The Million Dollar Question!!!!!

[KaraKaraKara]

This question has been asked many times before in some form or another... but I was hoping to get a little more feedback... I'm sure many people have been suffering from acne from a very young age (age 10 for me) and have tried every product out there, you name it... all the meds, w/e... so now many of us have some serious scaring going on... I do...

I FINALLY found a good balance... Differin cream and Minocycline, that seems to be doing something... and now I want to attack the scars. I've seen many suggestions, some I've tried... some not... I plan to try the aspirin mask, as well as the clearasil acne scar treatment kit someone else said worked for them...

ANY OTHER PRODUCTS/IDEAS/HOME RECEPIES? Thanks!!!!

[Peaches26]

Kara;
I'm calling today to make a derm appt and I'm sort of scared. I have had mild/moderate acne for about 12 years (I'm 30). During my 2 pregnancies my face was as clear as could be and I didn't start breaking out again until my period started, which was about 6 months after giving birth...both times.
So, I know it's hormonal. Products sometimes work for me, but then stop. I tried using the clean and clear bp, but that just dried my face out too bad, and again, only worked a little.
I've always been scared to go to a derm and be put on something...I hate that many things have to make your skin worse to get better. I have a professional job and I just can't go through a severe acne breakout faze. I'd rather live with mild acne then go through that. But...if there is something out there that won't break me out too bad in the beginning, I'll try it out.
So...my question finally to you is that I'm pretty sure minocycline is a antibiotic, right? How long did that take to work, and did you have a bad breakout phase? Same questions with the Differen, and does it dry your skin out-do either dry you out? Can you be in the sun?
I've heard some good things about Differen, but I want to make sure I know what I'm getting. So, as much as you can tell me about both would be great!
THANKS!

[KaraKaraKara]

Well, I just started about a week ago... and so far things are great! i was really afraid of the huge breakout phase, but I didn't get one! (or havne't so far)... I've seen some great improvement around my chin and jaw line... the antibiotic minocycline doesn't make me feel sick or anything, but I know that it is a side effect for many people... I have WEIRD skin... my face will produce a whole lot of oil during the day, and as soon as I wash my face, it will dry out stiff as a board. So, my doctor put me on Differin CREAM (not the gel, which is more drying) and so far, so good!!!!! They say to stay away from the sun, but during the day I use a SPF 20 Neutrogena illuminating moisturizor which takes care of that. But so far, so good... hopefully the improvement continues!!!!!