Tell your story!!!

[kc_sunshine101]

I'll play. I started breaking out at 15. I asked my Dad to take me to a derm. He did and I was put on Monodox and Benzamycin. That worked for about a year. I went on BCPs at 16 and went off them at 17. After I went off, my skin exploded and would not stop. I had to idea it was related. I went on Accutane. That cleared me up perfectly for about 6 months. The acne came back. I remember that my face got so bad, my whole left cheek was covered, it looked like one big scab. I went on Accutane again. Same thing happened. It came back. I started seeing a facialist and she did help a bit. Then, I started using Murad's acne kit. Never really helped. I have since had clear light (no help), facials (same), been on 7 different BCPs and my skin is a tad better now. What I think has helped:

NO DAIRY!!
No Caffeine
No makeup
Exercise regularly (at least 4-5 times a week)
Eat lots of whole grains and drink a TON of water
Limit sugar intake
No moisturizer
Only wash skin 1-2 times per day


I now will have 4-5 pimples at a time as opposed to a ton (where I cant even count)

[openseason]

johnsmith you said that anyone eating protein should balance it out with fruit. The two should not be eaten at the same meal, because opposite digestive enzymes are needed to digest them. When you eat protein and sugar fruit together you are killing yourself.

[johnsmith007]

"openseason", I've never heard of that before. Could you please explain in a little more detail, especially about how I am killing myself, lol. Just as a note, I said that you should eat protein any time you eat fruit to balance out the sugar. You can eat protein by itself, which is fine, just not fruit by itself. But that doesn’t really matter with what your talking about. Could be please elaborate. Thanks

[annonymousgirl]

When I was in the 6th grade (11-12) I started getting acne. It wasn't terribly bad. Just the little pimples occasionally popping up, then it got progressively worse, and by 9th grade, I reached the worst part of my acne. They were big cysts, that have the white stuff oozing (gross, I know) and it was all over my face, chest, and back. Well, I'd been going to the dermatologist since I was 12, and you know, i'd used Differen, Triaz, Retin A Micro, Antibiotics, Benza something, and anything else you can think of. It was terrible, and nothing worked. Well, you know, at the beginning it would get a little better, but then it would get worse after a few months. Anyways, then I went to a new dermatologist, and before asking me any questions or anything, she said I should try accutaine. And I was hesitant at first, because you have to get monthly bloods tests, and stuff like that, and the side effects sounded terrible. But, I decided to do it anyways, plus, the way I looked really affected my "emotional state" and I found myself becoming depressed, and I had no self confidence. So, I started taking it. Now, I'm not going to lie to you, the side effects were pretty bad. I was only on 40 mg, but it was terrible. My lips got so dry and crackly that they bled, and I had scabs on them, and my face was all dry and peely, and my arms, well I like broke out in these red dry patches all over my arms, and my legs were all dry and got kind of "scabby". Well, after about 3 months of my treatment, the side effects gradually got better, and weren't as intense.. Seriously, after the first week I noticed a little bit of a difference, but after that for about 4 months I didn't see much of a change, but the last month of my treatment (it was 6 months) I noticed a HUGE change in myself. The pimples were getting smaller, and were going away. Now, I've been off of accutaine for about 3 months now (i'm in the 10th grade just to let ya know) and my face is still continuously getting better, the only thing is that there are red spots from where I had the big pimples, but the doc said they should go away, and I have a few small ones. But with just a little foundation and powder, you can't see anything.


(this is also posted on a few other threads)

[micheguns]

Originally Posted by johnsmith007

I just wanted to tell anyone reading this who has had different types of procedures (chemical peels, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, CO2, any types of lasers) to please tell your story. Basically just what condition your skin was in before, what you did (and how many times), and how your skin was after. It would help a lot of people. -Thanks

Hi There all,
I haven't been to these boards in about a year. WOW. I don't even know if any of you remember me. Anyway, I got the most horrible acne of my life about 2 years ago and was put on accutane and triaz, and retin-a, and spyro, and every other gosh darm medicine. I swear, you name it I've been on it Ok, so I didn't leave my house for 6 months and can't even look at a pic. of myself from back then. I finally broke down and called my old estetichian (sp?) who started me on a strict regimen of Dermalogica and microdermabrasions and EMS (electronic muscle stimulation) I went every week for a micro and EMS and OMG it helped so much. Sure I looked like a tomato after every one but I was ready for her to help me, and I had to put 110% of my trust into her. I have had about 40 micro. and 40 EMS, no joke and my skin is sooo much better. I can leave my house without makeup, and sure I still feel self consciouse because of everything I have been through, but I know it could be worse. It will be 2 years in February since I have started my treatment program and I couldn't be in a better place with my face. Sure I still get a "period" pimple or two every month, but I will take that any day over what I used to have (my face was a deep purple wth all of my cysts). I couldn't even hardly open my mouth to eat because it hurt so bad.

So, the moral....I encourage everyone to hang in there. Even when I was at my lowest I knew it could only get better. It took me a year to get well, the longest year of my life. But it will get better.!!!