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Commiserating with all who are kicking themselves.If only i could turn back time and not have gone snorkling , that snorkle pushed down my huge cyst and made is twice as HUGE. If only i had got it injected with cortison. Worst of all, i knew what i should have done, i just didn't do it.
This thread has given me hope for retin A and my indented scar
Lisa, if you have retin A why not use it just on the scar? i just bought mine today and it cost me $220 dollars, i hear good things! I'm going to use it not while my scar is still healing maybe that gives it more of a chance ? its up to you though
a loss of hair and pimples might mean you have a high level of androgens, considered an androgen blocker?
I actually just got some blood work and urine tests done because the hair thinning alarmed me. I hope its nothing bad like my thyroid Im only 21:( But I have no sex drive anymore so it might be that. Anyways, Im off topic...
I dont spot treat cause its my whole cheek, tiny tiny dents but my whole right cheek has them. My family thinks Im crazy, but I see them. And yes, this thread is positive. Keep up the good vibes guys!
If you think you have a thyroid problem, go see your doctor and have your T3/T4/TSH levels checked. Hair loss by itself likely doesn't mean a thyroid problem, you would present with generalized metabolic changes; regardless, thyroid disorders are often chronic but entirely manageable with medication in case you were wondering.
I went back to see my results today and everything is normal Thank God, even my thyroid. Im not so sure, but I think I was only tested for TSH and my number was 0.9. If thats normal, usually T3 and t4 are too which is why TSH is the most ordered one. So, for now my hair thinning was prob stress related like I expected. And its wasnt just normal stress, I was truly depressed about two months ago and cried everyday. Im out of it now, and feel like myself again. I already see lots of baby hair in my hair part already:)
My right cheek too girl! it was the prefect cheek only 4 months ago, and now i have 5 new scars on it. But i know i will fix it, where there is a will there is a way.
Do you think you can post a photo of your cheek?
god forbid , but it could be Poly cystic ovaries PCOS. I'm thin and don't have excessive hair but i'm going to get tested for it just incase. I never considered my thyroid could also be a problem, i'm pretty sure i have some kind of weird hormone imbalance.
My doc gave me the blood work but i haven't had time to check it up yet.
Are your scars indents? And you know what girl, having a positive attitude is the greatest thing you can do for yourself and your body will reward you. I too am quite thin, Im 100 lbs on a good day and just came across PCOS while doing my paranoid search of the internet and self-diagnosing myself. How do you get tested for that? Do I have to see a gyno? Im a virgin so I have never been checked in *that area* lol.
I tried to do a pic once but the image was too small. I cant do them for some reason.
Yes indented 
,not the atropic rolling shallow ones that you probably have that will go away in time, but box car ones, one of them was an ice pic but it turned into a box car recently, i didn't realise they can do that. The newest one is really wide, and red and noticable, for others it may be nothing, and i know my scarring doesn't compare to the severe scarring of some on this website. But to me it was such a tragedy, i guess it doesn't help matters if you feel you are an attractive person to begin with, i was so depressed too, but like you said stress is the worst thing we can do for our skin. But i'm on retin Aldehyde and i KNOW its going to be ok 
i'm a virgin too, and would never let a gyno examine me. No apparently all you need is a blood test! i insisted my derm give me the bloods because like you i'm paranoid and like to diagnose myself, but he told me that "you usually notice when i girl has this, because she would be obese and with obvious hair growth on her face", and i can obviously tell you are not one of them. But i know a girl with it and she looks perfect really normal and pretty. Still i have very VERY painful periods, and i can't stand to get through them without drugs. I wonder wonder...
I'm glad you're feeling better, we just have to believe in our skin! I've had bad cystic acne on my cheeks before, and the brown marks and dents lasted a whole year, but after that year was over, my skin was perfectly smooth again. They showed dramatic improvement in the first 6 months if you need a timeline. It can happen and it will happen
You should take , zinc , vitamin E, C and B supplements, i also heard about this thing called chaste tree thats supposed to help modulate hormones. I tried it for a month but i was taking too many medicenes all at once. I'm 110lbs at 157cm, 100lbs seems to light, i heard somewhere that anorexics can have bad break outs, i also heard that people who eat to much also have bad break outs though... :/ who knows...
Yes indented
i'm a virgin too, and would never let a gyno examine me. No apparently all you need is a blood test! i insisted my derm give me the bloods because like you i'm paranoid and like to diagnose myself, but he told me that "you usually notice when i girl has this, because she would be obese and with obvious hair growth on her face", and i can obviously tell you are not one of them. But i know a girl with it and she looks perfect really normal and pretty. Still i have very VERY painful periods, and i can't stand to get through them without drugs. I wonder wonder...
I'm glad you're feeling better, we just have to believe in our skin! I've had bad cystic acne on my cheeks before, and the brown marks and dents lasted a whole year, but after that year was over, my skin was perfectly smooth again. They showed dramatic improvement in the first 6 months if you need a timeline. It can happen and it will happen
You should take , zinc , vitamin E, C and B supplements, i also heard about this thing called chaste tree thats supposed to help modulate hormones. I tried it for a month but i was taking too many medicenes all at once. I'm 110lbs at 157cm, 100lbs seems to light, i heard somewhere that anorexics can have bad break outs, i also heard that people who eat to much also have bad break outs though... :/ who knows...
I like your username, it describes me as well:(. And yes, I think I have the shallow slightly rolling ones. I dont know what to believe, some people see zero improvement, some see complete recovery. I drink Ensure Plus to help me gain weight because I have such a fast metabolism, Im 100 lbs at 5'2. But it also has a whole bunch of good vitamins in good quantity, so that is my supplement I guess. My doc said that is just my body type, he never diagnosed me as anorexic lol I guess because I dont like it and am aware of it and try to change it. I WISH i was your weight. My best weight is 105, its just hard for me to maintain.
So, during those six months, is that what you were you using? All I use right now is topical vitamin e and proactive sparingly. So are you battling a new set of scars after the cystic ones went away?
5'2 too we have lots incommon, i wish i was YOUR weight though 
, I had cystic that time a year ago all on my cheek, it left brownish red marks that were indented. I didn't use anything on them, i only took vitamin E supplements every now and then. They completely faded to nothing on their own, they did take their sweet sweet time though 
, i made sure i covered them from the sun constantly ! I think if you are using Retin-A you will ensure complete healing since i completely healed even without it. So don't you worry about anything, i think you should still use the retin A because it can't hurt, its just another vitamin after all. And vitamin E is great too!
Yeap i'm battling a different set of scars now , because i was dumb and care free and thought my skin can handle anything. I'm not so worried about the new smaller indents, but the two larger ones are the worrying kind especially because of their location. I have a photo up on one of the threads i started about retin A.
The reason I went onto something more aggressive like Retin-Aldeyhide was that this type of scarring i have now is completely different to the shallow rolling ones that i know my skin can handle, infact i've never had this much scarring before. Its on the different type of cheek skin near my cheek bone its a box car with a defined border and its deeper than the rolling ones. The cheek on your cheek bone is more prone to pitted scars and box car scars, where as the cheek on the face is more prone to shallow rolling scars.
Just make sure that if you get a large cystic pimple near the cheeck around your cheek bone, don't do what i did and leave it, get an emergency derm appointment and get a coritison injection. Don't make the same mistaket that i did.
dam in 16 and i still get pimples but on my right cheeck im getting scars.
I cant believe it scars!
the worst thing i could ask for i mean pimples sure they will go away
but scars !
I am so happy to hear that you can use products to fade them.
As long as they dont look to bad then its good.
then agian I am not going to lie.
I saw a picture of a girl on ym facebook and I dont know her but she was dancing near a pole at some club. Anyways what im trying to say is that she was mighty fine, she had aloot of acne scars but dam honostly I still got turned on so I dont think it matters too much. I looked passed the scars naturally so im sure many guys do to .
5'2 too we have lots incommon, i wish i was YOUR weight though
Yeap i'm battling a different set of scars now
The reason I went onto something more aggressive like Retin-Aldeyhide was that this type of scarring i have now is completely different to the shallow rolling ones that i know my skin can handle, infact i've never had this much scarring before. Its on the different type of cheek skin near my cheek bone its a box car with a defined border and its deeper than the rolling ones. The cheek on your cheek bone is more prone to pitted scars and box car scars, where as the cheek on the face is more prone to shallow rolling scars.
Just make sure that if you get a large cystic pimple near the cheeck around your cheek bone, don't do what i did and leave it, get an emergency derm appointment and get a coritison injection. Don't make the same mistaket that i did.
I've had a setback:( I saw myself in the sun yesterday and in my car mirror and got depressed all over again!! Why can indents be practically invisible inside your own house or in certain lights but whenever the weirdest lighting comes through or if your outside, you look like Freddy Kruger!!!!!!!!
I think Im ready to just pray, and go on the Retin A. But then again people say just give it time....AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! What should I do???? I think Im going get a second opinion from another derm and take it from there.
Snooze, thanks for the good luck. I avoid looking at pics of myself-I used to feel so pretty and full of myself lol-I always felt like the prettiest chick in the room...sigh. But, actually, since posting this and today I have some hope since using vitamin e. My scars look less red and a bit more level. Mine from the start have looked more like scratches with a slight indent so Im hoping with time they will just go away. Im just going to use vitamin e for now and not even touch the retin a micro my derm gave me. Im just not a fan of harsh chemicals and will exhaust every option before I use things that may make me worse.
Snooze, thanks for the good luck. I avoid looking at pics of myself-I used to feel so pretty and full of myself lol-I always felt like the prettiest chick in the room...sigh. But, actually, since posting this and today I have some hope since using vitamin e. My scars look less red and a bit more level. Mine from the start have looked more like scratches with a slight indent so Im hoping with time they will just go away. Im just going to use vitamin e for now and not even touch the retin a micro my derm gave me. Im just not a fan of harsh chemicals and will exhaust every option before I use things that may make me worse.
Is the Vitamin E taken in pill form or a topical?
Thank you 
Topical, but Im not so sure anymore if it actually helped my indents
I only came across this site a few months ago and wish I had discovered it sooner. It's been sooo informative (a little too informative... a bit overwhelming...) but it's also been a great comfort to me. I also have regrets... I wish I had sought medical attention sooner... and the advice of a good dermatologist. But all of that is in place right now and I just have to get present to the changes my skin is going through and focus on making progress. I'll admit that it is so much easier said than done and my acne has really broke me down at times but I try to be as optimistic as possible.
I'm pretty sure my acne is hormonal... I have extremely oily skin, breakout mainly on my cheeks, jawline and chin... I get that typical pre-menstrual flare... And although I'm pretty light (92lbs at 5'3) and my period was never irregular, heavy or painful... nor do i suffer from hirsutism, I just had this feeling that I may be sensitive to androgens or suffer from PCOS because of my skin. So my friend had told me how her skin had cleared right up after she went on the BC pill. So I immediately went that route. About 6 months later I made my first appointment with a derm and she put me onto spironolactone and azelaic acid, both of which have been working out great. The spiro is really helping reduce the oiliness of my skin and controlling breakouts around my period (which used to be a MAJOR breakout time for me). The week before and during my last period I didn't get one pimple, which is a milestone for me.
Anyway my skin used to always bounce back from even the worst bouts of cystic acne, I would be left with really bad hyperpigmention that lasts FOREVER but never got icepick, boxcar or rolling scars. Only in the last 6 months or so has this been occurring. The only affected areas are my cheeks, really only my right cheek. Lots of little shallow icepicks and boxcars... I've got what I think could be a rolling one too. The only medicated topical I use for my acne now is azelaic acid. It has really been smoothing out my complexion... It's seems exfoliating in a way, it's actually pretty cosmetically elegant.
I have noticed in the last month or so that some boxcars have slightly filled in on their own while some of the icepicks have become a little more apparent. It's almost like the azelaic acid has loosened or dissolved the horny layer of skin (the very top layer of the epidermis comprising mainly of dead skin cells). I thought maybe it was actually that very thin top layer of skin that was always keeping those scarred pores 'filled' in or less noticable? I feel like while the azelaic acid may be exposing some scars it is improving others by 'wearing' down the surrounding the skin so the icepicks and boxcars become less obvious. Not sure... but I will be keeping up with azelaic acid and see how it goes as it is improving the overall texture of my skin.
Lisa14 I can really relate to you being hesitant to try Retin-a. I want to try this so bad as I think in the long run it would really work for maintaining great skin. The fact that it encourages collagen production is so appealing. I guess you've just got to be strong enough to get through the initial purging stage. I don't know if i'm ready for that! I'm going to talk about it with my derm next month and ask for a prescription anyway. I'll ask for the lowest % and about micro and the cream vs the gel. I'll also be asking about scar revision... Dermarolling, TCA Cross, AHA's, Lactic and Glycolic acids, OTC Peels... Oh and I agree with onceperfect... More supplements and vitamins could definitely help! I plan on adding vitamin E (orally) to my regime...
I only came across this site a few months ago and wish I had discovered it sooner. It's been sooo informative (a little too informative... a bit overwhelming...) but it's also been a great comfort to me. I also have regrets... I wish I had sought medical attention sooner... and the advice of a good dermatologist. But all of that is in place right now and I just have to get present to the changes my skin is going through and focus on making progress. I'll admit that it is so much easier said than done and my acne has really broke me down at times but I try to be as optimistic as possible.
I'm pretty sure my acne is hormonal... I have extremely oily skin, breakout mainly on my cheeks, jawline and chin... I get that typical pre-menstrual flare... And although I'm pretty light (92lbs at 5'3) and my period was never irregular, heavy or painful... nor do i suffer from hirsutism, I just had this feeling that I may be sensitive to androgens or suffer from PCOS because of my skin. So my friend had told me how her skin had cleared right up after she went on the BC pill. So I immediately went that route. About 6 months later I made my first appointment with a derm and she put me onto spironolactone and azelaic acid, both of which have been working out great. The spiro is really helping reduce the oiliness of my skin and controlling breakouts around my period (which used to be a MAJOR breakout time for me). The week before and during my last period I didn't get one pimple, which is a milestone for me.
Anyway my skin used to always bounce back from even the worst bouts of cystic acne, I would be left with really bad hyperpigmention that lasts FOREVER but never got icepick, boxcar or rolling scars. Only in the last 6 months or so has this been occurring. The only affected areas are my cheeks, really only my right cheek. Lots of little shallow icepicks and boxcars... I've got what I think could be a rolling one too. The only medicated topical I use for my acne now is azelaic acid. It has really been smoothing out my complexion... It's seems exfoliating in a way, it's actually pretty cosmetically elegant.
I have noticed in the last month or so that some boxcars have slightly filled in on their own while some of the icepicks have become a little more apparent. It's almost like the azelaic acid has loosened or dissolved the horny layer of skin (the very top layer of the epidermis comprising mainly of dead skin cells). I thought maybe it was actually that very thin top layer of skin that was always keeping those scarred pores 'filled' in or less noticable? I feel like while the azelaic acid may be exposing some scars it is improving others by 'wearing' down the surrounding the skin so the icepicks and boxcars become less obvious. Not sure... but I will be keeping up with azelaic acid and see how it goes as it is improving the overall texture of my skin.
Lisa14 I can really relate to you being hesitant to try Retin-a. I want to try this so bad as I think in the long run it would really work for maintaining great skin. The fact that it encourages collagen production is so appealing. I guess you've just got to be strong enough to get through the initial purging stage. I don't know if i'm ready for that! I'm going to talk about it with my derm next month and ask for a prescription anyway. I'll ask for the lowest % and about micro and the cream vs the gel. I'll also be asking about scar revision... Dermarolling, TCA Cross, AHA's, Lactic and Glycolic acids, OTC Peels... Oh and I agree with onceperfect... More supplements and vitamins could definitely help! I plan on adding vitamin E (orally) to my regime...
Its is quite OVERWHELMING!! I agree. There are so many things you can try I just never know what to try first or in what combo or whats best for me! Im going to ask my derm to recommend me a natural regimen of topical oils and vitamins to take, no chemicals. I wonder why they never do? Anyways, yes icepicks are a b.itch. I heard with Retin A they will look worse because the top layer sort of hides them and makes them look filled in but then the Retin A strips it. So it will take some time for the new collagen to kick in and stuff..
And I am just like you. Hormonal acne, but only recently has every tiny pimple left a whole. I keep flip-flopping. I dont know if I should wait until my scars are 6 months old to see if they will fill in on their own or start with the retin a now while they are healing...
Its is quite OVERWHELMING!! I agree. There are so many things you can try I just never know what to try first or in what combo or whats best for me! Im going to ask my derm to recommend me a natural regimen of topical oils and vitamins to take, no chemicals. I wonder why they never do? Anyways, yes icepicks are a b.itch. I heard with Retin A they will look worse because the top layer sort of hides them and makes them look filled in but then the Retin A strips it. So it will take some time for the new collagen to kick in and stuff..
And I am just like you. Hormonal acne, but only recently has every tiny pimple left a whole. I keep flip-flopping. I dont know if I should wait until my scars are 6 months old to see if they will fill in on their own or start with the retin a now while they are healing...
Yeah it™s a lot of information (and possibly misinformation¦) and not just from this site but in general¦ It™s so case by case that it can take some people a long time to figure out what will work for them. I guess the best thing you can do is be your own advocate¦ Lisa14 When did you start breaking out? And what™s your status right now? I would say for me, the onset of moderate hormonal acne developed when I was like 20, but it™s REALLY started bothering me in the last year or so. Mainly because I feel like my skin isn™t as robust as it once was. When I first started on the azelaic acid, like two and half months ago it was bringing all the acne I had at the time up and completely out. 3 months ago my skin was at it™s utter worst. It was biblical. It even purged those tiny, hard, stubborn little bumps that had been there forever, some of them for as long as 6 months! I™m stoked it did that but those tend to be the ones that have left some icepicks¦ I do think it has done that only because they were there for so long.
I really wish you the best of luck at your next derm appointment. I don™t know much about natural remedies (as treatments on their own, because I™m on synthetic hormones...) but I hope you get a regime in place that you™re happy with and that works! I™m in the exact same position as you in terms of deciding whether or not I should wait it out for a bit to see if my scars improve given more time¦ Overall I think they have improved in the last month but I would love to start Retin-A anyway¦ I™m cautious though and will wait to see what my derm suggests. What did your derm say when he/she prescribed you Retin-A-Micro 0.04%? Right now I™m hardcore looking into the best suncreen I can find, so if I do decide to start Retin-A I™ll have something to effectively combat UVA and UVB rays. So far I™ve come across a lot of conflicting theories¦ I had know idea so many suncreens on the market have such bad gear in them! 
in my experience ive found that my indented scars have worsen over time, an new scars have appeared too. i haven't really looked hard into doing anything about them for a couple of years now but im starting to get back on it, has anyone got any examples of there scars and improvements since using any of the methods in this topic?!?
I believe that my indented scars have improved over time. I never before attributed it to retin-a, but I have used quite a bit of it. I used to see myself, years ago, in the sun in profile when driving in the car and be so shocked by the appearance - all the holes. and now it is a lot better. I still have scarring but it is not like it was. So I don't know if it is just time or the retin-a, but I have used retin-a for at least a couple of years over the area.
I believe that my indented scars have improved over time. I never before attributed it to retin-a, but I have used quite a bit of it. I used to see myself, years ago, in the sun in profile when driving in the car and be so shocked by the appearance - all the holes. and now it is a lot better. I still have scarring but it is not like it was. So I don't know if it is just time or the retin-a, but I have used retin-a for at least a couple of years over the area.
How many years ago exactly? How long did it take to see improvement?
if i use retin a at night and wash it off in the morning, do i still need to put on sunscreen?
It's a good idea to use it during the time you are using A, because it's effecting how your skin responds to the sun. Not just when it's actually on there. Heck, it's a good idea to use it no matter what. We worry about acne and scars, but sun is going to get you in the long run. I know many people who's face looks like a war zone, and it's all from the sun. Compare the top of your arm to the underneath part sometime... Notice how smooth the bottom part is.
I'm not surprised scars could be improved this way. I really think doing stuff over long periods of time can help... basically trying to slowly break down the skin, then build it back up. But I think a lot of people try something for a couple weeks... see no improvement... then give up. It takes a lot more time than that.
hmm dunno about the use of retin a for scarring. ive read here it assists the production of tgf1 of whatever it is called, the thing that leads to scar tissue formation in the first place. i instead use a light acid daily to slowly to help break down my existing scar tissue and then i apply copper peptides, which deliberately stops new scar tissue from forming, whilst allowing it to be filled with normal tissue.
davidst said:is there any good sunscreen that doubles as a moisturizer? do i need to apply the sunscreen to my whole face, or just where im using the retin a? how much spf?thanks, sorry for the qs..
Yes I am using Clean & Clear daytime moisturizer + SPF 15. I like it because it does not make my face look greasy like other moisturizers and it is oil-free at the same time. I've been using this same moisturizer for a year. There is also a cetaphil oil-free moisturizer + spf but I've never used it.
I would recommend apply it on your entire face. Why? because it is generally a good idea to protect your entire face from sun rays to prevent sunburn, sun spots etc. You might as well apply it to your entire face while you are at it.
Here is the link to the moisturizer: https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Oil-Free-Moisturizer-113-4/dp/B0013V4PX8/
Keep asking questions. I will answer them all day if I have to 
.
BTW.. did you experience an initial breakout from retin-a? I have a tube of retin-a and I'm so scarred of using it.
Heya guys, Im 24 female and in the last year started getting cystic type of adult acne. It mainly flares up during stressful times. Arrrggh. Anyway when one of my scabs fell of, with a little assistance from me but it was ready to go!.. it left an INDENT!ahhhhhhhhhhh. Since then I have been on the net and looking in the mirror obsessed with it. It's not healthy for ones soul that's for sure. I've noticed bit by bit it seems to be getting less but it's been 7 weeks since the scab fell off. I apply aloe vera every night and recently applied a drop of tea tree oil as after applying a bit of emu oil it looked like spots may have been forming on the area. They have cleared but the area is quite red. There seems to be mixed opinions on the net as to whether the wound will completely heal. Some say 3 months, some say 6 months, a year and some say never and then speak of dermabrasion etc. Please if you have had an indent and its filled in., how long did it take? and if you had a permanent indent and surgery that completely removed it please also post. If you have had an indent and its there for good and nothing has helped please don't post as I'll jsut find that mildly depressing. All your stories are great to hear! It's nice not to feel so alone