Quote from Sable:

Here is a brief history of what I've been through.

I am 23 years old, and I've always had normal acne, a pimple here, a pimple there..but never bad. Well back in January, I started really bad break outs by my lower right ear only? How wierd is that? So I went to the doctors, and they gave me Minocycline, which made me way dizzy, and just made my neck and face worse!

I freaked out and I went to a Dermo, who then prescribed:

Duac Gel
Retin-A
Special washing soap
Cleaning pads
Along with Augmentin.

She is convinced that this is a bacteria that I have on my face. But I believe it is something else? The acne is really bad now, and it's around my mouth, lower cheeks (like by my jaw line), and on the lower part of my right ear!!

I've also beem Minocycline once before last year (for a bacteria acne on my neck) and that took about 1-2 weeks to clear up. Therefore I knew that at that time my doctor hit the nail right on the head.

I've been on Augmentin for about 3-4 weeks now. There is not that much improvement. I know my body, and if it was a bacteria, it would have cleared up drastically by now. But it hasn't.. I keep getting 2-3 new big pimples in my jawline area on a daily basis.

I know that something is wrong. My body is trying to tell me something. I don't know what to do anymore? Should I keep taking all these antibiotics?

I'm so confused... I have no idea what is going on ?


Has anyone had this happen to them before? And what did you do?

Please help!

Thank you,

Nicole

Nicole,

Nicole, I too had almost an identical problem to yours. This started last year when I was 23 too. I started getting acne (they were little and bumpy, there were some big ones too) all over the sides of my face .. not too long after it started to spread to my cheeks and forehead ... it was getting very bad. I freaked out too and went to the derm. They too thought my case was a bacterial or fungal infection so they put me on a topical steroid (dermatop) and also an antifungal cream (loprox). I also took 2 series of antifungal pills (diflucan & fluconazole). I did see minimal improvement while using these products but afterwards it got worse. I again saw another derm. and he diagnosed it as acne. He gave me Retin A Micro and Benzamycin. At this point I was getting tired of all the antibiotic med's and decided to give only the Retin A a try. It did help my forehead quite somebit but the acne still persisted. I finally stopped all the antibiotics and harsh soaps/creams. It is now over a year since this all started and my face is finally beginning to look better. I started going for facials .. every 3-4 weeks and I am also using an Ultra Moisturizing Glycolic Complex (by Cell Renewal Systems). I also wash my face w/ Cetaphil now and it's helped so much. In addition to using these products I also change my pillow case often and sleep my hair off of my face.

All along I thought that using masks or benzoyl peroxide treatments to dry up the acne would be beneficial. I was so wrong.

If you're problem is anything like mine ... it will be very persistent and hard to cure. I hope for your sake it's not but if it is .. you can be sure that there is something out there that will help. The problem is finding it.

I'm here if you have any questions or need some advice.

Quote from Micheybell:

Nicole,

Nicole, I too had almost an identical problem to yours. This started last year when I was 23 too. I started getting acne (they were little and bumpy, there were some big ones too) all over the sides of my face .. not too long after it started to spread to my cheeks and forehead ... it was getting very bad. I freaked out too and went to the derm. They too thought my case was a bacterial or fungal infection so they put me on a topical steroid (dermatop) and also an antifungal cream (loprox). I also took 2 series of antifungal pills (diflucan & fluconazole). I did see minimal improvement while using these products but afterwards it got worse. I again saw another derm. and he diagnosed it as acne. He gave me Retin A Micro and Benzamycin. At this point I was getting tired of all the antibiotic med's and decided to give only the Retin A a try. It did help my forehead quite somebit but the acne still persisted. I finally stopped all the antibiotics and harsh soaps/creams. It is now over a year since this all started and my face is finally beginning to look better. I started going for facials .. every 3-4 weeks and I am also using an Ultra Moisturizing Glycolic Complex (by Cell Renewal Systems). I also wash my face w/ Cetaphil now and it's helped so much. In addition to using these products I also change my pillow case often and sleep my hair off of my face.

All along I thought that using masks or benzoyl peroxide treatments to dry up the acne would be beneficial. I was so wrong.

If you're problem is anything like mine ... it will be very persistent and hard to cure. I hope for your sake it's not but if it is .. you can be sure that there is something out there that will help. The problem is finding it.

I'm here if you have any questions or need some advice.

Thanks everyone!

I seriosly think that all the creams made matters much worse. I've already stopped using the Duac gel, and little medicated pads, they were burning my skin. I'm just sticking with the face wash (which isn't harsh), and Retin A, which I know my face can handle. Last night I tried it, and for the first time in 1 month, I didn't wake up with 10 more pimples! So I think that helped a little. I am most likely going on Yasmin soon, hopefully that will help the situation.

Michey, were you prescribed birth control at all? And if you were, did it help?