Hello!

Firstly, I know there is an infinite number of solutions and causes and stories on Google BUT! I would like some personal stories from the nice users of Subeta. xD

I'll just add a TL;DR now because I have problems paraphrasing...

TL;DR - I'm in Canada (ON) and would like recommendations on something I can take orally to fix my face clear my acne, please. :)

I've had problems with acne since I was a young teenager and now I'm an adult. Thinking it would go away once I got old enough, I didn't worry too much about. I'm just fed up now. :(

I've tried the basics:

• Exercising regularly
• Drinking more water (a lot more)
• Prescription topicals (with salicylic acid, benzyl peroxide, Differin)
• Colder water to wash my face, different facial cleansers

I'm sure there's more but my memory is failing.

Here is what I do on a daily basis:

• I get enough fruits and vegetables. I eat junk food from time to time but there's no difference whether I stop or not. For example, I've completely stopped eating chips years ago (it does cause breakouts for me) but nothing drastic has changed.

• Wash my face twice a day --> day and night

• Drink a lot more water each day compared to a couple years ago

Now I'm convinced it's because of my hormones (though I barely know anything about them). What I would like now is something I can take orally to control my breakouts, but I don't know how to go about acquiring it. The only thing I'm s[/s] afraid of is the side effect of being nauseous / vomiting. I don't know if I do get prescribed something to just take it without worrying about the effects on my body. I guess I'm just really skeptical about the whole thing too. :P

I've never been to a dermatologist, just the family doctor. I'm afraid I'm annoying the family doctor because I go back every few years to ask for a solution, haha. Should I find a dermatologist instead? I'm quite introverted and would have trouble going alone. How do I bring up the topic or will it be easier than I am imagining while panicking right now? xD

So, knowledgeable users, what oral prescriptions have you guys tried and what are your stories? :)

Thank you for reading my wall of text! ^___^

I've never really had acne, just the odd breakouts here and there. I seem to suffer more from facial dermatitis because I have psoriasis. I do see a dermatologist and she's great. I get acne pills from her if I need it, or other medications I need for my other problems. The only dermatologist in Northern Ontario is in my city and I would strongly recommend seeing one.

Hi!

I'm in the same boat as you. I've had acne my whole life. Both of my parents still have bad acne. People always tell me it'll get better... I'm 23 and I still break out like I'm 15.

I did the topical stuff too. Never helped. After seeing a dermatologist, she put me on Accutane. That is a HARSH drug, man. It's heavily regulated by the gov and you have to be on two types of birth control plus go in for monthly pregnancy tests because it seriously messes with unborn babies. It works, but it's a LOT of work.

After I was on that for like a year, I was better, but about 6 months down the line, I started breaking out again. Derm put me on Spironolactone, which is listed as a blood pressure medication, but it doesn't work, but it helps with with acne (and hair growth, so win-win). I've been off that for a while ('cause I'm lazy and haven't refilled) but it worked while I was on it!

Obviously, I'm not a doctor so pls don't go over to your doc and be like "This girl on Subeta told me I should do this!" lol but seriously it's totally cool to talk to them. I'm introverted too and I actually prefer to be alone in appointments like that because my mother talks too much. Find a doc who has good reviews online or something and don't be afraid! It's his/her job to help you.

aw, maybe you need a different retinoid? D: idk how referring yourself works in Canada but either go to your family doctor or if you can avoid that go to the dermatologist altogether because you've tried an extensive list of things already and made lifestyle adjustments as well :3 I imagine the dermatologist is very used to seeing acne on a daily basis that they don't annoyed with dealing with it and they'll be your best bet for help. c:

what kind of acne is it? cystic? scarring?

I saw the topic and was going to come in suggesting toothpaste but obviously you're at a more advanced stage |D

also have you taken two treatments at once? quick google search shows two+ treatments at once (with differing mechanisms of action ofc) are better than one treatment (like benzoyl peroxide + antibiotics)

good luck ;O;

I've found that moisturizer is key! Now, don't run off when you hear that! Its true! I use CeraVe PM moisturizer at night after I wash my face with a charcoal cleanser. And once a week I use a charcoal clay mask.

The only time I break out then is when its my period, or I take biotin for my hair or nails... stuff really makes me break out.

- aw, snap, interesting that you said biotin causes you to breakout. I started taking biotin for my nails and hair about 2 years ago. I now wonder if I should finish up what I have and stop and see if there is a difference.

- I'm a few years away from 30, and having acne at this age is humiliating. At this point I am defeated and just deal with it. My acne is mostly on my chin and jawline. And I do get cysts on my back and shoulders occasionally. And it flares up when my period comes.

I have tried every ointment over the counter practically and even herbal oral treatments. I tried oral medication and topical treatment when I was a teenager and my skin was burning so bad from it I had to stop (I don't remember the name of it). About 4 years ago I decided I wanted to try again and my general doctor (MD) gave me an antibiotic called doxycycline hyclate. Strange things started happening, it took a while for me to figure out that it was giving me bad side effects. I was getting nauseous, vomiting and diarrhea. But the most baffling was that I started having anxiety issues. It took a few months for this to set in and the symptoms were not consistent. My doctor did not believe the anxiety part, but when I decided to quit it was like a weight was lifted and took probably half a year to sort myself out.

I later went on to a dermatologist, who was...not that great. It was up to a point where I was using about 4 topical treatments. Like it was ridiculous! Ointment for the face + shampoo for the cysts on my scalp + topical for those scalp cysts + a sulfur body wash + top it off with an oil free moisturizer. I was trying to avoid taking oral medication because of that past experience I had, and I was hoping to not medicate myself that far.

I stopped seeing them and the only medication RX I still use right now is "Veltin", which is one treatment that actually works for me to keep things down. It causes my skin to peel if I use it every day. Cetaphil has a great "oil control" moisturizer + sunscreen. I buy medicated shampoo over the counter if my scalp acts up, but it is much better now.

My younger brother is also cursed with acne, even worse than me. I don't know off the top of my head what oral treatment (it's not Accutane) they finally got down to, but the side effects and warnings are crazy! If you are a female and you take this medication you HAVE TO take birth control. They force you to and make you sign a contract. The box these pills come in have warnings on every inch of it with illustrations showing the birth defects it can cause. Even though I don't plan on getting pregnant, that is just dangerous territory I don't want to wander into ever. It really dried my brother out, he had bloody noses for a while and has really flaky skin around the mouth area. (which was so bad I personally would rather have acne disfiguring me instead).

I don't mean to scare you, just want to say there are NO miracle cures, no clear cut solutions. You have to explore and weigh your options and find a regiment that works for you. And think about the side effects and risks and if it is worth it to you. And from my experience especially, speak up when you don't feel right and stop or change dermatologists if you need to.

Really though, stop the vitamins, and wait a week. My skin went from ow! To... reasonably better!

- man, I have like half a bottle of those chewable gummies left. I did some quick reading about and and it is a thing, I didn't know! Hate to waste the rest of the gummies, but these cysts under my jaw lately are pretty lame. I will quit and see if things change!

OMG the jaw cysts! Sooooo painful... trust me, stop the gummies...

You should definitely see a dermatologist if you want to take something orally!