9 Month Acne Success - No Accutane or Tretinoin

[JaqueS]

Had clear skin my whole life, randomly got bad acne around 9 months ago likely due to stress.


August 2025:

I tried everything:
20% Azelaic Acid
Tretinoin (Differin)
Salicylic Acid
Clindemycin
Benzyl Peroxide
Limecycline

None of the above made it better, in fact the harsh chemicals ruined my skin and made it worse. I did try them for extended periods of time, at least 2 months each.

I decided to drop down to no actives and try let my skin heal. My routine became gentle cleanse day and night plus and oil controlling moisturizer in the morning. I didn't use SPF as I find it clogs my skin.

After 3 months of doing this my skin now looks like this:

I have little to no acne, all that remains is scars.

I have Lumecca light treatment arranged to try remove the red marks, will update on the success.

Moral of the story is some times less is more. If you are struggling with acne it could be worth just going gentle and eating clean. Be careful of what you are putting on your skin and try one solution at a time, slowly building up tolerance.

 

[oyjah]

Had clear skin my whole life, randomly got bad acne around 9 months ago likely due to stress.


August 2025:
View attachment 5021876

I tried everything:
20% Azelaic Acid
Tretinoin (Differin)
Salicylic Acid
Clindemycin
Benzyl Peroxide
Limecycline

None of the above made it better, in fact the harsh chemicals ruined my skin and made it worse. I did try them for extended periods of time, at least 2 months each.

I decided to drop down to no actives and try let my skin heal. My routine became gentle cleanse day and night plus and oil controlling moisturizer in the morning. I didn't use SPF as I find it clogs my skin.

After 3 months of doing this my skin now looks like this:
View attachment 5021880

I have little to no acne, all that remains is scars.

I have Lumecca light treatment arranged to try remove the red marks, will update on the success.

Moral of the story is some times less is more. If you are struggling with acne it could be worth just going gentle and eating clean. Be careful of what you are putting on your skin and try one solution at a time, slowly building up tolerance.

nice g

 

[iliassslm]

Had clear skin my whole life, randomly got bad acne around 9 months ago likely due to stress.


August 2025:
View attachment 5021876

I tried everything:
20% Azelaic Acid
Tretinoin (Differin)
Salicylic Acid
Clindemycin
Benzyl Peroxide
Limecycline

None of the above made it better, in fact the harsh chemicals ruined my skin and made it worse. I did try them for extended periods of time, at least 2 months each.

I decided to drop down to no actives and try let my skin heal. My routine became gentle cleanse day and night plus and oil controlling moisturizer in the morning. I didn't use SPF as I find it clogs my skin.

After 3 months of doing this my skin now looks like this:
View attachment 5021880

I have little to no acne, all that remains is scars.

I have Lumecca light treatment arranged to try remove the red marks, will update on the success.

Moral of the story is some times less is more. If you are struggling with acne it could be worth just going gentle and eating clean. Be careful of what you are putting on your skin and try one solution at a time, slowly building up tolerance.

same thing happened to me, good thread

 

[manteca]

Try 0.1% Tazarotene & microneedling 0.5mm for 6 months, lmk how it helps.

Drop the other shit though tbh just a good moisturizer and SPF. im giving it a shot rn

If not then accutane