A
acneinthirties
Guest
I struggled for years with acne as a teen, and eventually used accutane to achieve clear skin which lasted for years.
I'm now in my 30's and have been having nagging acne again for about 3 years off and on. I was using proactiv and Acne Free to try and keep breakouts at bay. My skin became so oily that it was disgusting so I finally decided to go to the doctor.
I went to the doctor on Friday the 12th she prescribed:
1. 15% glycolic acid facewash in the am & pm,
2. clyndomycin in the AM
3. Differin gel in the PM.
Initially my insurance rejected the Differin, so on the 12th I stopped using all the OTC stuff that I was previously using for the acne and started just using the glycolic acid face wash and clyndomycin. Over the next 5 days my face & chest got substantially worse than when I went to see the doctor in the first place. I was having the worst breakouts in 15 years, small whiteheaRAB all over my neck, chest, forehead, temples and jaw. Then on the 15th I got the differin and started using that. I was told that the glycolic acid facewash could cause my skin to "purge" and it could get worse before better. I called the doctor last Friday the 19th and she prescribed an oral antibiotic minocycline which I've been taking since Friday. Still, face is NO better.
My questions are as follows:
Is this purging thing true or a myth? Could I just be alergic or not reacting well to the face wash? How long should I give the Minocylcine to start reducing my active breakouts before contacting the doctor again? I just cant figure out if I have to wait out this storm for clear skin in the end, or if I'm actually making things worse. I'm worried about scarring if I keep doing this and make it worse. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.
I'm now in my 30's and have been having nagging acne again for about 3 years off and on. I was using proactiv and Acne Free to try and keep breakouts at bay. My skin became so oily that it was disgusting so I finally decided to go to the doctor.
I went to the doctor on Friday the 12th she prescribed:
1. 15% glycolic acid facewash in the am & pm,
2. clyndomycin in the AM
3. Differin gel in the PM.
Initially my insurance rejected the Differin, so on the 12th I stopped using all the OTC stuff that I was previously using for the acne and started just using the glycolic acid face wash and clyndomycin. Over the next 5 days my face & chest got substantially worse than when I went to see the doctor in the first place. I was having the worst breakouts in 15 years, small whiteheaRAB all over my neck, chest, forehead, temples and jaw. Then on the 15th I got the differin and started using that. I was told that the glycolic acid facewash could cause my skin to "purge" and it could get worse before better. I called the doctor last Friday the 19th and she prescribed an oral antibiotic minocycline which I've been taking since Friday. Still, face is NO better.
My questions are as follows:
Is this purging thing true or a myth? Could I just be alergic or not reacting well to the face wash? How long should I give the Minocylcine to start reducing my active breakouts before contacting the doctor again? I just cant figure out if I have to wait out this storm for clear skin in the end, or if I'm actually making things worse. I'm worried about scarring if I keep doing this and make it worse. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.