62 replies to this topic

[tracy521]

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...

i only use the extractor on whiteheads and blackheads. i dont even attempt to use those on cysts because it will just make them more inflamed. i pretty much use the extractor on my skin every few days on the clogged pores around my mouth and on my chin because if i catch them early enough they wont turn into cysts. its hard to constantly keep up with it though. once i am done peeling i am going to start using finaea in the am and retin-a at night (i am going to start slow) per my derm to clear out all these clogged pores. its so odd because i never had this many clogged pores in my life!

Edited by tracy521, 14 January 2013 - 11:34 AM.

[Julisss]

Do you use the kind of extractor that has a lancet as well?
Do you think it'll work on the type of whiteheads that I get? (In my gallery the 2nd picture - sorry, very disgusting I know!..)
I can only see them if I stretch my skin but they are quite big...

[tracy521]

yeah i have one that has a lancet but i have been too nervous to try using the lancet part of it. yeah that will work on those whiteheads for sure. i find they come out easier if you get a warm washcloth and hold it over the area first to open the pores. try it a few times and if nothing comes out then i wouldnt try to force it. just make sure to wash the extractor well after each use and i like to wash it again before i use it as well. i am paranoid about that stuff. i get a lot of little whiteheads on my chin and this works very well for the smaller and bigger ones.

Edited by tracy521, 14 January 2013 - 03:25 PM.

[Green Gables]

When I had acne I would prick whiteheads with a sterilized needle (which is a little better than that lancer because the point is smaller). I'd also use the metal loop extractor for blackheads. Rule of thumb is a tiny bit of pressure is okay. A lot of pressure or any pain is not.

I had my derm show me how to do it if you're worried about safety.

Julisss judging by your gallery pics I would totally prick half of those buggers with a needle and gentle push the pus out. I find the skin actually scars more when a zit just sits there stretching the skin for days/weeks on end than if you use a little bit of pressure to remove the pus.

Then just douse your skin in hydrogen peroxide and/or betadine. I prefer betadine because it's a better antiseptic/antifungal/antibacterial, but it does temporarily stain the skin orange for about 30 minutes so it's a little more inconvenient. Also can't let it get on your clothes.

Edited by Green Gables, 14 January 2013 - 07:32 PM.

[Julisss]

Thanks a lot for both of you. They are deep though and now that my acne has subsided, I see tones of scars left by the needle (however tiny) Also, when I have a facial, the aesthetican never touches these kind of bumps - all of them say they can't extract it. But anyhow, I will get an extractor.

When I had acne I would prick whiteheads with a sterilized needle (which is a little better than that lancer because the point is smaller). I'd also use the metal loop extractor for blackheads. Rule of thumb is a tiny bit of pressure is okay. A lot of pressure or any pain is not.

I had my derm show me how to do it if you're worried about safety.

Julisss judging by your gallery pics I would totally prick half of those buggers with a needle and gentle push the pus out. I find the skin actually scars more when a zit just sits there stretching the skin for days/weeks on end than if you use a little bit of pressure to remove the pus.

Then just douse your skin in hydrogen peroxide and/or betadine. I prefer betadine because it's a better antiseptic/antifungal/antibacterial, but it does temporarily stain the skin orange for about 30 minutes so it's a little more inconvenient. Also can't let it get on your clothes.

Do you think the salicylic acid will work to dissolve them? It'll be 10% or 20% so quite strong.

[Green Gables]

Thanks a lot for both of you. They are deep though and now that my acne has subsided, I see tones of scars left by the needle (however tiny) Also, when I have a facial, the aesthetican never touches these kind of bumps - all of them say they can't extract it. But anyhow, I will get an extractor.

When I had acne I would prick whiteheads with a sterilized needle (which is a little better than that lancer because the point is smaller). I'd also use the metal loop extractor for blackheads. Rule of thumb is a tiny bit of pressure is okay. A lot of pressure or any pain is not.

I had my derm show me how to do it if you're worried about safety.

Julisss judging by your gallery pics I would totally prick half of those buggers with a needle and gentle push the pus out. I find the skin actually scars more when a zit just sits there stretching the skin for days/weeks on end than if you use a little bit of pressure to remove the pus.

Then just douse your skin in hydrogen peroxide and/or betadine. I prefer betadine because it's a better antiseptic/antifungal/antibacterial, but it does temporarily stain the skin orange for about 30 minutes so it's a little more inconvenient. Also can't let it get on your clothes.

Do you think the salicylic acid will work to dissolve them? It'll be 10% or 20% so quite strong.

Yeah contrary to popular belief, on some of my stubborn cysts I had more success with high potency salicylic acid than retinoids. If I used 10% salicylic acid with a q-tip directly on the cyst 3 times a day for a week, sometimes it would eventually dissolve the top layer of skin so the pus could come out and the area could heal.

[Julisss]

I am getting concerned with this spotting, that is not even spotting... more than that, but less than a period, still, almost constant blood loss.
Do you guys think I should wait it out or get on the pill? And would the pill definitely fix this?
Please, any replies would be much appreciated.

[tracy521]

i would wait it out but call the doctor and see what they think. the pill would help regulate your periods that's for sure.

[Green Gables]

I am getting concerned with this spotting, that is not even spotting... more than that, but less than a period, still, almost constant blood loss.
Do you guys think I should wait it out or get on the pill? And would the pill definitely fix this?
Please, any replies would be much appreciated.

I don't remember what dose you are on of spiro, but higher doses increase chances of spotting.

Also many women find that the spotting resolves in 1-3 months.

Some women only take spironolactone for part of the month.

If your breakouts only tend to occur around the time of your monthly cycle, your dermatologist may have you use spironolactone for the week just prior to your period.

Also from a study

One long-term study found that the most common side effects were menstrual irregularities (22%), tiredness (16.5%), and breast tenderness (17%), all of which were mild and rarely caused cessation of the medication.[30] Most side effects are dose-dependent, except central nervous system (CNS) symptoms (lethargy, headache, lightheadedness, dizziness), which do not appear to always be dose-related.[24] If menstrual abnormalities do not improve within three months of monotherapy, the clinician may consider the following options: 1) decrease spironolactone to a dosage range of 50 to 75mg daily if applicable, 2) add an OC to reduce menstrual dysfunction, or 3) “cycling” of the spironolactone with 21 consecutive days of therapy followed by seven days off.

So as you can see your options are

1) Reduce your dose (if your dose is above 50mg)
2) Add a contraceptive pill (see my signature for appropriate options...you want LOW androgenic pill)
3) Take spiro for 21 days of the month and don't take it for 7 days. Typically you would start the 21 day cycle the week before your period.

Edited by Green Gables, 18 January 2013 - 02:54 PM.

[Julisss]

Thank you! I am on 200mg-s, so no surprise about the spotting. I think I'll wait till month 3 (which is round the corner). I wanna get constantly clear first, before experimenting with lowering my dosage. I just don't wanna add the pill to the mix it can do so much harm and not just acne-wise.

In the past days, I applied 20% salicylic on my whiteheads with the Q-tip like you explained. I see the area getting "frosty" and acne drying up quick, but whiteheads didn't "fall off" yet. Should they just pop at some point?

[Green Gables]

Thank you! I am on 200mg-s, so no surprise about the spotting. I think I'll wait till month 3 (which is round the corner). I wanna get constantly clear first, before experimenting with lowering my dosage. I just don't wanna add the pill to the mix it can do so much harm and not just acne-wise.

In the past days, I applied 20% salicylic on my whiteheads with the Q-tip like you explained. I see the area getting "frosty" and acne drying up quick, but whiteheads didn't "fall off" yet. Should they just pop at some point?

Yeah if you're patient with the salicylic acid, they won't fall off, but the pus will come close enough to the surface that you can prick it.

[hearts]

This is a little off-topic Julisss, but I thought I'd mention it. Tinnitus is a side-effect of too much copper in the body. Copper is everywhere and it also causes hormonal imbalances.

Do you or have you ever taken zinc supplements? Zinc lowers copper levels, so this might help you. I've been taking zinc for a little over a week and my skin has been clearing. I also get awesome dreams with it but that's beside the point. Anyway, I don't know if your tinnitus went away but it's maybe something to consider.

[Julisss]

My tinnitus worsened a bit, in fact Really hope it's not the Spiro, cause I'm not willing to quit now, more than 2 months in!

I am taking zinc supplements, so unfortunately that's not the case for me, but thanks for the suggestion anyhow.

[Julisss]

Hello all

 

Whoever described their Spiro journey as "two steps forward, one step back" - this is extremely spot on!

I haven't posted for a while because things started to look quite peachy in the last 1-2 weeks, everything fading and drying up.

But it takes aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages to get rid of every old, stubborn, inflamed clogged pore, and I'm not even sure new ones stopped forming yet. So now I have a cluster of pimples in both corners of my mouth (developed from old whiteheads), and I have these annoying pin-sized inflamations, mainly on my left cheek. I'm really not sure what these are, they have no head, they don't even hurt, but still they are quite visible and of course, that's the worst aspect of acne.

 

I guess I need to be patient, the last few weeks have shown that I'm getting there, sloooowly but it was my time for the "one step back".

 

20% salicylic does a good job at drying them out, but does not extract deep whiteheads

[tracy521]

hey juliss i wanted to share with you something my derm told me a while back. he said that spiro alone will not clear me and that i need to combine it with a retinoid at night and then a good topical in the am.  i currently use benzaclin and just started differin but he also mentioned that he normally prescribes a course of antibiotics as well but since i was on them on and off for so long they will no longer give them to me. anyway so not sure what your regimen is like but i would strongly suggest using something in the am and pm as well. are you still getting a period every few weeks? i had mine on the 5th and then got it again on the 26th which is annoying but what i have noticed is that i get no pms at all anymore. 

Edited by tracy521, 29 January 2013 - 08:01 AM.

[Julisss]

I have craaaazy period, or something between spotting and period will see a doctor about it soon but still wanna give it some time, hoping it resolves.

 

I use Dan's cleanser, the bp (but not every  day) and salicylic acid for spot-treating. I don't like retinoids, they really overdry my skin. But thanks for the suggestion.

For small acne I plan to apply 10% on larger areas, leave it on and see what it does. Will do it on the weekend so it has time to peel...

 

I am not happy taking antibiotics either, I had to quit tetracycline cold turkey cause it was probably messing with my hearing.

 

What dosage are you on? Many get clear on Spiro alone. Did your doc explain why Spiro alone wouldn't be enough?

Edited by Julisss, 29 January 2013 - 01:48 PM.

[tracy521]

hello again! good to hear from you again! i will say with spiro my periods are very light so that is one good thing! i know what you mean about retinoids. i have never had luck with them but every single time i go to the derm (and i have seen 3 of them) they all tell me i need to use one and just deal with the red and peely skin until i get used to it. they keep saying that if i use the retinoid that it will stop the acne from forming and then along with the spiro should be enough to get me clear. i am on 100mg a day of spiro and yeah i was surprised when the last derm i saw said that spiro alone wont get me clear. he didnt explain he just said with hormonal acne it takes more than one thing and that most times he has his patients on spiro, a retinoid and a good topical as well as antibiotics all at once. at this point if they would give me the antibiotics again i would take them but i know in the long run that its best i stay off them. there are so many times i just want to say f-it and get on accutane because i hate having to use so many products everyday. its just ridiculous to me!

[Julisss]

I know! I can only share my experience, but topicals never touched my acne. Don't even think the bp is doing any good. I think it's better if you use AHA/BHA to keep acne from forming. It peels a bit but doesn't give your skin the awful quality retinoids do.

[tracy521]

you know when i used regular bp it worked a little bit but the benzaclin worked the best for me that any topical ever has i guess its due to the clindamycin in it. i was able to use just that twice a day on my face to be clear for years. when i had my dermatitis i had to stop using the benzaclin which i think partly contributed to my bad acne as well as the crazy hormonal shift that had to have happened because i went from getting 1-2 cysts every few months to like 8 at once. i just had my hormones tested again and am waiting for my results to come back. i think my androgen level was elevated a few years ago so i am interested to see what it says this time around as well as the other hormones. i think the reason the derm wants me to use the retinoids is that they really help with scarring and help collagen production besides helping with acne. the pa that i see a lot at the derm's office uses retin-a and she has the most perfect smooth skin. i am allergic to salicylic acid or i would use that and i have used mandelic acid in the past but the last time around it made my small pimples turn into huge cysts so i am going to try and stick it out with the differin and see how it goes.

Edited by tracy521, 30 January 2013 - 08:01 AM.

[Julisss]

Hello all.

 

Today (or tomorrow? not sure) marks 3 months for me. I've uploaded some new pics in the gallery.

I do not want to jinx myself, cause I'll never take clear skin for granted again, but there has been a dramatic improvement. I still have a few whiteheads, red marks and peeling leftovers, but now I am okay with a thin layer of foundation.

I am going out again and living life to the fullest. Not to say I have no troubles but it does make my life a lot easier and so far *knocks on wood* so good. Even got complimented by quite a few and snogged by this super-sweet guy haha, so I no longer feel unattractive. Just saying this because my confidence suffered so much, was destroyed in fact, and I know many of you feel the same way... Bottom line is: keep going with Spiro please. I cried myself to sleep every night and was re-considering Accutane every day. My skin isn't perfect - but it doesn't cross my mind anymore.

 

For the remaining pigmentation, I use a cream with alpha-arbutin, and for the remaining whiteheads I still use 20% salicylic. I hope perfect skin is only a few months away now.

An important side note: my period issues still haven't resolved and I may have to start birth control with it. I give it another month.