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Flaxen, my esthetician gave me samples of a make-up called oxygenetix, its formulated for post-surgical procedures like laser and microdermabrasion to cover rendess AND not to irritate skin at all. Ive tried it several times, it doesnt break me out and it covers red really well. Its made with aloe and some sort of oxygenating formula...maybe it would cut out some of the time you need to appy make up. I dont wear make-up much anymore but if I do, I wear this. Its expensive though but no more than Lancome.
@Helton - glad to hear that! I really hope it works for you
That's interesting! I looked it up and there's just one clinic you can get it from in the UK. I don't know if you can order it online, I'm going to send them an email and find out if they can send me samples. I love that they have blue based colours as well as yellow based! I tried samples of practically EVERYTHING available last year and they were all too yellow for me except the Dior. I like my Dior alot but it isn't ideal as it has oil in it. Is it very full coverage? I don't like anything too heavy as I wear it during the day and I want to cover without looking too made up so I generally go for medium coverage foundations. It sounds really good anyway, I hope I can get hold of some samples! I guess I would be first or second colour of the blue based but I think colour is so important to get right...
Accutane is also prescribed for really persistant acne. There are some people who have really severe acne but it responds really well to medication like retinoids, bp, SA. However, there are some whose acne is really persistent -- this puts you at higher risk for scarring, for example. In these persistant cases, derms will use accutane. Furthermore, people with higher levels melanin in their skin (skin of color) are often advised more agressive treatment plans, so accutane is prescribed quickly if the strongest retinoids don't work. This is because there is a higher risk of PIH and scarring.
That said, I think that unless I've tried agressive combination therapy, I'm not going for accutane. Accutane scares the shit out of me. It's chemotherapy for acne! Acne isn't life-threatening even if it is extremely depressing. It's an awful disease but accutane is... o.O I'm going to try using three different treatments together at least, first. I'm using Aczone, tazorac, and now SA. I also have a niacinamide based moisturizer and am going to add antioxidants after I've tested out the SA. (The niacinamide and aczone seem to be working well.) Tazorac worked wonders for me, but I started getting 2 or 3 actives over the winter again (I think because of dry, unexfoliated skin + hormones overproducing sebum). My derm is recommending accutane if the addition of aczone doesn't work. With two or three actives. The inflammation of and damage caused by those actives on already damaged skin was pretty bad though. key message? The longer acne persists, the more damage it does, and the harder it is to treat! ‹Which is why her doctor (and mine!) is recommending accutane.
Thanks skinnie your post helped me alot! I was really doubting my decision but it makes sense to me again now. I think it is the right thing to do. I'm going to trust the senior doctor, she knows what she's doing.
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
I'm feeling pretty good today! I know I'm probably being a bit premature about it but the Regimen seems to be working SO well for my skin, I've got almost no new breakouts since starting Week 2. I expect more breakouts along the way since that's a given in the what to expect section, but it seems like this might literally be the perfect treatment for my skin. It's been a long time since I've felt this hopeful about the possibility of becoming clear and STAYING clear.
Side note: Got my AHA today! I'll be using that on a few shoulder blemishes to see how it works.
Yay! I'm so glad to hear it's working for you! It's definitely pretty amazing.
(Btw--since we keep talking about horror movies, check out a Filipino film called "The Road" if you get a chance. It's pretty creepy and very well done)
>Feeling good about my skin today! It's a lot smoother from the SA I've been using. Paula's choice SA came in today. the 1oz bottle is teeny!! I really like the way the gel feels, though. I might just stick with the rapid clear pads after this bottle is done though. or maybe some facewash with SA. So much cheaper.... Also, has anyone seen this blog called "futurederm"? I found it recently, and it's such a breath of fresh air. People like Paula make you feel like everything's bad for your skin. It's such a source of stress for me. Argh. This kind of clears up a lot of that. I find it so much more positive and informative! I hope this lasts!
I'm so glad you're finding stuff that's helping! <3
Update on me: The kefir-induced cyst has healed, but it left behind an inactive red bump. I think it's just leftover stuff that will go down after a few more applications of AHA, but I'm not sure. The ones on my forehead are healing, so I'm free of any actives at the moment.
The problem I'm having now is that I've gotten really dry and flaky again. Not sure why--I'm not doing anything different. I've decided to slowly decrease the amount of BP I'm using, since they say you can do that when you're all clear. I'd like to get BP down to as low a dose as possible and keep using AHA and doing chemical peels because those have the best effect on my skin tone--they just don't stop acne. I hope lessening the BP helps a little. Moisturizing isn't helping. As of now I'm doing 3/4 finger length amount in the morning and full finger at night, and AHA every other night (sorry I'm lazy about changing my signature).
I fully combed out my dreads! It took ages and was super painful but I'm finally done. Such a weird feeling to have straight hair after 1.5 years with thick-ass dreads! I love it though.
Oh--and I've tried another fear food last night: corn chips! Corn was one of the original things I gave up to try and heal my body, along with soy and dairy, etc. I never in a million years would have thought I'd eat it again, but I did (and nothing terrible happened). Hooray for taco salad!
Thanks Deja! Awesome to hear you're still seeing major improvements too. I'll have to check out The Road. 
If you need accutane, then there's something I don't know about acne... I thought it's for severe cases when there's no hope...
I don't understand what more people want from their skins, why they push it to the line... Even with makeup I would never look like this.
Just... live and be happy Flaxen.
I totally see where you're coming from. That photo has been messing with my head! It is a misleading photo, you have to remember it took me two hours to get my skin to look like that and it is a very low resolution photo. High resolution in good light my skin is no better than yours, I'd say it was more active and has many many more red marks. But it has made me question my need for Accutane again, as I mentioned to deja. When I went to see the derm a few weeks ago I didn't want Accutane and I didn't expect her to suggest it as my skin was alot better than when I was originally referred since I'd gone back on Dan's regimen; but she did suggest it and persuaded me it would be a good idea, and she is a senior well respected derm. She was offering it to me on the NHS even though I have a psych history so I thought she must think I would really benefit from it. She told me my skin was still active. That I could suppress it with bp but the only way to cure it was with Accutane. She was offering me the chance to be free from acne and all the shit that goes with it and played down the risks, why wouldn't that be tempting? My skin has improved a bit more since she put me on epiduo and an antibiotic so maybe she will look at my skin again and say I don't need Accutane but if she still thinks it's appropriate to give it to me I think I will go for it because I just want this to be over and I don't want to wonder 'what if' as I live through the rest of my adulthood with problem skin and waste thousands more hours on skincare. I'm aware of the risks and they do concern me... But I'll be on a low dose and well monitored and I'm so sick of my skin I think it's worth it.
Just wanted to tell you that I know exactly where you're coming from, Flaxen. People often think my skin is MUCH better than it actually is. Sometimes certain camera resolutions and lighting conditions can make my skin look pretty good, but in real life it looks pretty damn rough. 
So don't sweat it, I definitely take you seriously.
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
It's amazing what good makeup and application can do, plus favorable lighting. I used to use smashbox foundation, and it never looked natural up close, but always looked flawless in pictures. Most of my friends didn't even believe I had acne. I think that if you want to get feedback on your skin from people on this forum, you can post a picture of what your skin (or parts of it) looks like without makeup on. Noone is going to judge you here. It's hard to tell when you have makeup on how severe your acne is. If you mostly have red marks left from acne, then accutane is not going to help you much with that unless you are still getting a lot of active acne (which is not at all visible in the picture you posted).
Skin update: Nothing new to report. My breakouts are healing faster, which is good I guess, but they are still happening. Yesterday I forced myself to go out with friends, and I am glad I did. I pretended that I didn't have acne, and I had a really good time. I figured, if anyone is going to like me less or judge me because I have acne, then f*ck them, I don't need those people in my life anyway!
If you need accutane, then there's something I don't know about acne... I thought it's for severe cases when there's no hope...
I don't understand what more people want from their skins, why they push it to the line... Even with makeup I would never look like this.
Just... live and be happy Flaxen.
I totally see where you're coming from. That photo has been messing with my head! It is a misleading photo, you have to remember it took me two hours to get my skin to look like that and it is a very low resolution photo. High resolution in good light my skin is no better than yours, I'd say it was more active and has many many more red marks. But it has made me question my need for Accutane again, as I mentioned to deja. When I went to see the derm a few weeks ago I didn't want Accutane and I didn't expect her to suggest it as my skin was alot better than when I was originally referred since I'd gone back on Dan's regimen; but she did suggest it and persuaded me it would be a good idea, and she is a senior well respected derm. She was offering it to me on the NHS even though I have a psych history so I thought she must think I would really benefit from it. She told me my skin was still active. That I could suppress it with bp but the only way to cure it was with Accutane. She was offering me the chance to be free from acne and all the shit that goes with it and played down the risks, why wouldn't that be tempting? My skin has improved a bit more since she put me on epiduo and an antibiotic so maybe she will look at my skin again and say I don't need Accutane but if she still thinks it's appropriate to give it to me I think I will go for it because I just want this to be over and I don't want to wonder 'what if' as I live through the rest of my adulthood with problem skin and waste thousands more hours on skincare. I'm aware of the risks and they do concern me... But I'll be on a low dose and well monitored and I'm so sick of my skin I think it's worth it.
Just wanted to tell you that I know exactly where you're coming from, Flaxen. People often think my skin is MUCH better than it actually is. Sometimes certain camera resolutions and lighting conditions can make my skin look pretty good, but in real life it looks pretty damn rough.
So don't sweat it, I definitely take you seriously.
Thanks Flaggi
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
It's amazing what good makeup and application can do, plus favorable lighting. I used to use smashbox foundation, and it never looked natural up close, but always looked flawless in pictures. Most of my friends didn't even believe I had acne. I think that if you want to get feedback on your skin from people on this forum, you can post a picture of what your skin (or parts of it) looks like without makeup on. Noone is going to judge you here. It's hard to tell when you have makeup on how severe your acne is. If you mostly have red marks left from acne, then accutane is not going to help you much with that unless you are still getting a lot of active acne (which is not at all visible in the picture you posted).
Skin update: Nothing new to report. My breakouts are healing faster, which is good I guess, but they are still happening. Yesterday I forced myself to go out with friends, and I am glad I did. I pretended that I didn't have acne, and I had a really good time. I figured, if anyone is going to like me less or judge me because I have acne, then f*ck them, I don't need those people in my life anyway!
WishClean, I wasn't actually asking for feedback on my acne, I just wanted to show off my covering skills! Like I said earlier, every morning I feel like I've painted a masterpiece but I don't get any recognition for it - I still look worse than eveyone else especially when the oil comes through strong in a matter of hours. I don't need people on the internet to tell my my skin is bad. I have myself, my family my GP and my Derm to tell me that; and I'm not going to post a bare faced photo just to make a point. I don't leave my room without my makeup on so why would I post a photo of me like that on the internet? You never know where they might end up. I know accutane won't help me with red marks but it will help me prevent forming more - my skin is still active, not as bad as before but I always have a few inflamed spots and many closed comedones - I still look like a person with acne despite trying every other treatment there is. And my oil problem is extreme, even if accutane can only give me a couple of years of respite from that it would make a huge difference to me. Anyway, I'm really glad you went out with your friends, I used to let skin/weight limit me like that and it's just awful. Getting over it is hard but so worth it
Feeling a little better. Decided to wash my face today. The caveman regimen is okay for a while to let your face have a rest, but it's not great long-term at all. The whiteheads/pustules I got are healing...somewhat.
Thinking of buying some form of AHA/BHA and some Jojoboa oil for moisturing at night time. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
I think I have outgrown acne because um... it is over! I don't get zits with whiteheads anymore. I do get zits occasionally but I've been eating different things since I don't break out a lot.I hope you all clear up eventually! I know you will. I will be inactive here, but I will check in sometimes to see how you all doing!
did you read the part where she said this is a pic "after make-up"?
Most women cover our acne you wont see much in photos...the point being, it takes SO long to apply make-up and it gets really old every day.
Flaxen, there's nowt wrong your skin - give it a rest!
you can get it online, I sent you a link as I dont think you can put advertising links on the forums.
Flaxen, my esthetician gave me samples of a make-up called oxygenetix, its formulated for post-surgical procedures like laser and microdermabrasion to cover rendess AND not to irritate skin at all. Ive tried it several times, it doesnt break me out and it covers red really well. Its made with aloe and some sort of oxygenating formula...maybe it would cut out some of the time you need to appy make up. I dont wear make-up much anymore but if I do, I wear this. Its expensive though but no more than Lancome.
@Helton - glad to hear that! I really hope it works for you
That's interesting! I looked it up and there's just one clinic you can get it from in the UK. I don't know if you can order it online, I'm going to send them an email and find out if they can send me samples. I love that they have blue based colours as well as yellow based! I tried samples of practically EVERYTHING available last year and they were all too yellow for me except the Dior. I like my Dior alot but it isn't ideal as it has oil in it. Is it very full coverage? I don't like anything too heavy as I wear it during the day and I want to cover without looking too made up so I generally go for medium coverage foundations. It sounds really good anyway, I hope I can get hold of some samples! I guess I would be first or second colour of the blue based but I think colour is so important to get right...
>Accutane is also prescribed for really persistant acne. There are some people who have really severe acne but it responds really well to medication like retinoids, bp, SA. However, there are some whose acne is really persistent -- this puts you at higher risk for scarring, for example. In these persistant cases, derms will use accutane. Furthermore, people with higher levels melanin in their skin (skin of color) are often advised more agressive treatment plans, so accutane is prescribed quickly if the strongest retinoids don't work. This is because there is a higher risk of PIH and scarring.
That said, I think that unless I've tried agressive combination therapy, I'm not going for accutane. Accutane scares the shit out of me. It's chemotherapy for acne! Acne isn't life-threatening even if it is extremely depressing. It's an awful disease but accutane is... o.O I'm going to try using three different treatments together at least, first. I'm using Aczone, tazorac, and now SA. I also have a niacinamide based moisturizer and am going to add antioxidants after I've tested out the SA. (The niacinamide and aczone seem to be working well.) Tazorac worked wonders for me, but I started getting 2 or 3 actives over the winter again (I think because of dry, unexfoliated skin + hormones overproducing sebum). My derm is recommending accutane if the addition of aczone doesn't work. With two or three actives. The inflammation of and damage caused by those actives on already damaged skin was pretty bad though. key message? The longer acne persists, the more damage it does, and the harder it is to treat! ‹Which is why her doctor (and mine!) is recommending accutane.
Thanks skinnie your post helped me alot! I was really doubting my decision but it makes sense to me again now. I think it is the right thing to do. I'm going to trust the senior doctor, she knows what she's doing.
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
I'm feeling alright about my skin. I was pretty depressed this whole week, and I'm starting to see a little clear now. I took long naps after school this weeks so I can get by faster since summer is around the corner and my accutane still hasn't gotten year. I was to be on month 4 by the time school starts next year
Flaxen, my esthetician gave me samples of a make-up called oxygenetix, its formulated for post-surgical procedures like laser and microdermabrasion to cover rendess AND not to irritate skin at all. Ive tried it several times, it doesnt break me out and it covers red really well. Its made with aloe and some sort of oxygenating formula...maybe it would cut out some of the time you need to appy make up. I dont wear make-up much anymore but if I do, I wear this. Its expensive though but no more than Lancome.
@Helton - glad to hear that! I really hope it works for you
That's interesting! I looked it up and there's just one clinic you can get it from in the UK. I don't know if you can order it online, I'm going to send them an email and find out if they can send me samples. I love that they have blue based colours as well as yellow based! I tried samples of practically EVERYTHING available last year and they were all too yellow for me except the Dior. I like my Dior alot but it isn't ideal as it has oil in it. Is it very full coverage? I don't like anything too heavy as I wear it during the day and I want to cover without looking too made up so I generally go for medium coverage foundations. It sounds really good anyway, I hope I can get hold of some samples! I guess I would be first or second colour of the blue based but I think colour is so important to get right...
>Accutane is also prescribed for really persistant acne. There are some people who have really severe acne but it responds really well to medication like retinoids, bp, SA. However, there are some whose acne is really persistent -- this puts you at higher risk for scarring, for example. In these persistant cases, derms will use accutane. Furthermore, people with higher levels melanin in their skin (skin of color) are often advised more agressive treatment plans, so accutane is prescribed quickly if the strongest retinoids don't work. This is because there is a higher risk of PIH and scarring.
That said, I think that unless I've tried agressive combination therapy, I'm not going for accutane. Accutane scares the shit out of me. It's chemotherapy for acne! Acne isn't life-threatening even if it is extremely depressing. It's an awful disease but accutane is... o.O I'm going to try using three different treatments together at least, first. I'm using Aczone, tazorac, and now SA. I also have a niacinamide based moisturizer and am going to add antioxidants after I've tested out the SA. (The niacinamide and aczone seem to be working well.) Tazorac worked wonders for me, but I started getting 2 or 3 actives over the winter again (I think because of dry, unexfoliated skin + hormones overproducing sebum). My derm is recommending accutane if the addition of aczone doesn't work. With two or three actives. The inflammation of and damage caused by those actives on already damaged skin was pretty bad though. key message? The longer acne persists, the more damage it does, and the harder it is to treat! ‹Which is why her doctor (and mine!) is recommending accutane.
Thanks skinnie your post helped me alot! I was really doubting my decision but it makes sense to me again now. I think it is the right thing to do. I'm going to trust the senior doctor, she knows what she's doing.
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
You're welcome, Flaxxen! Acne is a weird disorder, because (and I've seen this so many times), there's so much of people making you feel bad about yourself for various reasons. People make you feel bad about treating your acne! If you take any risks (like accutane or bc) to clear up your acne, they start judging you. You know my least favorite sentence ever? "Have you tried proactive?"
Everyone thinks they could clear your acne because their skin is clear or clearer than yours. And, if your case of chronic acne looks like that breakout they once had for a week, they assume that it's the same thing. It's not! Having chronic breakouts causes inflammation and scarring and pain and distress and social anxiety. Living chronically with anything is so very different from having an illness for a short amount of time. It's why having allergies is so different from getting a cold. For a lot of people, the symptoms are very similar. Allergies are so much worse! They'll drive you crazy! Would you rather have a cold for a week? Or chronic allergies for 6 months out of the year?
It seems like accutane is what you need, and you're at that point where there's not much else you can try. Your derm is recommending it. Go for it. Don't let others change your mind. You do what you have to do. Like I said, I'm shit scared of accutane, but if this last try that my derm's put me on doesn't work, accutane it is. Because I am not living with this for the rest of my life. I'm not going to feel asexual and inferior because of my acne. People make you feel that way when you have acne. It's a fact of life.
Question for everyone: I went to my derm and she recommended accutane as the next course of treatment but passed over birth control. She said that unless I needed to use it for contraceptive use, she doesn't feel like I should be using it for just acne. Is this even a valid point? I also copped out and did not bring up spironolactone. :\
Flaxen, my esthetician gave me samples of a make-up called oxygenetix, its formulated for post-surgical procedures like laser and microdermabrasion to cover rendess AND not to irritate skin at all. Ive tried it several times, it doesnt break me out and it covers red really well. Its made with aloe and some sort of oxygenating formula...maybe it would cut out some of the time you need to appy make up. I dont wear make-up much anymore but if I do, I wear this. Its expensive though but no more than Lancome.
@Helton - glad to hear that! I really hope it works for you
That's interesting! I looked it up and there's just one clinic you can get it from in the UK. I don't know if you can order it online, I'm going to send them an email and find out if they can send me samples. I love that they have blue based colours as well as yellow based! I tried samples of practically EVERYTHING available last year and they were all too yellow for me except the Dior. I like my Dior alot but it isn't ideal as it has oil in it. Is it very full coverage? I don't like anything too heavy as I wear it during the day and I want to cover without looking too made up so I generally go for medium coverage foundations. It sounds really good anyway, I hope I can get hold of some samples! I guess I would be first or second colour of the blue based but I think colour is so important to get right...
>Accutane is also prescribed for really persistant acne. There are some people who have really severe acne but it responds really well to medication like retinoids, bp, SA. However, there are some whose acne is really persistent -- this puts you at higher risk for scarring, for example. In these persistant cases, derms will use accutane. Furthermore, people with higher levels melanin in their skin (skin of color) are often advised more agressive treatment plans, so accutane is prescribed quickly if the strongest retinoids don't work. This is because there is a higher risk of PIH and scarring.
That said, I think that unless I've tried agressive combination therapy, I'm not going for accutane. Accutane scares the shit out of me. It's chemotherapy for acne! Acne isn't life-threatening even if it is extremely depressing. It's an awful disease but accutane is... o.O I'm going to try using three different treatments together at least, first. I'm using Aczone, tazorac, and now SA. I also have a niacinamide based moisturizer and am going to add antioxidants after I've tested out the SA. (The niacinamide and aczone seem to be working well.) Tazorac worked wonders for me, but I started getting 2 or 3 actives over the winter again (I think because of dry, unexfoliated skin + hormones overproducing sebum). My derm is recommending accutane if the addition of aczone doesn't work. With two or three actives. The inflammation of and damage caused by those actives on already damaged skin was pretty bad though. key message? The longer acne persists, the more damage it does, and the harder it is to treat! ‹Which is why her doctor (and mine!) is recommending accutane.
Thanks skinnie your post helped me alot! I was really doubting my decision but it makes sense to me again now. I think it is the right thing to do. I'm going to trust the senior doctor, she knows what she's doing.
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
You're welcome, Flaxxen! Acne is a weird disorder, because (and I've seen this so many times), there's so much of people making you feel bad about yourself for various reasons. People make you feel bad about treating your acne! If you take any risks (like accutane or bc) to clear up your acne, they start judging you. You know my least favorite sentence ever? "Have you tried proactive?"
Everyone thinks they could clear your acne because their skin is clear or clearer than yours. And, if your case of chronic acne looks like that breakout they once had for a week, they assume that it's the same thing. It's not! Having chronic breakouts causes inflammation and scarring and pain and distress and social anxiety. Living chronically with anything is so very different from having an illness for a short amount of time. It's why having allergies is so different from getting a cold. For a lot of people, the symptoms are very similar. Allergies are so much worse! They'll drive you crazy! Would you rather have a cold for a week? Or chronic allergies for 6 months out of the year?
It seems like accutane is what you need, and you're at that point where there's not much else you can try. Your derm is recommending it. Go for it. Don't let others change your mind. You do what you have to do. Like I said, I'm shit scared of accutane, but if this last try that my derm's put me on doesn't work, accutane it is. Because I am not living with this for the rest of my life. I'm not going to feel asexual and inferior because of my acne. People make you feel that way when you have acne. It's a fact of life.
Question for everyone: I went to my derm and she recommended accutane as the next course of treatment but passed over birth control. She said that unless I needed to use it for contraceptive use, she doesn't feel like I should be using it for just acne. Is this even a valid point? I also copped out and did not bring up spironolactone. :\
i am not a fan of birth control just because in the long term, it is NOT sustainable and you'll eventually have to get off it - which sometimes can lead to worse acne. You don't need it to take accutane as long as you don't get pregnant (this is very important!). You may want to try spiro before going on accuatne just in case it could be for you.
Good Luck with your decision
Last night I had a total "I don't give a fuck" meal with pizza (cheese free, so more like garlic bread), chips, beans, and all sorts of stuff. The pizza bread was gluten free, but there is still yeast and a bunch of other random stuff in there. I did experience a breakout on my forehead afterward, just like I did the other day with the potatoes. So I'm thinking that my body doesn't care much for starches or yeasts, which makes sense because the kefir I react so strongly to is VERY yeasty. The breakouts that I get from bread or potatoes aren't so terrible though, so I'll keep those foods on my "once in a while treats" list.
I'm happy to report that it doesn't seem like the corn caused any problems. I actually crave corn foods more than bread foods, so I'd be excited to find a nice gluten free brand of tortillas and have tacos again. I haven't had a taco for literally years and years. 
Still working on correctly the dryness and flakiness. I sure hope my breakout isn't caused my lessening the amount of BP I'm using, but I guess I'll find out in time. It's strange, because the flakes are only on my forehead, hairline and temples. I don't get them on the lower part of my face at all.
Flaxen, my esthetician gave me samples of a make-up called oxygenetix, its formulated for post-surgical procedures like laser and microdermabrasion to cover rendess AND not to irritate skin at all. Ive tried it several times, it doesnt break me out and it covers red really well. Its made with aloe and some sort of oxygenating formula...maybe it would cut out some of the time you need to appy make up. I dont wear make-up much anymore but if I do, I wear this. Its expensive though but no more than Lancome.
@Helton - glad to hear that! I really hope it works for you
That's interesting! I looked it up and there's just one clinic you can get it from in the UK. I don't know if you can order it online, I'm going to send them an email and find out if they can send me samples. I love that they have blue based colours as well as yellow based! I tried samples of practically EVERYTHING available last year and they were all too yellow for me except the Dior. I like my Dior alot but it isn't ideal as it has oil in it. Is it very full coverage? I don't like anything too heavy as I wear it during the day and I want to cover without looking too made up so I generally go for medium coverage foundations. It sounds really good anyway, I hope I can get hold of some samples! I guess I would be first or second colour of the blue based but I think colour is so important to get right...
>Accutane is also prescribed for really persistant acne. There are some people who have really severe acne but it responds really well to medication like retinoids, bp, SA. However, there are some whose acne is really persistent -- this puts you at higher risk for scarring, for example. In these persistant cases, derms will use accutane. Furthermore, people with higher levels melanin in their skin (skin of color) are often advised more agressive treatment plans, so accutane is prescribed quickly if the strongest retinoids don't work. This is because there is a higher risk of PIH and scarring.
That said, I think that unless I've tried agressive combination therapy, I'm not going for accutane. Accutane scares the shit out of me. It's chemotherapy for acne! Acne isn't life-threatening even if it is extremely depressing. It's an awful disease but accutane is... o.O I'm going to try using three different treatments together at least, first. I'm using Aczone, tazorac, and now SA. I also have a niacinamide based moisturizer and am going to add antioxidants after I've tested out the SA. (The niacinamide and aczone seem to be working well.) Tazorac worked wonders for me, but I started getting 2 or 3 actives over the winter again (I think because of dry, unexfoliated skin + hormones overproducing sebum). My derm is recommending accutane if the addition of aczone doesn't work. With two or three actives. The inflammation of and damage caused by those actives on already damaged skin was pretty bad though. key message? The longer acne persists, the more damage it does, and the harder it is to treat! ‹Which is why her doctor (and mine!) is recommending acc
utane.
Thanks skinnie your post helped me alot! I was really doubting my decision but it makes sense to me again now. I think it is the right thing to do. I'm going to trust the senior doctor, she knows what she's doing.
@Abstract Factory - I'm regretting posting this photo now. No one is going to take me seriously. I took it after spending two hours applying makeup, as I do meticulously every day. It is also very low resolution. My skin is much worse than it looks there. It is much much better than it was in the autumn but I still have acne that is significant enough to warrant accutane according to a senior consultant dermatologist. *Sigh* I'm just gonna take these comments as a compliment re.my camouflage skills! My own sister was shocked when she saw me without makeup because she had no idea my skin was so bad...
You're welcome, Flaxxen! Acne is a weird disorder, because (and I've seen this so many times), there's so much of people making you feel bad about yourself for various reasons. People make you feel bad about treating your acne! If you take any risks (like accutane or bc) to clear up your acne, they start judging you. You know my least favorite sentence ever? "Have you tried proactive?"
Everyone thinks they could clear your acne because their skin is clear or clearer than yours. And, if your case of chronic acne looks like that breakout they once had for a week, they assume that it's the same thing. It's not! Having chronic breakouts causes inflammation and scarring and pain and distress and social anxiety. Living chronically with anything is so very different from having an illness for a short amount of time. It's why having allergies is so different from getting a cold. For a lot of people, the symptoms are very similar. Allergies are so much worse! They'll drive you crazy! Would you rather have a cold for a week? Or chronic allergies for 6 months out of the year?
It seems like accutane is what you need, and you're at that point where there's not much else you can try. Your derm is recommending it. Go for it. Don't let others change your mind. You do what you have to do. Like I said, I'm shit scared of accutane, but if this last try that my derm's put me on doesn't work, accutane it is. Because I am not living with this for the rest of my life. I'm not going to feel asexual and inferior because of my acne. People make you feel that way when you have acne. It's a fact of life.
Question for everyone: I went to my derm and she recommended accutane as the next course of treatment but passed over birth control. She said that unless I needed to use it for contraceptive use, she doesn't feel like I should be using it for just acne. Is this even a valid point? I also copped out and did not bring up spironolactone. :\
i am not a fan of birth control just because in the long term, it is NOT sustainable and you'll eventually have to get off it - which sometimes can lead to worse acne. You don't need it to take accutane as long as you don't get pregnant (this is very important!). You may want to try spiro before going on accuatne just in case it could be for you.
Good Luck with your decision
oh, good point there! Maybe that's what she meant. We also decided against oral antibiotics. Basically, I'm hoping adding in aczone works, because it's my last chance. I'm also adding in SA because get this: Tazorac cleared me up almost completely. Then the pimples came back in the winter. And I always breakout in the winter. I'm completely clear during the summer, during warm weather. So I thought, you know, maybe its the lack of vitamin D. So I added vit. D in. Nope. Didn't work. Now, I'm thinking its the dry skin that clogs up my pores during the winter. Ergo, adding in an exfoliant should be the right move. Can anyone think of other reasons why someone might break out during the winter months?
Feeling a little better. Decided to wash my face today. The caveman regimen is okay for a while to let your face have a rest, but it's not great long-term at all. The whiteheads/pustules I got are healing...somewhat.
Thinking of buying some form of AHA/BHA and some Jojoboa oil for moisturing at night time. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
Just make sure it's pH balanced between 3 & 4. Rapid Clear Treatment pads have worked quite well for my mother's skin!
Feeling horribly hideous today...
Worst breakout I've had in a while i think... Made worse because i thought things were getting better last week.. I'm icing a bunch of cysts right now which is something i haven't tried before - lets see if that helps at all...
I need to decide what to do - birth control, ask about spiro, or use store bought products for the regimen..
I'm so sick and tired of this!!! Wish i could hide away at home today but Im going to try and go to uni anyway...
I am posting way too much on this board. Procrastination....
Lilly75, what about topicals? Tazorac worked miracles for my cystic acne! I am glad that at least my acne isn't painful anymore...
Also, I don't know how many of you are under 25, but good news! I just found out that adult acne is over 25 only, and there's still a chance that my hormones will balance out and acne will stop being a problem within the next couple of years. That's so exciting! I hope I don't have adult acne :\
On 5/20/2013 at 2:27 AM, dejaclairevoyant said:Last night I had a total "I don't give a fuck" meal with pizza (cheese free, so more like garlic bread), chips, beans, and all sorts of stuff. The pizza bread was gluten free, but there is still yeast and a bunch of other random stuff in there. I did experience a breakout on my forehead afterward, just like I did the other day with the potatoes. So I'm thinking that my body doesn't care much for starches or yeasts, which makes sense because the kefir I react so strongly to is VERY yeasty. The breakouts that I get from bread or potatoes aren't so terrible though, so I'll keep those foods on my "once in a while treats" list.
I'm happy to report that it doesn't seem like the corn caused any problems. I actually crave corn foods more than bread foods, so I'd be excited to find a nice gluten free brand of tortillas and have tacos again. I haven't had a taco for literally years and years.
Still working on correctly the dryness and flakiness. I sure hope my breakout isn't caused my lessening the amount of BP I'm using, but I guess I'll find out in time. It's strange, because the flakes are only on my forehead, hairline and temples. I don't get them on the lower part of my face at all.
You should do this more often, haha!
Stress is no good!
My outfit everyday to school screams I DON'T GIVE A FK - an over size jacket that I took from my BF, T shirt, sweat pants, messy hair with a hat.
It's so relaxing to wear something warm and comfy while not having to worry what other people think.
( But of course my BF is forbid to see me dressing up like this, hahaha )
It was a rainy day so I stayed inside and didn't feel as good as usual or good as when I get sunlight.
Went to get a tan because it usually helps clear up my acne so I went to the tanning salon, came home and took a picture looked at my forehead and thought I looked like a freak and then found this forum and made some posts.
I am posting way too much on this board. Procrastination....
Lilly75, what about topicals? Tazorac worked miracles for my cystic acne! I am glad that at least my acne isn't painful anymore...
Also, I don't know how many of you are under 25, but good news! I just found out that adult acne is over 25 only, and there's still a chance that my hormones will balance out and acne will stop being a problem within the next couple of years. That's so exciting! I hope I don't have adult acne :\
Haha I waste too much time on here too sometimes...
I didn't actually talk to my doctor about topicals... I've used Duac in the past and other BP based products / gels - they did help but I was only ever clear completely if I used them with antibiotics. My skin doesn't seem to respond as well to SA as it does to BP. But I'll remember to ask about other topicals when I see my GP again in a few weeks. (Thanks for reminding me! )
Feel utterly miserable with my skin, as well as totally disgusted and ashamed. Have been suffering for 20 years, wondering if there will be an end to it. Even my make up looks a mess due to unevenness of my complexion, wondering when I will be able to look in the mirror and feel happy. Thinking if the scars were removed that would be a start, although at age 31 I am still having loads of active acne plus ridiculously greasy skin
Also constantly torturing myself about my husband's potential thoughts about my skin: whether he thinks it's my fault I have this condition, whether he's thinking I am not helping myself, whether he finds my skin disgusting. Yet I can't face talking to him about the problem because I'm terrified he will say something I don't want to hear. In the past my family rejected me and made me feel unlovable due to my skin, so it really would be the end of the world if my husband did the same. Just want to cry but trying to be strong as I am staying with some friends today.
Feel utterly miserable with my skin, as well as totally disgusted and ashamed. Have been suffering for 20 years, wondering if there will be an end to it. Even my make up looks a mess due to unevenness of my complexion, wondering when I will be able to look in the mirror and feel happy. Thinking if the scars were removed that would be a start, although at age 31 I am still having loads of active acne plus ridiculously greasy skin
Also constantly torturing myself about my husband's potential thoughts about my skin: whether he thinks it's my fault I have this condition, whether he's thinking I am not helping myself, whether he finds my skin disgusting. Yet I can't face talking to him about the problem because I'm terrified he will say something I don't want to hear. In the past my family rejected me and made me feel unlovable due to my skin, so it really would be the end of the world if my husband did the same. Just want to cry but trying to be strong as I am staying with some friends today.
Hey there I bet that you would be surprised at the level of support you can get from someone who loves you. I was afraid to bring up my skin to my boyfriend of 6 years and when I did, it was such a load off my mind. It's like getting rid of the elephant in the room. I hope you feel better
I got a lot of breakouts from eating corn and bread.... they got worse overnight.
It's REALLY hard not to go back to my eating disorder when there are real consequences from enjoying food like this.
Eating disorders are far too easy to slip back into. It's happened to me quite a few times-- especially when you can rationalize the disorder with physical consequences such as acne. My obsession was also acne-based and then just generally "health" based. Little did I know that while my body was "healthy," my mind was so sick. I hope you overcome this.
Face update: Feeling...decent. While my overall skintone is "peaches and cream," it makes the red marks SO easy to see. All I want is for all of my pre-existing red marks to just fade away into nonexistence. Coconut oil is helping, though I just wish I could do absolutely NOTHING and it would all go away. Wishful thinking! haha