Hi all

Im new to the forums and would appreciate any of your advice or guidance. Ive been on erythromycin since April for recurring acne (pustules mostly on my chin/nose area). Prior to that I'd been on doxycycline from February but it'd made me feel quite ill. I feel mostly fine on the erythromycin apart from a gut flora imbalance (which Im trying to manage).

I know antibiotics arent great and kill good bacteria and I was apprehensive about using them but the acne has really been getting me down and affecting my confidence etc. I seem to have breakouts in almost a monthly cycle with around one week where my skin effectively begins to clear up. But the pustules always return. It got to the stage where my skin wasnt having enough time to heal before the next breakout so it became almost permanent.

Ive tried so many therapies and alternative treatments and remedies! Antibiotics were a last resort and they appeared to work at first, with less pustules and clearing them up quicker. But this month theyve increased again and dont seem to be clearing up as quick. I never wanted to stay on antibiotics long-term but my GP told me that they sometimes keep people on them for a year and more! I sort of loathe going to my GP about it because they dont seem to think it's a big deal. Although I dont have large pimples everywhere, I still feel uncomfortable with the pustules on my chin! Ive pretty oily skin too, probably overactive sebaceous glands, which started around 2005. The only good thing is that I dont really have any lines or wrinkles yet (Im almost 34) but Id almost rather have them than recurring pustules :-/

Anyway, the fact Im still having breakouts implies the anitbiotics arent very effective so...are there any other treatments you've had success using? Could this be hormonal or something else? Ive tried diet changes before without lasting results. The only other thing I can think of is stress as a cause? I went for a session of laser treatment in 2005 and it was a few months afterwards that my skin became excessively oily skin in 2005 - not sure if that's was just a coincidence or the laser somehow triggered the sebaceous glands to go into overdrive!

thanks

J

If you were to ask me, I'd say stop antibiotics. They will work great, clear you up, but you will soon become immune to them and they won't work after like 7months or so.

Erythomycin is a pretty weak antibiotic for acne and a lot of people have not had success with it. Go for either Minocycline or Doxycyline if you want to get cleared up. I have the same issue as you and I think my biggest mistake was going on antibiotics because they destroy your gut flora and you get sensitive to anything with sugar in it.

I know these pustules are very annoying but if you are really desperate then id say go for antibiotics. If not, I'd say stay away from them and take a really good probiotic with Bragg's apple cider vinegar+ water twice daily. Also, I found a person here who had severe pustules around his mouth too but after using Epiduo he got clear in a few days and in 2 weeks did not have any new pustules. Hes been clear for months now. I am planning to try out Epiduo soon but before that I will try the apple cider vinegar treatment I guess.

I know these pustules are very annoying but if you are really desperate then id say go for antibiotics. If not, I'd say stay away from them and take a really good probiotic with Bragg's apple cider vinegar+ water twice daily. Also, I found a person here who had severe pustules around his mouth too but after using Epiduo he got clear in a few days and in 2 weeks did not have any new pustules. Hes been clear for months now. I am planning to try out Epiduo soon but before that I will try the apple cider vinegar treatment I guess.

I got severe pustular acne around my chin and mouth after quitting antibiotics and used Epiduo as well. It worked extremely well for me and I was 95% clear for months with just some small manageable pustules here and there. It did take a couple months to fully kick in for me though; sounds like your friend was a lucky guy! But it is also one of those things that you have to keep up every day. For me, I had to put it on in a thin layer all over my face, even in places with no active pimples, because the doctor said the life cycle of a pimple is a few weeks. But be careful with this stuff, I'm currently trying to wean off of it because unfortunately it's giving me eye problems. Of course.

Thanks for your advice Silverlight22 Havent heard of Epiduo so will definitely give that a go. Waiting to see how August goes on the antibiotics; if I get another breakout this month Im making an appt to see my GP. Feels a bit exhausting sometimes trying all these things and waiting! Fingers crossed!

J

 

I know these pustules are very annoying but if you are really desperate then id say go for antibiotics. If not, I'd say stay away from them and take a really good probiotic with Bragg's apple cider vinegar+ water twice daily. Also, I found a person here who had severe pustules around his mouth too but after using Epiduo he got clear in a few days and in 2 weeks did not have any new pustules. Hes been clear for months now. I am planning to try out Epiduo soon but before that I will try the apple cider vinegar treatment I guess.

I got severe pustular acne around my chin and mouth after quitting antibiotics and used Epiduo as well. It worked extremely well for me and I was 95% clear for months with just some small manageable pustules here and there. It did take a couple months to fully kick in for me though; sounds like your friend was a lucky guy! But it is also one of those things that you have to keep up every day. For me, I had to put it on in a thin layer all over my face, even in places with no active pimples, because the doctor said the life cycle of a pimple is a few weeks. But be careful with this stuff, I'm currently trying to wean off of it because unfortunately it's giving me eye problems. Of course.