Hi everyone! 

I made it a thing on my list of to-do to write about my Tazorac cream experience. When I first started using Tazorac, the only thing I would search for on the internet constantly was people's experiences and actual progress pictures. I wanted to feel motivated and not feel so alone. So here is some history of my skin. I am currently 19 years old. I started suffering with skin issues when I was about 12. It started on my forehead where I would just get a bunch of bumps and I would hide my forehead with bangs. Then, my 12 year old self did research and discovered that hair on skin is a no-no. I stopped letting my mom cut bangs on me. 

My skin was overall fine during those 12-15 age years. I think the worst area was my forehead. I, however, thought I had the worse pimples ever. Looking back now, I would love to have that baby porcelain skin. I had really great skin during the summer when I played tennis, probably because of the sun. I noticed my skin started to get worse AFTER the sunny season. Senior year in high school, I had decent skin. I had pimples here and there on my cheeks and forehead/temples. The summer after, I would just get whiteheads on my cheeks that were not pleasant to look at. 

It was not until November of 2015 I started to use Tazorac. The derm prescribed me Doxycycline - which helps reduce inflammation so the cream can target the skin. However, I was using it completely wrong. I used it as a spot treatment and I was not taking the pills consistently. At first, the spot treatment worked. Then, by December my cheeks just began to bring out clusters of pimples that were itchy, red, and bumpy. I was itchy and I just wanted to SCRATCH my face. I did not realize how bad it was getting until I got home from winter break, took off my splotchy makeup, and realized my skin was about to go through something. I was horrified and nervous. I was thankful to have a month off of school and it is amazing what skin does in a month. It went through so many phases for me. SO, for about a month, I was not using Tazorac .25 cream correcty. It wasnt until the week of December 21st I started to get my act together if I wanted my skin to improve. 

The thing is, my skin was not that bad before Tazorac made it worse (it is a part of the process with Taz to make your skin worse before it gets better) - but obviously my skin just needed a major detox.

So, I began to take the pills holistically every morning as well as use the cream correctly. AKA, a pea sized amount spread on my cheeks. I cleansed with Cetaphil and used Mario Badescu Vitamin C moisturizer (seriously, so nice! It's light and Vitamin c is good for your skin). As well as CeraVe cream for the face because Tazorac can really dry your skin out and cause flakiness. 

I went to the dermatologist and he then upped me to Tazorac cream .1 and told me to mix it with a moisturizer like CeraVe so it wont be as intense for my skin. 

Anyways, back to progress. The first four weeks were just... gross. I was so sad. I hated looking into a mirror because I would just focus on my cheeks. I avoided all mirrors and I did not go outside much. I did not want to wake up everymorning to a new cluster of whiteheads. I would force myself to go to the grocery stores because I did not want this to stop me from living life. Inside I knew that other people have it way worse and not just acne-wise. I would go to the stores and realize that... Nobody really cares. And if they do, they're probably not going to matter in your life. And theyre complete strangers I would never see again. And your real friends won't judge you. My sister had gone through this experience and she now has great skin, Thank you God. So she knows exactly what I was going through. I just prayed to God that I would get over this hard phase and asked for some strength. I focused on other things. I started to crochet and I crocheted a bunch of scarves that winter break. Scarves and headwraps 4 everyoneeeee. Yep. I changed my hair - I added highlights for the first time ever because I wanted to feel in control of something. I cut out drinking my coffee with sugar and processed foods - as much as I could. I ate salads and sweet potatoes (good for inflammation and naturally sweet). 

By Week 5, I felt my skin was finally improving. My sister said that once you see it improving, that is when it gets better. She was right. It wasnt the best, but I could put on makeup and finally feel a little better about looking at my self in the mirror or in glass windows. I was so thankful for my sisters to support me and to God. I started to feel a little more confident. I saw a girls video on youtube about her journey and was so inspired. I commented on her video, she replied and she told me to hang in there. And I am so glad I did. This is why I am writing this. To give that support to someone that is going through this "journey". I say it is a journey at least. I think everything in life is a journey of its own. 

Anyway, I am in Week 20 now. I see major improvement. I have some n or dark spots where I had pimples. my skin is not perfect, but it is so much better and for that I am thankful. I make sure to remember how bad it was before and to be thankful for the place I am now. Ive started to go out not wearing makeup (foundation, blush). I will insert some images to show where I first started to break out and then when it really  got bad, and how it is now.

 The photo on the left was in December.

The picture on the right is from this May of 2016. 
 

 This is my left cheek now. The scarring is gradually going away. 

 This is scarring I had and as you can see, its slowly going away.

I drink a bunch of water a day, I've started to cut out sugar and dairy- but it is so hard I know! But Ive cut down on sugar and I have not seen a new active major brekaout that I feel I need to pop. I just deal with them. 

Overall, my skin is STILL in the process of getting better. I use Taz at night and try to be gentle with my skin! I hope this serves as hope for anyone that is going thorugh the first few weeks of Tazorac or just in general. You are not alone! I know how you feel. Hang in there! Stay positive. Your skin is precious and it takes time for it to see improvements. I burned my wrist awhile back around the same time I started breaking out. It IS STILL HEALING and is darker than the rest of my skin. It was a small reminder that my skin is going to take time to heal itself. Help your skin by drinking plenty of fluids, being gentle, seeking help from others if youre feeling down, and dont let your skin stop you from doing things that make you happy!