62 replies to this topic

[Julisss]

Update. Phew. I am back to taking Spiro. Despite the 5 days break I took, I am finishing week 6 now.

No results and I'm getting very impatient. My chin still looks awful and I have whiteheads flaring up on both sides of face as well.

I break down and cry more than once, every single day. I feel I don't have the capacity to deal with this any longer.

Anyhow, I bumped my dosage up to 200/day, and tomorrow might start an antibiotic or birth control.

I'm still taking Saw Palmetto, 320x4 religiously, without any effect.

My Mum says my skin is better since she last saw me, but from here, I don't feel the change yet.

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

I wouldn't take spiro and saw palmetto together. The sp may affect the spiro or your hormones, interfering with the effectiveness of the spiro, Jmo.

[Julisss]

That's an interesting thought. If Sp was purely anti-androgenic, that wouldn't be of concern.

I am really clueless.

Do you think I should start an antibiotic instead? I was prescribed Tetracycline but I'm in two minds about it.

Now it's very erratic... leftover acne is flaring up in cycles. My skin is still purging out all the crap. After some clearish days, today one side of my face is completely inflammed again.

Edit: forgot to mention that I've started Dan's regimen as well, only evenings as I do not want to overdry my already dry skin.

Edited by Julisss, 02 January 2013 - 12:11 PM.

[michi31]

Hey there. My endo said it takes 6-9 months to see Spiro's full effect, and that most people give up before this. So hang in there and don't get impatient. He said most people do and give up. Look at it like, sometime this year Spiro will give me clear skin! If I were you, I would take the antibiotic to combat the IB.

[Julisss]

Thank you - no, I do not want to give up, just add the antibiotic.

Are you on Spiro yourself?

[Julisss]

If anybody cares, I've added a small gallery of my chin area, starting from square 1.
It feels awful to publish these pics but if someday (not yet...) it gives anyone encouragement to try Spiro, it's worth it.
After all, acne is not our fault.

[michi31]

Well I'm a hypocrite because I took spiro for one week and quit. Basically it gave me a deep under the skin cyst that is still there 2.5 months later. I have never had that happen before and it has not happened since I quit. I think that because spiro is partially androgenic it may cause these awful breakouts before its anti-androgen properties take over. I read that it works by competing with testosterone for the androgen receptor. So I went to an endocrinologist and did all sorts of bloodwork and a urine analysis. All my androgens are really low. So I thought that maybe spiro is not the answer for me. However I have facial hair problems so I know the androgen receptors at the skin level must be overactive, therefore I am contemplating biting the bullet and going back on it and weathering the IB. But first we have to decide that we don't want a second child. The endo was very adamant that we decide this before going on Spiro - since it takes so long to work it's not worth going off of it to conceive.

Edited by michi31, 02 January 2013 - 02:33 PM.

[Julisss]

I seriously doubt your cyst was due to Spiro. They say acne takes months to form... I don't think your cyst was because of it!

I don't see why people get an initial breakout on this drug. I've heard it can be androgenic for some, but then I don't think that would change later in the treatment. I don't understand what justifies it scientifically...

Anyhow, in my case, there wasn't an initial breakout, there is just so much junk in my pores it all has to come out first.

[michi31]

I 100% agree with you. I cannot understand the scientific explanation for an IB. People say it's clearing out your skin but this makes no sense. It's an internal medication - it's not doing anything to your skin it's just blocking androgen receptors. Plus people say they get acne during the IB in places that have always been clear. So I figured it wasn't true and went on it but it appeared to be happening to me too. I asked the endo why this would be and even he just shrugs and says you're just sensitive to change. This is hardly the physiological reason I was searching for. And he's a really good endo! I hope you're right that the Spiro didn't cause it, but then it's a really crazy coincidence because I have never had a deep cyst in my life..they are all surface. Then I was reading that brand matters - mine is Qualitest generic which some say isn't the best. Which one are you on?

[Julisss]

Mine is called Spiron, I think brands are slightly different in Europe. Yeah I don't see a reason either why it would purge you.

If I was you, I'd start Spiro again for a week. If it has such a radical androgenic effect on you, you could always just quit after that week. Also, if your skin would react so quickly in a negative way, that would also mean the opposite for others: we would clear quickly, but we don't. I really think it takes weeks to "make" a pimple (unless you react to food allergy etc, but that's a different type of acne I guess).

Right now I'm so broken out I'm even ashamed to go to my endo today (let alone going back to uni next week), but through the despair, I rationally see that these pimples were created BEFORE I started Spiro. Anyhow, if this is not the last major flare-up, I'll quit and go Accutane. I am very tired of being a monster I know I should wait it out, but I can't live like this really.

Edited by Julisss, 03 January 2013 - 02:58 AM.

[LoveGreenSmoothies]

That's an interesting thought. If Sp was purely anti-androgenic, that wouldn't be of concern.

I am really clueless.

Do you think I should start an antibiotic instead? I was prescribed Tetracycline but I'm in two minds about it.

Now it's very erratic... leftover acne is flaring up in cycles. My skin is still purging out all the crap. After some clearish days, today one side of my face is completely inflammed again.

Edit: forgot to mention that I've started Dan's regimen as well, only evenings as I do not want to overdry my already dry skin.

I think it can interact. It just makes sense that it would. It works in a different way and may be competing with the spiro.

If it were me, I'd take the antibiotic to get over the hump. Make sure you take probiotics too.

Do you limit carbs and sugar? That's really important with hormonal acne.

[Julisss]

Ok I'll listen to you and stop it ^^

I haven't much trust for tetracycline though

[Julisss]

End of week 8.

Not sure what to say. Right cheek is looking good, only a few whiteheads present. Left cheek is BADLY broken out - from the chin, and all the way up in a line to my ear. That is discouraging as a month ago my chin was AWFUL, but there was hardly anything coming out on my cheek. I have like 3-4 actives but the red marks make it look all horrible.
I started tetracycline (as much as I hate the idea of damaging my stomach). I also started using an AHA peeling and ordered some salicylic acid. I need to get rid of inactive whiteheads as I have tones of them, just waiting to flare up - after a facial it'll only look worse.
Sigh... it's a long road. Thought I'd be acne free by now. I'm not happy to cancel so many activities but I hate the idea of hiding under my cakey make-up. Remember this feeling all to well from my teens. It is also a pain to go to work... feels like everyone is staring.

Tell me, why does any little whitehead/blocked pore on my face INSIST ON flaring up? What causes this overreaction?

Anyhow, early feb I'm seeing the derm and if no significant improvement > back on the 'tane. Yeah, I know I have to give Spiro time, but it feels like my life is passing and my face is getting worse and worse with red marks and scars.

So I pray Spiro will show some amazing results very soon as it is a so much more tolerable drug / reasonable cure.

I'm not saying there was 0 improvement, I just want to see my complexion clear already!!!! But I'm sure y'all know the feeling.

Edited by Julisss, 10 January 2013 - 02:14 AM.

[tracy521]

i can totally feel your pain and can relate to you for sure. i am on week 4 of spiro and not seeing any change as of yet so i am trying to be patient but i am not going to wait months and months and keep having these bad cystic breakouts thats for sure. my derm told me they will never give me accutane since they think its hormonal and that it could come back but at this point i am willing to take that risk if i dont start to clear up from the spiro. i have seen another derm recently and they told me to stay on the spiro but that if it doesnt start to work soon that they will put me on accutane so i guess i will have to go through them to get it. its very frustrating waiting for this med to work and then i am left wondering what if it just doesnt work for me and i wasted all this time and could have been on the freaking accutane already ya know? i am on 75mg now and will be going up to 100mg next week per my doctor so we shall see. what is the dosage you are on now?
i was on doxy before and then it just stopped working so they switched me to zithromax and then erthromycin with no luck so i guess no antibiotics work on me anymore which totally sucks because i am so sick of getting cortisone shots but my cysts never go away. i hate them!! keep me updated on your progress. i just got a tca peel now to try and clear some of this out a bit. i hope it does something.

Edited by tracy521, 10 January 2013 - 12:49 PM.

[Julisss]

I really know what you mean, I feel the same: what if it is not working AT ALL? I am on 200mg-s which is the highest possible dosage for acne, and still have things popping out a little comfort is that they seem to be old ones. Trust me, after 5 years of crystal clear & smooth skin I can't get used to the mysery of cystic acne again BUT, what keeps me going is that 90% of the Spiro reviews are SO positive, and the rest is basically those who gave up on it after a week/had an allergic reaction or a bad side effect etc. no more than like 5% of people claimed it to be REALLY ineffective.

Trust me, if Accutane wasn't poison, I would've been on it for months now and would be clear again already but after taking it 2 times, I know the risks that come with it. It has really taken its toll on my body and mind too (severe depression for like a half year after the 2nd course, dry eyes, creaky bones, vision issues and God knows what else!) My rational self tells me to avoid this drug like the plague and rather endure a few more months of bad skin than totally ruining my health!
But, then again, I feel I just can't put up with acne. How unsighty, unpleasant and embarrassing it is.
Hard choice. And knowing that even after 2 rounds acne came back (thought the 2nd one was a short 'maintenance course'), I know I'd had to be on a maintenance dose FOR GOOD, even if that meant 1 pill/week, but even that is TOO MUCH.

If I start it again, I won't take more than 10mg-s and won't stop the Spiro, even if that sounds foolish - people have done this, some doctors recommend this. I see no other way to stay acne-free than addressing my hormone issues.
Anyhow, I still have like a month to decide and it might kick in in the meantime.

For you, I know it's a hard choice but please consider that if you have hormonal acne, it's highly likely that your results will not last, and you could be back to square one in a few years/months, just with more damage done to your body.

I'd say let's try and stick with Spiro. Clear skin may not be far away at all...

It's hard to repair your skin after breakouts but it's harder to repair your liver, bones, or brain if damage is done.

Edited by Julisss, 11 January 2013 - 02:24 AM.

[tracy521]

that was so very well said. thank you for your input i really appreciate it. so how are things going for you today? i have a few more cysts that need injected so i will be calling the derm again tomorrow praying they can squeeze me in tomorrow sometime. i have a meeting at work on tuesday and i really dont want to be coverd in cysts for that. i just wish they would go away.

[Julisss]

And does this injection flatten them out & take away the inflamation completely? Sounds so good. I've never heard of something like this here in Europe.

Well now I'm struggling with some stubborn whiteheads and wondering how to remove them, but I pray to get no more cysts. I'm at the 2 months mark so it's high time to see improvement. We'll get there, gradually

[Julisss]

Update: I CAN'T BELIEVE it's my second period after 9 days! Oh man, this just can not go on like this. Should I wait till it resolves or just go on birth control? I am borderline anemiac even without this.

[tracy521]

And does this injection flatten them out & take away the inflamation completely? Sounds so good. I've never heard of something like this here in Europe.

Well now I'm struggling with some stubborn whiteheads and wondering how to remove them, but I pray to get no more cysts. I'm at the 2 months mark so it's high time to see improvement. We'll get there, gradually

yes the injections get rid of the cysts in 24-48 hours for the smaller ones and for my bigger ones it takes a few weeks. without these shots i would be covered in cysts since they dont ever go away. they have been doing the injections here in the u.s. for years but not sure if they do them in europe. you should ask your derm for sure because its a very standard thing here. the derm i see does tons of injections every single day.
i know what you mean with the whiteheads and what i do is i get one of those metal tools for blackheads and whiteheads and then after you steam your face a bit gently press on the whitehead with the tool and it should get everything out of the zit. then just clean the area and apply neosporin or something like that. i find i get less red marks with using the tool then when i use my fingers. you should be able to find those at any drug store but amazon sells them as well as ebay.

Update: I CAN'T BELIEVE it's my second period after 9 days! Oh man, this just can not go on like this. Should I wait till it resolves or just go on birth control? I am borderline anemiac even without this.

oh no that is awful. i did read that it can make the periods very erratic for a while until the body gets used to it. mine came a week early but thank goodness it was an easy one but i can feel your pain. i would try to wait this out for a few months and see how it goes before going on birth control unless you have good success with it.

[Julisss]

Actually, I was thinking about buying this extractor, but I thought it only works on the ones that are "ripe" (sorry, gross I know!). Is it also good to remove the ones that are still non-inflamed and kind of embedded in the skin? I have many of them around my mouth...