14 replies to this topic

[Murph89]

Monodox 75mg in the morning
Doryx 150 mg at night
Both are doxycycline just different forms
Finacea gel 15%
Also on Prozac 20 mg for anxiety/ depression
Use aveno ultra calming foaming cleanser
Diet is healthy. I don't eat much due to my anxiety, but it's mostly water, coconut milk, a green protein shake with no dairy or soy is all All vegan. Chicken, fish, sushi, some grains, no chocolate, sugary foods.
I also drink cultured coconut milk which has 10 live active cultures to replace the good bacteria that is killed with the doxycycline. I don't want to end up with any gut issues from this medication.

Diagnosed with a combo of adult acne/rosacea. I'm a 23 yo male living in NYC. Skin was clear for 16 months and broke out in February. Been a nightmare of the past 6 months.

Day 1 I started in the afternoon. I took both the doryx and Monodox at the same time which isn't bad but was told to do the doryx at night. I got out of the shower and waited 20 min to apply the Finacea. Within 10 min it began to burn and sting and itch. I pushed through it. I went on with my day. Skin looked worse later that night. Washed my face and applied finacea again. Waited 30 min and applied emu oil. Fell asleep even through the burning and itching.

Day 2. I woke up and my face was more red. New tiny spots formed. Tiny tiny pimples. I'm not applying it this morning. I was told to do it twice a day, but I'm reading to start slow to reduce irritation. My forehead is virtually clear minus a few small blackheads and 1 tiny whitehead. Left side cheek is clear minus a few red marks and red cheeks. Left chin is red with a few flat red spots. Right side is a whole nother ball game. Red, inflamed, pimples. It sucks. Right chin is the same. I have a big active pimple on my right cheek. Not sure what's going to happen with it.
I'm the type that once a pimple turns into a whitehead, I pop it. So well see what happens.

I took the Monodox this morning and I'll take the doryx at night when I apply the finacea. I see my family for the first time in 3 months this weekend and I jus hope my skin calms down a bit. If not, oh well. They know what's going on. I have read a lot of success stories with finacea so I'm sticking with it until I see the derm again in a month.

Edited by Murph89, 13 July 2012 - 11:31 AM.

[Murph89]

Havent applied the finacea yet for the night, but my skin looks horrible today. My right side is an absolute mess. Im going to call the derm tomorrow and ask if this is normal for my skin to be much worse and red only after 2-3 applications. I know about products' initial breakouts, but this sucks! And i have read a lot of people having a hard start with it, but sticking with it.

Edited by Murph89, 11 July 2012 - 06:48 PM.

[nfamousjade]

Good luck! Hope things get better!

[shadylee]

ugh murph..sorry bc i really liked finacea...it really helped me..it just stinks that some things work for others and not for ourselves...you would think there would be an universal cure by now..

[Murph89]

Good luck! Hope things get better!

Thanks...me too

ugh murph..sorry bc i really liked finacea...it really helped me..it just stinks that some things work for others and not for ourselves...you would think there would be an universal cure by now..

Its still too early to quit i know that. But im going to call tomorrow and tell him my skin has gotten worse just to ask if I should continue.

[Murph89]

ugh murph..sorry bc i really liked finacea...it really helped me..it just stinks that some things work for others and not for ourselves...you would think there would be an universal cure by now..

Also was finacea hard to apply for you? It doesn't spread at all. Once I put a small pea size amount and I try to rub it an area, it rubs in so quick I'm unable to spread it. I don't wanna use too much and risk irritation but it doesn't spread at all.

[mWilso]

Hey, I'm sorry that you've had such a stressful time. I know you're just starting out with a lot of new products and probably don't want another, but I found Replenix Power of 3 (or Replenix CF cream is similar but doesn't have the grape anti-oxidant) to be very helpful with redness and irritation when used with my retin-A. I think some derms might recommend it for rosacea patients (disclaimer: I am not a doctor!).
It has a large amount of green tea and caffeine with some hyluronic acid too, to help with inflammation. I know that emu oil helps with inflammation too.
But, good luck!

[Murph89]

Hey, I'm sorry that you've had such a stressful time. I know you're just starting out with a lot of new products and probably don't want another, but I found Replenix Power of 3 (or Replenix CF cream is similar but doesn't have the grape anti-oxidant) to be very helpful with redness and irritation when used with my retin-A. I think some derms might recommend it for rosacea patients (disclaimer: I am not a doctor!).
It has a large amount of green tea and caffeine with some hyluronic acid too, to help with inflammation. I know that emu oil helps with inflammation too.
But, good luck!

I checked the power of 3 out. Seems promising! I'll ask my derm about it.

Day 3: applied finacea last night. Surprisingly, I didn't get any burning or itching. I also didn't apply emu oil at all after so maybe that's why. I'm not sure.
Skin looks just about the same. Maybe it's calmed down a bit. My skin is not dry or flaky at all. With the heat and humidity here in NY, it's keeping my skin from drying out. Left side is the same, 1-2 small pastules and some redness. Left chin a little red with a few drying out spots but nothing bad. Right chin calming down. Little redness and some drying spots as well. Right cheek has 1 angry pimple that seems to be going down. I'm going to spot treat it today to see if I can't get it down quicker. A lot of small pimples. My pimples all seem to be on the inner part of my cheek. If you were to draw a line down the center of my right cheek, all the pimples and redness is on the left side or inside. Classic rosacea? Not sure. I see my family on Saturday. I'm really nervous. I don't look good and I know they are going to comment on it. My family is reall supportive and know I've been struggling, but I'm still embarrassed to show myself because I've lost soooo much weight and because of my skin. O well, at least they will now know I'm not over reacting about my skin.

[Murph89]

Day 4: skin looks a bit better this morning. Pimples are starting to dry up, becoming smaller, and less red. The finacea doesn't burn or itch anymore when I apply it. Due to the humidity and heat here, my skin is not dry at all, so I'm not applying emu oil. I took the Monodox about 30 min ago. I'm contemplating whether to apply the finacea after I shower ths morning/afternoon. Derm said twice a day. I'm not doing anything today so I guess it wouldn't hurt. I just wanted to start slow to avoid irratation, but since I'm not getting any burning anymore, I feel my skin got used to it quickly. I just hate how the gel which is more like a cream absorbs so quickly into my skin. I like topicals that spread easily and don't absorb right away when you start rubbing. It makes it difficult to know how much I'm applying. Also I talked to my mom and she had rosacea 10 years ago and used metro gel and it did nothing then she used finacea which cleared her up and she's been clear ever since. Sooo that brings me hope although we have very different skin.

Edited by Murph89, 13 July 2012 - 10:46 AM.

[Murph89]

First doxycycline side effect. Threw up just now. I've been taking it on an empty stomach as soon as I wake up the last couple mornings and I haven't had any issues whatsoever. Well within an hour of taking it, I felt nauseous and went and threw up. I feel fine now. Made a shake. So now I gotta look into taking it with food, but I'm reading some foods and minerals like calcium effects it's absorption so I have to be careful. Can be taken an hour before I eat or 2 hours after.

Edited by Murph89, 13 July 2012 - 11:29 AM.

[Murph89]

I feel so out of it today. No energy, spacey, lethargic, not good. It's the doxycycline.

[Murph89]

And disregard what I said about my skin looking a bit better. I looked in the real mirror and I almost cried.

[Murph89]

I'm so frustrated. I'm confused on the amount of doxy I'm taking. Derm has me on doxycycline hyclate and Monodox which is a mono hydrate doxycycline. Bottle for the monodox says take 2x 75mgs as directed (am) and the doxycyline hyclate says 2x 100 mgs twice daily. So that's 350 mg each day. Seems excessive....but he's the dr not me. I called this morning and said i Was confused on the dosage and the said they would call me back. Nothing. I'll have to call on Monday. I just don't wanna kill my insides with a high dosage.

Edited by Murph89, 13 July 2012 - 06:10 PM.

[Murph89]

Day something. My skin is horrible. I have NEVER seen my skin this red in my life. I'm really considering stopping it and going back to Paula choices BHA salicylic acid. That at less reduced redness and helped my skin. I have never in my life seen my skin like this. It's fucking demorilizing and I can't stand the way people look at me anymore.

[Sasch83]

Hi Murph! I just wanted to stop by and offer my support. As a fellow New Yorker, acne sufferer and ex finacea user i know what frustration is like. I would advise from my previous experience with finacea to start slowly. If your skin gets irritated, maybe apply every other day. Finacea in combination with other medications never worked for me but i hear that it does wonders for rosacea. In any event, give it the required 3 months before you decide to try something else- that way you won't have any what if questions.

Good Luck and keep your head up!