This morning I checked in with the dermatologist. He had me stop taking antibiotics 3 months ago and he wanted to see how I was doing.
Not well, since I also stopped taking the androgen blocking pill after our trip to CA in September and have only been using the topical stuff. And have been breaking out big time the last couple of weeks.
While in Cali, I ran the drug by my chiropractor who does muscle testing to see if foods, drugs, supplements or other substances are what your body needs or doesn't need. (I know a lot of folks think chiropractic care is bunk; all I know is I felt better and didn't get sick as often with regular visits to mine).
The chiropractor muscle tested the androgen blocker and said my body's response to the drug was not just no, it was HELL NO.
The dermatologist says my skin won't stay clear without some form of systemic treatment--be it antibiotics again, going back on the androgen blocker, taking birth control pills or the big guns: Accutane.
When I talked about Accutane with my HMO dermatologist two years ago, he refused to prescribe it unless I was on 3 forms of birth control--not 2 forms as the guidelines mandated. This was the same guy who said I didn't have an acne problem until I whipped off my shirt and forced him to actually LOOK. Bring up Accutane and suddenly he becomes physician-of-the-year-thorough.
None of my present options are that appealing. I'll try benzoyl peroxide during the day to see if that keeps things in check. Otherwise, it's a matter of picking the least onerous Rx.
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I did Accutane during my third year of law school, and the results were quite phenomenal. HOWEVER, the results were not completely permanent, as whatever underlying hormonal balance issues I think I have still persisted. And I was not married, not sexually active, and not thinking of possibly having a child any time soon.
For me, the second half of pregnancy (and decidedly NOT the first half) has been great for my skin. I wonder what it is about my hormones at this time as opposed to others that makes the difference? I don't suppose there'd be any way of finding out without extensive and expensive testing. My current plan is to get back on the Retin-A, and religiously, when my childbearing/lactating days are over.
Call your doctor in California and ask if he'll call your local pharmacy in Texas and prescribe the drugs you need. Some things just aren't worth fighting and we're too old to have to fight acne. If you've had a tested and proven solution, stick with that.
Oh ME, that sucks. I'm so sorry. Out of solidarity with you I got a big, cystic zit on my cheek this weekend, though!
Oh all right, that doesn't really help you out much.
I hope you find a good solution soon.
JA: My flareups coincide with my cycles, so I'm sure there's a hormonal component to it. Topical acne meds don't address the underlying biology.
Tewkes: The dermatologist here did adopt my CA Dr.'s regime wholesale. I didn't want to use all 3 meds indefinitely, so he weaned me off one and I took myself off the other.
The TX Dr. has no problem putting me on Accutane. I wanted to think about it because it's such a powerful drug. If I can avoid it by using other methods, I'd sure like to.
A: Remember the commercial where they compared zits to constellations? I've got a North Star on my nose. I hope that one clears up by my business trip next week. Other ones I can cover, but nose zits are harder to camoflage.
Oh no, not a north star. Cruel, cruel hormones!
I've been curious about this new birth control pill that makes your period go away. Or had you already tried the unofficial version of that by skipping over the placebo pills?
I was on birth control pills for 11 years to regulate my cycles. Initially, they also calmed down the acne but that benefit went away after a while.
I've seen the ads for Yaz and Orthotricyclen, the newer pills that tout their acne fighting powers. But I'm not interested in clambering up on that horse again. I'd like to ingest less drugs, not more.
OTOH, I'm pushing 40 and if I haven't outgrown the breakouts by now, it ain't likely I'm going to. If there must needs be chemical intervention, which is the lesser of the evils?
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