How I beat my acne

[GordonFreeman]

It struck me when I hit the puberty 12 years ago.
Since then my face has never been clean.
I tried all sorts of different shit to stop it, but only one thing worked for me - retinoids.
Be it adapalene, or tretinoin, they both work wonders. But as soon as I stopped using them, acne came back.
It was an endless loop - pimples invade my face, I start intensively fighting them with retinoids, the face heals and I eventually forget about skincare routine. And the cycle repeats.

This are my latest results so far



Tretinoin .025
Benzoyl peroxide .05
Toner to balance out skin pH
Moisturizer

 

[thecaste]

Did you do something for the scars?

 

[CopeTilliRope]

what moisturizer are you using? i'm trying to find one that won't break me out since vanicream doesn't work thanks

 

[GordonFreeman]

Did you do something for the scars?

Yeah I tried microneedling at home.
The scars got less noticeable, but tbh I dunno whether it was the result of using tretinoin or microneedling.

what moisturizer are you using? i'm trying to find one that won't break me out since vanicream doesn't work thanks

I don't think it's presented on European or American markets.
It's called "KORA Antistress". Really helps with irritated skin

 

[GreenHat500]

I think you should be careful not to get careless about it when you clear up, and stop skincare. The more pimples you get the scars you'll get and over time the skin becomes more and more like a crocodile skin or something like that.
Now, I see you mentioned benzoyl peroxide... My question is; Do you clear up 100% when you use adapalene alone or do you have to use benzoyl peroxide also?
Also, did you get red using adapalene?

Btw you have quite good forward growth.

 

[GordonFreeman]

I think you should be careful not to get careless about it when you clear up, and stop skincare. The more pimples you get the scars you'll get and over time the skin becomes more and more like a crocodile skin or something like that

Yeah, I've learnt it the hard way.
Now I'm on tret till the end of my life.

Do you clear up 100% when you use adapalene alone or do you have to use benzoyl peroxide also?

adapalene alone works well too, bpo just forces the healing process. It suppresses the infection and prevents it from spreading.
Bpo has an annoying side effect - it leaves erythemas, that take weeks to heal.

Btw you have quite good forward growth

I had bimax done a few weeks ago

 

[GreenHat500]

I see. How long did it take you to stop getting new breakouts when using adapalene alone?

 

[GordonFreeman]

I see. How long did it take you to stop getting new breakouts when using adapalene alone?

~2-3 months

 

[anti caking agents]

I literally get hard looking at your side profile mate. Silverlining that you have minimal scarring. Honestly everyone should be using Adapalene 0.3 since it helps a lot with texture if you have any uneven skin/scarring.

~2-3 months

Did you use it after your moisturizer? I have been using it after my moisturizer because my skin is sensitive. Miring results. Maybe add a suncreen?

 

[Deleted member 5859]

Same problem just less severe, I went to see a dermatologist and have been using some creams for a while and ive gotten some good results.

 

[Deleted member 1560]

What do you suggest for cystic acne?

 

[autistic_tendencies]

apply BP everyday ?

 

[Deleted member 1560]

apply BP everyday ?

BP?

 

[autistic_tendencies]

BP?

Benzoyl peroxide

 

[Alexanderr]

Genetics legit matter so much for skin. Ive been eating like shit all throughout puberty and have never had anything remote to acne. At most one or two pimples on a bad day.

 

[GordonFreeman]

Honestly everyone should be using Adapalene 0.3 since it helps a lot with texture if you have any uneven skin/scarring.

The strength doesn't even matter that much. I only tried .05 epiduo/differin and it did it's job well.

Did you use it after your moisturizer? I have been using it after my moisturizer because my skin is sensitive. Miring results. Maybe add a suncreen?

No, I always apply it after tret, as soon as the skin dries out.

I can't find a good sunscreen tho, they all make your skin look greasy and pale

What do you suggest for cystic acne?

Contacting your dermatologist to get accutane.
But tretinoin+bpo is legit too.

apply BP everyday ?

Depends on severity of the inflammation.
From several times a day for cysts to few times a week for minor pimples.

Genetics legit matter so much for skin. Ive been eating like shit all throughout puberty and have never had anything remote to acne. At most one or two pimples on a bad day.

The irony is neither of my parents had acne.
And I always ate healthy food.

 

[FutureSlayer]

You need a long accutane cycle (systemic retinoid) for like 4-5 months in order to stop acne forever.

 

[GordonFreeman]

You need a long accutane cycle (systemic retinoid) for like 4-5 months in order to stop acne forever.

Depends on what caused breakouts.
If you have severe hormonal imbalances, nothing will help until you fix the root of the problem