[Reina-Rena]

Alright, so does anyone else here suffer from ance? I have had bad acne since my middle school years, and it was very hard for me considering that hardly anyone else had it yet! It was like my body was maturing faster than all the kids around me, it was horrible! I started taking acne pills around last year (doxycycline 100 mg/ twice a day) The pills help, but my break-outs still come! My acne causes so much stress, sometimes I hate looking in the mirror at myself...I have tried almost everything to get my acne under control (Diet, creams, everything!) Does anyone else suffer from this annoying stress causer? My mother tried Accutane, but it had side-effects on her that are still present to this day (she took this pill 10-15 years ago). Yes, it cleared her acne, but it caused her everlasting side-effects which I do not want!

[salukigirl]

I had horrible acne and it was due to poly cystic ovary syndrome. My androgen levels were higher than normal and that cause me to have horrible acne. I went on a lo-dose birth control to even out my estrogen/androgen levels and started using proactiv and it cleared me up in 2 weeks flat. Now, I only have to use proactiv maybe one week out of every month to keep my skin clear.

My sister was on accutane and it didn't do a thing for her. Once she got pregnant her skin cleared up and has been clear ever since. But I think you need to find out the cause to be able to truly take care of it. Some people might have the same acne as me and have it clear up just from face washing whereas mine required birth control plus face washing. And, also, they tell you that you shouldn't use accutane if you're pregnant or plan on getting pregnant any time soon. It can really do a number on your body. And, my friend took it as well and she ended up having to use chapstick every 5 seconds because it dried out her lips extremely bad and made them very chapped and they would crack very easily.

I would look at the source first. I don't know what age you are, but PCOS usually occurs in girls of child bearing age (I first got symptoms at age 18) so that might be something you want to look into. Or anything that causes an unnatural flux in your hormones.

[Reina-Rena]

Thank you, salukigirl!

I think I will look a little into this PCOS. I am currently 16 years old, and I am taking birth control along with the doxycycline to try and balance out my horomones. Thanks for the great advice!

[salukigirl]

doxycycline? I was on that for Lyme Disease....they use it to balance out hormones? I thought it was an antibiotic?

[Reina-Rena]

My doctors also said that is was an antibiotic. I guess it cures a number of things. As long as it clears my acne up, Im happy Sometimes it makes me sick though...It has a horrible after taste.

[Rhapsody]

My Dermatologist would suggest you wash with Cetaphil (liquid) Face Wash and use Cetaphil Moisturizer..... and to stay away from fried food, soda and regular milk chocolate - Dark Chocolate can be eaten during your period.

[salukigirl]

I'm sure they told you this but, on doxycycline, you need to keep out of the sun! When I was on it I got beet red in 2 hours of being outside in the summer (with spf 35 on the whole time). If there's any advice I can give....that's it lol. Also, try eating a full meal with it. Upset stomach is a pretty common side effect of doxycycline. And you really shouldn't take it if you're pregnant or wanting to become pregnant soon. They actually made me take a pregnancy test before they would prescribe it to me.