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I've had acne since I was ten. That was about six years ago, when it was mild and I wasn't bothered by it.I went to the dermatologist when I was about twelve, and he prescribed me Epiduo. Then about a year later I went on Adapalene, which I used until I was 14, which was when I started to get into K-Beauty. I dropped Adapalene and started buying skincare from Korean brands. I loved it; it was fun and I spent a lot of money on products. It made my skin soft and smooth and I didn't really have as much as a problem with acne. Then I did the play, and my skin started to break out more. (Possibly because of all the makeup.) My dermatologist put me on Retin-A and minocycline, since I'd already tried Epiduo and Adapalene.
Retin-A ruined my skin. I started to get these hard red pimples that took forever to go away, and I kept getting more. My skin looked horrible. It was like that for five months, until I finally decided to go off it because it was just making it worse. (By that time, I was done with my minocycline trial, and was on birth control for acne.)I kept waiting for it to get better, but it didn't. I was devastated. It seems to work for literally everybody else but me. And it wasn't just the "purge," either; the purge doesn't last almost six months.
When I went off Retin-A, I just used Differin. There was a huge improvement once I stopped taking Retin-A. Differin didn't help my skin that much, though; it looked okay, but no better than it had been before Retin-A. I still got acne but just didn't want to try Retin-A again. Then I went on prescription Adapalene again, which didn't make much of a difference.
I'm still not happy with my skin, so my dermatologist prescribed me Tazorac. I'vebeen using it now for about a month. It was great for the first three weeks, but this week I started breaking out in the same way I did with Retin-A. Hard redpainful pimples that itch and make me sad to look at.
I don't know why my skin reacts like this to tretinoin. It's really discouraging. I have no idea what else to do. My derm wouldn't prescribe Accutane the last time I went, so I'm guessing he won't this time, either. I have an appointment in a week.
I'm so depressed about my skin. I hate it and I just want to get rid of acne. I've dealt with it for such a long time. So my reason for writing this is:
1. Has anyone else had a similar situation?
2. What should I do now?
(P.S. This is my skincare routine:
Morning: Banila Co. Zero Purity Cleansing Balm; GM Collin Sensitive Skin Cleanser; Avene Skin Recovery Cream
Night: Banila Co. Zero Purity Cleansing Balm; GM Collin Sensitive Skin Cleanser; Tazorac; Avene Skin Recovery Cream)
You most likely now have fungal acne, not ordinary acne. Treatments for ordinary acne cause fungal acne and they make it worse.
Itchiness is a sign of fungal acne, as are painful/pimples cysts. Doctors know nothing about fungal acne and they wil never diagnose it.
Fungal acne is caused by taking antibiotics, possibly by taking accutane, and by taking some other meds
If you get back to me with answers to the following questions I can provide information that should solve your acne problem - fungal acne is safely and cheaply treated with topical antifungal creams.
Do you have one or more of - dandruff, a white tongue, flaking skin, toenail fungus, sinus problems ?
In the meantime, do NOT use any moisturisers or organic oils on your skin - fungus LOVES moistures and one type of fungus that causes fungal acne FEEDS on organic oils.
I look forward to hearing back from you
Aussie Scientist,
Thank you so much for your reply!
I do not have dandruff, white tongue, toenail fungus, etc. My skin is sort of flaking, however, but I was thinking it might have been because of the Tazorac. Now I'm not so sure. I looked up pictures of fungal acne and it looks pretty similar to mine.
Also I forgot to mention this in my original post, but the only place on my face that's having problems is my cheeks. My forehead and chin, etc. are totally clear. That has improved drastically since starting tretinoin.
Thanks Ammon
The itchness and hard pimples do imply that your acne is caused by fungus, rather than by bacteria (although I note you do not have dandruff etc).
Given that topical antifungal creams are totally safe, and that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by applying them, I would buy some topical clotrimazole antifungal cream (often sold as Canesten) and apply it to the affected areas. 2-3 times a day. Topical clotrimazole cream is totally safe.
Clotrimazole cream is very likely to fix your problem. However, if you wish and you can get it without a prscription, you can also buy some topical terbenafine antifungal cream (often sold as Lamisil) and apply that together with the clotrimazole cream. Topical terbenafine cream is also totally safe
I would stop using the Tazorac, as it is likely to be breaking down your skin barrier and allowing the fungus to invade.
Do NOT use any moisturisers or organic oils on your skin, as these will feed the fungus.
I am happy to hear how things go with the antifungal creams.