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Why thank you! I find that logging my experiences give validity to my feelings and frustrations.
I went to another derm today to get a 2nd opinion about Spiro and surprise surprise, he diagnosed me with perioral dermatitis. I'm on the fence about this as while my acne placement is ideal for it, it doesn't itch and POD usually itches. Also, my other derm did not even mention that so i don't know. I'll post pics just for you to see with what i'm dealing with. My chin has several bumps with puss (it's gross) and the sides of my mouth have several inflamed red bumps that are multiplying. I can't believe that things have gotten so bad so quickly. Feel free to share a pic of your skin so that we can compare notes.
Interesting thing with Epiduo and your eyes. Any alternatives that you can use? I know teh feeling of having something work and then not being able to use it.
Thanks for replying! I completely agree with things getting so bad so quickly! It is a constant cycle of getting your hopes up, then giving up hope. I'm almost embarrassed to post my photos; this is the first time in months that my skin has gone back to the way it was. Sorry if it's a bit gruesome!! I never had this type of acne until I stopped taking antibiotics (the dermatologist does not seem to remember though...of course). My pimples start out just like yours appear in your photos; do yours look like mine at any point in time? I recently went to a naturopath who believes it is not due to a hormone imbalance, but to gut/liver congestion.
Sadly, I think I'll have to go back on Epiduo because I can't take the hit on my self esteem!
I get those ALL the time. It makes me feel uncomfortable too as i don't believe in popping. We do have similar acne i must say. Good luck with the naturopath. I've been to 3 in NYC and non of them was able to help me. We tried the liver decongestion, then it was food allergies and then candida. It all turned out to be a big waste of money. Did your naturopath test you for anything before deciding a diagnosis?
I get those ALL the time. It makes me feel uncomfortable too as i don't believe in popping. We do have similar acne i must say. Good luck with the naturopath. I've been to 3 in NYC and non of them was able to help me. We tried the liver decongestion, then it was food allergies and then candida. It all turned out to be a big waste of money. Did your naturopath test you for anything before deciding a diagnosis?
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. The naturopath didn't test anything, just asked me questions about my body. I have gotten my blood tested before for all the usual hormones, as well as autoimmune/inflammatory markers. It would always come back normal, to my dismay. I also previously had a food sensitivity test done which said I am severely sensitive to things like beef, pork, dairy, sugar, and MSG. Have you had any luck with hormonal therapies? I think I remember you posting that you've taken birth control?
91 days post BP
48 days juicing
Things are going TERRIBLE. I'm walking around with a ton of pimples with whiteheads and it's disgusting and whenever i pop them, they come back. I am truly mortified and embarrassed. I have also decided to not use any topicals as the skin around my mouth is dry and i know that a 1% SA will do nothing but irritate so.....
I guess the upside of things is that I had a lengthly conversation with my derm a few days ago and she wants me run some hormonal bloodwork. She definitely understood my hesitance to try Spiro and said we should at least have a baseline to work with. She is also going to start the Ipledge process again to possibly get me started on accutane.....again. I definitely do not want to go down that route but I can't continue like this. Her theory on the dismal results i got on my last course was that the generic accutane is not up to par/potent as the original which could explain why i never cleared up completely, even if for a little bit. If that's the course we end up talking, i'll ask her about absorica which is supposed to be at the same level or a bit better than the original accutane.
Feeling a bit lost and plenty down.
Picture Time!!!! My skin has just been so God Awful i don't even know how else to describe it. I feel so dejected and low.
I tried uploading pics directly on here but it wouldn't let me so here is the link to the album.
If i knew BP was going to have this rebound effect, i probably wouldn't have started it.
Picture Time... Again:
<iframe width="480" height="360" src=" http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/Sasch83/embed/slideshow/Acne%202014 "></iframe>
Lower face looks like $hit. I have at least 10 red bumps by my left mouth. I suspect it may be eggs i had last night but who knows. Chin is a mess and right side of mouth is a mess. My lower face looks like a beard of acne. Just went through my 2012 accutane photos and in comparison to now- skin looked awesome. I miss my 2010 skin so much.
My derm has me going for a blood test tomorrow to do a hormonal panel. She wants me on Spiro or accutane.
Thanks JJ. My derm thinks my skin is the most resistant she's seen as all topicals irritate it (thanks to The Regimen). I cleared the first round of blood work for accutane so we'll see if i'll go on it in a months time.
Spiro is on the back burner as nothing hormonal came up
Feeling like such a failure. Went to a professional workshop today and people were looking at my face. Their eyes darted from my forehead to my mouth. I definitely had the worst acne there. It's simply awful. Add to that i believe i may have perioral dermatitis, that area is dry. I also have mosquito like bumps on my arms and legs and i'm itching.
In this moment i wish i wasn't around anymore.
Hey you're not a failure! It's not your fault you have acne! Try to look forward to your accutane course. Do you know what dosage you are going to be doing. What doses were you on for your previous courses? I'm still breaking out halfway through my 10th month on tane but I have to try and believe I'll get to where I want to be. We have to try to be positive or this thing will destroy us. It's tough I know. You are a good and worthwhile person always remember this.
Hey you're not a failure! It's not your fault you have acne! Try to look forward to your accutane course. Do you know what dosage you are going to be doing. What doses were you on for your previous courses? I'm still breaking out halfway through my 10th month on tane but I have to try and believe I'll get to where I want to be. We have to try to be positive or this thing will destroy us. It's tough I know. You are a good and worthwhile person always remember this.
Thanks JJ, i was having a moment. I know deep down that my self worth is not rooted in my looks but its a hard concept to remember when you have to function in modern society.
I don't know about dosage but i do have my concerns. The derm i went to yesterday said i don't have perioral dermatitis, just dry skin and acne. That area of my face is so sensitized and it is obvious, all because of BP. Regret is a hell of a thing, i tell you.
I'm taking this time to look deeper and meditate more on spiritual things. How long will your course last?
So i had to switch my cleanser and it was drying my skin out so much.
Picked up Cerave Hydrating Cleanser. It doesn't sting me or leave that dry/tight feeling on my skin but i may be breaking me out more. I know it's been 2 uses but i see more clogs on my forehead and chin/mouth area is breaking out. Will hang tight till my derm appt this week.
So i saw my derm who confirmed that its not PD, just seriously dry skin and acne. She said i just need to hang tight since my accutane start date. Have my doubts about that BTW.
In any event, after tirelessly looking online for a decent face cleanser, think I am going to attempt to make my own. I don't expect it to help my acne, i just don't want it to worsen it - just to calm my skin so its not so red and dry, especially the mouth area.
I am going to try the honey and yogurt as a cleanser as I read its antibacterial, soothing to the skin and moisturizing. Knowing how reactive my skin is, we'll see. Will give it a go Friday night.
Ever tried using oats as a cleanser? Or colloidal oatmeal based cleansers / moisturisers? Supposed to be great for dry skin and irritated skin in general
May be something to keep in mind if the honey/yoghurt as a cleanser doesn't work out
Haven't tried oats as a cleanser but i definitely do not want something that will exfoliate my skin. Just trying to cleanse my skin and minimize this dryness/rashy feeling. If it can help the pus filled pimples, that would be great too. My skin is simply awful at the moment - words cannot describe. Only my love and faith in God is allowing me to get up and go out. Thinking about makeup to cover up but don't want to further irritate things.
How's your skin doing Lilly. Still on the regimen? How's school going?
They're pretty gentle, especially if you soaked them for a while - but even then I suppose they would still act as a slight exfoliant and I understand you wanting to avoid that at the moment!
Hang in there - I know how horrible this is to go through, we've all been there, but you will be fine! 
It's hard now, but eventually you will find what it is that works for you. Keep that faith, and remember patience and hope too. Try and keep busy with other things too where you can - the less time we spend worried / stressed about our skin, the better I think.
My skin has had better times for sure... I've cut down how much BP I'm using with the regimen so I'm breaking out a bit more but it's still not as bad as I expected it to be by cutting down. I just use a little over 1 pump at night now. Occasionally I use a glycolic and salicylic three step 'acne system' in the mornings but haven't been consistent with that. I have a referral to see a derm too - I'll make the appointment next week. Not sure what I'm looking for / looking at changing but I don't think the regimen (applied once a day because that's all I could fit into my day) is enough for me - so I'll at least go to hear what the derm has to say.
School has been going well, thanks for asking. It's getting more stressful and busy but I'm keeping my head above water at this point!
Good Luck Lily.
Well i am about to close this log soon because I am going to be giving the holisitic route a try. Looking into TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine. Accutane is laying in the wings but my body has been giving me signs that it may not be a good choice.
Anyway, today i consulted with a TCM doctor and did facial acupuncture which i don't want to do again. The idea of putting needles in my face (and i bled) grosses me out to the tenth degree and a few hours later, my face is still sore in addition to being bumpy,red and rashy.
He did give a good analysis of me though saying my overall circulation was poor which i can agree with as i feel so tired, rundown and its not just because i have acne. He is super expensive and i ended up paying $180 for the consultation, acupuncture, 7 day supply of herbs and a acne ointment.
I am probably not going back to him because of the facial acupuncture. I will consult with another one tomorrow which i may go with as he has a money back guarantee which i'm sure my pocket will appreciate.
On a side note, today was the first day that I did not go to church and I feel like crap for it - won't happen again.