success. I think people who claim to get better after a few weeks just have very mild acne cycles. I remember having the ugliest, deepest zits by the end of month 2 and thinking "What the hell, shouldn't this stuff be working?" But by the beginning of month 3 it was calming down. I'm 99% clear now

The dryness is normal. In fact, that carried on way past my 3rd month. I still deal with it from time to time, but much less now. I've read that the burning means it's working. I would have to agree, because mine burnt like hell up until VERY recently. And some nights it'll randomly burn again even though the day before it didn't.

Keep us updated! Good luck.

You both give me hope! ive been on epiduo for a mth and half and is soooo bad. i have severe acne so its just taking longer to bring out all the acne? so i should give it another month and half? ugh that seems like forever...that would make it 3 mths,,how long till your skin got clear? i just got on doxy yesterday so maybe that will help speed up the process?

hey you!!!!
i am on Tactuo(Canadian's version) + Doxy as well.
i think ive been taking Doxy 3.5 weeks now, and using Epiduo 3Weeks
dont really know how Doxy does to me, it hasnt cleaned my skin yet, i have no side effects with taking doxy though
keep using Epiduo everynight, for sure the first week was like hell. it stunk, dried my face out,redness on my face,i was down!
since using Epiduo for 3weeks, i have more ance on my face now(Damn it)
, especially on my left cheek, and both sides of forehead, Horrible!
maybe thats the "initial breakout"? holy,
reading reviews say, 4-8weeks will see the improvement,
hope its real.

Ive been just using epiduo for 6 weeks and im still breaking out. i barely got on doxy yesterday so maybe that will help speed up the process. I kno its frustrating...i heard it takes at like 3 mths...how is your acne going now?

[KennyDeWyze]

Hey!
I am so sorry tO hear u still breaking out!!
Awwwww
Mine is getting better
Since I dropped Doxy + The gel

I am on Accutane 1month and 2weeks now,
Was on 40mg first month
Now on 60mg

So far so good
Not much side effects,
Fingers crossed.

U also can see my Accutane Log.

Good luck!!!!!!!!

[AllynRose]

It's been about a year and 5 months now since I started using Epiduo. I still use it every night. It cleared my skin, healed pigmentation scarring and improved my overall skin texture. The only downside I've encountered is it makes my skin a bit dry sometimes and a bit oily other times. I would take this over acne any day, though.

 

This is me, sans make up. I'm really happy with the results. I would recommend trying this.

Edited by AllynRose, 03 February 2013 - 03:09 PM.

[Sasch83]

I've been following your log for quite some time and i am excited that you found a regimen that has worked for you long term!  I never got around to using epiduo as my dr thought it was time for tane.  Unfortuneately, as i near the end of my course, its not doing what i hoped so i may indeed have to return to topicals.

 

Congrats again