[Tretinoin Progress] Up to 0.1% on Tretinoin and Almost off of my Antibiotic

Sometimes it’s good to be courageous. I initially got some smaller samples of Retin-A in 0.1% and I got really brave one day and decided to try to use it ( and due to the fact that it will be expired if I don't use it). So instead of using my 0.05% every night, I switched to using 0.1% every other night followed by CeraVe in the tub. I've been on that routine for two tubes of the sample ones until I got up the courage to call my dermatologist to update my prescription. Now I am using 0.1% every other night working up to every night. So far no dramatic peeling and new spots flatten and dies down much quicker. I am very happy about it and looking forward to great results and using it life long.

 Keflex  has been working magic in my body. But my dermatologist and I 's goal is to be off of Keflex and using only Tretinoin. I've been taking one capsule a day for 1 week, and ever other day for 1 week, 2 times a week for 2 weeks, and finally now, I'm only taking it when I feel like there is a (or some) stubborn pulsates that's not going away for 2 consecutive days.

So far I am loving my routine!!

Let me know if there is more info you guys want to know about my Tretinoin journey.

Twitter ✤ Pinterest ✤ Instagram

[Tretinoin Progress] The Happiest Dermatologist Visit and LOTS OF BLOOD.

This time's visit was much more pleasant than the last appointment, this is the happiest visit that I've ever had. 

There are currently 1- none large acne pustules due to Keflex  working magic in my body. The only thing is just hyperpigmentation left. Overall, I've been very happy for the past month.  However, I've been noticing a lot of hair loss, about 3X more than my normal hair loss.  Just to be safe, my dermatologist ordered some blood test to check my overall body functioning. She ordered a blood test called Comprehensive metabolic panel blood test (CMP), its usually a yearly exam or routine checkup bloodwork, it tests 

• How your kidneys and liver are working 
• Blood sugar, cholesterol, and calcium levels 
• Sodium, potassium, and chloride levels (AKA electrolytes) 
• Protein levels 

Along with the CMP blood test, my dermatologist also ordered to test my Thyroid for metabolism, my iron level, along with my vitamin D levels. 

The nurse took out 6 empty tubes and I was very scared..... Good thing I just stared at my phone while biting my lips. yikes! Apparently having 6 tubes of blood drawn for a specialist is pretty common. 

The Results 

      

As I was walking form the car to my house after work, I've got a call form my dermatologist for my blood work results. 

Kidney	GOOD
Thyroid	GOOD
Liver	GOOD
Blood sugar level	NORMAL
Calcium levels	NORMAL
Cholesterol level	NORMAL
Sodium, potassium, and chloride levels	NORMAL
Protein level	NORMAL
Iron level	NORMAL
Vitamin D level	DEFICIENT

I'm actually pretty surprised that pretty much all my levels are normal and good. 

My dermatologist calls vitamin D deficiency the normal student syndrome.  She also mentioned that she does not recommend exposure of sun for a long term of time due to skin cancer and skin aging. Normal Vitamin D level should be 30-150 but my Vitamin D level is a 24. She recommended to me to take Vitamin D3 supplements and take 1000-2000 iu per day. I know that CVS is having a buy one get one free vitamins deal, so I'm definitely going to take advantage of that very soon. 

Twitter ✤ Pinterest ✤ Instagram 

[Haul] 40% off Sale Ulta Haul

Not too long ago, Ulta had a 40% off sale of all Revlon, Almay, Jane, Maybelline and Physicians Formula. I of course took advantage of this opportunity to pick up a couple of things that I didn’t want to break the bank for and stock up on my HG staples. Here is what I got!

I got the Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer because it comes in handy when I am trying to even out my nail surface to make my nail a smoother canvas.    

Original price: $3.99 |  What I paid: $2.90

Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil & Gel in dark brown: I haven’t explored into the world of brows as much, I hope by trying this out, I could step up my brow game!     

Original price: $7.99 |  What I paid: $3.08

Revlon by Marchesa 3D Jewel Appliqués in Crown Jewels: I have seen all the fancy shiny Marchesa nail warps for some time now, and I have always wanted to try them out since I’ve been so into nail warps recently. So I will save these beauties for a special occasion.    

Original price: $7.83 |  What I paid: $3.62

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue Lip Balm in Berry Soft : I picked this up last second, honestly I should have thought about it more since it does contain menthol, that means it actually dries out lips, but the color is pretty, so I guess I will layer it on top of a moisturizing lip balm.    

Original price: $4.49 |  What I paid: $1.84

Revlon Nail Enamel Electric Chrome Collection in I’m Electro: This is the all anticipating Spiderman collection and MAN I am so excited to try this out!! Such a cool color, stay tuned for a fancy nails post on this very soon!!   

Original price: $5.99 |  What I paid: $2.30

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner+ Serum in Black: This is my HG staple in my collection, I usually use blackest black but this time I picked up black to try.    

Original price: $10.99 |  What I paid: $3.99

Overall, this has been a very very successful haul, I will post product review for products that I find amazingly great or the opposite. What products did you picked up from the drugstore recently?

Twitter ✤ Pinterest ✤ Instagram

[Tretinoin Progress] Update! New Antibiotic. This Might Be the End of my Acne Journey!

Paula's Choice’s RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF30

 

Last progress post I was super excited to try out a new day time moisturizer:  Paula's Choice’s   RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF30 Well here is the verdict, It made my face raw, irritated, red and I broke out in a couple of more spots, so much that my dermatologist was having the Accutane talk, yes, the Accutanetalk. So I dropped the Paula's Choice’s   RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF30 and went back to my trusty CeraVe AM. 

Derm Visit 3/26/14

 

That leads us to the dermatologist visit, because I was breaking out so bad, my dermatologist had the Accutane talk with me, needless to say that I instantly broke out in tears right when she mention the word “Accutane”.  I strongly refused and was very very adamant about not going on Accutane. But she persuaded me to sign the “I pledge” booklet and keeping that as an option. Meanwhile she prescribed me Keflex(or Cephalexin) instead of using Doxycycline, she said that if the pustules are caused by stress, then Keflex will reduce that dramatically. Keflex, a cousin to penicillin, is another antibiotic to treat bacterial infection, more specially, it is an androgen receptor inhibitor, it treats the pustules on a hormonal level. Here is a scientific article on treating acne in a hormonal level.

 “Keflex works byinterfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls. The cell walls ofbacteria are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances fromentering their cells and stop the contents of their cells from leaking out. Kefleximpairs the bonds that hold the bacterial cell wall together. This allows holesto appear in the cell walls and kills the bacteria.”

However, there are possible side effects while taking Keflex, especially for woman. The most common is a yeast infection, to keep a yeast infection at bay, I take acidophilus (or Lactobacillus acidophilus), it’s similar to the type of probiotics that are in yogurt. This is the one that I take and honestly, it taste really really good!

 

Today: Perfect Routine 

 

I am happy to announce that I think I’ve found my perfect combination that works for me, medically and cosmetically, and this might be the end of my trial and error journey. Please stay tuned for my post on the perfect routine.

Twitter ✤ Pinterest ✤ Instagram