Question
I hear you!

I have been going through the EXACT SAME THING for about the last year.

This acne has completely turned my life upside down...(I'm 28 so I've got two years on you!!!!)

I bascially have no friends because I don't want to go out of the house...I am job searching right now b/c I just finished with grad school and I have to go to interviews next week which I have considered cancelling b/c my face looks so bad!!

It is feeling so out of control that makes it so hard...and its YOUR BODY... so there isn't anyone to get angry at ya know? That is a real irony.

So there are days that I want to curl up in a ball and shut off the world but when I just got out...no matter what my face looks like... I realize that it isn't as bad as I thought and is always better than being by myself in the house.

Anyway....I know how you feel...if it makes you feel any better I can't use any products to help because my skin is too sensitive (and I mean anything...I've tried them all) and I can't take any of the oral antibiotics because I have reactions to all of them too....(I've tried them all as well)...so I just have to bear it!!!!!!

It's hard, but like must go on right?

Answer
I know how you feel...I have the exact same problem.

Today I felt so horrible because of the way I looked I stayed home from school. I have no confidence when I look like this...And then I feel shallow for thinking that, which makes me feel worse.

My skin is also pretty sensitive; I've tried a bunch of products and nothing seems to work. It either has no effect or it irritates my face, which makes me even more depressed.

Ugh.

Hopefully both of us will overcome this someday.

Answer
Hey, I know how you are all feeling too but you must stay optimistic AND patient. I cleared my hormonal/cystic acne up for 9 months with Tetralycline -I dont know why but the last few months I started to break out again and this time it hit me harder than ever because I got used to clear skin. I went back to the docs and demanded he tried me on Spiro (which I got from this board) He did plus he's changed my antibiotics and my skin has cleared again.

I'm 29 and suffered since I was 18, its taken me years to get antibiotics from the docs. I know alot of people slate them on this board but I do believe if you give them time to work then they do. And yes I know they have side effects but hey I know which I would prefer. I'm hoping the Spiro is having an effect too as I guess eventually you do get immune to the antibiotics.

I have to say I've tried lots of things and for hormonal/cystic nasty acne I believe its only strong drugs that do the trick but thats just my thoughts - whatever you try give them time to work.

Answer
Well Doxy. totally cleared me but I had to quit taking it because of constant yeast infections. So now I am just using differin and Klaron and taking Yasmin so I guess I will see what happens. I am 22 and didn't start having acne until I was 20. I had perfect skin before that! It sucks. And it is so hard to have confidence and look people in the eye when you have this problem. People think acne is dirty which is so not true! I wash my face just like everyone else! I think antibiotics are great for temporary relief but I have never heard of anyone being completely cured by them. I wish I could find someone on here that has!

Answer
Venting is great.

I read what you guys wrote and its like I wrote it. Sometimes I get so uncomfortable about my appearance that I leave work early or perhaps dont go in at all. Im always having to miss work to go to the derm and thats frustrating as well.
I also always feel like Im missing out. All my girlfriends are always going out on dates and Im 23, supposedly in my prime years and cant get a boyfriend and I always blame it on my bad skin, but perhaps its my lack of confidence because of my negative self image.
Im about to try accutane in 2 weeks so Im really hoping for the best with that.
I also have a suggestion for y'all. Its not a miracle but it helped with my skin tone. I was using harsher cleansers which made my skin sort of pinkish all the time. but now i use nuetrogena oil free acne wash and the redish tone has gone away and some of my acne has cleared up. also, im not sure if youve read about aspirin masks (theres a bunch of posts on here about it) but ill use that directly on pimples that have popped while washing my face and it dries them up pretty quickly.
I hope that this can help someone.
Goodluck everyone and remember that youre not alone!!!!

more...
accutane prices? mmm
accutane prices? mmm - Page 2
Accutane problem
Accutane Question regarding IB and dosage
accutane questions?
Accutane SAME AS Vitamin A ???
Accutane SAME AS Vitamin A ??? - Page 2
Accutane --should I this close to my wedding?