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I hear you, do you have any family or friends who you can talk to counsel im sure they would make you feel better. In sure you have pent up emotions from fury,sadness to rage maybe you need aomeone to let it all out. I know that this is a traumatic incident to you and I heard acne around the chin jaw might be from enormous stress. I never had acne there, it all started when I got stressed about my overall complexion. For the yellow skin I might be talking out my butt,but it looks similar to what happens during chemical peels dead skin waiting to peel, in your case tazorac is a stronger form of retin a which causes rapid cell turnover. Hopefully this is the case and that skin peels as months go. Stay strong pal.
Well I'm about ready to go to the emergency room, my right eye is both numb feeling and sore and it looks like its drooping or the under brow inflammation is pressing on it,
the inner part of my nose went numb, more so on right side.
Whole foregead is numb feeling,
washed my face with cerave today and it went back to scorched dessert/burnt pavement, scratched up look...idk why..it hasn't been looking better but it wasn't this bad since when it first happened and now the skin on my nose is bunched up and clear and if I touch it, it goes red, I've got little sores all over it and else where...my skin looks so textured yet when you touch it, it is thin that it just pulls up like a tent with a million little folds...it's all over my cheeks too, Jesus Christ, I don't know what's happening to me...derm doesn't have appointment until 19th
i can't even use moisturizer or anything , I've got a cysts that came in on my cheek which are now sinking ins little crepey pit...the indentations are suddenly wider and deeper and look much more like actual scars now...WHAT IS GOING ON.
i don't know what to do anymore I really don't, !!!
Went to my old derm again because I couldn't wait for the 19th for the cosmetic derm (will still be keeping that appointment)..and he let it be known that he did not know whether my damage and reaction will end up being permanent or not.,.he said he doesn't want to "lie to me" and tell me that it will go away because he honestly doesn't know...he said all he can do is treat the acne part of the reaction (which has gotten quite bad/wide spread btw), that the best he can do is try not to jeopardize my skin further with topicals...so he only gave me a prescription grade moisturizer called hylatopic plus (if I'm remembering correctly)..I used it twice so far and it just sits and coats my skin...makes me itch like crazy..he also gave me cephalexin (Keflex) 500mg.
(Terms he used were perioral dermatitis, sebboreah, scales, discoloration, redness, inflammation...yet he separated these terms from some of what I am seeing and expressed desperate concern for..the color, the weakness, the texture and pores and dents and all that he spoke as if it was seperate from the dermatitis/etc and that it was unknown whether it would go away.)
I have a feeling the next step is accutane...and I know that my skin will never even have a chance at healing if I have to go on accutane again while it is in this current state.,.especially when according to many on this site, accutane causes the same exact damage that Retinoids and laser cause...ofcourse that was not even remotely the case for me the first time I used it...but my skin wasn't damaged then, it wasn't even dealing with a single issue besides isolated cysts....why do I have to have both!?!
I so wish it was just acne because then I would do accutane in a heartbeat but my skin is SO MESSED UP, and my acne is a secondary symptom, not the cause. (I expressed this to my derm and he mentioned the "chicken and the egg" ...as if it didn't matter which came first...but it DOES, in this scenario it absolutely does, this is a reaction and damage..my skin didn't do this on its own),
GOD KNOWSwhat accutane will do to it now....it looks so incredibly tough and sickly/dull discolored but it feels like microwaved jello! So incredibly weak. My underbrow and eyelids have also gotten increasingly worse and constantly look like someone pinched them, they are folding/creasing weird and my right eyelid is now sagging over onto my eye. Wtf.
Ive had ENOUGH.
I am incredibly sad but also PISSED.
what the FUCK is tazorac even doing on the market,
I might as well have purchased an ACTUAL bottle of paint thinner and used that on my face...probably would have been better off!!
Eyes getting really fucked up , or at least the skin around them is..I can see okay, feels like someone punched me in the eyes tho actually...feels like someone kicked in my entire face and then sprinkled itching powder all over it...for some reason I have been itchy more lately whereas before it was only a slight itch once in awhile, and mostly burning.
..I don't know if it's the Keflex or maybe the hylatopic plus..or maybe I would have continued to deteriorate anyway..,also the acne I'm getting is everywhere now, widespread and painful...slightly more painful than my entire facial skin itself...I feel and look like a monster...all I want is To recognize myself in the mirror...this has gone too far, I don't known why itsgetting worse when I don't even do anything to my skin...it's like it's not healing...it's just breaking down further...I don't get it
im incredibly uncomfortable both physically and mentally/emotionally From this ordeal...I want to jump outside my skin
if anyone had any further advice, I'd love to hear it...I also think that accutane is going to be suggested to me at my next follow up and I don't know what to do...I know my acne is a symptom ofthe reaction, maybe accutane would probably still get rid of it but it might also be the nail in the coffin for my other issues...which I consider far more devastating....but then I've also got to think about scarring..with my face in this state, and with the acne going mental...it's bound to happen even though naturally I'm not prone to scarring at all...so go on accutane and stop the acne and prevent acne scars...while also possibly making my other issues worse or ruining my chances at EVER Healing??? Idk
idl what to do
esp when I don't even have solid answers of what's actually going on with my skin:face
It's so strange that You've developedt this reaction after using zorac for only 2 times.
I've been using iton and off for years and although I agree that its a very strong retinoid and Ive also had some side effects from it (weird rash all over my face,very sensitive and dry skin,etc),those side effects only appeared if I would prolongmy treatment for longer than 6 months.
Can u tell me what does your skin look like right now and what products do you use?
And please don't worry,as a tazorac veteran (firstly used it in 2006) I can assure you that your skin will heal and get better.But unfortunetaly It takes time.
Oh and sorry for my english,I am polish,so eng isn't my first language;)
Unfortunately, I don't have much advice about the acne, but I would like to say that you are going through hell and will come out stronger for it. And really, forgive me for the ramble coming.
Like you, I've always had very pale, clear skin (but mine, honestly could take a beating that I regret ever doing to my face), and I got compliments on my skin. During college applications, I had a horrible breakout and practically felt the world stop. It was nowhere near yours, of course, but for me, I thought I was in hell. During my dip into Korean Beauty, I developed cystic acne for the first time and couldn't look at myself in the mirror until it healed. My strict skincare regimen hadn't done its job, and I was determined to find the right cocktail to make it work. Then, six months later, I got a new round of acne that was painful, "underground" whiteheads. There was so much going on in my life at the time that I couldn't even pick the cause. I couldn't even sleep from the pain. My depression and self-confidence only got worse, but as cheesy as it sounds, it is one of the best things that ever happened to me.
But while muddling through treatments, I realized that pimples didn't change me. If someone else had an opinion on my bumpy skin, they could go ahead, but I was still going to be me. Having pretty skin didn't make me any more authentic or that much happier because I wasn't ever satisfied. I chased a Instagram-approved, ring-light-version of me, and when it felt so far out of reach, I recognized how futile it was. As trivial as it may sound, my makeup stopped trying to meet somebody's standards of beauty, and I put on that highlight for myself.
8 hours ago, FezzesAreCool524 said:Unfortunately, I don't have much advice about the acne, but I would like to say that you are going through hell and will come out stronger for it. And really, forgive me for the ramble coming.
Like you, I've always had very pale, clear skin (but mine, honestly could take a beating that I regret ever doing to my face), and I got compliments on my skin. During college applications, I had a horrible breakout and practically felt the world stop. It was nowhere near yours, of course, but for me, I thought I was in hell. During my dip into Korean Beauty, I developed cystic acne for the first time and couldn't look at myself in the mirror until it healed. My strict skincare regimen hadn't done its job, and I was determined to find the right cocktail to make it work. Then, six months later, I got a new round of acne that was painful, "underground" whiteheads. There was so much going on in my life at the time that I couldn't even pick the cause. I couldn't even sleep from the pain. My depression and self-confidence only got worse, but as cheesy as it sounds, it is one of the best things that ever happened to me.I spent so long feeling inadequate. My cheeks weren't right, my nose had too many blackheads, my chin was too oily, etc. I was so desperate to fit certain ideals that I forgot my skin was even clear. I followed all of the rules, took care of my skin religiously, and even researched chemical interactions. When my doctor told me that, while the birth control was most likely the cause, my PCOS needed that pill, I felt like my world was crashing. I'd gone through so much stress and shit over the last year that I thought my life had fallen apart because I couldn't even have my skin anymore. I remember sitting in my doctor's office, explaining everything to her, and holding back tears.
But while muddling through treatments, I realized that pimples didn't change me. If someone else had an opinion on my bumpy skin, they could go ahead, but I was still going to be me. Having pretty skin didn't make me any more authentic or that much happier because I wasn't ever satisfied. I chased a Instagram-approved, ring-light-version of me, and when it felt so far out of reach, I recognized how futile it was. As trivial as it may sound, my makeup stopped trying to meet somebody's standards of beauty, and I put on that highlight for myself.Developing these imperfections made me see realize how trivial imperfections really are. Don't get me wrong. I have had my slipups. I was terrified that my prescription treatment would leave me this dry, peeling mess and would be immortalized in our holiday photos. I wondered what the hell I'd done in a past life for such a painful series of events to hit me so rapidly, but I also had the moments where I focused on my opinion instead of everyone else.You will heal. Maybe your skin will go back to what it was before, or maybe it won't. Your dedication to your skin is pretty clear, so I know you will find what it is best, even if you don't trust yourself. Give yourself time and, as stupid as this sounds, try to remember that your skin is only one part of you. Take some time away from your skin to focus on your overall health. I'd definitely suggest you approach your depression with your doctor. I can personally vouch for Wellbutrin.
I appreciate the point of view and for commenting here with your story and trying not to help me, I really do, but to be honest all I take away from what you said is " or maybe it won't".
Mental anguish is a symptom of the physical problem for me, not the other way around.
Its similar to the workings of acne I guess..many here treating the issue with topicals when they still haven't been able to get to the root of what is causing their acne in the first place.
If this goes away maybe I would need some freaking PTSD help because Iwill probably be frightened for the rest ofmy life of it ever happening again or that my skin somehow got changed forever on a deep cellular level and will nowbe reactive to every and anything, even if I avoid retinoids.
but that's about all that wouldever help with.
It's not like an eating disorder where it's the mind making the body ill.
My body is making my mind ill.
Or so some might say...especially at the mention of suicide, which I realize most will say is extreme.
But that's just the way I am.
Everyone's got their poison, and this is mine.
Id deal better with what most would consider far more devastating issues...like loss of a family member or something.
I can say that the only thing that would be worse than this for ME, personally, would be getting raped.
On December 13, 2016 at 7:13 AM, lukii said:It's so strange that You've developedt this reaction after using zorac for only 2 times.
I've been using iton and off for years and although I agree that its a very strong retinoid and Ive also had some side effects from it (weird rash all over my face,very sensitive and dry skin,etc),those side effects only appeared if I would prolongmy treatment for longer than 6 months.Can u tell me what does your skin look like right now and what products do you use?
And please don't worry,as a tazorac veteran (firstly used it in 2006) I can assure you that your skin will heal and get better.But unfortunetaly It takes time.
Oh and sorry for my english,I am polish,so eng isn't my first language;)
I don't understand why that happened.
away from the mirror when before my pores weren't even visible in a magnifying mirror.
8 hours ago, confused96 said:hey just wondering how things are going for you. Is your skin getting better with the passing of time?
Unfortunately not, I'm really struggling.
I will be seeing yet another dermatologist soon and I hope they can give me answers, otherwise I may be onmy own just hoping for a miracle.
Pics of My "old" skin...BEFORE the retinoid...looking at my old pics makes me sad......
UGH...WHY did I use the damned tazorac...WHY?? For a few spots??!!
Ikick myself everyday!!
I just want MY skin back.
First pic was literally days before using..you can kind of see couple of spots on forehead and nose I was trying to get rid off.(The darker spot is just a "beauty mark", still there now but less noticeable because the skin around itis all blotchy and textured instead of white)...but my skin quality was GREAT. The fuck. I hate this.
No makeup in any of these by the way, save lip gloss in a few, sorry for some I look disheveled even..and goofy faces..thank u for the censor bar app ..lol...ugh...my skin todaystill looks the same from the first pics I posted, the nose isn't as red as it was in that one pic from earliertho, but everything else is still there. The reddish yellow tinge to my entire face, darkening, pores, orange peel texture, my eye area and eyes messed up, no/slow healing, peachfuzz visibility enhanced to the max (I believe it is visible now because it's just showing up more against oddly textured and dicolored skin...Ihope it didn't actually grow..god), indentations/freaking linear dents in my forehead and a few Icepick looking things, etc etc etc, and moderate burning and/or light itching remains onand off, my face looks and feels absolutely sick...so uncomfortable physically and mentally...I'm being asked by people if I am seriously ill all because my skin...(caused dark circles and aging type effects too..look like zombie)
Godhelp me or just kill me already.
Im starting to get really angry that no derm can even help me or tell me exactly what is going on. (They goto school for 8+ years and for WHAT??? To play guessing games?? To experiment?? To ONLY know the difference between skin cancer and acne and when to diagnose either?? THATS IT???
What a lucrative occupation to be paid so much for!!
Well I guess if Iever get through this I know what career path I willbe turning into!!)
.....There's no way I'mthe only one this happened to in this entire state...plenty of people online complaining of the same reaction yet derm's don't know what to do with us.
WHY.
My last appointment was an absolute disaster...will type out that shit storm when I have the time....
again..these are BEFORES...idk why I even bother posting them...they can double as aftersfor Accuatane Again Iguess...maybe help someone....still can't believe THATdrug had no ill effect on me yet a retinoid did...
[pics removed/please private message to request]
On November 26, 2016 at 8:47 PM, VulneraryRain said:I hear you, do you have any family or friends who you can talk to counsel im sure they would make you feel better. In sure you have pent up emotions from fury,sadness to rage maybe you need aomeone to let it all out. I know that this is a traumatic incident to you and I heard acne around the chin jaw might be from enormous stress. I never had acne there, it all started when I got stressed about my overall complexion. For the yellow skin I might be talking out my butt,but it looks similar to what happens during chemical peels dead skin waiting to peel, in your case tazorac is a stronger form of retin a which causes rapid cell turnover. Hopefully this is the case and that skin peels as months go. Stay strong pal.
Did I never respond to this?
Im sorry if I'm repeat answering you.
I have no one besides my mother unfortunately and I don't live with her. No one really cares when it's not their face unfortunately. This is not a good problem to have it seems.
yea my skin looks like it should peel yet never does..little tiny random pieces sometimes but that's it
all the acne stuff seems to be because my skin is so ridiculously sensitive and fragile now that it blows up with "infection" from any slight touch or food getting on my face or something..I accidentally got some
salad dressing on the side of my mouth the other day and it burned like mad and got all red and irritated and two cysts came
about..not normal
thank you friend, I am trying!!
I guess people with perfect skin should never use retin A, it only works for people with bad or aged skin.
13 hours ago, Liz28 said:I guess people with perfect skin should never use retin A, it only works for people with bad or aged skin.
Yea I think if you've got good skin to begin with, it may do the exact opposite of what it's supposed to do. I didnt know enough to realize it wasn't for my small type of issue though unfortunately.
Ive talked to a few people who already have problem skin that are horrified by their results using retin a though as well, so it's hard to know for sure. It could make things worse even when you think your skin has already hit rock bottom.
But I will say that the majority of similar horror stories I read ARE from people who did not need it in the first place.
The thought that you could actually permanently ruin your skin with this stuff is just too much tho...ridiculous....I would implore others to make sure they really want to risk what they have "NOW" before attempting to use this stuff.
Last resort.
God...seeing my face littered with holes absolutely everywhere...how can this happen...how can this be my skin now....I've been sobbing all day...Someone please help me...Idk what to do...it's going to be 5 months soon and my skin has not improved one single bit...I can't take this much longer...I am so flipping desperate for answers
30 minutes ago, confused96 said:What didthe doctors tell you??
You mean my last appointment?
Thats a long story but it was a nightmare and I was pretty much suggested tazorac to use AGAIN (not that I was ever SUGGESTED it before, but obviously I USED it before and that's why I am here now)...and when I refused that for obvious reasons, microdermabrasion was put on the table...I refused that because common sense! My skin can't even take a daily washing with a gentle cleanser right now, micro derm will tear me apart. Like taking a weed whacker to jello. And there was nothing even wrong with my skin to begin with nor is there anything to exfoliate.
Btw This derm is the same derm who told me that tazorac was like paint thinner and threw it in the trash in front of my face and the same derm who told me to not use anything remotely exfoliating. She completely flip-flopped this time to the point that I thought I had entered the Twilight Zone.
Also the assistant thought I was SICK when I walked in. So apparently my assessment of looking like a zombie now is correct. This same assistant told me (when I started crying, saying "my skin texture and color changed completely") that it was "just aging hun".
I almost died.
Yea because people just age overnight!! I'm only 23 on top of it. Have always been mistaken for even younger. So that was insulting on several levels.
And that set me off for the whole appointment...waterworks uncontrollable (unlike the first visit where we were on the same page). By the END of it....the derm finally sighed and went and said "well maybe it's best to just do nothing, I don't think it's something that is irreversible, but I don't have a fast forward button, sorry" skin could take 6-9months to heal etc etc
so thats that, left in a mess, I was really expecting a good appointment since the first one with this derm went well...but i guess once a doctor's first plan of action doesn't work, the patient is to blame.
And I still don't know if she said what she said at the very end because I finally exhausted the truth out of her or if she was just eager to get a tearful patient off her hands.
I will write more in depth about that apt later but this should suffice for now.
Overall: no progress has been made, no real answers given, and the more time passes this way, the more hope I lose
46 minutes ago, moomoocow said:i went through the same thing with tretinoin and tazorac. It's basically a chronic inflammation induced by second degree burn. I ended up with bazillion clogged pores/milia and keloids after i quit those topical. smh facepalm
Oh shit, did it go away??
Well im guessing not the keloids, but the other stuff?
How long did it go on for if so? And did any derms help you out?
this sucks
its been over 2 years and my derms only wanted to prescribe me differin/tretinoin for clogged pores. They refuse to believe that my skin can't handle those medication *smh* Talk about incompetence.
I'm in exactly the same position regarding the large pores/'orange peel' texture and I'm only in my teens:/ and I've got a lot of scarring and a few pimples still. It's sadly been like this FOR 2 YEARS now. (It's not genetic btw) The large pores are on my forehead, t-zone cheeks, nose and chin. And they're humongous. Can literally see them metres away from me. And it's dreadful in daylight. I get upset about it so much. My skin was not like this, I used to have pore less skin just like you.
I was on duac at the time which I think contributed to this condition along with over exfoliating. Anyhow, I'm going to try Paula's Choice 10% niacinamide for my pores. I've heard it helps your skin texture go back to how it was before. If you try it let me know how it works. It's slightly on the pricey side but I want to see it if it lives up to the hype and expectations people have of this product. If it doesn't help, I guess I'll be going back to the doctor:(
Nvm
6 hours ago, H4nnz said:I'm in exactly the same position regarding the large pores/'orange peel' texture and I'm only in my teens:/ and I've got a lot of scarring and a few pimples still. It's sadly been like this FOR 2 YEARS now. (It's not genetic btw) The large pores are on my forehead, t-zone cheeks, nose and chin. And they're humongous. Can literally see them metres away from me. And it's dreadful in daylight. I get upset about it so much. My skin was not like this, I used to have pore less skin just like you.
I was on duac at the time which I think contributed to this condition along with over exfoliating. Anyhow, I'm going to try Paula's Choice 10% niacinamide for my pores. I've heard it helps your skin texture go back to how it was before. If you try it let me know how it works. It's slightly on the pricey side but I want to see it if it lives up to the hype and expectations people have of this product. If it doesn't help, I guess I'll be going back to the doctor:(
Hey, I replied to your other post.
I plan to keep Updating and hopefully you do the same. I will be going to yet another derm on the 2nd of Feb. I'd be interested to know what a doctor would say about your skin as well for surely they wouldn't dare blame it on aging given how young you are.
and I can tell from your pics that something has gone wrong and it's not just genetic.
may I ask if you take any other medications?, how's your sun exposure? And do you have any other medical/health issues/concerns??
ive read about some people wondering if autoimmune disorders are involved and that's why we aren't healing...but idk, I don't have any to my knowledge
another common theme I see is that many experiencing this used the product during a time of extreme stress...does that apply to you at all??
sorry for all the questions, just really curious
On 12/12/2016 at 3:28 AM, BrokenPorEcelain said:Eyes getting really fucked up , or at least the skin around them is..I can see okay, feels like someone punched me in the eyes tho actually...feels like someone kicked in my entire face and then sprinkled itching powder all over it...for some reason I have been itchy more lately whereas before it was only a slight itch once in awhile, and mostly burning.
..I don't know if it's the Keflex or maybe the hylatopic plus..or maybe I would have continued to deteriorate anyway..,also the acne I'm getting is everywhere now, widespread and painful...slightly more painful than my entire facial skin itself...I feel and look like a monster...all I want is To recognize myself in the mirror...this has gone too far, I don't known why itsgetting worse when I don't even do anything to my skin...it's like it's not healing...it's just breaking down further...I don't get itim incredibly uncomfortable both physically and mentally/emotionally From this ordeal...I want to jump outside my skin
if anyone had any further advice, I'd love to hear it...I also think that accutane is going to be suggested to me at my next follow up and I don't know what to do...I know my acne is a symptom ofthe reaction, maybe accutane would probably still get rid of it but it might also be the nail in the coffin for my other issues...which I consider far more devastating....but then I've also got to think about scarring..with my face in this state, and with the acne going mental...it's bound to happen even though naturally I'm not prone to scarring at all...so go on accutane and stop the acne and prevent acne scars...while also possibly making my other issues worse or ruining my chances at EVER Healing??? Idk
idl what to do
esp when I don't even have solid answers of what's actually going on with my skin:face
Accutane is NOT the answer - it will destroy you! Research it for you own sake. Just look at the thread 'repairing longterm damage from accutane.