I started seeing a dermatologist I think around 20. He prescribed Retin-A and Aczone. After 3 years, I STILL had acne, not horrible but I always had at least one bump. I thought this was normal. The bumps, the hyperpigmintation, the scars. The most he did to adjust my medication was change me to a higher Retin A . And try one round of antibiotics that did nothing.
In December 2013 I decided I was done with birth control. Not because I wanted a baby but I had noticed that in the past 2 years I had put on 10 pounds that I could not lose. My diet got healthier in those 2 years and still the weight came. At this point I was also engaged and BC kills some happy love hormones so all signs were pointing to "Stop BC". By mid April 2014 I went from 134 to 120 (still a healthy BMI for someone 5'6) I was not working out or eating any differently. Gee thanks BC. My acne came back with a vengeance. In April I went to the same dermatologist group but to a different doctor. This time a woman who understood hormones better than my previous male doctor (and honestly wasn't such an ass). She explained that my acne was some hormonal-around and under my jaw line- and some was the line between acne and rosacea. The hormonal acne was forming into cystic acne on my chin and cheeks and I had some pretty bad red/purple marks. She changed my Retin A to Tazorac (stronger retinol) and added Oracea for the rosacea. That worked a bit. It did start to dry me out but after a month I went back to oily skin. I dealt with it for a while. Then In December 2014 I took off work 2 weeks for Christmas. So no make up around the house and pretty chill time. I had the worst breakout of my life. My skin was a mess. I ended up going to ulta and buying Dermablend just so I could return to work. Since then bad breakouts are my norm. My face, my chest and my back. In February I made another derm appointment and she said my acne was now moderate to severe on my face and severe on my chest and back. She prescribed 100mg of Minocycline for a month and said if it didn't work we'd start talking about Accutane.
In that month I done a lot of research on Accutane. At the end of my month the antibiotic had barely touched the acne. I made an emergency appointment with my derm and she asked if I wanted Accutane. I said yes. She went on to explain the side effects I already knew and the do not get pregnant speech. I asked how many people she had prescribed this to (usually has about 5 patients on it at all times), how many people she's taken off due to bad side effects (3. 1 patient's brother died and they requested to continue treatment later at risk of depression. 1 patient's husband passed away and she was taken off due to possible depression. 1 teenager's significant other said they were being an ass and the mother asked they be taken off). The nurse told me how people who once would keep their head down would look them in the eye and talk after 4 months of treatment, the girls stopped using their hair to cover the sides of their face and their shoulders (my hair is over 2' I'm super guilty of this). Then my derm told me when she was my age she was on it. Her skin is pretty awesome looking. She explained she was dry during treatment but that was about it.
I took my first pregnancy test that day and signed all my paperwork. I have my card for ipledge now and I do my blood work on April 23rd. My appointment is on April 27th and I'm so excited. I know its a really strong drug, I get it. I know that a lot of people are against this treatment including some of my family members. I know the risks are a little high and it's a pain in the ass 6 months. But what I know even more is I hate waking up and seeing what other bumps popped up over night. I hate everyone's advice on what I'm doing wrong regarding my skin. I hate putting on makeup in the morning and having to re do it at lunch because my oily dehydrated skin has made it a semi flaky, cakey oil slick.I am tired of all the money I have wasted on make up, face washes and treatments. I am tired of being 24 and having acne.
So I'm putting it out there. These are my before pictures.
This isn't the worst it's been, it's just a normal breakout now. It's a normal I refuse to accept.
I'm so happy I found your blog! I have exactly the same problem. I just had my first visit to the derm and was told to take oracea and rosadan for the next 6 weeks. I hope it works. I'm so tired... Never had skin issues before.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get them worked out without accutane! Don't get me wrong I would do it all over again without hesitation but it was a huge hassle. I also realized I stopped updating this blog but I am acne free now :) I get a few here and there but nothing nearly like what I used to get.
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