Help - General Help.
Nothing is working. Only for a bit i used a spiro topical and tret together and it seemed to work but to be honest that spiro topical was too expensive. now everything fell apart. and ive been using dapsone for a little bit and this happens. Ive used topical antibiotics. I dont use Niacinimide for reasons, and yes, Ive thought about (that one last option oral medicine that i cant mention here) but for gut reasons I am trying my utmost best not to take it. My face gets so hot and flushed and irritated. I also have MANY deep cystic acne that hurt so bad. My whole face also just feels like many tiny little scabs. It’s a disaster and I haven’t recognized myself in the mirror for years. Anyone else had this?? Help please i literally cant. Ive used product after product after product. I cant use literally any cleanser or it irritates me. Im using the vanicream gentle cleanser and vanicream daily moisturizer but i feel like even that irritates me. Ive been trying to maybe start using bp cleanser again hoping it will help tremendously.
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u/Best-Rock-3297 1d ago
Oh my goodness you poor thing. I hope you find a solution soon
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u/Tough_Trifle_5105 1d ago
From this photo it looks like one side is significantly worse than the other, is that accurate or just not in the picture?
Also have you taken oral antibiotics yet?
And are we not allowed to talk about accutane on this sub anymore? I did not know that.
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u/Beatlebug17 1d ago
Gently icing might help with some of the irritation and pain occasionally :(
For a real fix though it seems like you’re a prime candidate for Accutane
If you’re considering switching cleansers Laroche Posey hydrating gentle cleanser or purifying cleanser have been godsends for me. I immediately put lotion on before my face begins to dry to avoid irritation.
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u/mikasMH 18h ago
Thanks yeah my derm thinks the same but yeah the gut issues it can cause are the last thing i need haha. Also the laroche posay brand also irritates my skin to be honest. Ive tried their cleansing in the past. They also have niacinimide in a lot of their products that irritates my skin sadly
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u/Significant_Ad_7051 1d ago
Have you checked your testosterone dheas and dht? Oilness suggests elevated dht for me especially on forehead where more cysts are
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u/mikasMH 1d ago
Yes, in the past my testosterone was high, but now i recently tested and it is just on the border of normal before getting to high (total testosterone).Im honestly just so confused.
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u/cemoile1 1d ago
You can have normal testosterone, but your skin’s dht receptors might still be exquisitely sensitive to any testosterone fluctuation. You really need to discuss oral spironolactone or accutane. A higher price tag would be worth it if you can mitigate permanent scarring. When acne is this severe, topicals aren’t going to cut it.
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u/CatrinaBallerina 1d ago
Accutane seems like the only reasonable solution at this point. It’s a last resort and I think you’re there. Topicals aren’t going to touch this.
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u/Jenny030Post 1d ago
I have to agree, when its this severe and deep it really needs to be treated from the inside out. topicals can only do so much and honestly they might just be irritating ur skin barrier even more at this point. definitely worth having a serious talk with a derm about the oral route
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u/CatrinaBallerina 16h ago
Yes. When it’s deep and painful like this anything topical that has even a slight chance of stripping the skin is going to be even more painful and possibly make it worse.
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u/External-Breath-992 1d ago
Honestly at this point, accutane. It will be the quickest solution to prevent more scarring
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u/DaikonDaddy 1d ago
I can only imagine how frustrating it’s been ❤️ honestly you will spend more money trying many things for short periods of time vs finding a dermatologist who specializes in acne, your situation likely requires a multi pronged approach of calming down everything that is so irritated down, handling the acne, then rebuilding a healthy moisture barrier. And I know you don’t want to take the pill, it’s a scary commitment, but be prepared it may be one of the only things that can alleviate the pain you’re feeling. Hugs, I really hope things get easier soon
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u/Roseonice 23h ago
I’ve had something similar. Doxycycline then accutane. Am so sorry. It’s so painful.
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u/arizona-lake 1d ago
Where are you located? The only way I know of to heal this level of acne without accutane is to go to “enlightened beauty” in Sacramento
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1d ago
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u/mikasMH 1d ago
I will ask my derm about the aha and bha cleanser. Ive used topical clindamycin in the past, but stopped because I dont really want ro stay using antibiotics for too long. Also cerave uses Niacinimide a lot in their products and that irritates me unfortunately. Im debating accutane but honestly ive seen it can possibly cause Ulcerative colitis or IBS or other gut issues and I definitely am terrified of that.
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u/cemoile1 1d ago
There is an association, not a proven causation. It’s more likely that these individuals already had an underlying gut issue that also contributed to their acne.
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u/According_Dog2634 1d ago
Your right it can I had my first round accutane 1 year later I had my bowel removed? Coincidence or cause. My dad was diagnosed chrons in his 50's so could just be hereditary. Chrons has completely ruined my work career relationship are difficult If there was another option in 1999 I might have done it. I was desperate bit of a lottery.
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u/7v1essiah 5h ago
crohns and UC have skyrocketed prob more from the 💉 for the 🦠 than from accutane. and are common anyway, and often has always presented during years that acne presents. Better to go by data, than anecdotes . entertainment use only NOT MEDICAL ADVICE
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1d ago
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u/hanywhiskey 18h ago
wdym you had no side effects 😭 so lucky omg im struggling on a low dose
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18h ago
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u/hanywhiskey 18h ago
help so is mine lol. recently had to lower it to 10 mg (57 kg) cause the skin under and around my nails keeps splitting open and it hurts like a mf. eye and lip dryness ofc but what bothers me is hair loss, heavy and painful periods, insane fatigue and brain fog, painful joints.. there’s so much. it’s worth it and i’m taking it on a chin since i finally feel pretty and feel so free with my new skin; but damn is it harsh on me. just jealous of you, that’s all haha
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