Update on "How I Cleared My Acne"

A couple months ago I posted a blog post on "How I Cleared My Acne" and I just wanted to follow up.

 If you haven't had a chance to read the original post of how I cleared my acne, you can read it here. 

In June, I went in to my dermatologist and asked for something to keep the breakouts at bay. As difficult as the Accutane process was (as any antibiotic regime can be), I loved how great it worked on my skin and I wanted to keep up a solid and helpful skin care routine.

Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist or doctor of any kind. Just a girl with a blog :) If you think you would like to get on a topical antibiotic for your acne, see a dermatologist and talk it over with them. However, if you are in the Cypress/Houston area, I recommend Dr. Lauren Campbell. And if you are in the Fayetteville area, I recommend Dr. Andrea Thompson.

I have now been using Epiduo for 2 months. I actually went on it for a bit when I was about 15 or 16 and started having bad breakouts. At that point, it didn't help as much as I wanted to because my acne was a little too severe and I really could have used something like Accutane (which I didn't end up taking until after I graduated from high school).

I put a note on my calendar to evaluate my Epiduo experience six weeks after starting it because that's typically the initial breakout period for most people.

I really only broke out the first 3 weeks, in addition with a little dryness/redness.

As always, I am using my Clearasil cleanser. It's super gentle which is perfect for someone who is also using an antibiotic or a topical cream.

I apply the Epiduo before bed after my face dries from washing it. (My derm had told me to apply it in the morning, but I'm in too much of a rush usually, so night works better!)

I think this last step in my skin care routine has made all the difference! After I've let the Epiduo cream dry and sit for 5-10 minutes I apply some Aveeno face lotion. This does not clog my pores whatsoever (I use it morning and night) and it keeps my face from drying out from the Epiduo.

Despite how well this has worked for me, I don't think it's the only active ingredient in the success. In January, I got really serious about my health and switched up my diet. I no longer eat dairy and I try to stick to a plant-based diet as much as I can. I eat a lot of veggies and I tend to only have natural sugar from fruits. When people ask me for advice on how to clear their skin, I tell them to try limiting (or cutting out completely) dairy from their diet for a week or so. It really helped me!

Some other tips I've mentioned before that are worth a second post:

*Drink plenty of water
*Clean your pillowcases often
*Keep your hands away from your face
*Use makeup that is dermatologist recommended (Almay clear complexion, Neutrogena, etc.)
*clean your makeup brushes/sponges
*(this one's my favorite) try not to wear makeup every day, let your skin breathe!


There you have it! Remember that you're beautiful in the skin that you're in and you should be kind to it.

Send any questions you may have my way at cristinaoncampus@gmail.com

X,


Cristina