Okay guys I thought I'd update as well. I haven't gotten any new pimples in almost 2 weeks now! that is such an improvement. I even accidentally wore makeup to bad after a long night of partying and I didn't wake up with any new pimples on my face. ah this is awesome! stick with this drug, it gets so much better after a while. I am on my 7th package I think? yes, just awesome.

oh & I am 100% clear.

Update: 6 days into month 4

I can't even tell if im improving?! I know i'm definitely better than before. A lot of my previous breakouts are clearing up! A lot of my under the skin bumps on my forehead turned into pimples. But I can still see quite a bit. This whole acne journey is not fun though! Today I woke up feeling okay, thinking my face was improving. Then BAM! A nice under the skin bump/pimple forming on my left cheek! Didn't even see it coming!

And without makeup my face is a mess. So many red spots from where pimples were and where pimples are.

Goof..what happened to your under the skin bumps??

And Laura I'm so happy Ur 100% clear, that's pretty much what we all dream about. How was your month 4?

umm in month 4 my face wasn't always clear. I'd have a couple days where I'd be clear but then break out again and then clear up for a little bit. it was a rocky ride man. but yeah, still perfectly clear skin and it's been that way for a while now. like seriously the pills are working so well now, and I also think since I've also been using a custom form of dan's regimen it's been helping too.

I know I've updating a lot, but I have to vent somewhere, because no one else seems to really get it.

Update: 10 pills into my 4th pack. Definitely not clear yet. I'm better than before, but who knows if I'll break out again

-I have two active pimples on my chin, not massive but they kinda hurt, an under the skin one I can feel but it's not visible.."yet". One under the skin one on my left cheek. New little bumps on my cheeks, 1 pimple on forehead, and still plenty of those incredibly annoying bumps, that seem to never go away...I've had them for sooo long(months, almost a year).

I've seriously became depressed cuz of the frustration of never having nice skin! I hate washing my face because it hits me with how much more work needs to be done in order to be clear. I especially hate getting ready and putting make up on!! Its upsetting. My ultimate goal, is to be comfortable with no make up on! Even tho at the moment, I'm not even comfortable with make up on!

You know what's frustrating..I recently seen my doctor, and I told her I've been on the pill for 3 months now with no results. Her reply was that the pill should be fully into my system by now and If I hadn't seen any improvements yet, I most likely won't!...but I told errrr that I'd had to stop them incase they're just about to work. So I continued the pills. My face isn't terrible, but it's def not clear! My doc also prescribed my 3 months of doxycycline, I haven't even attempted to get them yet, i don't want to just yet, because of my face starts getting better I won't know the cause, whether it be the Diane or the doxy. What do u guys think? Think I should continue the pill without the doxy or do both?

Hey guys... Been a long time since I posted...

Ferrara, I took Dianette for 3 months (You may have seen my earlier posts) And the doctor said the same thing to me. I didn't want to go through it anymore, because I felt relaly depressed with my skin. I didn't think it would workfor me at all... But people have been through it and then they have seen improvements after (liek Laura) so i guess it's just upto you. I quit because I couldn't feel like it any longer and well, i guess im a quitter. Lol.

But, i am glad i didn't carry on because although im not happy with my skin, i feel so much better. Acne cant be cured overnight (Unfortunately...) so i kinda feel like im facing the aftermath of it. I dont know if you're aware but im now taking Lymecycline which is an antibiotic, one capsule a day. it's been 5 weeks and i've definitely seen an improvement in my skin. I havent had a big painful spot since taking these, but dont get me wrong ive had little ones - obviously its gonna take time. When i was on dianette i had huge painful under the skin bumps, all over my face, it was horrible. I also had tiny little flesh lumps all over my face.

<- Tis was while i was on Dianette, but this was my NICE side of face. My other one was hideous with big painful ones. This was with foundation on..

and this is now... 5 weeks into my antibiotic (1 a day) and also i use Duac Gel at night time. As you can see from the bottom pictures, my right cheek has a lot of marks because that is where i broke out badly on Dianette. but they are marks, not spots. top pictures, most of my little bumps have gone!! (i am wearing foundation in all of the pics)

(eww at my sore lips!) haha, winter sucks... but very pleased with my progress so far

Hi everyone, here is my report after three months.

Right now (and it has been like this for the past 2 weeks), I am completely clear. Things started improving at the end of month 2, and from then on just got better and better. I am not sure what did the trick, since as far as I remember when I took Diane back when I was 22, it did not work this fast. i am guessing it might be because of Accutane course I was on 2 years ago that Diane now kicked in much faster and with better results.

I also did antibiotics (Doxy) last winter and they kicked in after like 4 months, so Diane def. beats that, at least in my case.

I must point out that even on Accutane I did not see improvement until month 5 (almost the end of my course), but also I had zero oil, whereas now I am still oily (a little less though), but no active acne at all (only red marks from terrible initial breakout at the end of month1 on Diane) and my pores still have some junk inside when I try to squeeze (but there are no raised bumps or anything).

If thing stay like this or continue to improve, I will soon start considering scar/red mark treatments (chem. peels). When i was on Accutane I could not do any of those because after 5 months when you are allowed to start these procedures I started to break out again.

So, what I think i figured out by now is that if you do not see more improvement by say month 6 or if you are still breaking out, you should definitely consider going on Accutane first, and then if acne comes back, try with Diane or antibiotics.

I have some pictures I took to document the progress which I am going to post soon.

Hang in there and tell us of your progress. All the best

Hey there!

Haha so I've pretty much read this entire log and it seems I have some kindred spirits out there! Thanks for sharing your whole journey with this and for everyone's pictures at whatnot. It feels good to find that I am not alone! I just made my account now because after a couple years of perusing the site I figured it was time to commit, and maybe some of my insight can help some fellow Diane users out! Anyway. I developed moderate acne when I was about 14, and I have been on and off Diane35 since around 16 (I am 22 years old now). What I can say is that for me at least IT WORKS! I honestly don't know how I ever allow myself to go off it - I've stopped taking Diane after months of consistent use three times, and I am currently a couple weeks into my fourth start up. By about the 4-5 months mark in my experience my skin has been flawless. Like, legit perfect (and now I am really scared I'm going to jinx it!) and people will consistently compliment my complexion. I'll get the occasional pimple here and there when I have a weekend of drinking and/or less than stellar eating habits, or if I get really stressed, but my skin is consistently anywhere from very good to basically without imperfection. Which is depressing the shit out of me cause right now it's sooo horrible! This, however, can also be expected because I have noticed that every time I start up again I break out, but then again I always start up again after a couple of months off when things start to go downhill again.

So, to break it down my basic Diane cycle has gone:

-Skin is looking great and I start to wonder if I have just passed that "hormonal teenage phase" and I decide to go off. (The only reason that I don't want to be on it is that I find it way harder to build muscle/ get muscle definition, which is for looks, but also because I am a varsity athlete, and I just always feel like the fewer drugs I need to be putting into my system the better)

-For a month or two my skin stays totally fine to great and I am lulled into a false sense of security

-My skin and hair get increasingly oilier til I have lots of breakouts so I go on Diane again

-Have a HUGE breakout (a couple weeks in) where I barely feel up to leaving the house and curse the me of the past who had the brilliant idea to go off Diane

-I continue to break out for a couple months, but never as badly as the first month - I am having trouble remembering, but I feeeel like I have noticed it taking less time to become effective in the times I have started up again since the original start up (where I CLEARLY remember it not really coming to fruition until five months in)

-By about four months skin looks fantastic (feels way too cocky to say, and knock on wood)

I try to wash my face before bed every night (nights out on the town can definitely throw a wrench in the skin-care regime) and I also use Tazorac - a topical cream, but I find that I don't really need it once the Diane has kicked in. I have gone on and off antibiotics as well. I am definitely a picker as well - I find it's like a downward spiral where once I start I can't stop! But when on Diane more often than not I will pick because I am bored, and most of the time the only reason I'll wind up with a blemish that requires concealer is if I start picking at something that's not even really there at the start. I trryyy to wash my face straight away after exercising or if I get all sweaty for some reason, but honestly when I've been well into the Diane regime I can get away with being a bit careless on all fronts. For makeup and sunscreen I am laughably paranoid about only using hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic products, and most days I'll use a dual-action sunscreen/moisturizer/light foundation (love Almay) and those concealers with salicylic acid in them (Almay is my go to there again). But NOTHING has been as effective as Diane 35: I definitely think all these things help to maintain and promote good skin, but they have definitely not worked for me on their own.

Right now my skin is absolutely brutal! It's horrible. I went off Diane back in September when in Boston for a few weeks after a hotel maid threw out my pack, so I was forced off until I got back to the great white north, and just didn't start again cause things were going well for a bit. Pretty quickly I did notice that my nose pores were getting really clogged - nothing that would be noticeable without a magnifying mirror. Then my skin started to get a lot more oily, and my hair too. So then finally a couple weeks ago I started to get a bit of a flare up and went back on, and now BOOM I am back to being a bit of a mess It's annoying because it always seems like there are so many factors that could be contributing to each break out that you can't be sure exactly where you're going wrong! I have been having a ton of trouble sleeping, I'm in the middle of exams, I have been negligent with my eating habits and water consumption for the last bit. But it seems like everything is just coming up to the surface, and I kind of expected as much.

These are pictures from being on Diane, and I am wearing little to no makeup in both. I'm the goofball on the left.

So, after this rambling monster post, I think the main point I am trying to make is that it sucks having to be patient, and it might seem like things are getting worse or just staying the same, but it is so worth it to just stick it out! At least for 4-5 months because less than that and you might be denying yourself the reward that you are maybe only a week or two away from seeing. Also, I would caution anyone who is on it for a while with good results and then considers going off it for no other reason than that you think perhaps you don't need it anymore to really think about it. I know that I trick myself into it, but every time I wind up here, 1 in the morning on acne discussion boards trying to find the best way to zap an initial flare up ASAP and thinking I'd rather be squishy with clear skin.

I hope that you all are having success and I look forward to seeing more updates!

Don't have much of an update except on Sunday I did get a pimple on my cheek but I put some bp on it and it literally was gone like an hour later. :/ I am puzzled.. I've never had that before.

But today I am 100% clear again and feeling fantastic. I am almost done package # 7.

Hey everyone! Wooooww it's been a minute since I've been on here...glad to see other people are joining in on the fun So it's been awhile since I updated, was coming on here kinda bummed to tell you guys that it hasn't been easy these last couple weeks...but then I read everyone's posts and now I feel somewhat better! Laura, it's good to know that you still had ups and downs in month 4. I just finished month 4 and am STILL breaking out, so frustrating! It sounds exactly like you said - i'll be clear for a little while, but then all of a sudden BAM breakouts out of no where. Grrr! So yea, i'm def still struggling...I can't wait for month 5 and hope that its better. I keep saying that, but I guess my patience is just running out and I'm getting nervous this might not be for me

Someone asked me what happened to the tiny under the skin bumps...good question! I still have a few, but most of them either disappeared or turned into pimples and got out that way. Sadly, a lot of them did turn into pimples though. Probably didn't help that I'm a picker...but actually a lot of them disappeared quickly after I extracted the clogged pore. Unfortuntely sometimes when I try to do that it just pushes it further into my skin and infects in, causing a huge pimple! Gah, you just never know which way it's gonna go.

My face is still getting smoother each day, when I don't have a hideous breakout mind you I feel like most of the under the skin stuff has finally come out and the breakouts I do get seem to be more manageable.

*UPDATE ON ERYTHROMYCIN

So I told you guys I loved the Ery gel i was prescribed...but I'm not so sure about the Ery tablets! Since I started taking them about a month ago, I really haven't seen any improvement at all. I'm kinda lazy about taking them now because they don't seem to be working really. Kinda bummed, it got great reviews on here and seemed to clear people up pretty quickly.

Skin Status:

- just getting over a huge breakout, so tons of scars from that...face looks horrible without makeup, but not too shabby with

- 1 big under the skin fucker that's been looming there for ages...won't come to a head so I can't pop it, but it hurts! Grrr

- 2 small pimples on forehead

- 4 popped pimples (from previous breakout) that are scabbed over and peeling off

Hi all, i'm just started taking Diane 35 also and almost finish the 1st pack (only left 2 pill). i'm 21 now, start having acne maybe on 19 years old beacuse of my irregular period that cause hormanal imbalance. My gynecologist recommended me this pill to regulated my period, she said this pill also will cure my acne.. but i noticed my face got worse after two weeks consume this pill. Before this i have acne but not so many like now... i'm very depressed and started browsing Diane 35 review then found this forum,I've finally understand the pill make u worse before getting better... i've read and liked all your post, give me a courage. Thanks

But i still not confident to walk outside with many red pimples on my face.. T.T.. It's still a long time for me to see the result... I really hope it will get better by middle of January coz i have a party to attend. With big acne it's hard to cover it because of uneven skin... haizzz.. so discourages to know that normally will take around 4-5 month to see the result..

May i know can we use foundation to cover our acne, will it get worse??? I really dun wanna go work everyday with face full of acne.. any suggestion what brand foundation u use that will not cause acne worsen??

@krist: did you experience any initial breakout at all with your antibiotics?

@goof: ah my month 4 has been the same! I have 6 pills left in it and than the 7 day break! I don't have crazy breakouts..there's just Always pimples coming in..and the little bumps on my forehead seem to be taking a long to go away!

I'm so sick of acne!!! I just wanna wash my face and not be disgusted with how I look after to have to stress about covering pimples.

I really hope tht pack#5 shows better results..even tho really when I start pack #5..it's only been 4 full months!

I'm still nervous about taking the doxy..im thinking that maybe it will help clear me up until the Diane fully kicks in but I don't wanna breakout after the antibiotics run out..ugh decisions...

Pack #4: not clear, not terrible,

-3 recovering pimples on chin

-1 new one coming in on chin

-1 new tiny one coming in on right cheek

-quite a bit of the under the skin forehead bumps still

@Ferrara and goof: I know exactly how you feel about just being so sick of acne. Sucks just waiting and hoping that whatever your latest product/method is going to work. Just stick in there because you're heading right into the time where most people really start to see results with Diane 35!

I'm getting toward the end of my first month back on Diane, and while the initial breakout has been pretty horrible it seems like as the original breakout is starting to ebb it isn't being replaced with as big or deep pimples. So that seems good! I'm expecting a couple more months of breakouts, but hoping nothing as dramatic as the initial breakout, which has given me a couple of those really deep, headless pimples that just drive me crazy.

BUT - that's actually what the main point of this post is about! In searching for remedies for blind pimples online I ended up looking through some discussions about boils and cysts, because I was looking for how to deal with a pimple that doesn't seem to be healing or coming to a head. I was really surprised to keep finding that people were recommending applying Vicks Vapor Rub to the boil/cyst. So since I had some of this stuff around I put some on last night, and lo and behold in less than an hour two of the blind guys had started to come to a head, and the other two had just gotten a lot smaller and less tender. I reapplied and this morning all of them were significantly smaller, less read, and more superficial. Another nice thing, it instantly cools and soothes the pimple. The vapor rub has petroleum jelly and some other stuff, so it seems very liable to clog pores and I am a bit suspicious of how it will go over in the long run, but I figured it was worth a try and I'm willing to be a guinea pig haha. I'm putting on more tonight so I'll have to let you all know how my experiment with this household remedy goes, because as of right now it's seemingly like a Godsend!

Oh another thing! I keep seeing people talking about having little bumps all over their foreheads etc. I used to have those too, and I wound up going to see a dermatologist when the over the counter stuff just wasn't cutting it anymore. She said that the bunch of little bumps were because my pores were actually really small and the trapped oils and things couldn't escape. And because a ton of astringents and toners and other products tighten up pores, that's actually not helping. So she prescribed Tazorac (tazarotene), which is meant to open pores up and draw the junk that's blocking them out. So if you guys are experiencing a bunch of little sort of whitehead bumps, that aren't really like pus or blackheads but just little plugs I guess, that you can squeeze out if you want (but if you're anything like me that can get dangerous because when there's so many it's hard not to just want to get all the little ***ers), it sounds like what I was dealing with. The Tazorac worked great while I was waiting for the Diane 35 to help with the oil production/internal aspect of things that was the root problem. I wasted a lot of time and money on other stuff that wasn't actually dealing with what my problem was.

There are also these things called milia that maybe you've heard of, and they kind of match that description too, but usually really, really tiny and harder. This link gives a better rundown http://www.skinsight.com/adult/milia.htm

I get them around my eyes sometimes, but they are a really bad idea to pick! The skin is so delicate there, and they rarely actually come out. When I do they always just wind up getting all red and angry, but never come out. Usually daily exfoliation is the only way I can get them to disappear, but it takes a while.

AND @Vane haruka: there are some foundations out there that are not only non-comedogenic, but actually contain acne-fighting ingredients (salycilic acid generally), and there are concealers with the same properties. I've been told that when dealing with the acne/makeup dilemma the best thing to do is to use a light foundation first so you can see which specific spots still need thicker makeup. That way you aren't covering your whole face really thickly, which will help to avoid breakouts. If possible, it's usually best to try and limit makeup to the spots that need it and let the clear skin be. Also, for acne/makeup, as obvious as it may be and I am often guilty of forgetting it, but making sure you wash your hands/brushes before you put it on really helps. The one brand that I have used for years that has never caused me to breakout is Almay. It's cheap and easy to come by, too.

I hope this is all helpful! I'm sorry, I know I ramble. Good luck everyone!

Thanks Alouise.. This weekend i'll go shopping for foundation.. I got many BB Cream but don't have any concealer or foundation.. But now because of. diane 35 i need it.. Hahaha..

Keep fighting all.. ^.^

Hey girls... so I need some support or advice

Alright so Update: I had a bit of a melt/break down like two days ago over my face. I am literally so tired of dealing with this everyday. And I got so fed up, and decided to start taking the Doxycycline, because I don't care at this point if I don't know which one is working, I just want ANYTHING to work!

Update:

-3 active pills left of pack #4 of Diane, than the 7 other days

-2 days of Doxycycline

-4 pimples on forehead, well one is actually just exposed skin now

-2 under the skin on chin (one was a cyst, but i think the Doxy tamed it down, might be too early)

-maybe 4 more on my chin (a couple are in a little cluster under my lip)

-And under the skin on on my cheek

-Also taking zinc and probiotics (for good bacteria while on doxy)

Yeaaaaa I guess you could say it's not getting any better for me. I don't want to discourage anyone, I'm really starting to think that maybe this birth control isn't going to help me, and in fact is maybe making my skin unnecessarily worse. I've never had acne before until like a year ago, and it' nevvvvver been as bas as when I have tried birth control pills to try and fix it. Earlier this year i went on yasmin (sooo bad, broke out so bad so went off it and cleared up).. now im on diane, and it hasnt been as bad, but it hasnt been good either. I'm almost done my 4th pack, and really contemplating on whether I should continue or not... AH any advice would be great!

Sorry for the depressing post but I am wishing the rest of you are either having more luck than I am, or will have more luck than me!

Hey all - love that this board is getting so much traffic now. Glad we can all be there for each other and give and take advice!

@Ferrara - hang in there girly! Seriously, my acne sounds SO similar to yours - and we are at pretty much the same stage into Diane (i think you're a couple weeks behind me) but I SOOOO FEEL YOU!! I am so frustrated too, every time I think it's finally clearing up, a week later I start getting breakouts again... thinking back to it, the exact week that you're in I had a breakdown too over basically the same reason!! I cry when I get frustrated, and acne is fuckin frustrating dude! I know it's hard, but here's my advice - shoot to stick it out at least 6 months. I know it sucks waiting but I am going to go until I finish month 6 until I decide if I will continue taking it or not. For some people it works fairly quickly, for others it takes a full 6 months for our bodies to adjust to the hormones. And sadly, for some people it will not work at all. I share your fear of it not working at all for you! It would feel like such a waste of time - but on the other side, if Diane doesn't work, then I will know my acne isn't hormonal - and then I will see if diet changes helps, which is basically my last resort before Accutane! I hope you have success with the Doxy antibiotics. I'm pretty frustrated the ones I was prescribed barely did anything! But keep your head up, we WILL get through this!! I have faith it will work for us soon

@Vane Haruka - I would suggest using mineral makeup, since there's no preservatives or anything like there is in liquid foundation it is overall better for your skin. Although, since starting Diane I have endured some pretty bad breakouts and needed more coverage for scars, so I also apply liquid underneath the BareMinerals that I use. One that I really like is Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation. It has salicyclic acid and while I'm not sure if it actually helps to clear breakouts, it's one of the better drugstore brands that I've tried. )

@alouise - the Vicks Vapo trick is intriguing! Please keep me updated, I think I might just have to go buy a jar of it and see for myself if it works! I have also tried Tazorac before but unfortunately it dried me out sooo bad I had to stop using it

As for my skin update, I am taking the first pill of pack#5 tonight. Skin cleared up during my period, like always, but that only lasted a week, like always. Ha

Skin Status:

- 2 bigger ones on my jawline that won't come to a head

- 3-4 smaller ones that aren't that noticeable, but still there and tempting to pop!

- small patch of small under the skin bumps on left cheekbone...very frustrating! along with a few still there on my forehead, but def have decreased in number

- skin is still oily as hell, which sucks. Maybe it's cuz i'm using foundation now to cover up scars but I haven't noticed a reduction in oil at all like some reviews of Diane have said. Rar

Hang in there everyone!

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

I just thought I would give a little update, because it's reallllly starting to make me think! I am on the 7 day break of pack #4, I have about 2 more days left. My skin has gotten SOOO much better this week since I have been off the pills. I am not sure if it's the doxy kicking in, or my new skin regime. But seriously guys, my skin was NOT nice while I was on the Diane pills, then this week off, everything just has gotten better. I have been in such a better mood!, probably because my acne has gotten so much better, and I actually put on make up and didnt feel like shit about having to cover up so many spots. But I'm starting to think my acne isn't hormonal. I have prettttyy dry skin, and the Canadian winter doesn't help that much at all either. And I get quite a bit of under the skin, those small bumps a couple of us have been talking about. And it isnt until one of some of those turn into actually pimples, is when I break out, or when I irritate them by trying to extract them out myself, which works sometimes, but mostly not. I think my acne is all closed comedone type. So think is what I started:

Morning: I wake up and wash my face with just oatmeal! it feels really good on the skin, and has been making my skin feel smooth!

-Then wash with a natural cleanser while in the shower

-Moisturize with a few drops of jojoba oil (which has been realllllly helping my dry skin, my skin is not dry at all anymore, and has made it so soft!)

Evening: Take Doxy

Night: Wash with my natural cleanser

-Wash with oatmeal

-Moisturize with jojoba oil

This has really been working for me for the past week. My week off Diane. So this really makes me hesitant to go off the pill! Im thinking maybe I might just continue to get better and better once i get off. I mean even some of my scars are clearing up really well! Only problem is, once I get off Diane, I prob wont have a period because of it being irregular, so I'll have to find SOME birth control pill that WONT break me out...and I have no idea which one will do that!

Anyway, what do you think guys? Should I go off it? or keep taking Diane

Skin Update:

-No active pimples

-Small under the skin bumps on my forehead still

-Scars fading very well!

-No more dry skin

-Complete end of pack #4 (Skin is WAY better on my week off)

Hope others are hanging in there, or seeing results! I'm looking forward to hearing from you girls!

I am not sure if it's the doxy kicking in, or my new skin regime.

 

Hey, I just thought I'd add a little input since I have many years of birth control pill + antibiotic experience and from reading your posts it seems we are kind of going through the same thing.....the doxycycline is definitely the thing that is making you clearer, antibiotics are pretty powerful at attacking acne bacteria, with no initial breakout unlike birth control pills. I started a new birth control pill a few months ago and have been experiencing an initial breakout like no other, perhaps the worst acne I've ever seen on my face before so I decided to start up Minocycline again a few weeks ago and I as well am getting clearer and clearer....the reason why I was trying to do it without antibiotics in the first place is because staying on antibiotics for too long is not recommended because of things like bacteria immunities and acne coming back more severe (longterm consequences), which is why I've been on birth control pills.

As I've done in the past, I'm only taking antibiotics for a few months until the initial breakout from the birth control pill subsides (it WILL subside, even though it may take longer than you expect). For some it can take as long as six months. We're not at that mark yet, so the antibiotics really help with the initial breakout, preventing scarring and all that.. Actually, I've been on two previous birth control pills and did not experience any initial breakout, the reason being was because I was on antibiotics (Minocycline) from the start. *Eventually*, maybe 7 or even 8 months from starting the birth control pill, I no longer needed the antibiotic because by that time, the initial breakout period ended and the hormones from the pill kicked in.

I've also been on Doxy for a year or so in 2007, it cleared my severe cystic acne and I wasn't even on anything else back then.

So it's up to you if you want to stop your birth control pill, and only take antibiotics, but keep in mind, it's not recommended that people stay on antibiotics for long periods of time, and you already came this far with your birth control pill, you might as well wait it out for a couple more months (with the Doxycycline) so in the future if you decide to quit the antibiotics and go back to something like BCP, you probably will go thru the initial breakout period again...

Also, one last thing~ if you tend to breakout around your chin and/or jawline area it's most likely hormonal acne!

Hey everyonee! Havent posted in a while, had so much going on ...

and this is going to be short & sweet im afraiid..

so its been 7 weeks since i started Tetrasyl capsules / Lymecycline antibiotic

and I have definitely seen improvement. I do still get the odd spots, but not everyday, which is like a miracle. i used to wake up with 1 or more every day- big painful ones!

now theyre smaller and i get them every few days. the tiny bumps have disappeared, my face is smooth. tbh, the only thing getting me down are the marks!

i do have 1 spot on my cheek, which is annoying, but ive promised myself i'm not picking anymore. because i dont want scars!!!!

does anyone know, how long it takes for red marks to fade? most of mine are from the nightmare i went through on Dianette!!

@Ferrara03 - Hiya, I haven't suffered any initial breakout from the antibiotics, it just got less and less each day. i hope it continues to work, and once my marks fade i'll be on top of the world !!

Hope you all had a fab xmas, will update again soon when i have more time

Hey everyone,

Well im about halfway through month 4 and its still not looking to good. Im really sick of this. Will anything work? ever?

sorry to be so negative but i can help feeling defeated and upset.

@sarah...if you need to vent, here is the place! We all know how it feels! You know I'm only half a month ahead of you, and when I was at your stage, I know I was feeling the same way. Like many people have been saying, it can take a while for diane to start working...6 months even. I, myself am not even sure if I believe that for myself. I know being stubborn like I am, I figure if it was going to work, it would have worked by now.

Are you sure of the cause of your acne? Is it definitely hormonal? What other things have you tried?

I know the only reason why I'm seeing results now is because of the doxycycline that I am currently around 2 weeks into. And it's an antibiotic.. And we all know how ppl feel about those. I was just so sick of having terrible skin, I was desperate, so I went on them. I am about to taking the first pill on pack #5 tonight. And I am do scared that despite the doxy, I will start to break out again, as I normally do while on the pill.

You have been on it for a whole now, I would hate for you to go off it when it might start working soon. Ultimately it is up to you. But remember there are many of us on here that are or went through the same thing. Vent all you want.

My skin update: 1st pill of pack #5

-no active pimples (thanks to doxy most likely)...scared of what month 5 might bring. I hope the doxy will fight any breakouts.

-still have some under the skin bumps on my forehead that are very stubborn, not even turning into pimples. I have not a clue how to get rid of them. Any suggestions anyone? I've head them forever now!! Like prob close to 10 months..

Wishing you all luck! And hope everyone has a wondering new years eve! For those of you who feel down, cover those suckers up and enjoy NYE!

Hey Guys.

*~ If you're feeling like Dianette isn't working still... Take Some Time To Read This... ~*

I'm so sorry to put a downer on this all but why put yourself through all this, breaking out everyday with huge cystic spots just to hope that one day it might work?

Dianette might work for one person but for others it might not. I really don't mean to sound spiteful but I feel so sad coming on here everyday and finding you all depressed and sick of waking up with spots everyday because of Dianette.

If youve read through this log, youll know i tried dianette for 4 months and I had never felt so low. Not because of the pill itself but because of what the pill was doing to my skin. My boyfriend said the same things to me, "It will work, give it time" And i gave it the amount of time, and more, which is stated on the leaflet which comes with the pills. It says you should see results after 3 months. If it was meant to be 6, it would say 6 right? I went back to the doctors, to get more pills, but instead I told her how I really felt. I said do you think I should continue with them, because I know it can take time. She kind of smiled, and she said if you're not seeing results now, i'm afraid you probably won't. She suggested a different pill. Because people react to different pills. But because of Dianette being a pill, i just wanted to se ethe back of them. I just continued with the Duac Gel and no pill and I did see improvement. Dianette only did worse things for my skin. But it wans't enough, I was still breaking out - because thats what acne is. Dianette just made it 10x worse. So thats when I got the antibiotics, Lymecycline which i'm on now. The only things on my face are marks and I get occasional tiny spots which you can barely notice with a bit of foundation.

I understand people try not to go down the antibiotic route. But it's what you do after them to continue to keep your skin clear. I know a girl at school who had very severe acne and she was on the same antibiotics as me for a year, and her acne literally disappeared. She went on birth control and her skin has stayed clear since. You just have to find the right one for you.

I know exactly how you lot feel. I came on here everyday, in hope, to try and think.. I can do this, it will get better, it WILL!

But it was the same old story everyday. I woke up with a bunch of painful under the skin spots, and to remind me I have the marks. It will take years for them to fade fully, but if i'd have stayed on Dianette longer, I would have even more. Is it worth it when, according to the leaflet, you should see results right now?? I've read reviews and people say their skin cleared up in 2 months on Dianette! Surely that shows it worked for them... And then theres people who went through 8 months of hell wishing it worked but went through the same nightmare every single day! When they could have simply stopped and tried something else, and could have clear skin by then.

I'm not saying for you guys to give up, because if you are seeing improvements then why should you? But if you're still getting huge spots, possibly even worse than before, then is there really any point in taking it? The best thing you should do foryouself and your skin, is to go back to the doctors and explain how you're feleing, how long it's taking, what effects it's had on your skin and what the next step is, whether it be try to stick it out for a bit longer or to try a different solution.

I hope this helps people, because I honestly feel bad for you if you feel anything like I did. Dianette can be a miracle for some people, but for others it is a complete nightmare!

Alright so I have big news, not to be the devil's advocate or anything here....and I don't mean to counteract anything anyone has said, but this is just my personal story and advice, do with it what you will!! but....I have been waiting to say this, and I am so glad I finally can.

I am at the END of month 5, and I am CLEAR. Like, pretty much completely f"cking clear!! I thought I would never see this day, like you all who have commented before this I KNOW how frustrating it is, goddamn I wanted to quit so badly...but I am so glad I didn't. Yes, it took A LONG ASS TIME to kick in. But now that it's working, my skin continues to get better and better each week.

- The under the skin bumps on my forehead? Completely gone. How did they go away? Yes, most of them turned into pimples over the past couple weeks. But now that they are gone and cleared, there are NO MORE little bumps on my forehead. 100% smooth and clear.

- I haven't had a cyst in like...weeks? I actually thought I had one pop up over Christmas, it came out of no where and was huge, but every day it decreased in size till it was basically gone. Didn't get angry and pissed like cysts used to!

- The little under the skin bumps in patches on the side of my face I was bitchin' about a few weeks ago? Gone. Like I said, unfortunately they came out through pimples as well, but at least now they are OUT and gone...and healing.

- I will admit, I still have like...5-6 small bumps still on my cheeks. But that is NOTHING compared to the 100's that were all over my cheek a month ago.

Trust me, I know what it's like to keep waiting and waiting for it to get clear, and you get so frustrated that it's just not happening. You think it's getting better, than you break out all over again. If I had any advice to give, it's stick with it! I remember when I was back in month 3, the best advice I was given was to wait at least 6 months. I am so glad I took that advice. Yes, for some people Diane won't work at all. That means your acne is probably not hormonal. For some, it works in a month. For most, it works in 3-4. But unfortunately for some of us (like me) it will take a full 6 months to see results. It SUCKS, but it's worth the wait.

I'm not saying I don't break out at all anymore...I still do occasionally. But right now, for the first time in FOREVER, I have NO ACTIVE PIMPLES and it feels sooo good! I wish you all the same success! As always, let me know if you have any questions or need to vent - that is definitely what we are here for. I wish everyone the best of luck!

Alright so I have big news, not to be the devil's advocate or anything here....and I don't mean to counteract anything anyone has said, but this is just my personal story and advice, do with it what you will!! but....I have been waiting to say this, and I am so glad I finally can.

I am at the END of month 5, and I am CLEAR. Like, pretty much completely f"cking clear!! I thought I would never see this day, like you all who have commented before this I KNOW how frustrating it is, goddamn I wanted to quit so badly...but I am so glad I didn't. Yes, it took A LONG ASS TIME to kick in. But now that it's working, my skin continues to get better and better each week.

- The under the skin bumps on my forehead? Completely gone. How did they go away? Yes, most of them turned into pimples over the past couple weeks. But now that they are gone and cleared, there are NO MORE little bumps on my forehead. 100% smooth and clear.

- I haven't had a cyst in like...weeks? I actually thought I had one pop up over Christmas, it came out of no where and was huge, but every day it decreased in size till it was basically gone. Didn't get angry and pissed like cysts used to!

- The little under the skin bumps in patches on the side of my face I was bitchin' about a few weeks ago? Gone. Like I said, unfortunately they came out through pimples as well, but at least now they are OUT and gone...and healing.

- I will admit, I still have like...5-6 small bumps still on my cheeks. But that is NOTHING compared to the 100's that were all over my cheek a month ago.

Trust me, I know what it's like to keep waiting and waiting for it to get clear, and you get so frustrated that it's just not happening. You think it's getting better, than you break out all over again. If I had any advice to give, it's stick with it! I remember when I was back in month 3, the best advice I was given was to wait at least 6 months. I am so glad I took that advice. Yes, for some people Diane won't work at all. That means your acne is probably not hormonal. For some, it works in a month. For most, it works in 3-4. But unfortunately for some of us (like me) it will take a full 6 months to see results. It SUCKS, but it's worth the wait.

I'm not saying I don't break out at all anymore...I still do occasionally. But right now, for the first time in FOREVER, I have NO ACTIVE PIMPLES and it feels sooo good! I wish you all the same success! As always, let me know if you have any questions or need to vent - that is definitely what we are here for. I wish everyone the best of luck!

 

Congrats!! Im so happy for you. persistence is the key!