Cystic Acne

[MiniMe23]

Hi everyone. I am brand new to this board and going through a terrible time. Any and all medications make me nauseated. I started taking minocycline twice a day and day 3 I almost passed out so my doctor told me to take it once a day. Now I am also taking Chantix (I started them at different time so that I would know which symptoms come from which meRAB. I have also taken Chantix before so I know what happens with that - if you don't know its a quit smoking pill - Day 3 not smoking!!!! ).

Anyway, I am taking minocycline and differin gel for my acne and I am wondering if all the nausea is worth it? I am about a month in and my face looks worse than ever. My husband's face/body is worse than ever and hes not using any meRAB and never really had bad acne. We wash our sheets, towels, etc frequently. I dont know whats going on, but both of us look horrible.

I have had cystic acne forever and its really depressing when older women who apparently think they are my grandmother, even though I have never ever met them, come up to me and ask "why dont you try that ProActive?" "You should wear more makeup". Its so erabarrassing and they always say it in earshot of everyone at wherever I work, whether its a customer or a coworker I dont know.

My face is so awful and makeup does not cover anything, BC pills don't work. This is also ruining all chances for a career. I have a job, but thats only because I know the people. I have been on about 25 interviews the past year for a full-time job and I think my acne is the reason I haven't gotten any of those positions.

My doctor suggested Accutane off the bat but I can't because I have my own health insurance (not through my employer and they already wont pay half my bills so they will surely find a way to make me pay for all of the expensive Accutane).

So basically, did minocycline and differin clear you up? Has anyone taken just the gel and not the antibotics? Does that work too?

If it matters, I'm 25.

 

[sedulous]

Congratulations on not smoking!! I quit some time ago and I know it's difficult, but hang in there, because the benefits FAR outweigh the downsides and the initial agony.

I used to have horrible cystic acne, and I can relate to the feelings of missed opportunities due to it. I don't think it was so much that I was rejected *because* of the acne; I think it was a total lack of confidence on my part due to the acne.

I went through tons of stuff a little over 10 years ago (I'm now 33), and concluded that antibiotics do more harm than good, and that I was no longer willing to shell out vast amounts of money for prescriptions with horrible side effects.

I think everyone has to find what works best for them. For some people, it's a prescription, other people try herbal remedies, and other people find some nuanced regimen. For me, I had to eliminate all dairy products that came from a cow. I'm allergic to casein, and while it causes a lot of itchiness and congestion, it was something I put up with, without realizing that it had a horrible effect on my skin. Now, the only dairy products I consume are made from goats' or sheep's milk.

Also, I followed the plan laid out by the book "The Acne Cure." Having dealt with acne for years and years, I found it to be pretty sound advice. I forget how long the book says you need to do its program, but I know that it was about double the prescribed time in order for me to see really good results. I didn't care; it was worth it. Check and see if your library has it or if you can borrow a copy.

Generally, I try and be very gentle and kind to my skin. It's hard not to attack it, but picking, pestering, and overloading with products makes things worse.

Lastly, everyone parrots the same old same old about healthy eating and exercise, but just know that they're good for your skin. I try and avoid processed fooRAB, cook most things from scratch, and I try to break a good sweat several times a week. When I live like that, my skin is better. It's also cheaper to buy just plain old grains, veggies, spices, herbs, etc, and make my own stuff, so I save tons of money not eating out of cans and packages and such.

These days, using a modified Acne Cure regimen, a healthy diet, and gentle products, my acne is dramatically reduced. I do still get a cyst here and there, but they are MUCH smaller - I no longer have those large, painful, pounding nodules under the skin that take forever to erupt, and even longer to heal.

Good luck. I hope you're soon able to find something that works well for you.