Help with acne treatment, getting married in June?!
Question: I went to the dermatologist about 2-3 weeks ago and he prescribed me these:
-Benzoyl Perozide 5% gel (day time)
-Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Solution (day time)
-Retinoic Acid 0.1% cream (night time)
I have been on it for almost 3 weeks now. The first 2 weeks, I experienced extreme itching, peeling, irritation, and redness. But over time all these effects has either been gone or subsided tremendously. But just over the past couple of days, I noticed that my already existing acne spots has gotten more noticeable (almost look like big mosquito bites compared to when it was just a bump when I first began treatment). I have relatively mild acne but I was wondering what exactly are these treatments doing and if there is a rough time table for anyone who are familiar with the treatments above. I'm getting married in June and would like to have an idea in mind. Please answered my question pertaining to the treatments above and not offer other treatments, thank you
Answers: I went to the dermatologist about 2-3 weeks ago and he prescribed me these:
-Benzoyl Perozide 5% gel (day time)
-Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Solution (day time)
-Retinoic Acid 0.1% cream (night time)
I have been on it for almost 3 weeks now. The first 2 weeks, I experienced extreme itching, peeling, irritation, and redness. But over time all these effects has either been gone or subsided tremendously. But just over the past couple of days, I noticed that my already existing acne spots has gotten more noticeable (almost look like big mosquito bites compared to when it was just a bump when I first began treatment). I have relatively mild acne but I was wondering what exactly are these treatments doing and if there is a rough time table for anyone who are familiar with the treatments above. I'm getting married in June and would like to have an idea in mind. Please answered my question pertaining to the treatments above and not offer other treatments, thank you
What you are using is too strong for you! Your prescriptions work BUT all skins are a bit different and you need to adjust this "recipe" so it works for you.
What you are using is:
1. Benzoil - The benzoil kills the bacteria in your pimples. The one you are using is way too strong for you. That's one of the reasons why you are itching, red and peeling. You skin will adjust and it might feel better but that's still not good enough. Use a 2.5 benzoil instead and apply LIGHTLY (Neutrogena has a good one.) If you want to use what you have, mix it with a bit of moisturizer to lighten the effect or just use VERY little.
PS: Moisturizer does NOT cause pimples. Use a light one with few ingredients (Cetaphil and Eucerin make good ones). Watch out that they don't have ANY active ingredients listed in the back.
2.Clindamycin Phosphate - that's an antibiotic that kills bacteria, very strong too. I would ditch this one for now.
3. Retinoic Acid 0.1 cream - This is GOOD! (This is like using Retin A, Renova, or Avita.) A 0.1% formula is still too strong, you should have one that is 0.04% or somewhere in between. This product increases the speed with which the surface cells are replaced. It renews your cells and increases collagen so you look younger as well AND doesn't let your pores get clogged, so you wont get pimples. You'll have softer skin with a more even tone. Because your cells are newer and you basically are having a mini peel overnight (if you use too much or one that's too strong you will PEEL like a banana), you shouldn't go out in the sun much or you might get a sun burn - not pretty on the skin before a wedding. Avoid the sun for now. Get a fake tan if need one.
Use this one before the benzoil.
I know you don't want new treatments but I want to give you a modification of what you are using because I believe it will be very helpful. This all works if you use it correctly.
-Do this at night, and if your skin can handle it, and it's still not better, do it morning and night.
1. CLEAN -Wash with a MILD LIQUID FACE soap (not with a bar!) and a white cloth to exfoliate - don't scrub!
(DO wash morn. and night thought)
2. RENEW PORES - Use your Retinoic Acid OR a super mild Retin A or any of the other ones I mentioned before.
2.EXFOLIATE - Use a 1% BETA Hydroxy Acid lotion - only after you KNOW that your skin can handle your Retinoic Acid (and use VERY little of it when you use it). Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (goes deeper than an ALPHA hydroxy acid). This unclogs and exfoliates the pores from inside out, good to PREVENT new pimples from appearing.
3. KILL BACTERIA - use only one of these to start.
a) A 2.5 or LESS benzoil peroxide cream (kills bacteria in your current pimples so they go away).
b) If this is still too much, use Tea Tree 100% essential oil. You can find it in the aromatherapy section but it has to be 100% essential oil. This also kills bacteria and it hurts the skin less than benzoil.
c) Use the antibiotic that you have if your skin is ok and you still have acne.
4. MOISTURIZE - Add a light moisturizer to help with dryness if you have any, otherwise you don't need this.
There are other things you can use for your skin, like antioxidants to protect it from free radicals, or SPF to protect from the sun, but for now just deal with your acne and forget the rest.
Note: Do NOT use a sunscreen for now. I know this sounds like terrible advice but FOR NOW don't. Some of the ingredients clog pores. Avobenzone is better but still, until you research it - and I recommend you do, wear a hat or try to stay away from the sun.
What will happen:
If you do this right, you should see less pimples THE NEXT DAY! You should have softer skin THE NEXT DAY! Everything works right away. If by the 3rd day your skin is irritated, use less amount or use every other day and add a moisturizer. If your skin is okay but still have the SAME amount of acne, use the products morning and night. If your skin is improving slowly, DON'T CHANGE A THING! Don't use more product so that it works faster. Big mistake! Eventually you'll have close to perfect skin.
If none of this works you might have a chronic case of acne and your Dr. might prescribe Accutane. But talk to him/her about that. But it sounds like you have mild acne and used products that are just too much for you.
Remember to never touch your face (you don't want new bacteria to land on it), and don't use any other products on it. Let it breathe and calm down. The red bumps will go away. Don't use anything for 1 day and then start again.
Also, drink water to eliminate toxins from your body.
In 2 weeks (up to a month) your face should be almost clear - depending on the severity of your acne.
Here is a link to a website that has tons of great info.
www.cosmeticscop.com
Good luck and congratulations on your wedding. I wish you the best! I'd love to know if this works for you. Let me know if you can :)
proactive..........no joke best stuff in the world!!!!
Hi.
I suffer from a bit of acne on my face, chin etc.
What I find really helps is a product called Natural Instincts.
Its all Natural, no animal fat etc. theres a whole range of products you can get, and I noticed results within the month.
Hope this helps.
your probubly under too much stress
this could cause acne, also you should try to stop eating chocolate and fatty foods
the fatty foods is not really gonna help acne but if you cut out fatty foods you will feel much better and thus not be stressed
good luck
ski
forget all the stuff he told you because it is doing more harm than good, not all dermatologists are good wit acne. this is wat i did and it was very fast and effective.(i had very little to start) ok, drink lots of water. wash your face twice a day, morning and night, with warm water and this special soap from equate. it is a face and body wash that is great for acne. if you need try stride x medicated pads, they work great to. but dont eat chocolate for a while and drink minimal soda, all of this will clear you acne in about 5 days to a week!:) and congrates on gettiin married!!!!!
My doctor told me that the first month would make it look worse than it did before, but after that it would start clearing up
try washing your face night and day, but pay a little more attention to the acne spots. i use Benzoyl Perozide 5% also, but just for spot treatment when i need it. you might also want to consider oil absorbing pads, i think clean and clear makes them
ok all the dermatologists i have gone to prescribed me things that havent worked, made my skin flake and i was just really upset and pissed off about the whole thing
the ONLY thing thats worked for me is The Regimen, a step program thats on www.acne.org
you should use 3.5% BP cause i realized 5 and 10% are wayyy too strong and they just irritate it further