Doxyxycline + Differin Log

As much as i love beauty stuffs, my skin is at the worst condition in my entire life. So instead, i would love to share my personal experience on my prescribed medication that has been given to me thus far.

Acne History

A little bit of my acne background that you guys might want to know.. I have had acne for as long a i could remember. As early as 11 yo maybe? Mostly i struggle with CCs that never seem to go away and just a few pimples that will appear randomly on my face often. I have back acne too but it was quite mild. After i left secondary school, my skin was at it's best and maintain for a few years. Other than a few PIH/PIE, the rest of my skin was quite flawless.
Late 2013 i start getting minor CCs on my forehead. And i thought it could be because of my runs? I don't usually put up my hair so sweat can kinda built up on my forehead. My skincare routine did not change and my makeup was pretty much the same products that i have been using.

Going March of 2014, my skin was covered in CCs. So i went to see a GP and was prescribed clindamycin phosphate with the lowest concentration. And as all medication i read online, i had the wonderful experience of an initial breakout (IB). :( At that point of time i felt like my skin was at it's worst. I cried most of the time because it's been awhile since i had acne. :( But i recovered quickly. Within 6 months it was pretty clear.
My skin was pretty much clear the next year. Late 2015 i had little CCs on my forehead. I managed to clear it up using BHA and AHA stridex. Again, had IB but it wasn't so bad. I still could go school without makeup. Pretty much cleared up after 3 months or so just PIH/PIE scarring.

Acne Now

Come June 2016, my face started acting up. And i'm pretty sure it's because i destroyed my skin barrier from trying too much product from Asian Skincare. So i stopped using everything and went to see a derm. He mentioned it was hormonal acne and could be products too. I was on Borymycin IIRC, for 2 months and stopped since my skin was healing. And then again just dealing with scars.

Mid Sept 2016 was when all hell broke loose. I had these major acne thing that is the worst that i have ever seen. It is somewhat like CCs but it's deep into the skin. Similar to what i had in 2014. However unlike 2014, these were literally appearing at every single space on my skin. I was pretty sure a cream from COSRX that i used was the culprit. It felt like sandpaper when i brush my hands on my face. I started crying again(alot too) knowing what i have to go through (IB again).

Medication

So yup, i visited my family GP because all of a sudden this bumps under the skin..And i'm talking like really under the skin, it only looks horrendous when my skin was pulled taut. Anyways, these monsters started to look reddish and itchy! My GP said it look like a yeast infection. However she still gave me acne medication only. Doxycycline for 1 month and visit her once done.

End of Week 3: IB started and again i felt defeated and couldn't wait for the 1 month completion. So i went to a polyclinic so i can get a referral to a dermatologist at National Skin Centre. Because i really wanna go on a subsidized stronger medication(only a derm can prescribe, not a GP).
Doctor gave me 2 months Doxy + Differin cream to apply once a day. Was referred to derm at KTPH. And like all govt subsidy, the long waiting list. Appointment only in Feb :(

End of Week 4: Skin pretty much keep popping, at least one new pimple a day. I have not started using differin since doctor says it can cause photo-sensitivity. And i had a holiday end of the week in hot and humid Kuala Lumpur

End of Week 5/ End of Week 1 (Differin): WORST SKIN I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Once i applied that differin, it's crazy how fast my face reacted to it. All those tiny shits came to the surface. There was still those tiny bumps under skin. STILL ALOT. Like hundreds and clusters >.< Knowing that these things will all come to a surface eventually.. I cry every day at the thought of it. Just felt down and depress throughout the week. My face was filled with SO MANY GOD DAMN PIMPLES. And more to come.. :( And to think i had worst skin in 2014?? This was x10 worse!!

End of Week 6/ Week 2 (Differin): I thought it has reached it's worst but nope, MORE pimples pop up and in clusters! :( pastules, papules and nodules. Even those stubborn tiny bumps hidden under the skin has now been visible and becoming CCs. This week was a total nightmare. I went out wearing a mask. It was that bad.

31/12/17 was the start of week 7/ week 3 (Differin). Although my pimples kept coming (and it still is!), some of them healed really fast so maybe the differin is really working? Past weekend i've been scaring myself reading people's log. :( Thinking all this might be a bad thing. However many mentioned that again this is just the normal IB where everything is coming to a surface.

Also, alot have mentioned to stick to it and finish the course. At least 12 weeks to tell and decide whether it is working or not. Mainly at the start of 8 week people start to show positive results with differin. So i'm going to still wait. Doxy supposed to keep pimples at bay though, i heard. Unfortunately for me it's not working? So i'm just going to finish the 2 months course that Doctor has given me. And wait for my derm appointment in Feb to see the next step.

Will update weekly, guys. As of now, i'm going to stick to the program and just hide at home. It's really terrible :( Because as much as pimples are healed fast, new pimples are popping out, JUST AS FAST. :(

Till next update.