antibiotics or natural products?
You will really need to answer this on your own.
So many different people (including myself) will
have different suggestions, and will all think their
idea is the right way to go! (Including myself
again!!) I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I will
share what I did. Personally, I didn’t feel that the
drug store/department store remedies were working all
that well for me. My mom and dad both had bad acne as
teenagers, so after 3 years of over the counter stuff, they
suggested that I see a dermatologist. I love my derm’s
office. Everyone there is great, and to me, I feel better
knowing that a doctor is managing what I’m using, and
that when I do use oral stuff, I’m getting rid of the
acne from the inside out, not just covering it up. I
did antibiotics, Accutane, and about a zillion
topical remedies, and after about a year and a half, I
felt that my face was good enough to go without the
dermatologist. After about a year, I started to break out again.
I gave myself a few months to see if it was "just a
blip on the screen", as my doctor says, but after
awhile, I scheduled an appointment before turning to drug
store items. Currently, I’m back under the care of my
dermatologist. <br><br> Maybe this, though, is the best advice I
can share. Nothing (except possibly Accutane) is
going to completely take your acne away. So I would
find what you truly want (medicine, OTC, facials;
etc.) and see in that category what can give you the
best results. I can’t say seeing a doctor would be
best, because if you hate taking more medicine than
necessary, you probably wouldn’t like it. If you’re like me
though, I’m always going to be a patient of my
dermatologist, and will never use OTC items. So you really need
to decide what’s best for you.<br><br> If you really
don’t mind seeing a doctor, then set yourself a limit.
Give your acne 3 months or so to go away or lessen.
Use nothing, try different products, try Proactiv,
whatever. Then call the doc if you aren’t happy with the
results. If you’re leery about antibiotics, you can always
draw the line, and tell you doc at the initial
consultation what you are willing to try and what you aren’t.
If he/she doesn’t respect that, find a doc who will.
I know many people who decide they simply will go
as far as Accutane, but will not take it. So they
see their derm and use whatever worked best
topically/orally for them. Personally, to answer you question, I
have never asked my doc to combine antibiotics and
natural healing, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. <br><br> I
hope this has given you some good advice. I tried to
be very neutral, and good luck with your
decision!<br><br> Take care, <br> Karyn