acne!!!

[cocolaw]

Hello! I have not been around much (I lost my job and things have been crazy...it''s ok though ).

This question is really for people who have had skin issues, and not for the ladies with perfect complexions

I have about 6 months until the wedding and I saw a dermatologist about 4 months ago. He put me on an antibiotic to take for 2 months for cystic acne (this is the very painful deep stuff) and it worked wonders. Then I went off of it because you are not supposed to stay on for long--my skin was a disaster-I probably had 5 cysts at one time. So back on, skin looks OK again (at least no cysts). I am terrified of going back off the antibiotic.

1) have any of you stayed on an antibiotic for your skin for a very long period of time?
2) do you have any recommendations for good skin products? I have tried everything from proactive, to perricone md, to murad and i can''t find anything that treats the acne as well as proactive, but leaves my skin looking fresh and not tired.

I''m pretty concerned because I am having a destination wedding and will be on a 5 hour flights...and flights really make me break out. Thanks!!

 

[redfaerythinker]

I get cystic acne as well and while i''ve never been on medication, I have found something that works. I believe it''s clearasil. I''ll check later. But it''s a little tube of gel that you smooth over a blemish, and no lie. It shrinks it right down. EVERY TIME. It said it worked in 100% of cases but I was suspicious cause nothing had worked for me before. But you should try it. It''s AMAZING.

 

[musincy]

Date: 5/12/2009 7:42:50 PM
Author: redfaerythinker
I get cystic acne as well and while i''ve never been on medication, I have found something that works. I believe it''s clearasil. I''ll check later. But it''s a little tube of gel that you smooth over a blemish, and no lie. It shrinks it right down. EVERY TIME. It said it worked in 100% of cases but I was suspicious cause nothing had worked for me before. But you should try it. It''s AMAZING.

Oooh please do share your miracle gel

I think I''ve tried everything! Mine ended up being hormonal, and being on birth control has helped a lot. I tried all the antibiotics, but they only worked temporarily for me. Good luck... it''s such a pain, isn''t it??

 

[iluvcarats]

Hi Coco
I get cystic acne around the time of my period, and when it gets bad I take bactrum. The one product that I love is the Patricia Wexler skin care line. I use the anti aging stuff, but she makes an acne line, and you can by a starter set of travel sizes to see if you like it. I do use here acne cream and it works great. You can only get it at Bath and Body Works.

 

[rockzilla]

I second the Dr. Wexler recommendation. I really love this product that''s called (no joke) "exfoliating cleanser with acnostat"

Its a little pricey but it has worked wonders on my acne...

 

[beach]

Yes an antibiotic will help with acne but all doctors would agree that it is not good to be on any antibiotic for a long time due to the strong possiblility of developing a treatment resistence. When you get sick, that antibiotic will not be very helpfull and these days, that is not good at all. Several old school doctors still prescribe anitbiotics like gum and are really doing more harm than good.

As for treatments, a prescription of Benzycline gel is great, but it can bleach clothes lol... It can be expensive if your insurance does not cover it though. Also, the retail store Sephora has a great acne line and is very similar to proactive but better IMO. The Sephora products do not dry out your face as much as the proactive line.

 

[ravengirl]

My ex-boyfriend was on antibiotics for the entire time we dated...that was over 2.5 years. I''m sure he''s still on them. He went off them right before we started dating, broke out bad again (like you), and his doctor put him back on.

His doctor never said anything about how he should stop taking them...? Anyway, the resistance thing makes some sense to me, so maybe don''t take them for years, but if I were you I''d stay on them until the wedding.

But that''s just my $.02!

 

[marchswallowbird]

I have been on an antibiotic for cystic acne (minocycline) for more than 25 years. Not one problem. My dermatologist (not the same one who originally prescribed) says there is absolutely no problem staying on this particular antibiotic forever.

Oh, and different antibiotics work on different things. So I have not developed any resistance to other antibiotics I might (and have occasionally) need for other health conditions.

 

[PearlDahhhling]

I had issues with acne for years and I was using Proactiv for a while which worked pretty well but then I switched birth control pills and now the combo of Proactiv with the bc I''m taking is working wonders! I''m really surprised. I''m taking Cyclessa just in case you''re on a pill or considering taking one.

Good luck!

 

[beach]

Date: 5/12/2009 9:45:53 PM
Author: marchswallowbird
I have been on an antibiotic for cystic acne (minocycline) for more than 25 years. Not one problem. My dermatologist (not the same one who originally prescribed) says there is absolutely no problem staying on this particular antibiotic forever.

Oh, and different antibiotics work on different things. So I have not developed any resistance to other antibiotics I might (and have occasionally) need for other health conditions.

I am not giving you medical advice but I would encourage you to do your own research and look up peer reviewed journal articles on minocycline and long term tetracycline use.... They are often used in combination with other drugs now to treat some medical ailments. Antibiotics are way overprescribed and are now no longer able to treat conditions they once could... There are obviously different classes of antibiotics but to say you have no resistance now is really not known and the research would suggest otherwise. Doctors are unfortunatly being forced to use defensive practices and because of that they are prescrbing like mad for every little condition. You come in with a cough and they give you an antibiotic to make their patients happy and to keep them from being sued when they should simply say get some bed rest and drink fluids. There are so many drug resistant viruses out there now because of this reckless practice.

 

[jstarfireb]

I have been on either doxycycline or minocycline for YEARS for my moderate-severity inflammatory acne. Whenever I go off of it, my acne flares with a vengeance. Recently my dermatologist put me on a newer formulation of doxycycline called Oracea that includes an immediate-release and a long-release form. It''s a low dose that supposedly stays under the antibiotic threshold so it can work as an anti-inflammatory without causing antibiotic resistance.

This is my regimen...it controls things pretty well but not 100%:

Morning:
-use a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid-containing wash
-clindamycin solution
-benzoyl peroxide gel (5 or 10%)
-a noncomedogenic moisturizer
-take an Oracea pill

Evening:
-same facial wash
-Differin gel (Retin-A also works)

Spot treatment for bad breakouts: Proactiv mask! This is a miracle treatment that shrinks pimples overnight. I don''t really love the rest of the Proactiv line because it really doesn''t seem to work for me. This mask stinks to high heaven (I think it may contain sulfur) but works like a charm.

Emergency spot treatment (only to be used for less than a week at a time): locoid lipocream, a hydrocortisone treatment

I''m not using oral birth control pills these days, but an "acne-friendly" birth control pill such as Yasmin/Yaz or Ortho tri-cyclen (lo or regular) would be a good start. But birth control and acne is a little more complicated than that - people will react differently to different pills, and it may take some trial and error to find one that works for your acne.

Finally, there''s a prescription facial wash called Plexion that all the dermatologists at my med school were prescribing. I''ve never used it because it''s not something my dermatologist uses often, but it''s supposed to work.

Unfortunately, despite all this, I ended up with 2 very large cystic pimples the week of my wedding - they concealed well enough but were still there on the wedding day. I blame the facial I got the week before the wedding - they used a weird product that was supposedly made from (no joke) pig placenta. It smelled bad too! But anyway, I started using the emergency hydrocortisone treatment, and it took a lot of the pain and redness away, but the pimples were still there.

 

[beach]

Date: 5/12/2009 11:22:50 PM
Author: jstarfireb
I have been on either doxycycline or minocycline for YEARS for my moderate-severity inflammatory acne. Whenever I go off of it, my acne flares with a vengeance. Recently my dermatologist put me on a newer formulation of doxycycline called Oracea that includes an immediate-release and a long-release form. It''s a low dose that supposedly stays under the antibiotic threshold so it can work as an anti-inflammatory without causing antibiotic resistance.

This is my regimen...it controls things pretty well but not 100%:

Morning:
-use a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid-containing wash
-clindamycin solution
-benzoyl peroxide gel (5 or 10%)
-a noncomedogenic moisturizer
-take an Oracea pill

Evening:
-same facial wash
-Differin gel (Retin-A also works)

Spot treatment for bad breakouts: Proactiv mask! This is a miracle treatment that shrinks pimples overnight. I don''t really love the rest of the Proactiv line because it really doesn''t seem to work for me. This mask stinks to high heaven (I think it may contain sulfur) but works like a charm.

Emergency spot treatment (only to be used for less than a week at a time): locoid lipocream, a hydrocortisone treatment

I''m not using oral birth control pills these days, but an ''acne-friendly'' birth control pill such as Yasmin/Yaz or Ortho tri-cyclen (lo or regular) would be a good start. But birth control and acne is a little more complicated than that - people will react differently to different pills, and it may take some trial and error to find one that works for your acne.

Finally, there''s a prescription facial wash called Plexion that all the dermatologists at my med school were prescribing. I''ve never used it because it''s not something my dermatologist uses often, but it''s supposed to work.

Unfortunately, despite all this, I ended up with 2 very large cystic pimples the week of my wedding - they concealed well enough but were still there on the wedding day. I blame the facial I got the week before the wedding - they used a weird product that was supposedly made from (no joke) pig placenta. It smelled bad too! But anyway, I started using the emergency hydrocortisone treatment, and it took a lot of the pain and redness away, but the pimples were still there.

My wedding photographer actually mentioned hydrocortisone too and said it works great for emergency overnight treatment

 

[Diamond Confused]

I was on tetracycline for over a year. My skin looked amazing during that time. I didn''t have problems with acne again. I was told by the derm that topical medicine doesn''t really work for cystic acne.

A hollistic approach is to use diluted apple cider vinegar as a toner.

 

[cocolaw]

WOW!! Thanks for all of the good suggestions. I will def. research the antibiotic. I am on minocycline, so hopefully I can stay on that until November-my skin has been remarkably better since starting this and it was a disaster for the weeks that I was off.

jstar: what is a clindamycin solution? Is this something that is available over the counter?

Thanks!!

 

[oh schnapp!]

Date: 5/12/2009 7:34:04 PM
Author:cocolaw
Hello! I have not been around much (I lost my job and things have been crazy...it''s ok though ).

This question is really for people who have had skin issues, and not for the ladies with perfect complexions

I have about 6 months until the wedding and I saw a dermatologist about 4 months ago. He put me on an antibiotic to take for 2 months for cystic acne (this is the very painful deep stuff) and it worked wonders. Then I went off of it because you are not supposed to stay on for long--my skin was a disaster-I probably had 5 cysts at one time. So back on, skin looks OK again (at least no cysts). I am terrified of going back off the antibiotic.

1) have any of you stayed on an antibiotic for your skin for a very long period of time?
2) do you have any recommendations for good skin products? I have tried everything from proactive, to perricone md, to murad and i can''t find anything that treats the acne as well as proactive, but leaves my skin looking fresh and not tired.

I''m pretty concerned because I am having a destination wedding and will be on a 5 hour flights...and flights really make me break out. Thanks!!

I don''t have cystic acne, but I scar very easily, no matter how big or small the pimple is. I use Clearasil and it seems to work pretty well, but I also recently ordered salicylic acid peel from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Salicylic-Acid-Peel-30ml-Professional/dp/B000PLUZL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1242230050&sr=1-1) and it works wonders. You have to be cautious, because hey, it''s called ACID! What I do is wash my face at night with the clearasil face wash (http://www.amazon.com/Clearasil-Ultra-Acne-Solution-System/dp/B000QV2XT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1242230111&sr=1-1) and before applying any moisturizers or lotions, I dab the zit once or twice with a qtip dipped in the salicylic. Only leave it on the spot(s) for about 2-3 mins, rinse thorougly with water, apply moisturizers, then dab a bit of any acne mask or on-the-spot (proactive mask is best, but the clearasil spot treatment included in the kit above works pretty well too, as does neutrogena clarifying mask - http://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Clear-Cleanser-4-2-Ounce-Tubes/dp/B001H54SKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1242230181&sr=1-1). I leave it on over night and this keeps the zit from getting bubbly or blistery and it''s usually flat within a day or two. I''m guessing because the salicylic acid dries it out very quickly.

 

[oh schnapp!]

Date: 5/13/2009 11:46:57 AM
Author: cocolaw
WOW!! Thanks for all of the good suggestions. I will def. research the antibiotic. I am on minocycline, so hopefully I can stay on that until November-my skin has been remarkably better since starting this and it was a disaster for the weeks that I was off.

jstar: what is a clindamycin solution? Is this something that is available over the counter?

Thanks!!

...forgot to include that my rommate was on accutane for a few months and it worked beautifully for her. She did have this strange string of random ailments that we can only assume were associated with the medication (none before taking it, none after), but nothing serious...she had some of these listed here:
http://www.naturalessentials.com/accutane.htm

 

[cocolaw]

yeah i asked my dermatologist about getting on accutane. he told me no

...he said that doctors are really hesitant to prescribe it for women during potential child bearing years. that mask sounds interesting! i''m going to check that out! thanks!!

 

[jstarfireb]

Clindamycin solution is another antibiotic, applied to the face instead of taken in a pill, but it''s prescription only. It works best in combination with benzoyl peroxide, because resistance develops easily when you don''t combine them. Other people noted that topical meds don''t do too much for cystic acne. But most people actually have a combination of comedonal (open and closed blackheads), inflammatory (angry red pimples) and cystic (what you''re describing) acne. Topical medications in combination with the oral antibiotics (minocycline is a good one) could be helpful for you anyway - ask your dermatologist.

While you''re on minocycline or any tetracycline derivative, take care to avoid a lot of direct sunlight. It can cause a "photosensitivity" reaction - a rash on sun-exposed areas. Also, it can make you nauseated, so take it with food. Finally, if you''re on it over the long term, it can cause staining of the teeth and nails - you may need to switch to something else if this happens. It''s purely cosmetic, but who wants brown teeth?

 

[cocolaw]

wow thanks! i''m very impressed with your knowledge of skincare! i don''t really have a problem with blackheads, but i do have cystic and inflammatory acne. i will ask my doctor about the topical ab.

 

[kittybean]

Hey Coco! I was on various antibiotics for my skin for a number of years, and my dermatologists never seemed to have an issue with prolonged use of minocycline/tetracycline. If it helps you, I say stay on it ''til your wedding (but I am by no means a doctor or any sort of medical authority).

For some more suggestions, you can read through this thread about my recent struggles with acne. It has been a difficult last few months, but my skin looks very pretty now, and I''ve only gotten one small pimple in the last ten days or so, which is huge progress for me.

The reason a lot of doctors are hesitant to prescribe Accutane to women during child-bearing years is due to the extremely high risk of serious birth defects if the woman becomes pregnant. For this reason, you are required to use two effective forms of birth control and take monthly pregnancy tests while on it. As long as you are committed to not getting pregnant while on it, I don''t see why a doctor wouldn''t prescribe you Accutane for the kind of cystic acne you''re describing (unless they feel that the treatment is not warranted because your acne is reversible with other treatment).

 

[beach]

Acutane has been correlated with with increased levels of depression, suicidal ideation, and mood swings too. Acutane has alot of serious side effects and many doctors prefer using other methods to treat acne.

 

[ladyciel]

I don''t know how well it might work for cystic acne, but my husband bought me a Clarisonic Brush and it has done AMAZING things for my skin. I use it with my regular face wash every morning in the shower and at the sink before bed. I then follow up with acne-fighting toner and moisturizer. The Clarisonic is a bit pricey, but it''s a one time investment that''s completely worth it IMHO. I think the benefit comes not only from how well it cleanses the surface and pores but also from the stimulation/increased blood flow. My nose used to be littered with black heads, and it''s completely clear now. I''ve also suffered from cystic-type blemishes in the past, and I haven''t had one since I started using the brush a couple of months ago. Worth a try, perhaps?

 

[Amanda.Rx]

Awww, honey, I feel your pain! I''ve been dealing with BAD acne since middle school. Kids made fun of me, and I was always too embarassed to go out without tons on makeup on. I''ve been on every cream/wash/pill known to man all the way up to Accutane. Accutane is a nasty little drug, but it works WONDERS if your acne is bad enough to warrent it''s use. Most dermatologists won''t put you on accutane until you''ve tried everything first. Accutane basically zaps your oil glands- but as you can imagine, your face gets very dry to the point where you crack and peel (like I said, nasty drug). You''re typically on it for ... 4 months??? (I think). But after that, your skin is fabulous. You also have to go through hell and back to get the prescription filled and enroll in programs. The main reason is that it is a terribly teratogen, so you CANNOT get pregnant!! They basically force you to go on birth control and undergo monthly blood pregnancy tests to make sure you''re not pregnant. (I went through all this when I was 12- it was awful, but I honestly think it saved my skin).

I''m 23 now, and my skin is still not great, but it''s not as badly scarred as it would be if I weren''t on accutane 10 years ago. Right now, I''m taking doxycycline (b/c I was starting to get those painful, cystic nodules again). The doxycycline works GREAT, and I''m scared to stop mine too. Acne is caused by a bacteria, so it makes sense that an antibiotic would work. However, you''re right- it''s not good to be on an antibiotic forever. They can also decrease the effectiveness of your birth control (if you''re on one), so BE CAREFUL!

I honestly don''t know what to suggest to you other than that. If you''re not on birth control, it may help. Your doctor can prescribe a low-androgenic birth control like Yaz, Yasmin, or Ortho Tricyclen. Those do help, especially if you notice more acne around your menstrual cycle.

I''ve tried proactive- it didn''t do much for me.

Right now, I''m on doxycycline and Epiduo gel (which is a combination of differin/bezoyl peroxide). I''m getting really good control with it, but I know it won''t last forever

.

I guess I can sympathize with you. Talk to your dermatologist. There are options (not all are great options) but they''re options, none-the-less. I''m so sorry you''re dealing with this. I understand how frustrated you are, but hang in there!