I've never used a prescription med for it before, but I've been considering it. My sisters and my bf have pretty much perfect skin (lucky buggers) and I'm lucky if I don't have a break out every other week. One clears up and another one starts. I'm not sure I'd be able to sit out the three week period. I'm used to having acne, but scaly, flaky skin...not so much.

I used to use Benza-something. It was a topical cream/gel. I used soemthing stronger after but it made my skin worst. I had acne from 12 years old to 25 years old. It's just started to clear up. I am not afraid to go out without any make up...I haven't doen that since high school.

My skin got really bad two years ago. I was living a lot of stress and my skin broke out like it never broke out before. I tried something like proactiv called Murad, it made my skin worst. This past year I went to get laser skin treatments.

All these years I have had ance I have tried many soaps and products. I used Vichy for acne prone skin. Ever since I stopped using products and started using regualr soap

I used to use Benza-something. It was a topical cream/gel. I used soemthing stronger after but it made my skin worst. I had acne from 12 years old to 25 years old. It's just started to clear up. I am not afraid to go out without any make up...I haven't doen that since high school.

My skin got really bad two years ago. I was living a lot of stress and my skin broke out like it never broke out before. I tried something like proactiv called Murad, it made my skin worst. This past year I went to get laser skin treatments.

All these years I have had ance I have tried many soaps and products. I used Vichy for acne prone skin. Ever since I stopped using products and started using regular soap my skin has cleared up like CRAZY. My skin is soft and I have one break out ever other week. I am so happy to no longer be ashamed of my skin.

Woop woop! Good luck with the Retin A

My skin has been clear for years but when I was like 12 till about 15 or 16 I had very bad acne. I used Differin gel and some over the counter Clearasil and it cleared me up.

I feel your pain. I have had problems with cystic acne since I've been an adult. Ironically, my skin was fine as a teenager. The acne issues didn't start until I was maybe 30 or so?

I have gone through 2 course of accutane, with a few years between each course. While on it, your skin sloughs like hell which can be almost as embarrassing as the acne itself. I constantly had to apply moisturizer to my face and lip balm because I could literally peel flakes off. For many, accutane is curative, especially after two courses. Of course I have to be different. While on accutane, my skin did eventually clear up, but the results have not been permanent. However, I have decided not to subject my body to the dangers of accutane for a third time.

I have also tried courses of oral antibiotics, and most recently a topical prescription called Atralin gel (tretinoin, another vitamin A derivative) which did nothing but again dry up my skin. My dermatologist says I have a difficult case (no shit) and that likely no treatment will completely clear my skin. What he has suggested is receiving local steroid injections when flare-ups occur. This method seemed to work some, but I can't say that I tried it for too long. Each visit cost me a co-pay, and I had to get in to the office very early in the breakout, which was not always possible. So basically I live with it. Does it make me self-conscious? Sure, but I've learned to live with it and fortunately it's not to the point of disfiguring.

I truly hope you find a solution that works for you. Adult acne just sucks.

Yeah, I've tried a few things. The best combination has actually been my birth control pills plus a homemade remedy face wash I get at my local pharmacy. The medicated stuff just makes my face worse, and I'm allergic to benzoyl peroxide so that's out the window.

I'm currently using Clindoxyl (same thing as Benzaclin), Retin-A Micro and Diane-35 which is a birth control pill that's supposed to help acne.

I used to use Retin A gel, but I found it way too irritating and drying. I can totally relate to the dead skin beard, my chin was always the worst part. Make sure you really are just using a pea sized amount like the instructions say. When I first started I used like twice that amount because I felt like there was no way a pea sized amount could cover my whole face but it made my skin so dry. I remember waking up the second or third day I used it and my face was bright red and so dry and tight feeling that I could barely open my mouth.

My skin did start to get used to the Retin-A, but even after a few months it still made me flaky. I switched to Retin-A Micro and it doesn't make me flaky or irritated at all. I used to have closed comedones (those tiny, skin coloured bumps) all over my forehead and cheeks and the Retin A Micro got rid of that and improved my skin's texture a lot.

I do still have some acne though and I'm going on Accutane next month. My derm didn't really want to let me since I don't have severe acne, but I kept asking about it and I've tried every other treatment she could think of so she kind of just said she wouldn't advise it but if I want to she will let me.

Yup, I've had bad skin since I was 12. So thats 12 years now. ><

Was put on tetracycline pills when I was 18 and was finally able to convince my mom to take me to the doctor. He also gave clindamyacine gel and another cream that was really really greasy. This combo worked a little bit for a while but then I moved to college and couldnt go back to the doctor so I used up what I had and then went off it. My skin got bad again within 2 months of being off and I dealt with it as best I could.

Then I got engaged and was really upset about how I would look in all of my wedding photos. So, I went to a doctor and paid out of pocket for the appointment and prescriptions he gave me because as a poor college kid I had no insurance. He put me on tetracycline because it had worked before. I tried it for 4 months with no results at all. He then put me on monocycline and used that for 4 months with absolutely no change.

So, with much begging and promising to follow all the rules, he agreed to put me on accutane. He had told me that he refused to prescribe it to women and would only give it to men because of the risk of birth defects. I reminded him about how unfair that was.

I was given a prescription of 40mg twice a day for 5 months. Again, paying out of pocket. Pretty sure only wealthy people are supposed to have nice skin...

My whole body dried out. My face was scaly and I found that using a psoriasis cream on it twice a day was the only thing that helped. My arms would turn bright red and break out in rash if I didn't put lotion on them twice a day. My mucus membranes all dried up and my nose would bleed every time I blew it.
But by then end of my 5 months my skin was so clear I couldn't hardly believe it.

That was a year and a half ago and I have started to break out again over the last 6 months. He had told me that it wasn't a cure and that I might have to do 2 or even 3 rounds of treatment for it to last. I am hoping to be able to hold out until I can actually afford the treatment without it sending me into debt.

But, my wedding photos turned out great! =)

I used some of my brothers before. It was basically a tube of straight up salicylic acid. It worked wonders though.

I thought the cartoon answer was funny. I've never used prescription acne medication.

Never really needed it. I can't imageine wanting so badly to clear my skin that I'd make myself even more prone to sun burn. I was ticked when none of my doctors ever told me that birth control can makes you sun sensitive...I'm a red head, I need to know these things!!!!

Right now I use both Differin and Epiduo daily. I apply Differin in the morning and Epiduo at night. They work great. Granted, I will have an occasional breakout, but only 1 at a time, but that's normal, the medication isn't perfect. But, I really do enjoy these meds, they really work.

I don't use any prescription acne medication and never have, though I probably should. I have tried a ton of different facial cleansers, astringents, creams, and gels. I have also tried some of the kits like Proactiv. My acne isn't so bad that I look like a pizza face, but it isn't clear. I don't even know which medications would actually work

In high school I had to go on accutane two different times. After that, I used proactiv for a while in college, but eventually my acne for the most part stopped. Just every once in a while I will get minor acne, but nothing to require medicine.

A combo of oral contraceptives and retin a micro keeps my skin pretty clear.

I used Benzaclin as a teen because it was (miraculously!) covered by insurance and my pediatrician recommended it, and it worked well for me. I stopped when I went to college and my skin has been pretty okay since then. It's still absurdly sensitive and too much sun, harsh soap or whatever will give me some pimples, but I don't have acne anymore.

Anyway, I have heard what you're doing right now is nothing short of incredible and life changing from a friend of mine! Stick with it, I hope it's awesome in the end (which I'm sure it will be!)

With the exception on a few months on the middle of 6th grade, I have always had a clear face. I of course get the occasional blemish, but I've never had an acne problem. I have only ever used astringents to reduce pore size.

My sister and brother have had acne problems since puberty and have controlled it with what I thought was the Benzaclin, but your description makes me believe I'm wrong. They rave about it.

I haven't had the most clearest face. I am prone to a zit or two on occasion, but it has never been an actual problem.

Clindomycin and Differin. My birth control also helps.

I've had mild acne since early high school. I've taken a few prescription topical things, but all they did was dry my face out. Interestingly, the one thing that's helped has been eating probiotic foods (yogurt, veggies.) As long as I keep up with that, my acne is in check.