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I was off spiro for 3-4 months, not that i had any problem, just a coinsidence and i ran out but didn't break out so i thought that i grew out of acne.. but obviously i didn't. I tried to avoid taking it again but no diet helped. In fact i lost much weight and when i took the same dosage as before it was too much. Now i am on half that dose and i think it's getting better (fingers crossed). I don't use bcp because i have migraines and family history of blood clots so spiro is my safest option.. that's why i am afraid of breakouts, if spiro doesn't work i will have to stop using hormonal treatment -the only effective- or use something life-threatening.. the gyn. didn't exclude this as an option but i would prefer not push my luck.
Yes, don't take bcp if you're not comfortable with the thought 
I read somewhere, that you have just started your second round of Spiro and panicked, because it didn't work as fast as the first time, is it true? If so - relax, these things take so much time to kick in and hormones are so unpredictable. Bcp worked for me only 4-5 months after. You just need to not attack your body with negative emotions, and be patient. I wouldn't dare to suggest that, but sun and solarium (5 min twice a week), always helps me with small inflamed pores (UV light is disinfecting) . But I can't recommend it, as many people could have it worse from it 
I was off spiro for 3-4 months, not that i had any problem, just a coinsidence and i ran out but didn't break out so i thought that i grew out of acne.. but obviously i didn't. I tried to avoid taking it again but no diet helped. In fact i lost much weight and when i took the same dosage as before it was too much. Now i am on half that dose and i think it's getting better (fingers crossed). I don't use bcp because i have migraines and family history of blood clots so spiro is my safest option.. that's why i am afraid of breakouts, if spiro doesn't work i will have to stop using hormonal treatment -the only effective- or use something life-threatening.. the gyn. didn't exclude this as an option but i would prefer not push my luck.
Yes, don't take bcp if you're not comfortable with the thought
I read somewhere, that you have just started your second round of Spiro and panicked, because it didn't work as fast as the first time, is it true? If so - relax, these things take so much time to kick in and hormones are so unpredictable. Bcp worked for me only 4-5 months after. You just need to not attack your body with negative emotions, and be patient. I wouldn't dare to suggest that, but sun and solarium (5 min twice a week), always helps me with small inflamed pores (UV light is disinfecting) . But I can't recommend it, as many people could have it worse from it
That's exactly what happened. Before spiro every pimple i had would become a red mark on my face for months.. i usually had no more that three active pimples but with all these red marks i looked like i had 100. After 2 years of spiro all these red marks healed, i uploaded a photo of my skin taken just a few weeks before quitting it and it's just white, no red at all for the first time after my pre-adolescent years.. and then i started breaking out again and the red marks build up and they take so long to fade. Even if i stop breaking out today it will take months to return to what my skin was like. I am more relaxed now because i believe i finally have some results, i ate something with egg today and i used to avoid it because it's a common allergen, let's see what happens.
Usually my sun exposure is more than that-just waiting for the bus is enough. I haven't tried solarium, i don't know if i should because i have a mole i should remove but with all these problems i don't know when i will be ready for this.. i am considering to do a facial cleansing and apply a topical retinoid (i used topical isotretinoin before spiro and have some left) to unclog pores but i am afraid of a possible initial breakout.
I'll have finished all my exams / assessment for this uni degree on Friday which is pretty exciting!
I've planned a short holiday at one of the beaches here with some friends from uni to relax and celebrate graduating (provided we all pass these last exams 
)
So I am looking forward to this trip but at the same time I'm a bit worried about it. The beach isn't the best idea for someone who worries about their skin - I can't exactly wear makeup if I want to go swimming in the pool or ocean and I've always had a little makeup on around my friends so I'm worried about them seeing me with completely bare skin in the apartment at night / in the mornings.
I don't wear a lot of makeup, so they know I've had skin issues and have PIH but they've never commented on it before and the little makeup I wear still helps to hide things a bit. It's a bit of a security blanket... I know I don't wear a lot of it so it doesn't make a massive difference - but I just can't go out without anything...
And my friends I'm going with really do have perfect skin and are beautiful girls. I just don't want to end up worrying over my skin all the time while on holiday. And don't want them to realise how much my skin gets to me
I am happy though that my skin has improved so much with the regimen - if I do have to go out without makeup, it will be a lot easier than if my skin was still like what it was before the regimen. My skin isn't perfect and I still deal with breakouts (always a couple of tiny actives but that's so much easier to deal with) so I still feel like I need makeup though. I'm not entirely confident in my own skin yet...
Maybe I should try not wearing makeup when at the beach... maybe that would help me with my confidence about my skin....
I don't know... I'll see what happens
I'll have finished all my exams / assessment for this uni degree on Friday which is pretty exciting!
I've planned a short holiday at one of the beaches here with some friends from uni to relax and celebrate graduating (provided we all pass these last exams
)
So I am looking forward to this trip but at the same time I'm a bit worried about it. The beach isn't the best idea for someone who worries about their skin - I can't exactly wear makeup if I want to go swimming in the pool or ocean and I've always had a little makeup on around my friends so I'm worried about them seeing me with completely bare skin in the apartment at night / in the mornings.
I don't wear a lot of makeup, so they know I've had skin issues and have PIH but they've never commented on it before and the little makeup I wear still helps to hide things a bit. It's a bit of a security blanket... I know I don't wear a lot of it so it doesn't make a massive difference - but I just can't go out without anything...
And my friends I'm going with really do have perfect skin and are beautiful girls. I just don't want to end up worrying over my skin all the time while on holiday. And don't want them to realise how much my skin gets to me
I am happy though that my skin has improved so much with the regimen - if I do have to go out without makeup, it will be a lot easier than if my skin was still like what it was before the regimen. My skin isn't perfect and I still deal with breakouts (always a couple of tiny actives but that's so much easier to deal with) so I still feel like I need makeup though. I'm not entirely confident in my own skin yet...
Maybe I should try not wearing makeup when at the beach... maybe that would help me with my confidence about my skin....
I don't know... I'll see what happens
Oh, I totally understand this! First of all, congratulations on your degree! So exciting!
Secondly, the beach sounds good and I'm glad your skin has improved with the regimen! Maybe for on the way to the beach, you can put a little cover up on and then when you get there, use some face wipes to get it off and sunscreen right after! It's hard to go out without makeup-- but most people are decent and nice and won't comment on any imperfections you have. Just wear big sunglasses!! 
Or, if it helps, keep *some* of your makeup on! If it gradually fades from the ocean water, no one will even notice.
Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
I'll have finished all my exams / assessment for this uni degree on Friday which is pretty exciting!
I've planned a short holiday at one of the beaches here with some friends from uni to relax and celebrate graduating (provided we all pass these last exams
So I am looking forward to this trip but at the same time I'm a bit worried about it. The beach isn't the best idea for someone who worries about their skin - I can't exactly wear makeup if I want to go swimming in the pool or ocean and I've always had a little makeup on around my friends so I'm worried about them seeing me with completely bare skin in the apartment at night / in the mornings.
I don't wear a lot of makeup, so they know I've had skin issues and have PIH but they've never commented on it before and the little makeup I wear still helps to hide things a bit. It's a bit of a security blanket... I know I don't wear a lot of it so it doesn't make a massive difference - but I just can't go out without anything...
And my friends I'm going with really do have perfect skin and are beautiful girls. I just don't want to end up worrying over my skin all the time while on holiday. And don't want them to realise how much my skin gets to me
I am happy though that my skin has improved so much with the regimen - if I do have to go out without makeup, it will be a lot easier than if my skin was still like what it was before the regimen. My skin isn't perfect and I still deal with breakouts (always a couple of tiny actives but that's so much easier to deal with) so I still feel like I need makeup though. I'm not entirely confident in my own skin yet...
Maybe I should try not wearing makeup when at the beach... maybe that would help me with my confidence about my skin....
I don't know... I'll see what happens
i think there are sunscreens with color but i have never tried them. I believe it's worth the try to see if it helps but i have no idea about durability in water..
So sorry your going thru a rough time right now but just know your not alone...im 43 and still get break outs!!!! I'm on my 2nd week of Spiro so I'm hoping this will fix the hormonal acne I've dealing with the past few years. Hope things get better for you! If you ever need someone to talk to I'm more than happy to hear from you
Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
On 11/6/2013 at 5:33 AM, PinkBunny41 said:So sorry your going thru a rough time right now but just know your not alone...im 43 and still get break outs!!!! I'm on my 2nd week of Spiro so I'm hoping this will fix the hormonal acne I've dealing with the past few years. Hope things get better for you! If you ever need someone to talk to I'm more than happy to hear from you
On 11/6/2013 at 4:53 AM, GUNNKE said:Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
Thank you so much PinkBunny for your kind words. I truly sympathise with you for still having breakouts into your 40`s, I know how frustrating that is. Really hope that the Spiro works to clear up the hormonal acne. It`s not just my skin, I have a whole load of other issues right now and having heard some really sad news earlier tonight, I`m in a complete state at the moment. Thank you for the offer to talk - the same applies to you if you ever feel the need to.
I've been thinking about a really nasty thing that someone said in another thread about me ALL DAY today. I've been in a terrible and sad mood, which hasn't happened in such a long time. I went for a run in the woods, but it didn't help that much even though it's so beautiful outside.
My skin isn't bad anymore, but the picture that I posted showed it at its worst. I felt so bad at the time and I remember feeling so hopeless. I was so afraid anyone would see me without makeup on then. I'm happy that my skin is drastically improved, but that doesn't take away the fact that I still know the pain of having acne and how much it affects morale and confidence.
I just can't believe some people are so mean. I can't believe I cried because of something someone said over the INTERNET.....
i think there are sunscreens with color but i have never tried them. I believe it's worth the try to see if it helps but i have no idea about durability in water..
You're right - there are tinted sunscreens - I didn't even think of that!
When I've used them in the past, the tint doesn't hide anything for me - but it's worth a try for sure.
Oh, I totally understand this! First of all, congratulations on your degree! So exciting!
Secondly, the beach sounds good and I'm glad your skin has improved with the regimen! Maybe for on the way to the beach, you can put a little cover up on and then when you get there, use some face wipes to get it off and sunscreen right after! It's hard to go out without makeup-- but most people are decent and nice and won't comment on any imperfections you have. Just wear big sunglasses!!
Or, if it helps, keep *some* of your makeup on! If it gradually fades from the ocean water, no one will even notice.
Thank you!
Sunglasses are a good idea actually And I need to go get a big hat for the sun anyway - so I might just do that and that might make me feel comfortable enough then without makeup. I'm going to try not to care about my skin for that time and just try and have a good time
Besides, - It would probably look more ridiculous wearing more makeup at the beach than it would to wear none and have imperfections show, if that makes any sense.
Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
Sorry to hear of the rough time you're having Gunnke. Hope things are looking up for you again soon!
Hyperpigmentation really is the bane of my life right now. Is there any way to fade it quicker that doesn't involve physical/chemical exfoliation (which my sensitive skin can't take) or substances that make me break out (eg. aloe vera) and is compatible with using Epiduo??
(This is kind of a rhetorical question but if anyone has an answer to it then I will love you forever!)
Hyperpigmentation really is the bane of my life right now. Is there any way to fade it quicker that doesn't involve physical/chemical exfoliation (which my sensitive skin can't take) or substances that make me break out (eg. aloe vera) and is compatible with using Epiduo??
(This is kind of a rhetorical question but if anyone has an answer to it then I will love you forever!)
If you have money talk to an esthetician. I think they have facials to fade it faster.
Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
Im sorry to see you back here; its been a while. I know the feeling. Im right there with you. So the long term success of the CBT was a no-go? I started mine back up but to be honest, Im not really getting too much out of it. Its very easy for someone to tell you to remain positive and do this or that to occupy your time; quite another when you have a red planet growing on your face somewhere. Im this close to canceling my next CBT session for next Tuesday. Hope thing get better for you. Good luck
Hyperpigmentation really is the bane of my life right now. Is there any way to fade it quicker that doesn't involve physical/chemical exfoliation (which my sensitive skin can't take) or substances that make me break out (eg. aloe vera) and is compatible with using Epiduo??
(This is kind of a rhetorical question but if anyone has an answer to it then I will love you forever!)
If you have money talk to an esthetician. I think they have facials to fade it faster.
Haha, thanks for the advice, but sadly I'm a student!
On 11/7/2013 at 9:53 PM, goodz19 said:On 11/6/2013 at 4:53 AM, GUNNKE said:Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
Im sorry to see you back here; its been a while. I know the feeling. Im right there with you. So the long term success of the CBT was a no-go? I started mine back up but to be honest, Im not really getting too much out of it. Its very easy for someone to tell you to remain positive and do this or that to occupy your time; quite another when you have a red planet growing on your face somewhere. Im this close to canceling my next CBT session for next Tuesday. Hope thing get better for you. Good luck
I haven`t been going through a good period of late but as my GP has prescribed me a course of anti-depressants, I`m hoping things improve from here on in. I still think that doing CBT was worthwhile. The recent spell I`ve been going through is largely due to reasons other than my skin and appearance.
Thanks for the support by the way. Whatever you do, please don`t cancel that CBT appointment on account of me having done CBT and then relapsing. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by at least giving CBT a go.
Thoroughly horrible. My skin is still breaking out at the age of 40. It`s not just that though, my life is well and truly rubbish right now. I`m single, have hardly any friends and no social life to speak of. What`s more, this evening I have had some really sad news that has just made my mood a whole lot worse. Sorry for the extreme negativity. I hope you are all doing better than me right now.
Im sorry to see you back here; its been a while. I know the feeling. Im right there with you. So the long term success of the CBT was a no-go? I started mine back up but to be honest, Im not really getting too much out of it. Its very easy for someone to tell you to remain positive and do this or that to occupy your time; quite another when you have a red planet growing on your face somewhere. Im this close to canceling my next CBT session for next Tuesday. Hope thing get better for you. Good luck
I haven`t been going through a good period of late but as my GP has prescribed me a course of anti-depressants, I`m hoping things improve from here on in. I still think that doing CBT was worthwhile. The recent spell I`ve been going through is largely due to reasons other than my skin and appearance.
Thanks for the support by the way.
I actually did cancel, not because I see it as non-beneficial because of your relapse, I just dont feel like Im getting anything out it either a) because Im not trying, or b) Im need really in a crisis state (where Ive been before) so Its just a waste of an hour for me. Im a pessimist by nature and thats the toughest part to overcome when everything being taught somehow revolves around positive thoughts and 'energy'.
Anyway, sorry you're having a rough go. Good luck.
I'm 23 yrs old and I've been suffering from acne since I was 12...It got bad then good then bad then good then up until recently last year around January my acne got out of control and just took a toll on my self confidence. I try to find things I love about myself to deter from my skin but when I wake up that's all I see is acne and scars. I keep telling myself "don't worry this is just a normal college student phase, when you get your degree and into your career this will go away." I can't help but notice the attention from guys I use to get when my skin wasn't a issue and the lack of now that it has bad....I just want to feel beautiful again but I can't seem to get that feeling back...now all I want to do is just rip my face off and its so aggravating and annoying. =[
Disheartened today.
Ist day of my period and 3 big and very painful acne's, one on my shoulder (?) One on my hair line and one above my lip. The joy of hormones.
Still waiting to have my bloods done for hormone testing, too under weight at the moment, collapsed at last attempt. Still, at least its the weekend , so I don't have to leave the house
Today I'm feeling really good about my skin, no new break outs and the Spiro seems to be working as I'm going into week 3. I'm also taking 100mg of Minocycline so maybe that's helping keep the IB at bay. My oldest son whose in college is coming for a visit soon so I will be very happy to be able to go out on the town with him without worrying about acne like I had been for so many years
Going to the beach for a few days with friends tomorrow. Skin has decided to breakout though - of course 
So feeling a bit self conscious about that - and add to that the idea of spending days in a swimsuit when I know my shoulders are marked (PIH) - I'm just not feeling the best about myself or how I look today.
Probably made worse by the fact I spent a good part of the day driving with my mum as a passenger which is always a bit stressful haha
Been getting worried about taking a bcp again... am i doing the right thing? will this make my acne better or make it worse? will i get terrible acne after I stop taking it? etc etc. Trying to stay positive though. I only have one obviously active spot right now, and a lot of areas under my skin that are my "dormant" cysts... the just stay there forever! But between that and the crazy amount of redness on my cheeks... I feel my face looks a mess. :/
