16 replies to this topic

[runzmc]

This is like my third thread and ive never gotten a reply from anyone, Im starting to feel as if you guys really arent as welcoming as you should be on such a sensitive forum.

My doctor gave me samples of tazorac to use about six weeks ago to help with my acne. At the time I was using Ziana and while I was seeing some improvement, it wasnt where it should be. I used the tazorac twice a week for about three weeks and then two weeks ago I started using .1% tazorac twice a week. Last week I graduated to using it every other day, and now im using it every day.

My face is red, but not too red. My issue is the insane breakout im now having. I dont think my face has ever been this bad. Im wondering though if this is the IB? The issue is, its technically been like 5 weeks of me using it, but only three real weeks of me using "the good stuff", and only two real weeks of me using it more than the ziana. This is my first week of using it exclusively.

Im going to make an appointment with my derm after the holiday, because im starting to get worried that this isnt working and is only making me worse.

god I hope thats not true and this is just the IB hitting me a bit late.


Can anyone give me some insight?

Edited by runzmc, 03 July 2012 - 11:39 PM.

[PrettyInside]

I am sorry that no one has replied to your previous two threads--or to this one, for that matter.

Unfortunately, I can't give you a definitive answer, since I'm not an expect. In fact, I have samples of Tazorac that I intend to start using but haven't done so yet. (I want to find a non-acnegenic moisturizer/sunscreen before I start using it.)

My thought is that you should speak to your derm. before you change anything in your treatment regimen. I would think it's entirely possible that you're having a late IB reaction. And my guess is that your derm. would ask you to stick with it, since most people say it takes at least 3 months' worth of retinoid treatment to see real results.

So, please, stay strong, and talk to your derm. before you change anything. Who knows? Maybe something else can be added to your regimen to help you along. But get more facts first.

All the best,

P.I.

[runzmc]

Thank you for the input, I really apprecaite it.


Funny little coincidence, I was hanging with a friend a few nights ago who has been using Tazorac for a while and whos skin looks absolutely amazing. She reassured me that what i was going through was probably the IB and that it had just hit me a bit late and that I should stick with it.

Im going to just wait for three weeks to see my derm and will see how or if ive progressed.

This whole process is killing me (especially this IB) but I have high hopes that in the end itll be worth it.

ITS SO HARD NOT POPPING THESE GODDAMN PIMPLES.

And the sunburn I got today (even with sunscreen) is a pain in the ass.

Edited by runzmc, 07 July 2012 - 01:20 AM.

[runzmc]

So my face is pretty damn red today.
I think its partially from a sunburn I got sitting out in the sun yesterday, but should I continue with the Taz anyway?

[NotMeAtAll]

Dude. It's the blind leading the blind around here a lot of the time. Also, it's pretty rude to go to any internet forum and complain that no one is answering you. It's just not done, as they say. It's almost never personal; it's just that the person with an answer didn't happen to come on the forum at the time that you posted. There is a lot of churn here, and not a lot of senior members who keep coming back once they're better. I think people naturally want to forget about this when they get better.

Why did you quit the Ziana? My derm says you have to continue using something to kill bacteria in the mornings while you use the Tazorac at night.

[runzmc]

The ziana wasnt working fully.
Im using doxycycline again for the rest of the initial break out, which seems like its never going to end.


About three weeks ago (closer to a month) I guess I started this initial break out. Giant cysts everywhere and tons of white heads.
I took about a week and a half and the cysts cleared up, but now im left with TONS of white heads.
New ones pop up every day, its like white head city on my face.

I went to the derm a few days ago and she said that this was normal and that my pores were opening up. She gave me another round of doxy to go on while this clears.

Im just really worried though.
This initial break out has lasted so long it feels like its never going to end and that all this did was make my skin worse.

Ive never been this self conscious and depressed in my entire life, and a month before im about to go to college.

Can anyone with some experience shed some light on this?

Edited by runzmc, 15 July 2012 - 05:55 PM.

[CherrySoda08]

The ziana wasnt working fully.
Im using doxycycline again for the rest of the initial break out, which seems like its never going to end.


About three weeks ago (closer to a month) I guess I started this initial break out. Giant cysts everywhere and tons of white heads.
I took about a week and a half and the cysts cleared up, but now im left with TONS of white heads.
New ones pop up every day, its like white head city on my face.

I went to the derm a few days ago and she said that this was normal and that my pores were opening up. She gave me another round of doxy to go on while this clears.

Im just really worried though.
This initial break out has lasted so long it feels like its never going to end and that all this did was make my skin worse.

Ive never been this self conscious and depressed in my entire life, and a month before im about to go to college.

Can anyone with some experience shed some light on this?

I was on Tazorac from age 24 to nearly age 26, and I loved it. I had to switch topicals in order to undergo some procedures for my acne scarring (whole other story). I can tell you this much; it did not make me break out. At all.

Now, I'm not a medical professional in any way, but it seems like you should discuss the reaction your skin has had with your derm ASAP. The only reaction my skin had to Tazorac was some major, major peeling around my lips and on my chin for 2-3 months, and the physician's assistant who treated me warned me that would happen.

It doesn't seem like your skin likes Tazorac, so it might be a good idea to change your topicals. Hang in there. You'll find the right meds. Just have faith that one day, it'll happen.

Hope this helped.

[NotMeAtAll]

Maybe the Doxycycline isn't working because you have developed tolerance. I would just go back to the doctor and tell him/her your concerns.

[runzmc]

I have told my doctor that I spent a while on Doxy in like 2010 and most of 2011 on minocycline but she has stated that it "shouldnt be an issue". Ive also spent a few years on clindamycin topicals. Im sure ive built some sort of resistance, but I guess from a medical stand point (?) its not as bad as I think.

The Doxy helps with cysts and keeping my pimples from becoming too inflamed, but i dont think its helping clear up this "IB".

Idk, im going to give it one more week (because after looking back i am still in my fourth week of taz and taz alone), so I guess the IB is still normal for this time.

If in a week/week and a half I dont see any progress, or if its getting worse, im going to (first cry) and then consult my doctor.

Edited by runzmc, 18 July 2012 - 01:11 AM.

[runzmc]

Also something im noticing (and hating) is that Tazorac seems to leave behind a grip of red marks on my face from pimples that have healed with the help of the tazorac. Like after the white heads leave, theres a giant red mark that just stays there. I have a TON of them on my face, and they dont look like theyre leaving any time soon.It looks worse than the white heads!

Anyone else have this issue, and if so, does it go away? Ive been reading on here that some people say its a serious problem with tazorac, and that some need other products to help the red marks fade? Ahhhh help

[NotMeAtAll]

I get red marks if I don't moisturize. If I moisturize, my skin is clear and beautiful. Don't discount the power of inflammation to make your skin look bad. Also, resistance happens quickly - I had not been on Clindamycin in over 10 years, and when I tried it again, it stopped working in 6 weeks.

[runzmc]

This is only my fourth week (of using Taz as the only retnoid), im not expecting a miracle. I moisturize after I put on my aczone in the morning (which IMO doenst do shit but who knows), and I moisturize if im starting to get a little dry during the day. When I put on the taz at night I wash my face, moisturize, wait twenty minutes exactly, and then put on the taz, finishing with another little layer of moisturizer. Drying isnt that big of an issue, my skin is oily as hell. These red marks are from pimples past, and theyre taking FOREVER to go away.

Ill see how im looking at 6 weeks, im just scared that the red marks are here to stay for a long time fromwhat ive been reading/experiencing with my own face and that scares me more than the acne itself.

I still look worse than I did before I went on Taz

Edited by runzmc, 20 July 2012 - 11:59 AM.

[NotMeAtAll]

Red marks from pimples that were before Tazorac took longer to go away than pimples that came later, during Taz. But after 13 weeks, they are almost all gone, plus all deeper or rolling scars went away, too. Be patient.

[runzmc]

I dont want to jump the gun, but I think im finally exiting my initial break out period. My skin is starting to get a more even tone, and my clusters of whiteheads/redmarks are shrinking and fading.

Im no where near being done with this ugly duckling stage, id say I still have two more weeks before I start making any actual progress, but I look like how I did before I started the taz, so I only have one place to go from here and thats' up!

Fingers crossed, I would love to be (somewhat) acne free by the time I start school next month.

Its been about a month since I started the taz (and taz only) so it makes sense that im just now seeing the tiniest bit of progress. Its nothing major, nhothing to write home about and im still a bit self conscious about it, but its a lot better than last week, and worlds better than the week before.

I made the mistake of popping a few pimples this last weekend when I was going to see a friend I havent seen in a while. Definitely slowed down the healing process as those pimples just regrew within 24 hours, so theyre just now on their way out. One was a giant cyst thats just now starting ot shrink/dry off.

Gahh I just wish this would stop already, but im starting to feel confident about this treatment!

Edited by runzmc, 27 July 2012 - 12:01 AM.

[CherrySoda08]

I dont want to jump the gun, but I think im finally exiting my initial break out period. My skin is starting to get a more even tone, and my clusters of whiteheads/redmarks are shrinking and fading.

Im no where near being done with this ugly duckling stage, id say I still have two more weeks before I start making any actual progress, but I look like how I did before I started the taz, so I only have one place to go from here and thats' up!

Fingers crossed, I would love to be (somewhat) acne free by the time I start school next month.

Its been about a month since I started the taz (and taz only) so it makes sense that im just now seeing the tiniest bit of progress. Its nothing major, nhothing to write home about and im still a bit self conscious about it, but its a lot better than last week, and worlds better than the week before.

I made the mistake of popping a few pimples this last weekend when I was going to see a friend I havent seen in a while. Definitely slowed down the healing process as those pimples just regrew within 24 hours, so theyre just now on their way out. One was a giant cyst thats just now starting ot shrink/dry off.

Gahh I just wish this would stop already, but im starting to feel confident about this treatment!

Congrats!

[runzmc]

Thanks! My skin is definitely still purging a bit, and I still have active pimples/marks, but the clusters seem a bit smaller than they did last week. Fingers crossed it only gets better.

A new giant pimple surfaced last night, but a white head is already forming so it should be gone soon.
Im starting to see what people are talking about when they say pimples will show up but they heal faster.

I just wish time would go by faster so I could get past this whole ugly duckling stage! Im so tired of staying in all the time!

Also this whole not smoking thing is getting to me. Three cigarettes in two weeks from three to four a day has been so tough, but I know my skin is loving me for that so its worth it.

Edited by runzmc, 28 July 2012 - 09:50 PM.

[CherrySoda08]

Thanks! My skin is definitely still purging a bit, and I still have active pimples/marks, but the clusters seem a bit smaller than they did last week. Fingers crossed it only gets better.

A new giant pimple surfaced last night, but a white head is already forming so it should be gone soon.
Im starting to see what people are talking about when they say pimples will show up but they heal faster.

I just wish time would go by faster so I could get past this whole ugly duckling stage! Im so tired of staying in all the time!

Also this whole not smoking thing is getting to me. Three cigarettes in two weeks from three to four a day has been so tough, but I know my skin is loving me for that so its worth it.

Oh my gosh, PLEASE don't smoke! I used to be a (very light) smoker from ages 19 to 26. I never smoked more than half a pack a day, and that was at my heaviest, when I got stressed out over school or boyfriends. Mostly, I smoked around 3-4 a day. But it still affected my acne. I know it did. I had a predisposition toward acne in the first place, but the smokes did my skin NO favors.

Think about the gross, gross androgens that smoking cigarettes contributes to the production of in your body. Just thinking about that is enough for me to say "screw you" to cigarettes for the rest of my life!

Glad the Taz is working for you. I got a bunch of samples from my derm the other day, but I wish so much that I could find a decent substitute!