I'm 19 and have had acne for 6 years, and am quite convinced that my acne will never go away. In these 6 years, I have tried so many medications. In the last 3 years, I've been on Accutane 3 times!! I just finished my third course at 120mg/day. And what do you know, I'M BREAKING OUT AGAIN already!!! I thought I would get some time "acne-free time" to fade the 50+ red marks on my face (no joke). It's so ridiculus. This is no way for a person to live their life. What can I do? What is there to do? If the strongest acne medication (Accutane) does not work 3 times, can anything stop my acne?? I have pretty much lost all hope.
[This message has been edited by Andrew29 (edited 05-31-2003).]
After accutance, I was on topical isotretinoin gel (with a combined antibiotic) which worked great to minimise new zits, and reduce the severity of the few which popped up from time to time. I hardly get new zits these days.
I am now on retin-A gel to reduce comedones on the nose, and believe me, I have only been using it for a few days, and they are about 80% less than what I used to have before.
I am also using 98% aloe vera gel to help skin healing, which is working great so far. So, don't lose hope, it's just a mater of time when you find something that will work wonders for you too. I suffered badly from acne for 10 years before I discovered accutance and isotretinoin.
All the Best.
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The above is only my Personal Humble Opinion, Folks.
I am no expert on these matters. Please consult the (supposed) experts, and seek the advice of other people as well.
Hope,
Which isotretinoin gel did you use before you switched to retin-A? Also, which retin A are you on(strength,micro?).
Thanks,
Emma
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May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to keep you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to keep you happy.
I was using isotretinoin 0.05% gel with 2% erythromycin, sold as Isotrexin gel. I also previously used Isotrex gel which is Isotretinoin 0.05% without erythromycin.
Retin-A Gel has Tretinoin 0.025%. I only started using this a week or so ago for comedones on the nose, and it's been working fine so far. I should however say I use the gels sparingly, and like to give my skin some breathing space of a couple of days every now and then.
I would also advise caution with aloe vera gel which I also use and have recommended, not to over-use it. As some others have suggested on this board, just apply it once daily, or it can cause drying. Vit-A derivatives are drying enough as they are!
All the Best, Folks.
__________________
The above is only my Personal Humble Opinion, Folks.
I am no expert on these matters. Please consult the (supposed) experts, and seek the advice of other people as well.
hey, have you tried getting a biopsy to see if its just an allergic reaction? or like i went to my chiropractor once and he did all these tests on me to see what i was allergic to and it turned out i was allergic to foods i didnt even know i was allergic too.. aww good luck! im sorry
Please HELP, my acne is unbeatable!! 
