Acne problem

[maya04]

Okay this is my situation i first started breaking out when i was in the 11th grade about 16 and now im 20 still suffering from it but just not as bad. My acne in the beginning was really bad from mild to strong with cysts that would form from my cheek and i would keep getting them in the same spot. I have acne on my cheeks, chin area and forehead. I would get tons all over in those areas as well as whiteheads and i have scarring now because of it that wont seem to go away. I have been treated by 5 different doctors so far and nothing seems to work. I have used monocycline, doryx, retinA, differin, murad, proactive, B prox, AHA oil and acne, astrigents, toners, benzcycline, ance surgery, injections with steriods and 11 microdermabarsion treatments (so expensive $195 two times a month) and although all this as helped me it hasnt done the job to get rid of the acne or the scarring. And just today i saw a dermatologist and she gave me tetracycline to take twice a day and im not sure about how well this pill will work for me or if its effective and unfortuntely she wouldnt prescribe me Accutane because she doesnt feel my acne is severe enough. For the microdermabarsions i have already spent $3000 and before $2000 and im tired of nothing helping me. I would like to know if i should try tetracycline and if there is anyone who can help me to do something that would be more effective for better and faster results. Like maybe photofacials or laser or chemical peels just anything that would help me. Please help. I dont know what to do! What are my options? Thanks

[David M]

I think that first of all, if you have already been on other meds as you have described in your posting and nothing has worked for you thus far, not to mention all of the money that you have already spent with unsatisfied results and now you are being put on tetrycycline, that is almost like going backwards in a way, because a lot of dermatologists will start a patient off with tetrycycline and see what kind of results are obtained with that.. Usually if no results in one to two months, then they will usually alter or change your medication, or in some cases give you alternatives to try. In your case especially being as costly as treatment is nowdays, it may be a good time to seriously consider looking for a different dermotologist and telling him or her what you have already been treated with.... In any case GOOD LUCK to you, as I myself know how aggravating this can be. I am sure there is someone out there that will be able to help you. I dont know if this has helped you at all, but I just wanted to stick my two cents in or give you my own opinion on your situation. One other thing you may want to inquire about is Tazorac.. This is very similar to Retin A, but some people get different or better results with this medication.. I have been on both and Tazorac was very much responsible in clearing up my skin to almost zero acne as of now.. Any little flare up I may have clears up so much quicker for me now

[stan]

Originally Posted by maya04

Okay this is my situation i first started breaking out when i was in the 11th grade about 16 and now im 20 still suffering from it but just not as bad. My acne in the beginning was really bad from mild to strong with cysts that would form from my cheek and i would keep getting them in the same spot. I have acne on my cheeks, chin area and forehead. I would get tons all over in those areas as well as whiteheads and i have scarring now because of it that wont seem to go away. I have been treated by 5 different doctors so far and nothing seems to work. I have used monocycline, doryx, retinA, differin, murad, proactive, B prox, AHA oil and acne, astrigents, toners, benzcycline, ance surgery, injections with steriods and 11 microdermabarsion treatments (so expensive $195 two times a month) and although all this as helped me it hasnt done the job to get rid of the acne or the scarring. And just today i saw a dermatologist and she gave me tetracycline to take twice a day and im not sure about how well this pill will work for me or if its effective and unfortuntely she wouldnt prescribe me Accutane because she doesnt feel my acne is severe enough. For the microdermabarsions i have already spent $3000 and before $2000 and im tired of nothing helping me. I would like to know if i should try tetracycline and if there is anyone who can help me to do something that would be more effective for better and faster results. Like maybe photofacials or laser or chemical peels just anything that would help me. Please help. I dont know what to do! What are my options? Thanks

I have cystic acne all over my back and just normal pimples on my face. And yes a derm starts off giving you antibiotics like tetracycline, minocycline, erythromcin. Ive been on all of these and they did not work for me. The tetracycline did nothing but every one responds different. If you have tried any antibiotics and you have failed to respond to them then a derm should be putting you on accutane. Im on accutane and it has made a bit of improvement got 4 months left. You should try and see another derm about it. But i have heard off a treatment something to do with a blue light and livulan treatment which shirinks the glands permanently. I dont know much about it but if you search on the net put in blue light with livulan treatment you will find it. There is a post on here about it somewhere i think.
goodluck

[kbaby9681]

Hi Stan, Your story is close to mine, however you have had more treatments then myself. I have tried most of the same stuff you have. I will say that off all the products I have used Accutane did work the best. I have been going to a spa and the laddy I use have me on Murad, and I have facials every 2 weeks, she does different stuff every time. She always uses the high freguency treatmeant, not sure if you ahve used it. She put a chemical that kills the bacteria, the uses this light thing and it creats a ozne for you skin. If I get a zit I go to her that day And she will do this treatment and it will lessen the the ance, moost on the time in the next day or two it is gone. The only thing that I can tell you is that this is something that we go through and I am not sure thaa there is a cure. I do think it is all about the up keep of your skin and you just have to find something that work good enough. It may not get reid off all the ance. I am not sure anything will. I just keep mine under control. You may even try something you had tried years ago it may have not worked then, but your body and hormones change. I would try to find a doc. that would put you on accutan , what can it hurt you have tried all the othre treatments? I will say that the chemical peels, and the steriod injectons are only temp. Don't wast your money in less you have a event comming up that you just have to look good for. I wish you all the luck and if you find something that works let me know. I will say this is just my opion I am not a doctor, God Bless...

[jamilcp]

maya04- i have suffered from mild acne for about 9 years now. this past year i went off birth control and my skin broke out sooo bad. i was derperate and i tried everything! well of course nothing worked and i was getting really depressed. i went to see a plastic surgeon about my scars that i had from previous and current breakouts. well he said he couldn't do anything until my skin cleared up so he prescribed me a topical antibiotic. i really didn't see any change in my skin after a few weeks. then i came across a book called acne rx by dr. james fulton. it was the best acne book i have ever read. well he also has a skin care line so i decided to give it a try. i have been using his regimne for about a month and a half now and i'm happy to say my skin is almost completely clear. now i just have the hyperpigmentation to deal with. here is my regimne:
am:
wash with vivant 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cleanser
tone with vivant toner on a cotton ball-swipe over face to remove any left over cleanser and oil
ice entire face for 3-5 minutes
apply topical antibiotic (clindamycin)
apply sunscreen
p.m.
wash with above cleanser
tone same as above
ice again for 3-5 minutes
apply mandelic acid serum from vivant-this is a new aha that has so far been found to be superior to other aha's. it is antibacterial so it's great for acne but it also treats hyperpigmentation and photo-damage.

hope this info is helpful!