Acne.org Products
I'll immediately cut to the chase.
20 yrs old, acne is comedonal (whiteheads mainly) on T-zone and some on cheeks.
Diet is mostly clean and healthy, I try to avoid dairy but I "cheat" once or twice per week, doesn't really have major impact.
skin is less oily since cutting back with dairy.
I take multivitamins, probiotics and Omega3 supplements just to be sure im gerrong enough, but they're not replacing what comes from my diet.
Anyway, visitid a derm and was given epiduo (2.5%/0.1%) and clindamycin 1%.
I need to use one of them before bed, on alternative days (i.e today first gel, tomorrow the second, the other day the first and goes on...).
She told me this way acne is attacked by many agents, and it's much more effictive.
When it comes to how much should I apply, according to the derm just a pea-sized amount for entire face, more won't make stuff work faster and will just promote stronger side effects.
I also use a mild cleanser with lactic acid and triclosan as main ingredients, 2x a day.
Apr 20-27:
Mostly mild side effects, redness on cheeks and some peeling, it doesn't look that good but nothing major.
Apr 28-30:
Less red, peeling still there and it's gonna stay during the treatment because this how the retnoid in Epiduo works, mildly exfolitates skin.
I think some whiteheads AKA closed comedones are forming into open ones as I can feel the "pointed" head on some of them unlike before.
Well try to update everyday, usually im not verbal but this could be fun and help with the wait, Goold luck to me!
@AkitapandaI started epiduo 12 days ago - having similar results aka none. My face got super red in the second week. I've stopped using it on as large an area because the dryness was a little too intense. I also put it on over my moisturiser tonight because the scaley redness is actually a bit terrifying and I really want to leave the house hhaha
Maybe you're using too much?
A pea-size is enough for the entire face, the derm was really strictabout it,repaeted 3-4 times.
And as i mentioned before I use epiduo every other day, however Clindamycin in between, so I use both gels alternatively and the Clidnamycin doesn't cause any side effects for me.
Today is my 12th day in the treatemnt also, too soon for improvement.
Week 3 starts tomorrow.
So far so good, as the derm told me the side effects usually reach their peak at the first week or two (assuming im carefully following her instructions which i do).
No dryness , redness is mitigating (still some on cheeks) but there is mild peeling which is something that should make me happy this means that it's working.
As for burning sensation, this happens after I apply epiduo, not bad at all and goes away after it's fully absorbed (hour or so), and I actually like it as it tells me that stuff are absorbed properly and it's ready to work and kill those little bastards (my acne is comedonal as I mentioned before).
Still no noticeable improvements, too soon, my derm said usually it takes 4-6 weeks until stuff start improving.
Day 19:
Redness continue to mitigate, no dryness.
I think I have more small closed comedones now while pre-existing ones got a bit smaller, a few are forming to blackheads, guessit's a purging phase, but somewhat confident thatthis is the worst that it's gonna get due to my skin feeling much more comfortable.
Nevertheless Im still at the middle of week 3 so improvement shall come after 6 weeks give or take.
Btw I was prescreibed 3 months of treatement, derm said that I might be clear before 3 months but to proceed with the treatment till the end to make sure my skin is utterly clear.
Day 21:
I think my cheeks are slightly smoother, the closed comedones are smaller.
I have a few red marks on my right cheek from previous breakouts which I think are fading a bit.
Some closed comedones on my forehead are purging and forming into a blackhead, this is awesome since this is what retiniods should do.
I really thing that stuff are kicking in although a couple more weeks needed for big improvement.
Day 25:
My forehead is more bumpy now as more closed comdones are purging.
Actually the biggest one, which I think is a cluster that somehow became a one big "super villan" is purging and is red and swollen, not painful though.
Almost hitting 1 month now and everything is according to the plan, hopefully I"ll see major improvement towards weeks 7-8.
Day 28:
Visited my derm yesterday (as planned for every 4 weeks to check progress).
Progress is slow but ok, I have a couple of non-inflamed breakouts of existing whiteheads on each cheek, 5-6 on my forehead which has a big one that decided to be swollen and red LOL.
Anyway my treatment has slightly changed, now I use clindamycin during the day and Epiduo before I go to sleep, every day.
My skin is a bit more dry and irritated, I have big red-ish patch on each cheek but nothing major and this will eventually pee , this is part of the cell turn over process.
Started Week 5 today, that was kinda fast but still 7 weeks to go.
Day 30:
1 month is gone 2 more to go.
Well..I though that I got away with the side effects.. NOT!
Since changing the treatement my face got red, not that bright but a noticeable discoloration that is worse after I wash my face and mitigates during the day and night, no burning though.
But this is part of the game.. yeah this week is gonna suck LOL but I know that this means stuff are kicking in, espicially when more whiteheads are purging (4-5 more on forehead, the same on both cheeks).
Ugh I wish there was some way to just speed up the next few weeks.. Waiting is the worst part but keep thinking about the awesome final result!
Day 35: Closing 5 weeks, 55 days to go.
I'm experiencing more peeling as cell-turnover kicks in, this is a desired effect and I think my closed comedones are flatter and drying now.
Very positive about my progress, not even half way through but this gives me motivation.
I'm pretty much a hermit in days,not due to lack of confidence it's just that the sun is out now and I shouldn't be out too much, this sucks but after Im done with this acne BS my life will be enjoyable again.
Meanwhile night shifts few times a week only lol
Week 6 wrap up: half way through!
Nothing major, just 1 inflamed pimple on my forehead, going down kinda fast though. closed comedones still there.
Searching similar tretaments experinces online, my experience is pretty average for a topical acne treatment, it's a mixed-bag, some worsening along with little improvement.
The good news, those first 6 weeks are over, 6 more to go, judging from my average experience, i'll hopefully see a bigger imprvement while I'm approaching the 2nd month's end as from what I saw topical acne treatments that involve retiniods/benyzol perozide tend to pay off towards weeks 8-10.
Hopefully the next 6 weeks will be fast as the first half, eventually with a clear skin fingers crossed!
On 5/2/2017 at 4:42 AM, Mia897 said:@AkitapandaI started epiduo 12 days ago - having similar results aka none. My face got super red in the second week. I've stopped using it on as large an area because the dryness was a little too intense. I also put it on over my moisturiser tonight because the scaley redness is actually a bit terrifying and I really want to leave the house hhaha
Take inside double dose vitamin E and flaxseed oil, take daily
its the best cure from dry skin
i would use acne treatment every other day for better results
8 weeks in treatment:
still no visible improvement but skin feels softer and less oily.
no new acne whatsoever, just old stuborn closed comedones on the center of my forehead and on both cheeks (20-30 in each area most of them are small but they are concentrated so it makes those areas look textured)
week 9 started today, hopefully, my skin will improve in the next 4 weeks, it'll eventually work but the waiting sucks... but thinking at the awesome expected final result gives motivation to proceed and suffer in the short term..well..not suffering really as my skin has totaly adjusted and i have no side effects, just waiting 8)