20 and above Females with moderate acne cysts.

[Katrinamp]

If you are switching BC pills, you might want to try Diane 35, Yasmin, Desogyn or Ortho-Tri (in order of effectiveness, according to other posters). I wouldn't switch to just orthocyclin though. I know from experience that that doesn't help and I think it made it worse. I've heard alot of people say that Ortho-lo made their skin worse so I am not surprised. At least this way you know what is aggrevating yours- hormones!

[mel1977]

I just turned 27 and started getting my cysts when I was 24. I had a lot of stressful things going on in my life at that time. I was also selling Mary Kay which I assumed was the reason I was getting them-from using those products. But, I quit selling and quit using them, and they didn't go away. Then I moved from the midwest to CA and they were still there, they were there until four months after I moved to NV. I saw a dr about it and she gave me a lotion that she uses for her acne cysts. Mine were on my chin line or low cheeks. I would squeeze and squeeze and nothing would happen. They were a purple/grey color and man did they piss me off. My face would be clear except for those. I even got married with them. So, in 2003 (feb, when I was 26) my dr prescribed a sulfur lotion-sodium sulfacetamide 10%, Sulfa 5%. And they were gone, haven't had one since and I don't even use the lotion every day. NOW, they could have been due to 100% stress-when I saw her, my stress levels dropped-I got the job I had been missing since I left the midwest, hubby got the perfect job too. We had pets and had money and things took a huge change. I can't say what really helped, but the lotion isn't expensive, worth a try if you haven't already.

[fadeaway1289]

i'm 26 years old and have moderate cystic acne also. i had mild acne in high school but i started using proactiv for the past few years and it helped. it suddenly stopped working and now i'm breaking out more than ever. mainly cysts on my chin and jawline and recently on my cheeks. i switched to proacne it helped for a few weeks then stopped. I went to the dr and was prescribed a bp face wash. that didnt help. I went to another derm and was given plexion cleanser, duac, and vitamin a. the plexion made my skin look very pale and sickly looking. and i had a very bad reaction to vitamin a (cluster of six cysts on my jawline). i'm currently using klear action and the duac. its helping to dry out my skin because its extremely oily but doing nothing for the cysts. i cant get them to go away!! its very frustrating and annoying.

[LkK2507]

I feel ya, Ive been getting really down about it lately. most of your guys break outs seem to get the on your cheeks and jaw. I used to never get them there. like I said mine are worse on my T zone (chin, forehead and occasional on my outer nose) Now I get a few here and there on my cheek and jaw but they arent usually huge. seems like the skin there is more prone to scaring and redness or something though. right now I have one close to my jaw line. its not too hateful though I guess. Ive had a ton of zits in my life and I dont have but a few very minor scars, just dark spots that go away eventually. do you think its cause your T zone area is less scar prone?

When i said I was going to switch BC pills I meant to switch from OTC Lo to regular OTC, is there an even different one? just called "OrthoCyclin"?? I didnt know that. I dont know if i want to try OTC or not. I guess it wouldnt hurt. is it bad for you to be on BC pills just for acne?

I might try that Sulfer lotion. I use a sulfer spot treatment for exsisting zits or healing ones I should say. its by Murad. it works good and diminishes the puffyness of the over night. Thanks

[BJM04]

The ortho,ortho tricyclen and orthotricyclenlo birth control pills didnt work for me as far as helping with acne...infact it made my breakouts worse...I was told my my dermotoligist a long time ago Demulen wasa good birth control pill to use to not aggravate breakouts...I've since stopped that one with no success and Now i plan on givng ALesse a try...