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?