Hi there everyone,
I've had acne for years and have managed to keep it under control with
Benzamycin, until my skin became resistant to it. I then switched to a 10% benzyl peroxide wash and a 0.1% gel Differin. The Differin has made a difference, but recently I've started to notice that I've been getting more acne...and the Differin has never made all of my acne go away, just most of it. I've SO fed up with all of this, I just want something to make it go away! I know there's no magic cure for acne, but what would you all suggest that I do? I'm seeing my dermatologist this wednesday, and appointments are very difficult to book and take months, so I need to be ready/have something to say. He's against Tazorac...and keeps asking me if I want to go on the pill or antibiotics. However, I'm NOT going to use the pill (that's for sure...at least, not yet) and was (and am still) very against antibiotics. However, I'm becoming SO desperate now, that I'm thinking that perhaps i should give antibiotics a go. The only thing is, what's the point in taking them, if the acne is just going to come back again, once I stop taking them?! Antibiotics don't make acne just disappear, even after you stop, right? So if I take antibiotics for 6 months (which i believe is a VERY long time), will it come back when I stop taking it??? I'm so confused about this! I can't take antibiotics for years...! I'm really not planning on using them for more than 6 months, so is there any point? I mean, will it only help for these 6 months that i take them? (and it takes a while for them to start working!) What do you think I should do???

Also, should I ask him about Azelaic acid??? I REALLY want a topical cream, instead of using antibiotics! However, I can't think of anything that's left...i've used benzyl peroxide, various topical antibiotics, and Differin. My dermatologist says there's no point in using Retin A or Tazorac, they're just more likely to irritate my skin...grrr!
I'd appreciate any ideas/suggestions!!!