Don't worry, as time goes by the more effective your treatment-especially the hormonal- will be. A few more weeks and your face is going to be much better if not completely clear.

Don't worry, as time goes by the more effective your treatment-especially the hormonal- will be. A few more weeks and your face is going to be much better if not completely clear.

I really hope you're right! Thank you so much for the encouragement. 🙂

I'm on Epiduo right now, approaching week 7ish, still got some minor breakouts and red 'scars' (not craters) but definitely getting better.... let's kill this piece of shit acne together!

I'm on Epiduo right now, approaching week 7ish, still got some minor breakouts and red 'scars' (not craters) but definitely getting better.... let's kill this piece of shit acne together!

Yay, I'm glad you're seeing some improvements! I was really dubious about trying Epiduo because my skin has never responded that well to benzoyl peroxide but I'm actually really pleased with it so far. My hyperpigmentation is awful thought and I'm pretty sure I have a few indented scars developing as well which isn't great. I just hope that if I can stop the breakouts occurring then it will give my poor skin a chance to heal itself properly.

Dianette: end of week 17

Lymecycline: end of week 16

Epiduo: mid-week 15

Okay so I really don't want to jinx myself, but my skin is still doing really well at the moment! I currently have no actives on my face whatsoever and the skin there is all nice and smooth without any bumps lurking under the skin. I really hope this continues because I'm going to be so heartbroken if I'm confronted with another bad breakout again. My main issue now is hyperpigmentation which is taking an absolute age to fade, especially on my forehead. I don't want to use anything irritating to try to treat it because I don't want to risk breaking out again and my skin only just stays moisturised enough on the Epiduo as it is. I guess it's just going to have to be a bit of a waiting game on that front. Still, I'm so pleased to have finally seen such positive improvements recently and to be currently (please say permanently!) free of all active acne!

Dianette: end of week 21

Lymecycline: end of week 20

Epiduo: mid-week 19

Well my skin's been breaking out a bit recently but as of right now it is actually clear again. Not sure how long that will last, but I'm happy about it for the moment!

In other news I've finally managed to convince my dermatologist, after three months, to allow me to take isotretinoin in late January if my skin gets worse or is continuing to break out between now and then. Having read about all the scary side-effects I really don't want to have to take it, but knowing it is now an option for me if my skin somehow reverts back to how it was at the beginning of summer again (something I have nightmares about every single night) is a massive reassurance. Best case scenario, the antibiotics continue to improve my skin to the point where I'm no longer breaking out, in which case the dermatologist will keep me on them for another few months before weaning me off them slowly and seeing how that goes. I don't hold out that much hope that my skin will improve more in the next two months than it has in the last five, but it's good to keep an open mind!

In any case, I now know that whatever happens I should be able to avoid nodular-cystic acne destroying my face for a second time round so that's definitely given me some much needed peace of mind.

Dianette: end of week 21

Lymecycline: end of week 20

Epiduo: mid-week 19

Well my skin's been breaking out a bit recently but as of right now it is actually clear again. Not sure how long that will last, but I'm happy about it for the moment!

In other news I've finally managed to convince my dermatologist, after three months, to allow me to take isotretinoin in late January if my skin gets worse or is continuing to break out between now and then. Having read about all the scary side-effects I really don't want to have to take it, but knowing it is now an option for me if my skin somehow reverts back to how it was at the beginning of summer again (something I have nightmares about every single night) is a massive reassurance. Best case scenario, the antibiotics continue to improve my skin to the point where I'm no longer breaking out, in which case the dermatologist will keep me on them for another few months before weaning me off them slowly and seeing how that goes. I don't hold out that much hope that my skin will improve more in the next two months than it has in the last five, but it's good to keep an open mind!

In any case, I now know that whatever happens I should be able to avoid nodular-cystic acne destroying my face for a second time round so that's definitely given me some much needed peace of mind.

I feel like I'm on the same boat as you! I've just finished 5 months of Diane and my skin is kind of the same...it's kind of better but at the same time not really. Crossing my fingers for month 6, for the both of us! :p I myself may be going on Bactrim in the new year if things don't look up...:( By the way, how are your hyperpigmentations doing??

I feel like I'm on the same boat as you! I've just finished 5 months of Diane and my skin is kind of the same...it's kind of better but at the same time not really. Crossing my fingers for month 6, for the both of us! I myself may be going on Bactrim in the new year if things don't look up... By the way, how are your hyperpigmentations doing??

Definitely hoping month 6 is a turnaround for both of us! My hyperpigmentation still looks horrible. 🙁 It is fading but just incredibly slowly and on my forehead where I'm still breaking out it doesn't have much of a chance because I keep getting new stuff to add to it so it just looks a complete mess. The texture of my forehead is awful too so I'm wondering if some of that is permanent scarring. I can certainly see a few suspicious looking indents. I asked my dermatologist if there was anything I could do to make the red marks fade quicker but he said all I could do was get the inflammation under control (through antibiotics) and wait it out but it's so disheartening to get rid of active acne only to have a face full of red marks that looks almost as bad as before. How's your hyperpigmentation doing?

I feel like I'm on the same boat as you! I've just finished 5 months of Diane and my skin is kind of the same...it's kind of better but at the same time not really. Crossing my fingers for month 6, for the both of us! 😛 I myself may be going on Bactrim in the new year if things don't look up...:( By the way, how are your hyperpigmentations doing??

Definitely hoping month 6 is a turnaround for both of us! My hyperpigmentation still looks horrible. 🙁 It is fading but just incredibly slowly and on my forehead where I'm still breaking out it doesn't have much of a chance because I keep getting new stuff to add to it so it just looks a complete mess. The texture of my forehead is awful too so I'm wondering if some of that is permanent scarring. I can certainly see a few suspicious looking indents. I asked my dermatologist if there was anything I could do to make the red marks fade quicker but he said all I could do was get the inflammation under control (through antibiotics) and wait it out but it's so disheartening to get rid of active acne only to have a face full of red marks that looks almost as bad as before. How's your hyperpigmentation doing?

i am sure you won't find what i use but possibly there is something similar available there. I was looking for hyperpigmentation solutions and i found some creams that promise to fade it and prevent it from forming. It says it is for all kinds of hyperpigmentation including infections. I am trying it to a small area of my face to make sure that it won't break me out so i don't know if it really works but the ingredients like arbutin and kojic acid sound promising.

I feel like I'm on the same boat as you! I've just finished 5 months of Diane and my skin is kind of the same...it's kind of better but at the same time not really. Crossing my fingers for month 6, for the both of us! I myself may be going on Bactrim in the new year if things don't look up... By the way, how are your hyperpigmentations doing??

Definitely hoping month 6 is a turnaround for both of us! My hyperpigmentation still looks horrible. It is fading but just incredibly slowly and on my forehead where I'm still breaking out it doesn't have much of a chance because I keep getting new stuff to add to it so it just looks a complete mess. The texture of my forehead is awful too so I'm wondering if some of that is permanent scarring. I can certainly see a few suspicious looking indents. I asked my dermatologist if there was anything I could do to make the red marks fade quicker but he said all I could do was get the inflammation under control (through antibiotics) and wait it out but it's so disheartening to get rid of active acne only to have a face full of red marks that looks almost as bad as before. How's your hyperpigmentation doing?

How long do you stick with your new stuff? Most treatments take a few weeks to start showing improvements and a lot of them can cause initial breakouts so...maybe you're not sticking with them long enough to see results? My hyperpigmentation is fading a little...I started using AHA + moisturiser almost every night about 3 weeks ago and a lot of my marks are definitely lighter. I still have a ton but I guess it's an improvement! The texture of my skin is pretty bad too, but mostly on my cheeks :(. Luckily my forehead never breaks out...I wish the rest of my face would look like that lol. 🙁 Have you tried using AHA?

How long do you stick with your new stuff? Most treatments take a few weeks to start showing improvements and a lot of them can cause initial breakouts so...maybe you're not sticking with them long enough to see results? My hyperpigmentation is fading a little...I started using AHA + moisturiser almost every night about 3 weeks ago and a lot of my marks are definitely lighter. I still have a ton but I guess it's an improvement! The texture of my skin is pretty bad too, but mostly on my cheeks . Luckily my forehead never breaks out...I wish the rest of my face would look like that lol. Have you tried using AHA?

Oh no I meant I keep getting new active acne to add more red marks to the ones I've already got! I haven't done anything else to treat the red marks as of yet because I'm worried about irritating my skin and causing even more breakouts. The Epiduo contains a retinoid though so I'm hoping that might help them fade a little quicker. That's interesting, I'm the complete opposite! Barely, if ever, break out on my cheeks but this summer my forehead was covered in cysts and nodules which have left a few nice little craters behind to forever remind me of the pain and humiliation they caused. I've heard lots of peoples say how good AHA is for fading red marks so I might give it a go if I ever get the active stuff clear. Do you use the Acne.org one or a store bought one? It would be way too expensive to order the Acne.org one in the UK so I'd need to find an alternative I can buy in the shops or on Amazon UK.

i am sure you won't find what i use but possibly there is something similar available there. I was looking for hyperpigmentation solutions and i found some creams that promise to fade it and prevent it from forming. It says it is for all kinds of hyperpigmentation including infections. I am trying it to a small area of my face to make sure that it won't break me out so i don't know if it really works but the ingredients like arbutin and kojic acid sound promising.

Oo that sounds interesting. What's it called? Let us know how it works for you!

How long do you stick with your new stuff? Most treatments take a few weeks to start showing improvements and a lot of them can cause initial breakouts so...maybe you're not sticking with them long enough to see results? My hyperpigmentation is fading a little...I started using AHA + moisturiser almost every night about 3 weeks ago and a lot of my marks are definitely lighter. I still have a ton but I guess it's an improvement! The texture of my skin is pretty bad too, but mostly on my cheeks :(. Luckily my forehead never breaks out...I wish the rest of my face would look like that lol. 🙁 Have you tried using AHA?

Oh no I meant I keep getting new active acne to add more red marks to the ones I've already got! I haven't done anything else to treat the red marks as of yet because I'm worried about irritating my skin and causing even more breakouts. The Epiduo contains a retinoid though so I'm hoping that might help them fade a little quicker. That's interesting, I'm the complete opposite! Barely, if ever, break out on my cheeks but this summer my forehead was covered in cysts and nodules which have left a few nice little craters behind to forever remind me of the pain and humiliation they caused. I've heard lots of peoples say how good AHA is for fading red marks so I might give it a go if I ever get the active stuff clear. Do you use the Acne.org one or a store bought one? It would be way too expensive to order the Acne.org one in the UK so I'd need to find an alternative I can buy in the shops or on Amazon UK.

i am sure you won't find what i use but possibly there is something similar available there. I was looking for hyperpigmentation solutions and i found some creams that promise to fade it and prevent it from forming. It says it is for all kinds of hyperpigmentation including infections. I am trying it to a small area of my face to make sure that it won't break me out so i don't know if it really works but the ingredients like arbutin and kojic acid sound promising.

Oo that sounds interesting. What's it called? Let us know how it works for you! 🙂

it's made by a company named frezyderm and the products are called "spot end". There is a day cream, a night cream and one that is used only on the marks before the application of these two. TThe company says that "Inhibits the 3 phases of melanogenesis.(Synergic whitening system)

Melanogenesis stage: Action of Spot End.

Pre-composition: Inhibits the activation of melanocytes.

Composition: Inhibits melanin synthesis.

Post-composition: Inhibits transfer of melanin to keratin cells. "

i have some more information about each one at the last page of the link in my signature. However even if it works it's not going to improve things overnight..

My skin isn't sensitive yet but it's gradually drying so in a few days i may know if it's suitable for sensitive skin as well.

How long do you stick with your new stuff? Most treatments take a few weeks to start showing improvements and a lot of them can cause initial breakouts so...maybe you're not sticking with them long enough to see results? My hyperpigmentation is fading a little...I started using AHA + moisturiser almost every night about 3 weeks ago and a lot of my marks are definitely lighter. I still have a ton but I guess it's an improvement! The texture of my skin is pretty bad too, but mostly on my cheeks . Luckily my forehead never breaks out...I wish the rest of my face would look like that lol. Have you tried using AHA?

Oh no I meant I keep getting new active acne to add more red marks to the ones I've already got! I haven't done anything else to treat the red marks as of yet because I'm worried about irritating my skin and causing even more breakouts. The Epiduo contains a retinoid though so I'm hoping that might help them fade a little quicker. That's interesting, I'm the complete opposite! Barely, if ever, break out on my cheeks but this summer my forehead was covered in cysts and nodules which have left a few nice little craters behind to forever remind me of the pain and humiliation they caused. I've heard lots of peoples say how good AHA is for fading red marks so I might give it a go if I ever get the active stuff clear. Do you use the Acne.org one or a store bought one? It would be way too expensive to order the Acne.org one in the UK so I'd need to find an alternative I can buy in the shops or on Amazon UK.

Oh oops sorry, misread what you said hahah. I use Dan's AHA and I like it so far. I think the first week that I used it my skin purged quite a bit, but it might also because I stopped exfoliating for over a month while I used to do it regularly. I'm sure if you creep the OTC products forum you could find an alternative...I'm from Canada and I think shipping only costs me a little under 10 bucks..how much is it to the UK? 🙁 But I definitely think it's worth trying! My skin is currently "clear" (you know how on Diane it's like you go through phases of being clear and hopeful and then a giant breakout right after lol 🙁 ), and you can really tell the difference a few weeks of being on AHA has made. Also, I'm pretty sure AHA helps with active acne too - Dan uses it for spot treating, and I've read a lot of people who used AHA to help treat red marks but noticed it helped with acne too. I'm not totally sure...but I don't have any actives at the moment so maybe it's helping my skin out a little too! I don't think you need to wait until your fully clear.

Not that it's not visible but i think it's interesting.. here is a picture of 3 papules i had.. two of them are more than a month old and the upper one is just one week old.. i used the cream after the new reached its final size. Naturally the new one is bigger but the color is rather pinkish instead of red like the older.

Wow, it's been a really long time since I updated this! I've been completely floored by my mental health problems recently so my skin has been put on the backburner a bit, hence why I haven't been around much. Anyway, quick update for you all.

Dianette: end of week 35

Lymecycline: end of week 34

Epiduo: mid-week 33

So, having got myself on an antidepressant that doesn't affect my skin like the Sertraline and Mirtazapine did I am now essentially clear! I still get the occasional spot, but never the deep cysts or nodules and my skin is generally flat and easily coverable with make-up. The hyperpigmentation has faded a lot but still needs a bit more time and the few indented scars that I have aren't anything like as noticeable as I feared they would be. My dermatologist is happy for me to stay on my current treatment for up to 4 years seeing as it's working so well and has very little risk associated with it. Overall I'm very happy with my skin and would recommend any or all of my treatments to anybody else on here struggling with moderate/severe acne.

That's so good to hear MoonlitRiver! Congrats

That's so good to hear MoonlitRiver! Congrats

Thank you Lilly. I'm really pleased! It's been a long road but my skin has finally improved. 🙂 Just worried about what might happen when the psych messes around with my meds in a couple of weeks' time but hopefully it will be okay. I will refuse to take anything that breaks me out because I am not going through that cystic acne hell ever again!

I haven't checked in here in so long. How is the regimen going for you now? Hope you've seen some improvements!

I definitely saw great improvements with the regimen! But I haven't been consistently clear with it unfortunately. I can't manage to use it in the mornings so it's just the full amount at night - and that really effects how well it works. So it's up and down with my skin - some really good days/weeks and others not so great where I do breakout a fair bit. Even when I am breaking out (like at the moment actually) it's way better than before so I'm happy to keep going with the regimen for a while longer.

I have looked into other treatments but I couldn't handle going through a withdrawal breakout from stopping BP or handle an initial breakout from starting something new right now. So I can understand what you mean with being worried about having meds changed. I think that's the only downside of having much better or clear skin for any amount of time after struggling to get there for so long, - you do become 'scared' in a way of your skin going backward. That's my experience / worry anyway...

Hopefully your skin stays under control now though!!

I definitely saw great improvements with the regimen! But I haven't been consistently clear with it unfortunately. I can't manage to use it in the mornings so it's just the full amount at night - and that really effects how well it works. So it's up and down with my skin - some really good days/weeks and others not so great where I do breakout a fair bit. Even when I am breaking out (like at the moment actually) it's way better than before so I'm happy to keep going with the regimen for a while longer.

I have looked into other treatments but I couldn't handle going through a withdrawal breakout from stopping BP or handle an initial breakout from starting something new right now. So I can understand what you mean with being worried about having meds changed. I think that's the only downside of having much better or clear skin for any amount of time after struggling to get there for so long, - you do become 'scared' in a way of your skin going backward. That's my experience / worry anyway...

Hopefully your skin stays under control now though!!

I'm glad you've been getting some improvements on the regimen. I can understand your worries about withdrawing from bp because when I did that after being on the regimen a couple of years my skin completely erupted! Just a thought but you could try something like Epiduo (I'm a bit biased here because it's by far the best topical I've ever used) that contains bp plus a topical retinoid as well. That way you'd be adding something more in but not withdrawing from the bp in the process. Adapalene is the mildest topical retinoid so if you're relatively clear already I wouldn't imagine you'd get much of an initial breakout. Just a thought. After my breakouts on Sertraline and Mirtazapine I'm definitely worried about the psych changing my meds around but I guess I'll just have to wait and see what they suggest. I don't mind them changing the doses of the ones I'm already on because I've already deemed them skin safe so I hope they just decide to do that rather than adding anything new. Anyway, good to hear from you and I'm glad your skin is at least better than it was before. 🙂

Yeah I'd used BP for a while before quitting a few years ago and went through the horrible breakout from quitting it. So I still remember how bad that was! The regimen is great because it does help though. I have heard of people stopping the regimen to use epiduo instead and that's worked great for them so it's something to keep in mind

Hey,

I just read through your post and found it so interesting as I am myself currently on Dianette for acne. I'm only one month in and am still getting spots, which is really depressing me. The other day I had some sort of emotional breakdown and I swear it's because of my skin. I went through a period of a couple of years having near perfect clear skin, which I absolutely loved (obviously) and got so used, but then my acne came back and I'm not handling it well at all. The thought of having to wait another 3 or 4 months is killing me. I feel like I've already been on it a year (I hate it).

Really hope you are still seeing wonderful results from your medication and thank you for taking the time to keep a log on here for us to read.

PS - am very interested in the antidepressants you were subscribed as I really feel like I need something. I have got to a stage where I don't ever want to leave my house, which is so irritating as I am such a social person, but I have to constantly find excuses to not go out. Luckily I work mostly from home, so I don't actually have to leave the house often if I don't want to. But staying at home all day every day is beginning to have a really negative effect on my mental state.

Hi guys. So I haven't been on this forum in ages because I essentially have clear skin now, but for anybody reading my log I just wanted to upload the final before and after photos to give you all some hope that with the right treatment combination you can get clear skin!!!

The picture on the left is me in August 2013. The one on the right is me today in September 2014. I'm still on the same treatment combination and sticking with it has really paid off in the end so I am very very happy.

A big thank you to all of you who supported me along the way. I couldn't have got through all this without you!! xxxxx

On 5/22/2014 at 11:47 PM, palegreeneyes said:

PS - am very interested in the antidepressants you were subscribed as I really feel like I need something. I have got to a stage where I don't ever want to leave my house, which is so irritating as I am such a social person, but I have to constantly find excuses to not go out. Luckily I work mostly from home, so I don't actually have to leave the house often if I don't want to. But staying at home all day every day is beginning to have a really negative effect on my mental state.

I'm so happy for you!! Great results - so glad it's still working well! (I'm thinking about starting Diane / dianette myself, so it's also encouraging haha). So you're also still taking lymecycline with this?

Hope it all continues going well for you!

(And you look gorgeous too by the way )

I'm so happy for you!! Great results - so glad it's still working well! (I'm thinking about starting Diane / dianette myself, so it's also encouraging haha). So you're also still taking lymecycline with this?

Hope it all continues going well for you!

(And you look gorgeous too by the way )

Aw thank you Lilly! You've always been so supportive and encouraging. 🙂 Yep I am still on the three part treatment: Dianette, Epiduo, and Lymecycline. My dermatologist said it was fine for me to stay on this regimen for a few more years if necessary (I think she was thinking along the lines of my mental health being much more of a priority at the moment!) so I'm pleased about that. Apparently the Lymecycline is considered to be very safe even in the long term and with the Dianette they just check my blood pressure before represcribing so it's worked out fine so far. Would definitely recommend it. How are things with you? Are you still using the regimen?

Aw thank you Lilly! You've always been so supportive and encouraging. Yep I am still on the three part treatment: Dianette, Epiduo, and Lymecycline. My dermatologist said it was fine for me to stay on this regimen for a few more years if necessary (I think she was thinking along the lines of my mental health being much more of a priority at the moment!) so I'm pleased about that. Apparently the Lymecycline is considered to be very safe even in the long term and with the Dianette they just check my blood pressure before represcribing so it's worked out fine so far. Would definitely recommend it. How are things with you? Are you still using the regimen?

That's great you've got something that works for you and that you can keep using for the time being 🙂 And yeah, totally understand their perspective of mental health being a priority.

I've been going ok. Skin hasn't been great but overall I'm just not caring about it as much anymore. (I did see a psychologist for a little about anxiety / my skin so that helped a bit). It's nice that the occurrence of days where it would get to me so much are now fewer. I am still using the regimen at the moment but still only once a day. I have been more lazy with it in recent months and have tried to reduce the amount of BP to about 1 or 1 and a half pumps but my skin breaks out more with only that much. So my skin isn't great at the moment. I am looking to change what I'm doing for my skin as the regimen is rather time consuming. A routine that's a bit quicker to go through would be great for me right now. I have a derm appointment soon and I'll see what they suggest. I've spoken to a few people who've found that Diane works really well for them so it's an option I'm thinking about too. I'll see what happens 🙂