Day 13

It looks like I jumped the gun a bit too quickly by assuming the Min started working already. I have about 7-10 new comeodones that have formed in the last 24 hours. I'm just hoping that the Min starts working soon. I need to remind myself this is only day 13! I do still only have 2 whiteheads so I appreciate this improvement.

I think I'm on Day 17. No major changes. The comeodones have mostly come to a head so I've been using tea tree oil to dry them up. I still think my skin is better compared to when I started, but it's a subtle improvement. All the spots are there, but they seem to be less inflamed.

Day 21:

Well, if I had posted yesterday I would have said things were looking good. Everything seemed to be calming down and I had no whiteheads. Yay!!!!!........wrong. I woke up this morning with about 5-10 new whiteheads starting. It's so disappointing. Overall, I would say either no change or a very small change from day 1. I am reminding myself that I was told it would take 30 days. Let's hope.

hi mdp..im on day 32 ..it was working quite well, i was pleasantly surprised bc i have literally tried everything..unfortunately today i woke up with a niced size lump near my nose ....very frustrating..i was on accutane a couple of months ago but had to stop my course after only one month bc it wreaked havoc on my eyes..which im still dealing with unfortunately..i hate being on antibiotics again, but i needed to do something bc when i came off accutane had a really bad breakout..the mino really cleared it up but i have this new spot, im hoping it goes away fast..gl to both of us!! i hope it works!

Thanks for the reply. When did it start working for you? I'm unfortunately on day 27 and still getting plenty new breakouts. I'm very disappointed bc the last time I took it, it worked so well.

Day 32

I wish I had better news to post. Still no real change. I am getting about one to two new whiteheads per day. I find myself confused BC one day it will look like I am clearing and the Min is working, but then the next day I get new breakouts. It's frustrating. I am supposed to be on it for two more weeks so I am still hoping something changes shortly.

When I was on Doxy (same thing pretty much), it took 3 months for it to completly clear me, keep at it. But, sorry to say this, but afterl ike 7 months I broke out again and the pills stopped working. So don't abuse the pills (taking it when your clear like I did) or your body will grow immune to it.

Day 37ish

Well, I am hopeful that the Min is possibly helping now, but I've also added some other components to my regimen that could be affecting things. As I mentioned above, this log is not only about the effectiveness of Min but also how to come off of it and manage post break-outs.

First, the state of my skin. I have no whiteheads at the moment and about five comeodones. I do have a lot of red marks that are healing though. Overall, this is progress for my skin,but the 20 or so super red marks still look hideous.

Second, I've made some nutrition changes. I already was eating a paleo diet (for a couple months) and havent had dairy in 10 years. I don't eat sugary foods, don't eat processed foods, and don't eat transfatty foods. I've been quite healthy for awhile. I was also already on the following supplements: multi, zinc, omega 3, evening primrose. In planning to come off Min in a few weeks, I started taking vitamin A and E two weeks ago, and one week ago I started B5. It's possible these are helping, but more importantly I hope they help when I'm done this round of Min. I most recently bought a juicer and beginning yesterday am starting my day with freshly juiced veggies (carrots, cucumber, celery....with an apple for taste).

Overall, I am feeling better about my skin. Without makeup my skin doesn't look much better bc of the really red marks, but because I have minimal comeodones and rarely have whiteheads I can manage to cover everything quite well. This has been great. I am just hopeful things continue on this path.

6 week update

Well the original plan was for six weeks on Min, but I saw my derm today who suggested I stay on for another six weeks. She said it often takes 12 weeks for Min to take full effect. In discussion of the post-Min breakout, she wants me to start using differin .3 gel once per day.

As for my skin, the results are ok thus far. I currently have 3 active inflamed pimples on the right side of my face. Otherwise I have a ton of PIH and a couple comeodones on the left side. Looking back at my original post I can see this is an improvement. I form about one new pimple per day (whether a comeodone or whitehead), but when i started was having like 5 or more form overnight. This is a huge change i guess. I am still hopeful with a few more weeks, I will quit getting as many new ones forming.

My plan- sticking with my diet and supplements and I will start the differin today as well. I guess this is now turning into a Minocycline/Differin log.

6 weeks and a few days....

Just wanted to update that i decided to only use differin on a part of my face (lower chin). I made this decision for two reasons. First, I don't want the IB to occur everywhere at the same time if it happens. Instead, I will slowly increase the areas for which I apply differin. Second, by not putting it on all my face, maybe I will be better able to see its effects compared to the other areas.

As for my skin, no major changes. I had a few more whiteheads pop up over the weekend. I have a couple coming up today where I started differin. Not sure if it's from the differin. Will keep you updated.

Good luck girl! Adult acne SUCKS!!! I'm 29 and mine's mostly on the chin. I've been doing the topicals (differin, then tazorac) constantly and (mino on and off) for years and had clear skin for 5/12 years until this September... Back in the day when I had this under control, an Rx face wash seemed to help a bit more, too. I used the Plexion cleansing clothes twice a day first then later was put on the Rosula cleansing wash. I will warn you though, they both reek of sulfur. Trying the accutane now. Just got started recently and hoping for the best. I see where you used it in the past. Don't get discouraged! I hope we can get clear once and for all! Keep us posted on your progress and best of luck to ya!!!

Thanks for the encouragement. The last two days I've had no new whiteheads. I'm getting hopeful, but know this could just be the normal fluctuations. Since starting differin, I've only had one pimple form on my chin area. Crossing my fingers that the Min will reduce any possible IB.

Week 8

Well things are going ok. I've developed a few whiteheads where I started differin, so I'm assuming this is the IB. I'm hoping it doesn't get much worse. I also have a few whiteheads along my left cheek.. Altogether, I have about 6 whiteheads, which is the most I've had in awhile. I will be patient with the addition of differin.

Week 8 and a bit

I've developed no new pimples in the last couple days. This has been encouraging again, bc I usually developed at least one red spot or whitehead per day (at least in the last few weeks). Its nice to have a 'break' so-to-speak every once in awhile. I do still have two extremely small whiteheads where I started differin, but they aren't really inflamed which is nice. Otherwise I just have a ton of PIH on my cheeks and chin - probably around 35 red spots in total. I can cover them with makeup though so they don't bother me much.

Week 9

I've only had one new comeodone in the last few days. Crossing my fingers that I've turned a corner.

Many many red spots are still in need of healing, though. Haven't had any more breakouts where I'm applying differin. Maybe the minocycline has reduced the IB....or it just hasn't fully happened yet.

2 months and some...

Well, I had a breakout this week. I developed three larger inflamed bumps on my right cheek/chin and then a couple really red inflamed, but relatively flat spots on my left cheek. I'm not sure what triggered this breakout, but I feel discouraged. I was quite hopeful that I had turned a corner. I am still using differin on my chin area. Thus far, there doesn't seem to be a difference in my acne on my chin vs anywhere else. I intend to stick with this regimen for at least another month to give it a full attempt. Overall, my skin still is better than when I started. I just had hoped that I would be much clearer by now.

2 months and some more....

Well, overall no change in my skin since the last post. The last few healed really quickly, but I've had three whiteheads come up where I am applying differin. I also had a couple new red spots come up in other areas, but at least they are flat. Super frustrating, but I'm sticking with this routine for at least another month. I'm still hoping that the breakouts will continue to lessen.

11 week update (and 4.5 weeks on differin)

Well, there isn't really much change. My chin area (where I apply differin) has continued to break out. I currently have three inflamed whiteheads there and a ton of red spots. The rest of my face is actually doing ok, except I've been getting a few large red spots forming. I have a really weird one on my right cheek that formed a few days ago. It's completely flat, but developed into about the size of a dime. I'm not sure what it is or what it's from, but it's new for me. Well, my acne has always consisted of developing red spots, but just never this big before.

Overall, I am still hopeful. At 11 weeks I really had hoped the minocycline would be more effective, as it had been in the past. However, compared to when I started, I do have less whiteheads. Let's see what another few weeks brings.

Week 12

Well, it's finally here - the 12 week mark. Time to evaluate my progress in a lot of detail.

My current skin - I currently have no whiteheads and haven't had one since my last post. I think those last whiteheads were from the differin IB. They've left some red marks and indented scars which sucks though. However, I can at least cover the marks easier. I have no pimples on my cheeks, forehead, or nose. However, I do have red spots that seem to come and go on my cheeks. They don't really form into anything, but they worry me because I feel like I'm always waiting for them to. Maybe it's the minocycline that's keeping them at bay?

overall, there is clearly much improvement over the last 12 weeks. Am I clear? No. I think I will give at least another two to three weeks to this regimen to see if I can get clearer, letting my marks heal. If I still breakout, then I will consider Accutane or birth control again. I am hoping I don't break out again and then I can see how well the differin helps reduce any resurgence after I'm off the min. I guess I first need to see how the next three weeks go. For now, I at least am able to look like I have clear skin with a little bit of make up. Thank god for that!

Week 14

Well, it's been another 2 weeks and I don't have a ton to report. Good news is that I've only had about 3 new pimples since my last post. All the red spots are slowly healing. I actually quit washing my face with any product in the mornings. Just use a quick splash of water. I'm finding my skin is liking this change. It almost feels and lookings normal other than the few spots. This is a change from the inflamed and splotchiness I had. I still use the differin as well. I've had one spot on my chin area do its hard to say how much of the improvement is the minocycline vs differin.

Overall, I am happy with my progress. I will update in another week.

**Day 61**

Well I've just started my first day of my 3rd month and I have to say things are calming down. The old spots are still there and still get stuff in them sometimes but they are much smaller than before. (Added a new pic to my gallery to show my progress.) The cysts are the worst and taking the longest to die down, but they are smaller and my face hurts less overall. That said, I AM still breaking out as of now. I have 2 that I couldn't get a good picture of on my right jaw line. The biggest one is larger than a quarter and its like 2 cysts fused into 1 really big nodule. It sticks up about 1/2 inch from my face and is very large and somewhat sore and doesn't seem to want to change or go away or drain or anything! Its been there since day 35 and now has a much smaller twin coming up right beside it...

As for side effects, lower back hurts if I work out too much and I get pretty tired these days. As you can see from the pic, lips are starting to dry out more. Hair is still dry and skin is starting to get drier with a few dry patches on arms. Nose still dry but not quite as bad as before.

My derm says this month is the "magic month" and I should see a lot of clearing coming. Still on 60mg a day but if I get any more new cysts or don't clear much more this month I'm getting bumped up next month. I have good days and bad days right now. Some days I'm happy with my progress, others I'm upset that its taking so long and that I've got this new monster on the right side of my face. I don't understand why this takes so long... It wouldn't be so bad if my pimples were NORMAL but they aren't and the others on here who have cystic acne like me are the only ones who can relate to this. I just never see anyone else walking around with this kind of stuff on their faces. So nice to have this forum to at least have people going through the same thing who can ACTUALLY understand in a way no one else does no matter how hard they try to sympathize...

I have a question about the accutane pills for anyone else who's had this experience. Anyone ever had one pop open? I took the first pill of my month 3 pack today and when I got it out it was oily and I noticed some oil in the packet. Took it anyways, just hoping there's nothing wrong with my pills??? I left them in the car the day I got them and it was about 50 degrees (says to store at 68-77 on the package). Worried I screwed them up...

That's all for now, will update again soon if there are any new changes!

4 months and some (about 19 weeks)

Things are looking really good. Since my last post, my skin just continued to improve. I was actually able to give up make up, which is the first time in almost 15 years. I can't even describe the effect it is having on my life. I dont have to hide my skin anymore.

Skin details- I have one zit. It is one that started as that big red spot a couple months ago and it just goes back and forth between being a red spot and zit. It's weird and persistent. I just started using differin on it so I'm hoping this helps. Other than that, I just have about five or so red spots that are healing. I occasionally get pimples but when they form they are just that....a pimple. I used to never get just one pimple, but instead a whole rash of them together that were really inflamed. Now, a pimple may develop but it doesnt get super red and goes away really quickly.

In terms of products, I am just using my face wash/toner/etc at night. I just splash with water in the morning. I wear sunscreen every day. I also apply differin to my chin area once per day.

Given how well things are going, I've been reluctant to quit the minocycline. I know I have to though. I am going to start weaning myself off in the near future, maybe go down to 100mg soon. I'm nervous about it though. I am hoping using differin will help.

I am not on the message boards as much anymore, but I will try to keep updating everyone every couple weeks.

5 months

Time for my update. Overall things are good. My skin has continued to stay relatively clear and I am going makeupless. However, I've tried to wean myself off of minocycline slowly and I'm not having much success. I tried going to alternating between 200mg and 100mg each day, but within a week, I find myself getting a couple fresh pimples. Once I go back up to 200mg, my skin will clear within about five days. I've done this cycle about three times, but it is still the same. It is quite discouraging. I knew all about the rebound effect of antibiotics, but I am still hoping I can find some way to wean myself off successfully. The differin doesn't seem to be helping as I get pimples there or other places equally. I see my derm this week so I'm going to talk with her and see if she can come up with any ideas.

With that said, the break from years of acne has been such a relief that I am still happy I am on the antibiotics. Just need to find what to do next that can be longer term.

I saw my derm today and we came up with no viable way to ween me off without breaking out. I can't stay on the minocycline due to some unpleasant side effects, so we are talking of going back on birth control. Very disappointing! I was off all meds for about three years with no success, so at this point we don't think I have any options but going on something long term.