Isotrexin : Erythromycin (2%) and Tretinoin (.05%) Gel

I am a 26 year old female suffering from mild normal acne on my chin and jawline area. I have always had clear skin up until a year ago when I started getting breakouts around my mouth and chin. In the last year I've tried benzoyl peroxide gel which didn't do anything other than make my skin red and sore and flakey. I then tried a topical liquid antibiotic to apply to the affected area ( I can't remember the name of it). This also didn't work. I then tried lymecycline and took these antibiotics for 3 months - leaving me with clear skin. The doctor wanted me to stop taking them due to effects on my liver. After just a few weeks of stopping them my spots came back. I went to see a dermatologist and was prescribed isotrexin. I've been told to put a thin layer of the gel over the affected areas at night time after washing my face but before moisturising, so that the product can sink in. I don't find this product sore or difficult to use. I don't feel any stinging when putting it on like other reviews mention. It dries and goes a little crusty. I have however (like all the reviews say) had a big breakout. I've gone from just a couple of manageable spots to several at once which I find difficult to hide with make up. I've been using the gel for two weeks and my skin has definitely got worse. My dermatologist has told me to use it for two months then to go back and see him to review the progress. I will persevere with it until then. Interestingly he also told me the best face moisturiser to use was aqueous cream which you can buy in huge tubs for only a few pounds. I s water based and oil free and fragrance free etc. I will add another review once I am at the end no of my two months to let you know how it goes.

Since I hit my twenties (2 years ago) I have been battling with my skin, something I never thought I would be worrying about having normal skin throughout my teens! I have tried different anti biotics, the pill, etc and all of them only offer a short term fix. I would say my acne is moderate which can verge on severe after a flare up but the scars/hyperpigmentation which it leaves behind makes me the most self conscious. I went to the doctors about a month ago after a really bad flare up and she gave me a combination on isotrex gel, lymecycline and the pill. So far it has got better than it was and I've gone from about 12 active spots down to about 2. All the reviews are right, it does break you out so bad the first couple of weeks but if you persevere it does get better! When I apply it it kind of stings and makes my eyes water but within seconds that passes, it also does leave a residue of your face in the morning due to the peeling effect but this can easily be washed off. It does dry out your skin, but so do many acne cream/gels! After a super bad break out I am finally seeing my skin sort it's self out! I am currently using this before bed after cleansing my face, then using an exfoliator (St ives apricot scrub) some mornings, effeclar duo and lymecycline and the pill. I am going to carry on with this product for another 4 weeks and see if my skin improves further but so far so good (after the initial breakout) Hope this helps! :)

Use very small amount only on spotty area. Defo not a morning cream and so not for underneath makeup..it just peels off.

It's early day's, this is my second week and so far some parts of my skin look fine and maybe slightly better but it has brought out some horrible sports around my jaw and chin area. I will stay strong though and keep on trying as i know it takes longer than a week to clear up acne! Im also going to try what someone earlier mentioned which is moisturize first then apply. Also id like to add im only using it at night. I will be back in a month to update on how im getting on.

different people dfferent pros and cons. for me its worth using because i have painful infected pustules, i went on roaccutane tablets and i went through DEPRESSION and my eyes are always dry now, plus my problem is hormonal so im gettin spots again!

One of the better treatments used, the gel is good and unlike creams does not block the pores thus causing more spots. The tube of 30ml perscribed at £7 (NHS) does not last long, and red patches on the skin seem to occur. I think it's best to take the odd day off using isotrexin as it works better over the following days. Without doing this I have found it does not work so well and seems like the skin builds up resistance to it. The peeling is not good and it cannot be worn with make up so forget using it in the morning when you go to work! Overall seems like a good product but again as with ALL acne treatments I have used there is possibility it will stop working in 3/4 months. Compared to other treatments used I find this has the least amount of side effects i.e headaches etc. but everyone is different so this may not be the case for others.

I cant comment on the pros of this treatment too much as I have only been on it for 3 1/2 weeks now, but at first it seemed to work almost immediately and no new spots were developing. However over the last few days my skin has got worse but im hoping that if I give it time it will clear up, as many other people have said on this site. I've been on many antibiotic tablets before and tried zineryt and freederm gels and they all seem to work for a small amount of time but my GP told me that this one should clear them up and maintain them so fingers crossed!

I've been using this for 3 weeks. My skin was mild acne beforehand, both on my face and my back. After a week of use, my face broke out terribly. Then, my forehead cleared up nicely, and my nose is ok. However, my chin and cheeks are awful! I've become so depressed and it keeps getting worse. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't want to stop using it in case it eventually works, but all it's doing is making my skin break out worse. My back has cleared up very well though and I feel more comfortable in bikinis/backless tops etc.

Haven't seen any effects as of yet, bar the dryness. Have only been using it for a week however, so will give it another few. Definately don't use under makeup!

I've been using isotrexin+benzac ac togetger as my doctor advice. First applying isotrexin and then benzac ac. Using both of them gets inflamed acnes dry but also my skin gets dry extremely and some areas have redness and irritation! But I've decided to be patient and wait for my skin become familiar with it:)By the way insolation is deadly while using these..