Acne/skin/hair prescriptions (side effects)

[Tish]

Trying to put off taking Spiro, I've been using the following skin treatments for about a month:

1) Retin-A (for face acne)
2) Benzaclin (for body acne)
3) Vaniqa (for face hair)

I've also been taking 2000mg of Metformin ER for years (wish I could take more, but I'm told that's the maximum), and just began the herbal regimen of Cinnamon, Fish Oil, & Saw Palmetto.

Back to the skin regimen: I know the listed side effects include stinging, burning, redness, etc. My side effects are 1) Benzaclin - a raised rash across my chest that is SO itchy I just want to scratch my skin off (every minute I am consciously restraining myself from scratching); 2) Retin-A - I'm getting red cracks in my skin like little X's, plus, and I'm not positive this is related, but my eyelids really sting (not in a place I put the Retin-A) and are puffy, thick, and dry (one much more than the other).

So, bottom line - I don't have acne, but I have dry swollen eyes and a blasted raised itchy rash across my chest. Quite lovely, eh? ha ha.

Has anyone else tried this skin care route? Are these side effects normal? How long might it last?

I may just try the Spiro afterall. This is a lot of work (with not the greatest of results).

:) Thanks!
Tish

[littledragon804]

Oye, Sorry in advance for this being long...
Well you're in that whole category of D--ed if you do D-ed if you dont. lol ...Well let me just say...When it comes to acne, I'm not sure how bad your acne is...I can tell you how bad mine is or was. In my family on my fathers side, acne is aweful. My dad had such horrible cystic acne even till today that he doesn't take his shirt off becasue of being embarrassed. He also has to surgically get some of the cysts removed by his dermotologist. When i was around 12, my acne was aweful. I also have cystic acne. My chest, back, face, and neck would be full of huge, very painful blemishes, that were agonizing and left horrible scarring. Being what my father went through...he immediately took me to a dermotologist here or there, who prescribes just about every cream, soap, lotion, you can think of. Though it would clear upslightly, I TOO had aweful reactions to most of the products. My skin would peel, burn , itch, get rashes...Finally when i found an amazing dermotoligist around here, he said that wasn't ok...I shouldn't be getting rashes...I had a bad enough case to try an incredable strong drug called ACUTANE. This stuff is major...You need to have blood work done every month, and it effects your entire body...I had cracked dried skin, lips, cold sores galore, moody, and you're on it for about 6 months to a year. Let me tell you, cleared me up amzingly. I had to be put on it again, Which the doc thought might happen arund the age of 16. But this time the symptoms weren't bad at all. From there I started to go to a Spa to get regular facials. This lady is amazing. She's trained overseas and does an incredable job. She was actualy recomended by my derm. becasue usually derms have someone they work fairly closely with in that field. Going to her after my treatments was one of the best things I could have done. And still do every 6 weeks. If I go too long without a facial, I break out...My friends think i'm nuts, becasue they all talk about what amazing skin i have..but I have to WORK REALLY HARD to keep my skin looking ok. If you can swing it, try getting regular facials, and they can do them for your back and chest too...they work wonders. The goal is to find someone that can work with you, stay consistant with you, and get to know your skin, and hormone levels. Not every person that works in spa and does facials are as educated in the field and their anatomy and physisiology as they should be.I know this is long so i appologise...but you aren't alone with the annoying acne thing...I've been there and done that...the point is if you're persistant you'll be able to find something that works great for you. BAck when i was on Retin A it was expensive too...HTH! And good luck!

[Tish]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience & your advice! :)

I've gone a day and a half without taking the skin Rx's, and my puffy-eyes are improving. My chest-rash LOOKS a little better (not raised anymore) but is still itchy as heck.

I called my doc and got a prescription for Spiro, which I started last night.

We shall see...

Thanks!
Tish