Perfect Skin - Page 2

Agreed - I drink probably well over a gallon a day. I always have a bottle or glass near me that I keep refilling.

The absolute best acne solution would be Accutane. I would not recommend it though if you don't have a severe acne problem as the medication tends to dry out your sky pretty badly.

I would drop the washcloth if I were you, there is an insane amount of bacteria in that and you are exfoliating your sentitive skin with it. I once learned something with a Japanese dermatologist that I still try to follow. She told me never to use soap or anything detergent, but to wash my face with a beaten egg white and water every day. Right now I have flawless, soft skin, so I can vouch for it.

-Rodrigo

before you go to accutane, try getting a prescription topical antibiotic. I use clyndamycin 1%. Just ask your doctor about it. Please just try asking!

I would like for just ONE person to try this and see how well it works. It worked incredibly well for me. It costs less than proactive since its covered by my insurance. Even full price is only $50. Each bottle I get lasts longer than 6 months, I use drops at a time. It's so much easier than the 3-4 different bottles of the "proactive program".

I wash my face with hand soap, hardly ever use lotion. People say I have super clear skin.

Various topical solutions will have very different effects on different people's skin. I, for instance, saw zero results from Clyndamyacin during the couple months my dermatologist had me on it. Nor did I see results from any of the near dozen various topical and oral antibiotics we tried. I was one of the few who had no choice but to use Accutane.

The months I was on it were not pleasant. My skin was cracked, nosebleeds became a part of my daily routine, and forget about spending any major time out in the sun. But, as promised, it did completely clear up my acne.

That was 5 or 6 years ago now, and I have not struggled with acne since. I have the occasional pimple or two, but nothing a little dab of Benzoyl Peroxide can't take care of.

Bottom line: talk to your doctor rather than listen to a bunch of forum folk - he/she knows your skin a hell of a lot better than any of us.

Yeah, ive been on so many medications i cant even remember them all

and i still have acne!

accutane twice! (brutal brutal brutal)

and yet that nagging acne is still there.

Im on minocin, a oral antibiotic, and also using proactive. right now im fairly content with how my skin is, but it is definitely all over the board

I have very sensitive skin, which is also a combination of very dry and oily. if you can imagine that.

anways, if you can last 6 months of exzema on the hands and arms, drip, cracked, bleeding lips, bloody nose everyday, blood work monthly, no alcohol, just overall very uncomfortable then i suggest accutane as a last measure

J - You still have to use BP even after Accutane?

I am using Accutane right now, and for me, it has not been nearly as bad as all the horror stories. I'd call it annoying at worst. I realize that experience varies and it can be hell for some people though.

Interesting. Please elaborate more on this so called egg white.

Yep. I never touch my face, I exfoliate and "wash" it every day by shaving, and yet it continues to give me grief unless I use BPO.

isnt depression a side effect of accutane?
i remember my friend was taking it a couple years back and he was like having all these weird mood swings and suicidal thoughts and stuff and he had no idea why, and then they found out that it was an unknown side effect of accutane. hmmm.

Some studies seem to link depression and accutane, others argue it is not causative. There are other possible side effects of accutane, so it really shouldn't be used unless as a last resort. There have been some stories in the news of major depression and suicide in connection with accutane.

How long ago is a couple years? When I took it 6-7 years ago my dermatologist made sure to warn us about the depression effects. That was actually when the push to take it off the market was starting, I think some congressman's kid who was on it committed suicide or some such thing.

I would not say I was depressed while on Accutane, but mood swings were common. I really respect my parents for putting up with me during that time, because I'm sure it was incredibly tough for them.

I just got on it a month or two ago. Thoroughly ridiculous. Despite my not having a vagina, I had sign something that said I wouldn't get pregnant, and read page after page of disclaimers. Aparently it's largely because some Congressman's kid (who had issues prior to taking Accutane) killed himself while on the drug.

I can't report any depression (but I don't have a history of it.) Mood swings, I dunno, maybe, but I'm a fucking teenager. What the hell do they expect?

Depression, mood swings, borderline bipolar, etc. The list is very long, and that's just mental side effects. Physically, it does a lot of very bad things to you too. I don't really understand why someone would go through this just to get rid of acne, but my friend still says she thinks it was worth it.

My parents had the same impression, so we tried various antibiotics and switched doctors a few times. Three dermatologists plus my GP said that the side effects are overstated.

Personally, I haven't experienced anything worse than dry skin, which is easily controlled with some aftershave balm. As far as the psychological effects go, almost all of it is dependent on prior history.

Plus, I'm not saying that every 15 year old with a pimple should get on Accutane. However, for someone like me with fairly severe back acne, it's decidedly worth it.

I've said it before, and I will always reccomend it. Try and get your ahnds on minocycline. It's prescription from your family doctor it runs me 20 dollars after insurance kicks in. It works wonders, I had horrible acne, and my doctor suggested accutane several times, but my mom was reluctant to put me on it, and got me this stuff instead. I have near perfect skin now.