Hello, so a year or so ago I managed to get fairly clear skin with retin a micro. I stopped taking it, and my skin got bad, but not cysticacne bad. Just black heads, white heads, and the occasional pimple.

About 5 months ago, I started to get cystic acne on my cheeks. About 3 or four every once in awhile. I have a feeling it was because my hair was constantly in my face, and I was doing a lot of over nighters. I finally got an appointment with a dermatologist, here in Canada, at least where I live, it seems to be impossible to get one, and i have been begging for years. Since May 21st here is whathas been going on.

I started yasmin, and started getting cystic acne break outs like clock work with my period. I never used to have that. 3 packs and it didn';t stop, so for almost a whole cycle, I avoided birth control pills. Then I went on ortho try cyclin, and after 2 packs, I still had super horrid break outs like clcokwork with my pill, so I stopped. Now I am on Marvelon, and into two packs, and I constantly get cystic pimples, acne I barely used to have, all over my chin and cheeks. They freaking hurt! I keep getting indents and red marks. I feel awful! I was hoping my ski would clear before my first vacation by Christmas and I am feelig pretty crappy about that ever happening.

My skin keeps getting worse and worse. My dermatologist told me it was hormonal. I told her while on Yasmin that I never used to break out like this with my period before. She actually laughed at me and said of course it was hormonal. I was not on a birth control pill before seeing her and would get the occasional zit and tonnes of blackheads. She gave me a topical gel with sun screen, and retin a 0.05% The second time I saw her. she did nothing for me, and I bused 1.5 hours for nothing. The fourth time she gave my clindoxyl, and told me to wash my face twice a week with a 5% benzyl peroxide wash. The third time she upped my retin a micro dose, sort of. By giving me 0.04% retin a micro gel samples. just two. for 8 weeks. I ran out, so I had to go back to my0.01 ( lowes dose) retin a cream. She gave me tetracycline, but it did nothing but really hurt my stomache. She told me to quit clindoxyl gel, ebcause it interferes with tetracycline, but the pharmacist told me to take it. When I stopped taking the tetracycline, i started my clindoxyl again. When I asked if I could have a hormone test she said no. She outright ignoredmy requests for Spiro. Said nothing about it. She sai, the last time I saw her, that she was hopignt he tetracycline would clear my skin, and that mybirthcontrol would keep my acne at bay. if not, she was putting me on accutane.

I only get about 8 cycstic acne lesions during my period, the week before, during, and then mybeone pimple afterwards.

I don't feel as though i should go on accutane. I hate blood tests, they always make me faint.

If she knows the problem is hormonal,and i sure as heck feel as though it is as well.... why on earth can I not gea hormone test? My family doctor said only a dermatologist can do it . I don't know what to do. I want to be much better than this by Mid December. My cystic acne keeps etting worse now. Oh, yes, the cystic acne seems to come to a head fairly quickly, more so than it used too, I am just getting more now. Sorry if things are jumpled. I started my third pack of Marvelon, and I jsut had my period, and got about 5 cystic acne lesions and I can feel a few more coming in. I feel awful. am starting to avoid socializing. I no longer wear make up so this can heal better. I keep my hair up when I am at home. i drink more water, only water and green tea, than ever before. I don't eat perfectly, though I do eat better.

I wash my pillow cases every week.

A.M

I wash with cetaphil foaming cleansor

then clindoxyl

Avene moisturizor skin recovery cream

I use laroche posay fluid spf 60 t

P.M

At night, wash with cetaphil foaming cleansor

then apply pea size dam of retin a 0.05%- an hour later

No idea what to do. I have scars already, I am terrified of more. My birth control pillsconstantly make me nauseous. Every single one of them has so far and i take them at 11 pm.

Any advice is welcome.I am so at a loss. You think when you go to a dermatologist, your acne would get better, not be the worst it's been in your life after five months. I see her in a week (Nov.1st) and I am so worried I will be going for nothing, or absolutely have to go on accutane.