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Aw, thanks Paul. It's definitely getting better. How's the not picking thing going now? Because I'm failing miserably! It's sort of a stress-relief thing for me and since I'm studying a lot lately, I keep going to the mirror and picking at my skin to procrastinate.
I'm doing really well with not picking actually, thanks for asking. 
I popped a pimple after five days (was only tiny and it's vanished now but still has to count I suppose) so I started again. Popped another pimple a couple of days later so now this is technically day two and my third attempt. Looking at it that way doesn't sound too good at all, but in actual fact, I've popped a total of two pimples in the last nine days which is awesome for me. As someone who would make any excuse and take every opportunity to stand in front of the mirror, my usual form would have been to pick my skin and pop pimples pretty much throughout the course of every single day, so this is like the polar opposite.
I don't suppose I've any tips as such, I'm just trying to stay away from the mirror. Funnily enough, I do look if I happen to pass one, but I'm only looking and not touching because I can see the direct results that it's having. Might even add a picture to my blog or gallery later today. Not that you'd really tell any difference from the rest of my gallery pictures as I've always been too chicken to post them when I've been broken out. But I can honestly say that two weeks ago, I had picked my face to shreds and it was such a mess and I was really low. I managed to leave it alone for last week and that seems to be all it has taken to let it heal and also start to break the cycle of my skin producing more acne as a direct result of me picking.
I totally understand about the stress-relief and the procrastinating. I certainly found that there was a sense of relief in it and I'd just sort of go into a trace for however long it took to essentially get that fix. Then I'd have to step back and look at the damage. By the same token, if ever there was a time when I was unsure of something or didn't really feel like I was in control of a situation, I'd likely find myself in front of the mirror, "taking control" of my skin instead. I'm talking in past tense, just to see if I can convince myself that this is all in the past now. 
Fingers crossed I won't slip back to my old ways.
Don't think of it as failing, just start again. My experience is that it really doesn't take too long to see small improvements and then it just gets better from there. That in itself is a good enough incentive - to see that your actions are actually having a positive influence instead of a negative one. Even if you can't always manage it, the key thing is to know when to stop yourself and step away from the mirror so that you don't do too much damage. It's not always easy and especially so if it's become a habit and - to some degree - an addiction, but we can do it. Keep trying!
Trade please? 
Your skin is looking so good! 
I just read through your whole log. I'm on epiduo---one month (and minocycline) also atm. I'm having a hard time keeping my skin hydrated. I didn't remember it being so hard last time around when I was using a retinoid. Lol to the burning. My face burns in the morning and at night, when I put on makeup and every else time I touch my skin. I'm not going to quit using it because of that though. Anyways, any recommendations for me on a moisturizer? I've been using cerave, but that doesn't seem to be helping AT ALL. I might use cetaphil again, but only because that solved the problem last time. I hate going to work with a flaky face. I even moisturize after I wash my face in the morning as well.
How often do you use it? I found I needed to keep a bottle of CeraVe in my car and the little samples in my purse. It's hard to find the right balance between dry and oily.
I love CeraVe, the only other thing I've tried has been Ceraphil (too greasy for me), so I don't know what else to recommend. If you're going to shop around make sure it's non-comedogenic. Things that don't have a ton of ingredients and aren't scented are the best for acne-prone skin.
I lost track of the days, but I believe it's been about 3.5 months.
Two blemishes on one side
Nothing on the other
Can't believe I'm this clear. Seems like I've had acne forever.
For some reason my skin's been really dry and peely. Weird. Nothing moisturizer can't fix though.
Also, I'm stopping the Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur thing. It costs about $60 (with insurance) and expires monthly. So even if I have an 80% full tube, I still have to buy another at the end of the month. I call bull.
Hopefully Epiduo is doing most of the work, and I'll be fine without it. I'll keep you updated.
I don't know if I mentioned it, but I stopped Bactrim about a month ago.
I was perscribed Tuctuo yesterday, which is the canadian version of Epiduo. Hopefully once I get the stuff and use it, i'll have great results with it. I know most people say they use moisturizer with BP -but I use Benzaclin and my skin doesn't peel. I believe it's slightly more sensitive (can be pink / red skin at times, or burn if I put the stuff near my nose)....but I NEVER wear moisturizer.
Wonder if i'll be lucky and not have super dry skin for a long time on this tuctuo stuff.
How often do you use it? I found I needed to keep a bottle of CeraVe in my car and the little samples in my purse. It's hard to find the right balance between dry and oily.
I love CeraVe, the only other thing I've tried has been Ceraphil (too greasy for me), so I don't know what else to recommend. If you're going to shop around make sure it's non-comedogenic. Things that don't have a ton of ingredients and aren't scented are the best for acne-prone skin.
Every time I wash my face. I found out that if I use the epiduo every single night, then my face is super dry, flaking and peeling. If I use it every other, then it's dry, but not as bad. Maybe I need to give the cerave a bit more time to see if it can help, or else I'm going back to the cetaphil one I was using lol. It seemed to keep the dryness away. This is always so tricky at the beginning 
Ah jeez. I'm worried about the insurance thing. My first two tubes were free, but I'm not sure they'll pay for the next one. I've only used one tube, but still... They've been a pain about everything.
- - -
I'm not sure if I'm breaking out a bit or if I've just been picking at my skin too much. I've got 3-4 little red scabs which are probably all my fault. Anyways, it's nothing drastic.
I'm trying not to use the Sodium Sulfacetamide thing, but it's tempting now that it's getting a little bad. Might be stress or holiday food. Going through some terrible family stuff.
Met up with my cousin today. She has the exact same kind of acne I have. We started talking about skin, and I learned that all the women on my dad's side have acne issues. Man, it really is a genetic thing.
I was screwed from the start because my mom had it bad too.
Anyways, my skin's been doing good. No active spots despite buffalo wings, taco bell and chocolate. I could never do the holistic thing, lol. I LOVE food.
I just finished the first tube, but luckily I have a second one!
I'll be seeing the derm again next week as a check up. So far, so good. I have a little cyst by my mouth but I have to stop and be thankful for how much better I've gotten, instead of bitching about one blemish.
Gosh. Clear skin spoils me rotten.
I gotta say, this website gives me anxiety sometimes. So many people shouting their opinions like fact and so much conflicting information.
In the end I would say just trust your doctor.
A little thought for anyone who's ever felt the same way on here. It's actually why I stopped going on halfway through my Retin-A treatment.
Yeah, I would say that the best thing is to take a look at the information that's out there and then work out which parts are right for us. I read so much conflicting information when I started researching and in the end, I just turn those things into a check-list. Then it was a case of trial and error until I found what worked for me, regardless of whether or not those things worked for others because we're all totally different.
I think you were on the topic I was referring to in my last post, the one about diet and acne.
I completely agree with you. I just get frustrated with people who insist diet is everything for everyone. I've done all sorts of long-term diets without the smallest improvement. I wish I had worked, but it just didn't.
Obviously that's no excuse to be unhealthy either, but I don't sweat it anymore if I eat Taco Bell once in a while. I know Epiduo's got my back
Hi AllynRose!
I'm a new member to this site. In fact, I only joined because I randomly found this thread while doing research on Epiduo. Seeing your amazing progress has given me the faith to keep up with my Epiduo. I actually started Epiduo sometime in September before college but because I wasn't seeing immediate results I got discouraged and did not use it regularly as prescribed. Sick of my acne I finally vowed to myself that I would be incredibly strict with Epiduo and apply it every night. So far, I'm on day 39 of consecutive application. Every night I wash my face with warm water and Cetaphil's "Gentle Skin Cleanser" as recommended on the Epiduo website. Then I apply Epiduo to my entire face and hairline. In the morning I, again, wash my face with warm water and and the cleanser and then apply Cetaphil's "Daily Moisturizer" with spf 15 (or something). I know, thanks to your thread, that retinoids take 12 weeks (three months) for skin cell turnover. I'm in the beginning of month two and so far my acne has only gotten worse. I knew this was to be expected because Epiduo is sort of purging all of the hidden pimples beneath my skin. But by month two I thought it would stop. I feel like I get a new pimple everyday. I have acne on my cheeks, chin, forehead, and hairline. Epiduo used to really burn but I think that was because I was applying too much. And my face is pretty dry but the moisturizer helps a lot. Anyway, I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing is normal because I'm not seeing much positive results just yet.
Hi AllynRose!
I'm a new member to this site. In fact, I only joined because I randomly found this thread while doing research on Epiduo. Seeing your amazing progress has given me the faith to keep up with my Epiduo. I actually started Epiduo sometime in September before college but because I wasn't seeing immediate results I got discouraged and did not use it regularly as prescribed. Sick of my acne I finally vowed to myself that I would be incredibly strict with Epiduo and apply it every night. So far, I'm on day 39 of consecutive application. Every night I wash my face with warm water and Cetaphil's "Gentle Skin Cleanser" as recommended on the Epiduo website. Then I apply Epiduo to my entire face and hairline. In the morning I, again, wash my face with warm water and and the cleanser and then apply Cetaphil's "Daily Moisturizer" with spf 15 (or something). I know, thanks to your thread, that retinoids take 12 weeks (three months) for skin cell turnover. I'm in the beginning of month two and so far my acne has only gotten worse. I knew this was to be expected because Epiduo is sort of purging all of the hidden pimples beneath my skin. But by month two I thought it would stop. I feel like I get a new pimple everyday. I have acne on my cheeks, chin, forehead, and hairline. Epiduo used to really burn but I think that was because I was applying too much. And my face is pretty dry but the moisturizer helps a lot. Anyway, I just wanted to know if what I'm experiencing is normal because I'm not seeing much positive results just yet.
Sean, I'm really glad my words were able to help. My derm never explained retinoids to me, so I've used almost all of them and quit because of lack of results. The two times I stuck it out - I got clear. I hope you have the same success. I think people who claim to get better after a few weeks just have very mild acne cycles. I remember having the ugliest, deepest zits by the end of month 2 and thinking "What the hell, shouldn't this stuff be working?" But by the beginning of month 3 it was calming down. I'm 99% clear now
The dryness is normal. In fact, that carried on way past my 3rd month. I still deal with it from time to time, but much less now. I've read that the burning means it's working. I would have to agree, because mine burnt like hell up until VERY recently. And some nights it'll randomly burn again even though the day before it didn't.
Keep us updated! Good luck.
Hey Allynrose,
I read through some of this, not all, but it seems like you've had success with epiduo. I've been using it since dec 16th and really have seen great improvement since the start of the 3rd month; no active acne just red marks. However, whats up with my face being oily?? Do you know if this will go away at the end of 12 weeks? For everyone else it seems to be drying out their face but for me it's just oily! It's very frustrating and honestly the oily skin is now more annoying than the red marks. My face was dry for like the first week but ever since then its been oily. Any help? I have my follow up derm appt. on March 6th so hopefully I can get something different if this doesn't do the trick. The thing is though it works great for acne it's such a shame it's making my face oily..