adult acne

[Miker36]

First off, I'm a 37 year old male 190 lbs, 22% body fat; 6'1" tall

I started getting acne back in December '06. I have never had acne in my life, overall my skin has been  normal -- zits that clear up in a matter of days etc. I started to get oily skin around this area too.

The spots I was getting in December were no different than any others I have gotten during my life. These zits were on my forehead, with a few (1 or 2) on my cheeks. Whiteheads and some red bumps. Once they were not going away with simple washing I used Benzoil peroxide / acne washes etc...this was not working, the spots were not going away.

My doctor prescribed "Stievamycin" (regular) Tretioin gel. This worked great for pustules / white heads. I found any "raised" spots went down. The problem was the spots weren't going away. Some were flat, others slightly raised. I wasn't getting any new ones, but the ones I had were not clearing.

I went back to my doctor and he prescribed MInocycline 100mg for 3 months

The Minocycline had very little affect - again, there was no other significant outbreaks, but any new pimples were still not going away.

After visiting my dermatologist, it is still  up in the air as to what the problem is. Both my doctor and dermatologist questioned Rosacea - apparently I don't have all the symptoms? I don't blush easily, my face isn't red etc. My dermatologist considered Accutane, but decided to first bump the Minocyline.

I'm taking 200mg / day Minocylne now. I'm about half through the prescription of 2 months. The acne isn't anywhere near as bad as it was in January. But it IS still on my forehead, and is persistent. I have gotten a couple of pustules during my recent prescription, they disappeared within a few days. There were no spots left behind.
Will these blemishes/spots ever go away? Will my skin ever return to normal? Is there anything else I can do, other than taking antibiotics, to help my skin? -- washes, astringents, etc?
Any ideas about this situation?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Acne marks can take months to go away, especially if the marks are on the torso.  It's hard to tell without seeing you, but it sounds as though your acne is actually responding to the treatment you've had so far.  While your impatience is understandable, I think that basically you're going to need to wait these marks out.  Your dermatologist seems to have the right idea of how to go about treating you, so I'd stick with his or her advice.  I'd say that your skin will indeed go back to normal.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[diomedes]

are there any other treatments besides pills and the conventional laser treatments for acne?

[plugged]

im 25 years and experience the same exact problem as  you. it is surprisingly similar. Is there is someone close to u experiencing similar problems, maybe your spouse or anyone close?

[piper05]

I used Proactiv Skin Care for the last 5 years until someone told me that it actually caused liver damage. when I asked my family doctor about the active Ingedient he told be that Benzoyl Peroxide is Gasoline and Hydrogen Peroxide. Recently I had spots located on my liver. Have you heard of any information that confirms that Benzoyl Peroxide causes liver damage?

Also I began using an all natural product line after finding out the above and there are ways to clear your skin without using chemicals.

[Davidpm]

I have this small white bumpy spots in face and also in my arms some of them are flat also, i have gone thru several treatments fraxel,laser treatments,needle laser treatment, the dermatogies think are scars from acne but i never had that bad of acne. i'm starting to think it might be an alergy (allergy) to something that i'm eating? or putting in my face, the only thing that i was putting in my face are to shave and after shave that's about it. any suggestion? i will appreciate it Thanks.