Skin Diaries, many months later

So, I haven't updated in forever and a day. What can I say, the change was crazy slow and a blow by blow was pretty pointless.

I stopped using Retin-A micro pretty shortly after my last post (maybe 6 weeks or so of use?). I am still taking Spironolactone at the 100mg dose. I'm going to touch on a few things I've noticed since I began taking it in September of last year (so a solid 7 months).

The Good:

Reduced oil production within the first few weeks. This was HUGE for me as I was the oiliest of all oil slicks. Makeup would melt off and look like crap within the first hour or two. It was a huge issue trying to cover acne and scarring with makeup that wouldn't even stay on my face. I am now happy to report that my skin is what I would consider "normal" neither oily nor dry. It's such a beautiful thing.

My hair is less greasy and I no longer get terrible "dandruff" and itchy scalp. Kind of goes hand in hand with the oil production. Oil causes a type of fungus to grow (how freaking gross is that) and causes a type of sclerosis to develop. No more!!!!

My sweat is no longer pungent and I don't sweat as much as I used to. Sorry, this might be TMI, but I wish I had known about this side effect because it is amazing. I used to be VERY self conscious about sweating because deodorant-antiperspirant wouldn't even touch it. I could NEVER wear clothing twice. I was so paranoid about my boyfriend getting anywhere near my pits, even when I hadn't been sweating. Now I smell fresh all day. You don't realize how freakin bad it was until it's gone and it's something I would have taken this stuff for all on its own. So YAY for not being smelly.

Completely cleared forehead acne and cystic acne after a few months. Completely cleared "bacne" too.

Boobs are a little bigger. hehe

The Bad:

Increased "spider" veins and other visible veins on legs. I've done a lot of research on this issue, because I wasn't POSITIVE it was the Spiro causing it. Spiro doesn't cause this directly, HOWEVER, changes in hormones CAN, especially if you are already genetically pre-disposed for them. So that's why things like birth control pills and pregnancy can cause these to pop up.

Has not been a complete cure for my acne, yet. In saying that, I haven't had a terrible cyst since maybe the first month of starting Spiro. I still have a little acne here and there, especially around that time of the month, but it's no where near as bad as it used to be. I'm pretty sure if I upped my dose it would probably take care of it completely, but at the moment I don't have insurance and can't really afford double.

Increased frequency of urination. This did get better after a few months, though.

Period can be super wonky. Sometimes it'll be almost 2 months before I get it. I dunno. I kind of look at this as a good/bad/yay bonus! type of thing, lol. Haven't had too many issues with spotting.

Skin Diaries Week 6

It has been a few weeks since I posted...

I have a case of the BLAHS. My face (and back, ugh!) decided to break out a bit at about the 1 month mark. I was hoping that I had skipped the initial breakout phase. But noooo dice! I read that this is completely normal though. A lot of women break out at the 1 month mark because of the fluctuation of hormones. It could also be because I upped the Spironolactone dose from 50mg to 100mg. It may even be a mixture of these two things.

The good news is, my face is SIGNIFICANTLY less oily and has been for the past several weeks now! It is not just my imagination this time. ;) In fact, the oilies really started abating once I upped my dose to 100mg. I am not oil-free by any means but the amount of oil produced now is a pretty normal and bearable amount (like going from 3+ blotting sheets a day down to a half one at the end of the night to take the shine off...which is the way my skin used to be before I started the BC pill and messed up my hormones.)

I have two active zits...one may even be a cyst, by my mouth. It is a painful one. >:| And a bunch of healing ones from the IB. Yay. I am hoping I am over the worst of the IB.

Skin Diaries Week 3 update

My little friend did decide to visit me this month, yay. =p

Today I upped the spironolactone dose from 50mg to 100mg a day, to see if that will help the oiliness issue. 

I figured I would also post another pic of le bare skin right after a shower. I will do some detailed ones at the 1 month mark.

Skin Diaries Week 3

I think I spoke too soon last week...about the oiliness, anyway. This week I have been pretty crazy oily. =( 

But the good news is...No cystic zits yet...yay! Although my forehead is pretty congested and I did wake up this morning with a small zit...it is not a crazy gross ginormous zit. I should be about to start my period...hopefully, lol, which is probably why the small zit has appeared.

My skin is really smooth, but super flaky and red from the retin-a micro. I am hoping my skin will learn to tolerate it better. I have these annoying bumps under my skin from previous cysts that take FOREVER to go away.

But so far, so good. I am starting to feel better about my skin...and have even worn my hair up a few times (I usually wear it down to hide my cheeks >_<) 

The scarring and hyperpigmentation on my left cheek is almost coverable by concealer and foundation now...before, nothing would cover it and trying to would just make it look horribly obvious. 

Skin Diaries - Week 2

Yesterday was the 2 week mark on Spironolactone 50mg a day. I have started splitting my dose and find that the side effects are much easier to deal with. Which is good because....wow. Just wow. I have not had a single cystic zit pop up this week. This is unheard of for me, I always have at least 1 painful cyst on my face either brewing or in full awesome force...so to go a week of having no active breakouts is a miracle.

The Retin-A Micro is doing some wonderful things as well. I have started to use it every night, but buffer it with my Paulas Choice Resist Toner and Resist Ultra-Light Antioxident Serum (meaning I put these two products on first, followed by the Retin-A Micro). The buffering keeps my skin from getting all irritated and red, but the peeling effect is not all that diminished, which I believe is a good thing. I want my skin to continue peeling for a good little while, to speed up the healing process of the old acne marks. 

My skin is much smoother due to the RAM use. I am finding I am using less foundation and the product is not falling to my crater-pores...which, and this may be a little preemptive and wishful thinking but...I *think* they might be getting a tiny bit smaller. I think my oil production has decreased a little bit too, as when I blot now (after 5-6 hours...used to be every 2-3 hours) I am not filling up an entire sheet anymore. Also, my makeup still looks decent after blotting and not like it just melted into every crevice on my face. I am still pretty oily, but I would be okay if it remains as it is now. It is manageable oiliness, at last!

As for the spotting-- It only lasted a day and was over, so that was good.

You know it is starting to look up when your boyfriend (boys, bless them, never notice anything *_*) comments to you that your skin is looking really good. Yeah, that happened today. TOTALLY made my day, not gonna lie.

Spironolactone Update - Week 1

Oh lawd. So I started thinking I would not have any side effects from Spiro (other than some anxiety that I get from taking ANY medication....I am always scared that I will have a crazy reaction or something)...but today I started spotting. >_< It is really strange because, from what I have read, people do not usually have irregular periods from taking 50mg....It is usually a side effect of higher doses. Oh well, though. Supposedly it is a side effect that goes away after a while...but honestly, I would wear a panty-liner forever if it meant I no longer had to deal with acne. >:|

Skin Diaries - Week 1

Watch out, o peeps of the interwebs. This is going to be a gross, long post. With a lot of rambling. *__*

I decided to keep a little skin diary of sorts as a frame of reference. My skin is suffering from some serious uglies. I mean....I think it is the worst it has ever looked....ever. I suffered from a serious cystic acne breakout in March 2013 that has left my face scarred and with some crrrraaaaazzzzzyyyy hyperpigmentation. 

I have had acne since puberty, but it has only gotten bad over the past several years. I am 27, should be focusing on anti-aging, and instead have to worry about cystic acne. Yay. 

I have tried a number of things over the past several years....but nothing has worked. I have not had a single day, since the age of 13, that I have not had a pimple on my face. 

I went to the dermatologist last Thursday, and told him I wanted to be put on Accutane because I was so tired of the constant war I had been waging. It has caused me enough grief and stress. I am well versed in the possible horrible side effects but I have gotten to the point that I am willing to take the risk. The derm talked me off the ledge, said he would be willing to give it to me but I should try this androgen-blocker called Spironolactone first. Well, I had already done a ton of research on spironolactone anyway, so I knew exactly what it was. I was pretty pleased  he knew about it (supposedly a lot of derms do not like to prescribe this) so I agreed to try the Spiro as well as use Retin-A every other day (at least).

He told me to start out on 50mg a day, and when I felt ready, to up my dose to 100mg. So I have been taking the Spiro for a little over a week, and use the Retin-A micro every other day at night. I used Finacea gel in the morning (followed by Sunscreen) and on the other nights I am not using Retin-A micro.

Mini rave starting about Finacea: I LOVE IT. There is no topical that I love more than Finacea gel. I have been using it about 2 months now, and it seriously takes all of the redness out of my face (until I added Retin-A in, of course >_>) I do not know if it is helping fade my hyperpigmentation or if time would work just as well on it, but for the redness reduction and evening of skin tone alone it is fantastic! I neeeever plan on stopping this stuff.

Anyway. Here are some pics. A little over a week in to the treatment.

le bare face

Right cheek-- couple active/healing breakouts, hyperpigmentatin, scarring, huge pores, oily skin, the works. 

Left cheek-- nothing active, just scarring and hyperpigmentation.

Chin area isnt horrible, just a bit pink from Retin-A Micro.

Yuck, right? I currently have a few healing breakouts and sooo much hyperpigmentation and a bit of scarring too. HUGE craterous pores that seep oil like crazy...I am hoping Spiro will help with the oil as well as the acne. But only time will tell-- supposedly it takes a couple months for your hormones to get adjusted to the medication.