This is my personal log to help me keep track of my progress. I think it's a good way for me to really think about how my skin is improving (if it is improving), because everyday I just look at my face and see nothing but acne and redness. I haven't been trying to find any improvements. I've been a bit lazy when it comes to maintaining my skin, and starting tomorrow I'm going to get back on track with everything.. wish me luck!

I will update weekly.

I have acne prone skin, and I'm quite oily in my T-zone. I do have enlarged pores, but this is due to genetics. My skin is pale and I have red undertones, meaning any redness left behind from acne is rather prominent. I do get some acne over my back and shoulders at time but it's only one pimple here or there, never any on my chest.

The prescriptions I'm currently one are:

Retin-A (Tretinoin, 0.025%)

Tetracycline (250 MG) - 4 Pills per day

I've been off my tetracycline for a while because it was making me very nauseous, which is a common side effect, but it was making me miss school, fall behind on my work, not able to go out and exercises, etc.. I'm going back on it tomorrow as this site has really made me want to take charge against my acne. If you are on tetracycline, are going to be on it, or stopped because of nausea I recommend to arm yourself with gravol, ginger tea, and probiotics. Probiotics are what helped me the most, tetracycline is an anti-biotic therefore it kills good and bad bacteria which is what causes the nausea, probiotics will help to balance this out.

If you're on a retinoid and get dry skin, that just means it's working.

The non-prescription products I use are:

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. - Daily Foaming Cleanser (2% Salicylic acid)

Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. - Therapeutic Lotion (5% Salicylic acid)

The Body Shop - Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

Clean Start - Bed Time for Breakouts

I received both the Obagi products from my mom's dermatologist. The foaming cleanser is really cooling on the skin, and feels quite nice. The therapeutic lotion is made to use all over, but I can only use it as a spot treatment in the mornings as it would be too harsh with my Retin-A. I'm not sure where you can purchase these, but if you do look into them do note a few things:

- The amount of salicylic acid in them is much high than what you would find in the drugstore.

- The only big downside to them is they don't smell very good, but you get used to it.

- If you're using any prescriptions on you face, talk to your dermatologist about how you should use them as they might be too harsh.

The tea tree toner is very gentle, which I what I want because of the harsher products I'm using. I haven't been using it for the that long, I only use it to balance out the pH levels in my skin.

Bed Time for Breakouts is a very good product, that I highly recommend. Visit the Clean Start website to hear more about it and their other products.

Moisturizer:

Proactiv - Green Tea Moisturizer

Korres - Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer

I use the green tea moisturizer on a regular basis, and the Korres one on days were I have drier skin and throughout the winter. Be aware that the cream-gel is quite thick and heavy. I purchase the Proactiv moisturizer from the Proactiv booth at my mall, and the Korres moisturizer from Sephora.

Other Products:

EltaMD UV Sheild - SPF 45

Delon Cotton Pads - Aloe Vera and Provitamin B5

The EltaMD is a sunscreen I apply to my face everyday, even in the winter - it might not be sunny but the UV rays can still be high! Plus the prescriptions I'm on make my face sensitive to the the sun. This product is very good for acne prone and oily skin. It was also purchased at my dermatologist.

I used the cotton pads really just for the Aloe Vera in them, you can find these at Costco.

1.) Wash face with Obaji foaming cleanser.

2.) Let face dry then apply tea tree toner w/ aloe vera cotton pads.

3.) Use Obaji therapeutic lotion on pimples as a spot treatment.

4.) Apply green tea or pomegranate moisturizer depending on how dry my skin is.

5.) Wait for skin to soak up moisturizer then apply EltaMD sunscreen.

Night

1.) Wash face with Obaji foaming cleanser.

2.) Let face dry then apply tea tree toner w/ aloe vera cotton pads.

3.) Wait until the toner has been fully absorbed then apply Retin-A

4.) Apply Bed Time for Breakouts

5.) Apply green tea or pomegranate moisturizer depending on how dry my skin is.

+

Four pills of tetracycline per day

Honey, cinnamon, nutmeg face mask every other day

Start of week one:

My skin is just full of redmarks right now. There are only five pimples on my face, no whiteheads. Black heads seem to be fading.