As I said before I've literally tried almost everything to try and clear up my acne. For some clarification I'll name and describe my experiences with all.
Proactive - Proactive is a big, BIG name in acne treatment. I used it several different times, even to the point of using it for one month and then switching to a different system for the next month and doing a rotation. In the beginning Proactive actually worked for me. My face cleared in just a week or two after beginning it. The first time I tried it it stayed clear or a couple months and then cystic acne began to appear and Proactive did nothing to help. I quit using Proactive all together as I hit my high school years.
Clean & Clear Advantage - After my failed usage of Proactive I learned about Clean & Clears 3-step program. I noticed a difference in my skin almost immediately. Honestly, for me, I liked it better than Proactive and it worked better for me. It seemed to help heal the deeper acne, but it also dried my face out a lot more than Proactive ever did, which was a huge downfall especially since I began to use it in the winter when my face was already dry. Again, after a few months C&CA just stopped working for me.
Topicals and Anti-Bacterials - I then moved on to topicals and anti-bacterials. My pediatrician gave me a prescription for a topical ointment and told me it would take a while to begin to work and nothing else. I waited for weeks and weeks for some improvement, and NOTHING. My skin began to get worse after a couple months so I dumped the topicals and went to a dermatologist. He prescribed an anti-bacterial and another topical to help fight both angle. I saw a lot of improvement with these two fighting together, but I quit the topical for some reason and the results didn't change, so I credit the success to the pill, but alas, within a month or two it failed me again.
Organics - I wouldn't call my self a tree-hugger in any way, more like an old soul, maybe. I just enjoy using what God gave us naturally to heal my skin. I began a non-medication/prescription routine. I'd steam my face at night and then wash with a Tea-Tree Oil face wash. I'd also wash in the morning and use a 20% Oil throughout the day. What I liked about Tea Tree Oil was that I could feel it cleaning. It had a certain sting that reminded me of peroxide on a cut. I had really good results with these methods, but they just weren't strong enough for my acne. Once my acne is gone I would love to return to using TTO, though.
Retin-A- Now to one of my latest feats - Retin-A or Tretinoin. It is meant to replenish skin cells faster and kill bad ones basically. I found that it did very, very well for me. The only downfall was that I was very susceptible to sun burn, which I've never had to deal with before, oily-er skin, and some redness, even when not sunburnt. It really did have my face clear for a good while, but again my face became resistant to it.
Accutane- I saved the "best" for last. Accutane. I went to the dermatologist after my topicals and anti-bacterials failed and they suggested this drug. I really didn't get much information about it. All I knew was that I couldn't get pregnant, which I had no worries, and that some kids got depressed from the drug. Being one of the most happy-go-lucky kids my age that I know this didn't faze me in the least bit. I guess I should have thought twice. With in a week of me beginning Accutane so many things changed in my life. My face and lips were PAINFULLY dry and it seemed like my swollen lips were being covered in the most moisturizing chapstick I could get my hands on, my back began to be so sore out of no where, and my temper was out of control. To understand the severity of the last symptom you would have to understand who I was before taking this drug. I considered myself one of the happiest people ever. People would compliment me on my hearty laugh that would literally fill the halls at school. I also had a walk that one person described as "walking through a field of flowers." I was happy, plain and simple. I also got along wonderfully with my parents. I can't think of one time that I'd ever had a fight with them. I never said I'd never disagreed with something they said, but I knew better than to never verbalize a complaint. By two weeks into my treatment all Hell broke loose. I remember it was about Deccember of my freshmen year and I was about to start taking Geometry and had just gotten a brand-new $110 calculator. My sister was home from college and my dad told her he bought me the calculator and my sister mentioned that she was done with her calculator for college which was just an older model of mine. Dad told Mom and in the interest of saving a lot of money Mom asked if I would mind returning mine and using my sister's. I BLEW up. I threw a fit like a 3 year old. I cried and stomped my feet and yelled, in front of my Mother. She was laying in bed shocked and when I regained some composure she got up and hugged me and asked me if everything was alright. I burst in to tears again and she asked why and I had no answer and finally it hit me, the Accutane. I looked at her and told her clear skin wasn't worth it, went to the cabinet in my kitchen and threw out my medicine. Simple as that I quit and I 've never regretted it. If something can force you to change something as important as your temper and temperament, than it must not be safe. Even a year and a half after taking the drug I still have bouts of depression and feelings that I'm not accustomed to. I'm not saying that Accutane caused this but the evidence against it is staggering. I regret ever even trying the drug and taking that risk, but I was fourteen and so self-conscious about my skin.
Tomorrow is my PDT treatment and I'm praying it's a success. I'm going to document it here to help others, because I've been unable to find a day-to-day record of how this process works.
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