needling with frank

scheduled an appointment with Frank at Transitions. Was wondering when i should stop using duac and retin-a. im also on doxycline. The lady i made the appointment told me to stop apply today, the 20th, but my appointment is the 5th of next month. the retin-a definately helps control my breakouts and is helping to even my texture out. im thinking of stopping 5 days before... if anyone has any insight it would be much appreciated. i have several before pictures in a seperate thread and will be posting progress reports. I'm not expecting anything drastic but if any of my scars improve at all, ill consider it a success. thanks in advance. cheers! thor grimm!!

please help identify scars!

http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...12closeleft.jpg
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...2leftclose2.jpg
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...2rightclose.jpg
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...rightclose2.jpg

any recommendations for treatments. im hoping to do a re:pair within a few months down in NYC.

scar progress

I've been on antibiotics for about 6 months now. I just started using Retin-A and duac, night and day respectively, about 2 weeks ago. Im hoping in a few months i will see some improvement but here are some pictures from before and a couple just after starting. sorry for the difference and lighting. and i had to link them because of the size.

3/25 left
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...ck/325lefts.jpg
3/25 right
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...k/325rights.jpg
4/18 left
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...ck/418lefts.jpg
4/18 right
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/ha...k/418rights.jpg

anyone have any good luck with retin a? im hoping it will help even my texture out... i plan i getting fraxel re:pair done to deal with all my scars.

my acne scars, devastating...

24 yrs old. finally got fed up with my acne and went to the derm about 6 months or so ago. so so devestated i didnt go earlier and save my skin... heres the damage. this light is incredibly forgiving as well as my camera. I was on solodyn for about 3-4 months and then my insurance stopped covering it and now ive been on minocyclin for a month and a half. i feel like the minocyclin is making my redder and its making me dizzy. it even makes my eyes red and glossy almost like im high. any suggestions on what med i can ask for to replcae it? i was thinkin of dioxycline. anyways. once i get cleared up im hoping to do several rounds of fraxel treatment. im prepared to dish out the 1500 a session with "rock star" in NYC. i live in albany and so its not much of a commute. I got rolling scars all over both cheeks and temples and a couple of ice picks. again. these pictures are very forgiving.

24 yr old frustated

ugh. 24 yrs old. about a year ago or so my acne got really bad. ive always had acne for as long as i rememeber though it was generally just here and there on my face not everywhere. i was definately abusing my face though by washing it way too often. i used masques every days, exfolliating scrubs 3-4 times a day. also i cant remember ever using sunscreen as a teen and young adult. ive got quite a few deep scars and i think some rolling. and several redspots that i hope will fade away.

i was trying to just rub the acne away. i can say today i dont have any real active acne, several papules though. i have one large red spot on my left side that was a cyst, i kept it alone and after 4-5 days it was pretty much gone, about 2 weeks later and its starting to fade. my face has been becoming very flush recently ive noticed. i started on solodyne about 4-5 months ago, my insurance for some reason stopped covering it and my derr switched me to minocycline, which ive been on for almost a months dose.. i can say i dont get too shocked in the mornings anymore with crazy pimples from out of nowwhere, but i do still get about 1 or 2 a week. all in all i can say ive had positive results except for the reddning. i think my face is getting inflamed from the minocycline, its itchy and looks blocthy. i have the flu right now too so my nose might be slightly more red than normal.

im debating on stopping the minocycline and starting up the regiman...little skeptical as you have to buy products from this site. im thinking of using some of the products like the jojo oil as supplements to my current medicine as my face seems to be clearing up a bit and i'd hate to stop and have a bad break out.so i just picked up some omega 3 pills and grape seed complex, also thinking of trying the bo 2.5%, trying to ready myself for the first 3 weeks or so of hell. anyone know where i can find 2.5%? at walmart all i saw were 10%. thanks to everyone in advance, and im glad i stumbled upon this site, only wish i had earlier.