Hey guys I could really use some advice. I am 16, female and have been struggling with mild to moderate acne for a few years now. Last year, in 3 months, epiduo and doxycycline cleared my skin beautifully. Then November 2014 it started to wear off so I went to the derm and she prescribed 100 mg minocycline every night along with nightly use of ziana gel. It is now January 2015. I have been on this regimen for 3 months and have seen little improvement. Sometimes I have good weeks, but I almost always am struggling with a couple cysts. At the one month mark, I got so frustrated and started using ziana in the morning AND night, along with lathering (not joking) my face in pure tea tree oil. Just a couple weeks ago I had a TERRIBLE forehead breakout (mine is usually clear) and decided I need to stop the tea tree and overuse of ziana. I'm wondering though, does tea tree oil "cancel" out ziana? Would that explain why I'm 3 months into my treatment and am not clear? Does that mean im technically only like a month or two into my treatment if ziana and tea tree oil didn't work for a whole month? I have a derm appointment at the end of March but I'm so sick of this. Maybe ziana just isn't working for me?.... Also april 1 im going on vacation and am very desperate for my clear "epiduo" skin again )): thank you for your replies, they are sooo appreciated <3
Regimen:
Morning-
Wash w/ cetaphil oil control
Pat face dry
Moisturize w cetaphil oil control moisturizer
Night-
Wash w cetaphil oil control
Pat dry
Small amount of ziana all over face
100 mg minicycline
Maybe it's not the Ziana that's the problem, but the Tea tree oil? That stuff is strong and I believe it should be diluted - you shouldn't put it full-strength all over your face. I've also heard it doesn't work for everyone.
Have you tried using a benzoyl peroxide wash in the morning? It works for me as a part of my regimen - I use clindamicyn in the morning and differin at night. My skin is 95% clear right now as far as active acne goes.
Maybe it's not the Ziana that's the problem, but the Tea tree oil? That stuff is strong and I believe it should be diluted - you shouldn't put it full-strength all over your face. I've also heard it doesn't work for everyone.
Have you tried using a benzoyl peroxide wash in the morning? It works for me as a part of my regimen - I use clindamicyn in the morning and differin at night. My skin is 95% clear right now as far as active acne goes.
Yeah I think the tea tree was only making it worse so I stopped a couple weeks ago and my forehead has cleared up but the rest of my skin is still breaking out )): I'll ask my derm about the benzoyl wash when I go at the end of March