20 replies to this topic

[twinsfan57]

Hey guys! I've been using .05% tretinoin cream for about 2 weeks now and have seen great results! I haven't seen an initial breakout yet but I fear it may be coming...

Anyways I tried the acne.org regimen for about 3 months and decided that it's really not worth it. It's so much work in the morning and night (I know I'm lazy) and it makes hyperpigmentation last forever. With tretinoin cream, I've seen my red marks fade significantly only after 2 weeks.

Question for you guys, this sounds bad, but do you ever wish you could just fast-forward 2-3 months? I mean I know I would because I don't have anything exciting coming up in my life and hopefully I'm clear by then. What do you guys think?

[heyhey5566]

I would say if the initial breakout hasn't hit yet it probably won't, at least, not very significantly!

As for your last statement, you should never wish your life away!

[twinsfan57]

Thank God! I have started breaking out on my chin a little but nothing too significant.

Yea you're probably right. This week is homecoming week and I'm having a lot of fun!

[twinsfan57]

Update: I'm approaching week 3 and still no initial breakout. Do you think this stuff is even working or is it just the minocycline?

[twinsfan57]

Update: Beginning of week 3. I am starting to see maybe what is now an initial breakout. Three new pimples on one side of my face and 1 under my nose. I really hope it doesn't get too bad because I have bad hyperpigmentation and I don't want more red marks

[twinsfan57]

Update: mid-week 3. Skin is slowly getting better. I don't think the initial breakout is going to be bad because of minocycline. Again, I really hope it doesn't come back after I get off of antibiotics and the retin-a can handle it on it's own. As of now, I have only 2 active pimples, but lots and lots of red marks. I think red marks are the most discouraging part of acne. Oh well.

[Parissa]

My skin broke out after 2 weeks I think. The first few days my skin became really nice and then the purging began its still going on but its calming down a bit. I think because your also on an antibiotic you won't experience much of the purging. So It's perfectly fine! Hopefully you don't breakout! You really don't want to!

[twinsfan57]

My skin broke out after 2 weeks I think. The first few days my skin became really nice and then the purging began its still going on but its calming down a bit. I think because your also on an antibiotic you won't experience much of the purging. So It's perfectly fine! Hopefully you don't breakout! You really don't want to!

I'm 4 weeks in now, and still no major breakout. If I do get the occasional pimple, it is painless and goes away much quicker. I'm guessing this is because of the antibiotic. My skin is starting to look a lot better.

[twinsfan57]

What do you guys think of antibiotics along with retin-a? It seems to be making the initial breakout not as bad. Are there any possible bad effects of taking them?

[twinsfan57]

Update: Week 5. Skin is looking clearer than ever. I was at a camp for the weekend so I missed putting it on for 2 nights. I think that actually might've been good though....gave my skin a break. I hope it continues to get better and better

[twinsfan57]

Update: End of week 5. Well, I guess it was too good to be true. I am now starting to get an initial breakout. 4 new pimples on one side of my face and 2 large cysts on the other. I knew it wouldn't last. It seems like my red marks are lasting longer again too. I really hope this doesn't last too long. I just want clear skin...

[twinsfan57]

Update: Week 6. The initial breakout didn't last long, and it seems like if I do have a breakout, it goes away a lot faster. My chin is about the only place that is not clear, that's always a battle zone for me.

[twinsfan57]

Well, this isn't an acne update, it's more of a personal update. I've had long flowy hair for 4 years now. Those 4 years are also the years I've had acne. Coincidence? Probably. Anyways, next Friday I'm going to cut my hair short again. It doesn't sound like a big deal but it really is to me. After you've had something for so long, it's hard to change. A lot of people in my school are going to be dicks too, but I'm to the point in my life where I don't care what people think of me. Who knows, it'll probably end up helping my acne.

[twinsfan57]

Update: Week 7. I think my skin is starting to get used to the stuff or "retinize." The last two days my skin hasn't been dry or flakey and has been really smooth. I don't think I've ever had this smooth of skin. All that is left is one cyst on the left side of my face (probably from the initial breakout) and red marks. Lots of red marks. They're very discouraging but I'm going to stick with it.

[twinsfan57]

Update: Week 9. Oops, I forgot to update last week. Anyways, my face is looking a whole lot better. In week 8 I somewhat had what might've been an initial breakout, but it's all cleared up now. Just 3 active pimples on one side of my face, and a whole lot of red marks. I'm really glad I decided to stick it out.

Edited by twinsfan57, 26 November 2012 - 07:46 PM.

[fadedjay]

hey dude,

its great you stuck with it, it takes a while to get working with these retinoids.

the red marks take a while to go but they will fade.

keep going your doing real well

[twinsfan57]

hey dude,

its great you stuck with it, it takes a while to get working with these retinoids.

the red marks take a while to go but they will fade.

keep going your doing real well

hey thanks, it's a tough battle but i'm sticking it out!

Update:1 week 10. My face is looking a lot better this week (no new breakouts). I think it helped at the end of the week that I didn't wash my face or put tretinoin on because my girlfriend was staying over. I might start doing that on weekends. I think it gives my skin a chance to recover from all the dryness because i don't think i'm retinized yet.

[Wasawawa]

Hey I just want to ask this question to anyone. Is the shedding and soreness of the retin a good sign it is working? I'm still in week 2 and it seems like the shedding is really starting to occur. It also stings when I put moisterizer on in the morning. I just really hope this is gonna clear away my marks and little scarring I have. I haven't had much acne in about 3 months but I have recently on my cheek. (probably because of the retin). Can anyone talk about how much change happened over the period they were on retin? like how much of what remained of the acne left (marks, scarring, pigmentation)?

[twinsfan57]

Hey I just want to ask this question to anyone. Is the shedding and soreness of the retin a good sign it is working? I'm still in week 2 and it seems like the shedding is really starting to occur. It also stings when I put moisterizer on in the morning. I just really hope this is gonna clear away my marks and little scarring I have. I haven't had much acne in about 3 months but I have recently on my cheek. (probably because of the retin). Can anyone talk about how much change happened over the period they were on retin? like how much of what remained of the acne left (marks, scarring, pigmentation)?

Well, from what I understand, shedding is a sign that the retin-a is exfoliating. I can't help you much with the hyperpigmentation because I'm only 9 weeks in. It seems to be doing ok though.

[twinsfan57]

Update: week 11. Well, bad news. My face is breaking out bad again and I think it's because I'm off of the antibiotics. I went off of them because I started flushing really bad. Now that I'm off of them, I'm doing better again, but my face is getting bad. My personal opinion is that antibiotics aren't really the way to go. Eventually, you have to come off of them, and it always seems like it comes back. Plus, long-term it's probably really bad for your health. Tomorrow back to the derm I go, I'm not really sure what treatments I have left besides accutane. I think it may be time...