Why is my retin-a/tretinoin not working?
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Fri Oct 11, 2013 11:56 am

I was first prescribed minocycline (pill), clindamycin (liquid), and tretinoin (cream) for my acne in December 2011. I used all three until August 2012 because my skin had cleared up so I thought I didn't need medication anymore.

Then in about January/Feb 2013 my acne started to come back and it was worse than before. I went to the doctor in May 2013 and he prescribed me only a month of minocycline and 5 months of clindamycin and tretinoin (but both last much longer than 5 months). I stopped using clindamycin and tretinoin for a week in June when I went on a cruise. However, I look at pictures on the cruise and my skin was almost perfect. I went back to tretinoin and clindamycin as soon as I got home from the cruise.

It is now October and my skin has gotten worse from the cruise. It is not as bad as it was in May, but I am still getting a few really big,p painful pimples. Why is it not working? Is it because I stopped for a week? Does it make a difference if I skip tretinoin 2 nights in a row? Because sometimes I forget/fall asleep but I didn't think it would make that much of a difference.

I know that it takes 1-4 months for tretinoin to work but my skin cleared up within the first month of use so why is my acne getting worse? I am using .025. I know you're supposed to break out and peel but to be honest this didn't really happen for me. I only really peeled a little around my t-zone.

Also, I am using "Purity" by philosophy face wash.

free skin care · Fri Oct 11, 2013 5:44 pm

Acne is, at times, very complex to treat. The way you discribe it, seems to be cystic acne. Which is not a skin surface problem.

I haven't realy suffered from acne (beside an episode following a laser treatmemt), so I don't have much advice for you. But...

Have you looked at what kind of food could help and which one you should avoid ? I believe dairy products are not recommended at all. Maybe look to find out if any probiotics could help you. I'm positive these kind of things help.

Is it possible for you to see your derm again ? Or maybe another derm that could give you some advices on what to do beside only giving you antibiotics.

I may not suffer from acne but I have some health issues and with the help of a good doctor I found out what could help me beside just the medication. I'm sharing that because I'm sure acne makes you suffer a lot. And it seems to me that some skin Dr. (Derm) don't do much more to help out beside giving prescriptions.

Hope you will get better soon and that you will find out what you could do or change in your life habits to reduce the acne.

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