Please help on my questions 

Hi Rosemary,

1) My doc asks me to only apply on the affected areas but not the whole face, why? Should i apply it on my whole face?
It's easy to think that more frequent and heavier usage will improve things at a faster pace, but that really is not necessarily true. I think most would say to follow your doctors instructions, but if you do feel the need to apply it to your entire face at least do it a bit at a time to monitor any change. I must admit that I couldn't help myself and I disregarded the instructions for only using Differin thinly in the evening. In that case there was no consequences other than drier skin for a longer time (which in my case was the intention), but looking back now it would've been better to back to my doctor to discuss that if it's maybe not working to my satisfaction as instructed, perhaps a different approach would be better.

2) Should I take Tetralyal along with differin as prescribed?
You already treat your skin with 3 different products, if you feel that is not enough and the improvement is not there, I would say go and speak to your doctor again to discuss things. Everybody needs to find the right treatment for them which requires regular monitoring of which of the treatments is actually working. One thing that always concerns me is when I hear people use multiple treatments together, sometimes combinations are effective and that's fine, but to me it's best to get to the root cause and then target that with the appropriate product, which can require 'trial and error'. I'm not keen on throwing a load things at your face at once, locking yourself into routines that control your life - and may actually make no real difference at all - and starting to believe that you absolutely can only use X, Y and Z, only in a certain order, and only at specific times.

For years I was prescribed different things, I was initially given an antibiotic, then after many months I was given a different antibiotic, then later a topical lotion, all of them combined with a face-wash several times a day, and over the course of several years none of it really made any difference; and because it's what you're given by your doctor you just run with it and hope that it'll eventually work. Once I finally plucked up the courage to go back to my doctor and basically break down and plead for something to prevent my acne, not just treat it, I was prescribed roaccutane. Within a few weeks my skin was so clear and I was absolutely shocked how obvious it was that my acne was the result of excessive oil and not any kind of bacterial problem, yet I had spent years taking things that made little to no difference.

3) Is it true that there must be a purging period on differin? 
Different products affect different people in different ways. Any dryness or redness could be a natural reactionary purge, or it could just be the Differin getting to work quickly. I would say my use of Differin was reasonably good, I never experienced a noticeable purge or initial breakout when using it, but I've read that others have, so it's a unknown really. I used it for about a year and it absolutely helped, and during the good times my skin was clear for frequent periods. However, I found it not completely effective and if I missed using it or washing my face just once, then within a couple of days I would develop a few red lumps. In the last month or so I happened to visit my doctor for another issue and mentioned that the Differin was OK but was there anything else. As I knew my problem was with oily skin, my doctor suggested Epiduo which contains the same 0.1% adapalene but also contains benzoyl peroxide which is essentially a de-greaser. It works amazingly well, it's easier to use than the Differin gel, I don't need to use as much, and I can miss the odd day or night with no consequences at all. For me the results are like roaccutane but the dryness is far less.

I would like to update my post to share with you guys as I feel like I cant do this alone. I am diagnosed with trivial depression last year. ( not because of acne) I have a several times of mental breakdown when my skin turned bad. I cried my eyes out and took picture of my face everyday to check if more comes up the day after. I have started to avoid people and stuff, only focusing on academics. Yes, it turns out that my GPA is high but I feel empty inside. Sharing gives me courage and strenth as I know that there are people like me fighting acne together, that I am not alone.

Not only are there people like you fighting acne, there are A LOT of people like you. Even people who get a few odd spots on their face can feel down and withdrawn because of it, so what you feel is not alien to most people. The important thing to remember is that this is the present, not the future... things DO get better. You are taking steps to treat your skin health, you should also take steps to treat your mental health as well. That can be anything from talking to a counsellor to the simple act of leaving yourself reminder notes with positive messages.

Don't settle for 'a bit better', keep visiting your doctor until you get 'a lot better'.

Don't get down, get positive, and stay positive.

Thank you for replying!! I will def consult my doc on the next visit!! Really appreciate that you actually commented and answered and read through such a long passage  Thanks again

No problem, good luck.

And keep updating and/or start a blog. Not getting a reply immediately doesn't mean that people aren't reading it - it may help others in the same position and it can act as a catharsis for you as well.

Week 2

Don't know whether somebody will actually read this or not, I am going to keep updating this blog as this keeps me positive and less stressed out.

My face right now:

Allergic reaction on my left cheek is gone but is starting to grow on my right cheek and above my lips. Tiny red bumps appearing. Keep applying the hydroderma cream.

Forehead bump looks irritated and larger. Red in color and become more obvious. Acne with pus starts to grow, around 3 right now along with many red bumps.
Peeling starts to occur, not feeling too dry, so it is acceptable. However,I keep getting this itchy feeling from the bumps on my forehead, is it normal?

Revisiting my derm on friday, hope that he can shed some light on this situation.

Thank you for whoever read this. Clear skin to all of us!

If you start a member blog instead of updating this thread, you can follow and leave comments for others and have them follow you as well - it might feel more like you are part of a community facing the same issues?

Oh thanks! I haven't checked out that section of this website.