get rid of my acne

Not sure if it’s progress or not. I use meds regularly. I use stuff for Rosacea now too, although I’m not sure I have that yet. Can’t get into a dermatologist for another decade (translated: July ‘10 for Dr#2 and Oct ‘10 for Dr#1) so who knows. It’s likely either Rosacea or Lupus. (Or both – why not.)

ANYWAY – at least the habit to do something about it is there. Back to the world of using foundation and concealer again… I tried it getting ready for a formal event that is fast approaching and was amazing at how the redness and awfulness seemed less red and less awful. Ahhhh I’m caving…. all in the name of self-confidence, I guess.

Finally am to the point where it is a habit to use the meds (adapelene cream) every evening. It if definitely starting to improve, but am still dealing with dryness and concerned about scarring. Too bad I didn’t have this stuff to try 10 years ago.

Decided not to start a new trial, but got new meds… finally without Benzoyl Peroxide in it… I always seem to react to that junk. Gonna try the adapelene route…. I’ll start that this week.

My long awaiting doctor’s appointment is in a few days, and I got a call this past week asking if I wanted to be a part of a new trial. If I can swing it while working, I will. Sounds like a worthwhile endeavour…. it helped me last time. If I could only get better permanently.

Probably to get another plan…. this time I have drug coverage because I am now gainfully employed. Yay! We’ll see what comes of that.

I have done poorly at remembering to use the bar wash the doctor gave me. Not using it every day messes me up, so I need to be more aware of what day it is, when to use it, etc. All I know for now it that tonight’s the night!

Medication wise, I’ve got a bar wash the dermatologist recommended and use it a few times a week. So far no reactions. And it should show improvement within a month, so that would be nice.

Otherwise, I’m just being smarter (or trying to be) about my health and lifestyle. So I’m drinking more water, eating better, exercising regularly, reducing stress, building relationships, and getting enough sleep…. this is the goal anyway, so I suspect that should help with the acne too. Maybe more than anything else.

The trial did great. The new meds made things worse. But the current acne meds helped to counteract that a bit. I’m off the new meds that made my face worse (among other things… argh) and my face is much improved once again.

It looks like it’s time to consider what makes this goal completed in my eyes…

I’m all done the clinical trial… which is good and bad. Good because it’s nice to not have to keep track of everything, being limited on certain things, etc. but not so nice because it means I’ve stopped using the first thing in a LONG time that really worked for me! I don’t even know what medication I was on, but I do have an appointment to see the dermatologist in a few days to get me set up with something that should also help.

I’m really pleased with how whatever it was worked for me… broke out a bit after I had to stop with the end of the trial, but even still the look of my skin is SO much improved. The other downside is that I have to pay for the meds now, but I’ll figure that out.

I’ll also be starting new meds, now that the trial is over, for an unrelated thing but it’s one of those things where the side effects include improved skin. Nice.

I’m thinking I might be taking this one off the list pretty soon. :)

I survived a week of using the clincal trial meds on my face. Apparently my skin is improving, but the dryness and redness has definitely been an issue. The “legal” makeup that I went on and on about last entry has definitely come in handy!

I’m still in the trial and hopefully can see it through. That’s the plan.