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Hi all!
I have been on Tazorac for 9 weeks now (every night).
The first 4 weeks were brutal, with more breakouts than usual (pustules).
Now from week 5 to now, I have been getting consistent pustules/ whiteheads? These are generally on the smaller side and they just keep appearing in random areas of my cheek, jaw, and chin regions. Literally, I see 3-6 new ones start to bud in the morning, and by late afternoon, the budding has evolved into a genuine, disgusting pustule/ whitehead. Days I am lucky, they will wash off that night, but usually they wash off or scab off the next morning. However, new ones take their place.
Now my question is... is this still considered purging? From weeks 5 to right now, they are so consistent I can pretty much expect that it'll be there every single day. Some days, they get pretty bad, with 6-8 on one cheek.
For Tazorac users, is this a normal purge cycle? (again... consistently, it's not just a one week thing).
Thank you for reading! Please share your thoughts!
(Oh, by the way, I have consistent moderate/ severe acne. My dermatologist says I have "micro-cystic acne" and that he recommends accutane if tazorac does clear and keep me cleared)
Hey, I appreciate the reply. Thank you. I still have 17 days till I hit 3 months and I've been getting the same purge/ re-clear cycle (currently on the re-clear cycle). We shall see! I think I'll give it till 15~ weeks for this to work before I decide to go with accutane.
The 0.1% gel!
I got no irritation, peeling, or redness from the gel starting from about week 6. it's definitely working because if I apply to whiteheads, they are gone in the morning... but these whiteheads/ pustules literally grow from nothing to SOMETHING by late afternoon!
The 0.1% gel!
I got no irritation, peeling, or redness from the gel starting from about week 6. it's definitely working because if I apply to whiteheads, they are gone in the morning... but these whiteheads/ pustules literally grow from nothing to SOMETHING by late afternoon!
Hm, well then I'm not sure. I guess agree with others who say to stick it out for awhile. I think I remember my sister purging for a long time on tazorac.
The 0.1% gel!
I got no irritation, peeling, or redness from the gel starting from about week 6. it's definitely working because if I apply to whiteheads, they are gone in the morning... but these whiteheads/ pustules literally grow from nothing to SOMETHING by late afternoon!
Hm, well then I'm not sure. I guess agree with others who say to stick it out for awhile. I think I remember my sister purging for a long time on tazorac.
Thanks! I am! I am being patient because I know accutane is always going to be an option.
Thanks! I am! I am being patient because I know accutane is always going to be an option.
This is just my $0.02, so take it for what it's worth to you.
I wouldn't go on Accutane unless your acne is physically painful--whenever you smile, lightly touch your face, sleep on your side at night, etc.--and/or disfiguring. If you're not developing scars from acne, I wouldn't go the Accutane route; it's some serious stuff--and I don't mean that in a positive way. (See the thread in this forum about a fellow member still dealing with the fallout from Accutane use: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/295030-repairing-the-long-term-damage-from-accutane/ ).
I once tried the lowest possible dose of Accutane 20 years ago and lasted just one week on it, as it caused me to have pain in my abdominal muscles at night. (I couldn't sleep because my muscles felt oddly tense at the slightest movement.) My then-derm. took me right off it, theorizing that I was experiencing an unusual side effect.
Best of luck in whatever you decide to do. 
