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Hoping To Put Acne To An End. 19, Male

 
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(@esa)

Posted : 04/08/2012 5:01 am

That's weird because the same thing has happened to me. I've started putting moisturiser on it again. I guess it came back because I stopped.

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/08/2012 11:21 am

Wow, that is pretty weird actually.

 

I think there is correlation between washing/wetting the hands too much and also not moisturizing them often enough that causes the rash. Mine went away when I was moisturizing my hands 1-2 (sometimes 3) times a day, but since it went away I mostly only moisturized them once a day.

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/09/2012 11:41 pm

Day 45:

 

- Fortunately the pimple in the middle of my eyebrows has scabbed away and is now healing. Unfortunately, a new one popped up on the side of my forehead >.>

- My scalp has been a bit itchier than normal the past few days. I need to be careful not to scratch it and make it start flaking again.

- Still shampooing every-other 1-2 days, depending on itchiness/oiliness of my scalp/hair.

- Rash still on my hands sad.png

- Still continuously battling with my lips. However, I bought some Bacitraycin as suggested by Betsy (Thank you!) and am applying it at night. It seems to help as I wake up with my lips less dry and flaky. I also am paying conscious attention to not lick my lips too much. These things appear to be helping, even if it is still a battle.

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/13/2012 4:51 pm

Hey hows it going so far?

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/13/2012 11:20 pm

Hey, it's been pretty much the usual.

 

Day 49:

 

- Pimple on side of forehead gone. Another one popped up on my cheek but quickly went away. One appeared last night on my cheek, closer to my chin - fortunately it's small so it will probably go away soon. Overall, it is pretty clear right now smile.png

- My scalp has been better. Less itchy. I find that the more I can avoid touching, scratching, or itching it, the better off it is.

- Eczema on hands has mostly gone away for now. I need to really keep them moisturized now so hopefully it doesn't come backeusa_pray.gif

- My lips are a miserably situation. Without a doubt, the peeling and cracking is the worst symptom I'm experiencing at the moment. No matter what I do, it just doesn't seem to get much better. My Aquaphor tube is starting to deplete because I'm having to use it so often. To top it off, my mouth cracked again in the corner where the lips meet, which hurts and takes a while to go away. Hopefully my dermatologist can give me some tips or something. I don't want to be battling this for 3 more months.

 

Seeing my dermatologist this coming Thursday, by the way.

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/14/2012 9:59 am

Hey, it's been pretty much the usual.

Day 49:

- Pimple on side of forehead gone. Another one popped up on my cheek but quickly went away. One appeared last night on my cheek, closer to my chin - fortunately it's small so it will probably go away soon. Overall, it is pretty clear right now smile.png

- My scalp has been better. Less itchy. I find that the more I can avoid touching, scratching, or itching it, the better off it is.

- Eczema on hands has mostly gone away for now. I need to really keep them moisturized now so hopefully it doesn't come backeusa_pray.gif

- My lips are a miserably situation. Without a doubt, the peeling and cracking is the worst symptom I'm experiencing at the moment. No matter what I do, it just doesn't seem to get much better. My Aquaphor tube is starting to deplete because I'm having to use it so often. To top it off, my mouth cracked again in the corner where the lips meet, which hurts and takes a while to go away. Hopefully my dermatologist can give me some tips or something. I don't want to be battling this for 3 more months.

Seeing my dermatologist this coming Thursday, by the way.

 

Sounds like things are looking up for you! That is awesome, I'm at day 33 and still haven't seen much improvement. I saw my dermatologist Thursday of this last week and she claims that she see a huge improvement. I've been taking weekly pictures to compare and I think she's lying haha. Oh well, I'm only starting my second month I know things start to turn around this month for most people and month 3 is supposed to be that magical month where you clear! So things should start really happening with you. About the lips mine are really bad to so my derm kept me at 40 MG for this month. Kinda bummed I was hoping for a higher dose so my course could go alittle faster. Anyway my dermatologist gave me prescription ointment for the lips. It's a mixed compound of Mupirocin 2% and Desonide 0.05%

I've only been using it for 2 days so I'm not noticing any huge improvement yet. She said it would heal them up so hopefully it does soon. I would see if yours can give you something like that, your right the lips are terrible to deal with aren't they. I thought ohh chapped lips big deal. These lips aren't chapped, they are a whole different animal. I'm starting to think that there is no way to help them.

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/17/2012 1:35 am

Day 52:

 

Things seem to be getting worse for some reason.

 

Cons:

- Over the past 2-3 days, my nose has seemed to constantly have blood in it when I've blown my nose. But it's not runny blood.

- Lips are getting ridiculous. Doesn't seem like the aquaphor does much, but I think the Bacitraycin at night helps reduce the peeling (or is it making the condition worse overall? hmm..)

- The eczema on my hands spread a tad up my left arm, but only a few small splotches. It also broke out further on my hands, however I believe that is due to repeatedly needing to wash my hands after working on fixing my greasy car.

 

Pros:

- I don't think I have a single active acne spot on my face at the current moment in time, at least none that are noticeable smile.png

- Red marks and scars seem to be fading in certain spots slowly.

- Head still staying relatively flake-free. Continuing regimen of T-Sal shampoo every other 1 or 2 days.

 

 

@Betsy -

I think I know what you're feeling to some extent with the dosage. This increase in side effects means I will probably not be bumped up in dosage anytime soon if the side effects continue at this level. But I guess there's a point at which you have to be reasonable and understand that increasing the dosage may do more harm than good.

 

One thing I read, when I was switched from Amnesteem to Clavaris, was some people on the forums saying they believed Clavaris caused more intense side-effects than Amnesteem. It doesn't seem like this would be true since they're supposed to be the same drug, but it certainly seems like there has been a significant increase in side effects for me since I switched. But it may just be due to the increased dosage and progression of my course.

 

P.S. off to get a blood test tomorrow (if I can remember not to eat in the morning :P) and derm appt on Thursday.

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/17/2012 10:33 am

Brian,

I have had some dried blood in my nose too. I have just been putting vaseline up each nostril a couple times a day and that seems to be helping. I heard sleeping with a humidifer really helps too. I haven't tried that out myself, I haven't found that I need to do that yet.

 

Lips are terrible! I swear nothing helps them. Since getting the prescription ointment from the Dr. my lips have split on each side of the bottom lip and actually bled a tiny bit. I am convinced the Bacitraycin was helping in the beginning and not so much anymore. Maybe it is making the condition worse after all?!?! Yikes. I don't know anymore. I am starting to think there is no helping them and it is just going to be a nightmare the entire time. Although I have seen on a few logs that after sometime into the course the lips just seem to get better. Who knows if it is really better or they just got used to it. I am thinking about trying a vitamin E based chap stick. Burts Bee's makes one. My only issue is using something on a stick. I think it will just crack my lips further with the dragging motion. I have been using thing in little tubs to avoid that.

 

About the Amnesteem to Clavaris, I wonder if that is true. I have been on Clavaris from the start so I can't comment on that. I think that the only difference with the generics are the fillers they use in the medication. If I remember correctly the active ingredients have to be the same. 70% the same as the name brand and 30% is different but its only the fillers. I would imagine the fillers could effect us differently though. Interesting. Why did you switch brands? Different pharmacy? Your doctor has you fast before your blood tests? Mine doesn't that is weird!

 

Hope your appt goes well!

Betsy

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/17/2012 11:21 am

Lol I'm about to scoop one of every lip treatment item off the shelf at the store and try it. But it would be great if the lips would get better over the course of the treatment. I will ask my derm about that if I can remember.

 

And about the stick balm - I don't know if your lips are in the same situation as mine, but my upper lip isn't peeling much at all. So when I apply balm it helps to put it on my upper lip then use that lip to smear it around on my lower lip. You can also try applying it vertically rather than horizontally. Also, the Nivea "Kiss of Moisture" balm is what I've been using and it doesn't appear to work well. It keeps my lips moisturized (read: wet) but doesn't really heal them. The Aquaphor heals them but doesn't keep my lips moisturized -_-

 

I had to switch to Clavaris because they don't make a 30mg or 60mg Amnesteem supposedly. So I have to take 2x30mg Clavaris. I guess if I do ever get bumped up to 80mg then I could go back on Amnesteem smile.png But yeah, I'm not sure if it matters anyway. It's probably all psychological lol.

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/17/2012 2:29 pm

Do ask your derm that! I forgot to ask mine. I always come home from a derm appt and think damn it I forgot to ask about this and that.

 

My lips are in the same state as yours. My upper lip seems just fine... I wonder why that is. I will try the lip on applying vertically. Maybe I can cut the chap stick out of the tube and kind of smash it into a tub and I can apply it that way. I don't know I am going to mess around with that idea for awhile. I just wish there was something that we KNEW would work. I don't know why there is such a hype about the Aquaphor. Doesn't work for me at all. It worked well when my lips weren't dry and chapped. I don't need anything when my lips are fine though!

 

Let me know what your derm says about the lips! :)

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/17/2012 5:36 pm

Haha, exactly about the aquaphor.

 

And I write on a sticky note between appointments what I should bring up next time I see her :)

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/17/2012 9:26 pm

Good idea! I think I could fill a notebook page with stuff to ask.. She would hate me at the end of my appt

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/19/2012 11:04 am

Yay now my upper lip is peeling too. I should have knocked on wood when i wrote that it wasn't peeling -_-

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(@supernatualfanatic)

Posted : 04/19/2012 11:32 am

Woohoo! Congrats on no actives right now :) I hope that continues through your course. I'm sorry your experiencing some bad side effects ;( I've actually never gotten a nosebleed in my life as well.. I hope you're having a great day! I'll be following your progress :)

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/19/2012 1:49 pm

Thank you!

 

I am having a good day. I went to a career fair to hand out some resumes in hopes to get an internship this Summer. It went very well and I felt so much more confident knowing I didn't have a raging storm of acne all over my face distracting the potential employers. smile.png

 

I do have to say that the side effects could be much worse, and frankly I take the side effects over the acne I had. It would just be nice if I could find a remedy for my dry and peeling lips, that's by far the worst side effect I'm currently experiencing.

 

Also, my dermatologist appointment got pushed back from today to tomorrow morning.

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/19/2012 2:02 pm

Ya know what? I just started using Vaseline like 3 days ago. I stopped the prescription ointment and Carmex. I decided they werent working either. And I started using just plan old Vaseline and my lips are almost back to normal! Go figure vaseline

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(@esa)

Posted : 04/19/2012 2:12 pm

Have you tried Carmex? It's worked well for me. I lost mine though so now I'm using some Nivea one and it sucks! :(

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/19/2012 2:44 pm

Hey esa! Hope things are going well for you. I agree about the Nivea - I accidentally just applied it rather than the aquaphor. Dang it.

 

Betsy, that's promising. Please let me know if it continues to work or if it's just a coincidence. Sometimes my lips are perfectly fine for a couple days, then they go through another giant peeling phase. Also, did you drop the bacitraycin completely now?

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 04/19/2012 2:57 pm

Yeah I did... It seemed to work for awhile and then something changed and my lips were just peeling all day long. I am till having alittle peeling throughout the day, but the deeper splits in the lips and the bright red went away. My family us my lips look healthy now. While I was using a combo or aquaphor and Carmex and bacitracin they were bright red. I will update you on the Vaseline in a week or so and let you know if it is still working! Good luck tomorrow

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(@supernatualfanatic)

Posted : 04/21/2012 12:04 am

I absolutely loooooove vaseline :D I've had ezcema on my knuckles which is an odd place, but vaseline helps them tremendously! It can be thick, but our lips need it with all the moisture being sucked right out of them!

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/21/2012 1:47 am

Day 56:

 

Visited the dermatologist today. She believes my face is looking much better and that I'm going to stay on 60mg as it should reach my targeted cumulative dosage. Told her about my lip situation and she prescribed to me a .05% desonide ointment. It appears that it is different than yours, Betsy, because it doesn't say it contains Mupirocin. I also don't have to put it on at set times/intervals. Just as needed when my lips start cracking. I'll see how things go and may still get the Vaseline.

 

Also, I forgot to mention the dry/bloody nose to her (even with my sticky note!). Might call her about it still though.

 

Updates:

- I haven't had a spot of acne for about 5-7 days, which is AMAZING!!! I have not experienced that since last june-september when I was on a treatment regimen of Benzaclin and tretinoin cream. And that regimen was a pain >.> So I am quite happy about this.

- Lips have not been too bad the past couple days. Some peeling, but not major dryness and flaking. I kicked the nivea lip balm several days ago, so that may be a factor. Also, I have been using the Bacitraycin at night, but I plan to stop that.

- Eczema on hands has gone away, probably because I've been diligent in applying lotion when needed. Likewise, I have not been overly washing my hands. But I do have some on the bottom of my left forearm that I need to give attention to.

- I have not stated this previously, but my eyes have seemed slightly dry for the past few years. This seems to have gotten worse on Accutane, especially starting about a month ago. My eyes are dry and bloodshot most of the time. I'm going to pick up some eye drops in hopes to remedy that, but I don't know how much good it will do.

- Nose still a pain in the but with dryness and bleeding occasionally.

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/24/2012 10:43 pm

Day 60:

 

Officially 2 months down! Today I picked up my prescription for more 60mg/day Clavaris. I'm quite glad they didn't change the brand on me again.crazy.gif I rather just have one brand and stick to it.

 

Well not that much new to report on, but I am too excited to be 2 months in to not post anything tongue.png

 

But still not really any new activity for the past 9-11 days, which I am extremely thankful for and was not expecting at all. It is SO amazing the difference in confidence and feelings about myself that has occurred over the past 2 months.

 

Updates:

- Lips have not been too bad for the past 4-5ish days, with the exception of continued splitting on my right corner of my mouth, but the peeling has been minimal. I dropped the bacitraycin and nivea lip balm and have just been applying Aquaphor frequently. My first tube is almost gone, so I've picked up another. As for the desonide ointment, I have only tried applying a small amount on the crack in the corner one night. It didn't seem to change anything. But the crack is very persistent and the wound reopens every morning when I open my mouth to eat breakfast.sad.png

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(@the-outfield)

Posted : 04/26/2012 2:44 pm

AHHHH

 

Smallish pimple on jaw line today. Well, made it about 11 days without one, so that's good.

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(@esa)

Posted : 04/26/2012 3:07 pm

A small pimple? It could be worse! Trust me.. haha. Glad it's going well for you man!

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(@Anonymous)

Posted : 05/04/2012 12:00 pm

Hey Brian! How are you doing? How is your course going so far?

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