Feb 1 2006: First day to use my FaceDoctor sample
OBSERVATION:
Yesterday, I used Lamas Face and Body Vitamin C cleanser and 10%
glycolic acid. After about 7 hours, at past 12am this morning, I used
FaceDoctor and did not put anything else on my face afterwards. After
washing and drying my face with a facial tissue, I just felt a very
mild tingling sensation in some small areas of face which lasted after
a few minutes.
After finishing the 3rd paragraph under ‘Acne Background’ below, which
is more than an hour after using FaceDoctor, amazingly, my face hasn’t
turned oily in any noticeable degree yet, even when I’ve been in front
of the computer. 
SKIN CONDITION:
-extremely/excessively oily skin (my face gets really oily after just
an hour of washing.)
-tiny pimples and whiteheads in forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin
-blackheads on nose
-huge red pimples or cysts on any part (occassionaly)
-enlarged pores on forehead, nose, and cheeks
-some dents on nose
-some marks/dark spots on cheeks, chin and nose
-had developed an allergic reaction with Erthromycin
-have chest and back mild acne (they’re somewhat oily too)
ACNE BACKGROUND ("HIGHLIGHTS"):
-@ 12: I’ve had acne ever since I was 12 years old. It all started
with an oily skin, followed by an allergic reaction to Safeguard
cleansers in the form of tiny pustules on the forehead and cheeks. I
tried different over-the-counter skincare products but none of them
worked.
-@ 14: By the age of 14, I used the same medications and products
that temporarily helped my cousin - Erythromycin, Neutrogena Benzoyl
Peroxide Mask, Retinoic Acid creme, oil-absorbing facial paper and
some cleanser which name I forgot. Before using them I went to a
dermatologist here in the tropical city of Makati, Philippines to
consult about the products. She said they were safe to use and that I
should schedule a session of facial cleaning in which blackheads and
whiteheads would be extracted and pimples would be pricked. I was so
worried about getting deep scars so my mom and I decided that I
shouldn’t go. But I used the products. It worked during the first few
days until my skin got burned (extremely red and painful) after using
the Neutrogena mask (I should have used it less frequently in a week,
I guess). Since then, my face became unnaturally red. My pimples
lessened however. My oiliness did not improve so I decided to carry
with me facial tissues to frequently wipe the oil off my face.
-@ 15: My acne did not go away and returned to its old condition with
more oiliness so my mom brought me to Dr. Vicki Belo (dermatologist,
Belo Medical Group). They gave me medications - Glycolic soap and
toner (for my oily face and acne) and resorcin sulfur lotion (for my
redness and acne) - and scheduled me for a facial cleaning session
after a week or two of using the medications. Again, I didn’t go
because I thought the improvement I had with the medications would
completely free me from acne. After some time, I was back to my old
condition so I decided to go back to Dr. Belo and pursue my treatment
with the cleaning sessions. The sessions were literally one of the
most painful experiences I’d had. It was like being in a torture
chamber for an hour each time. I would feel so anxious all the time in
anticipation before stepping in to the clinic. My face, as the doctor
expected, peeled like crazy for 3 days after each session. I looked
like a girl with white beard growing on her face (I couldn’t get out
of the house because it wasn’t advised that I use moisturizer). This
was due to the strong chemicals they put on my face after the cleaning
process. My skin gradually improved after weeks-months of treatment.
They were also gradually changing my medications. I’d had this
treatment with them for about a year.
-@ 16: After seeing my face almost cleared, although still oily, and
started to feel somewhat dissatisfied with the cleaning session
(particularly with my ‘attendant’), I stopped the sessions but
continued using the medications. My mom found me a new dermatologist
who charged patients for cheaper medical fees. My treatment - cleaning
sessions, glycolic acid, glycolic(or benzoyl peroxide?) soap, resorcin
sulfur, retinoic acid, differin - with her was somewhat similar to the
previous one except that she didnt put harsh chemicals on me during
the cleaning sessions, so consequently, there was no excessive
peeling. My face improved (and I wasn’t red-face anymore) again but my
pores on my nose and cheeks started to get enlarged a little. My face,
however, was still excessively oily.
-@ 17: After about a year, when she started raising the fees, I felt
discouraged to continue seeing her. I wanted a doctor who would cure
me, charge less, and require me to have such sessions less frequently
through time. In the finals weeks of my treatment with her, I started
using Proactiv and taking in vitamin supplements (A, C, E, in addition
to Centrum) and mineral supplements (Zinc) without her consent. I
stopped my medications but continued the cleaning sessions. My face
improved quickly and the doctor noticed it too. After a few weeks, I
decided to stop seeing her and just use Proactiv.
-@ 17-18: After a few months on Proactiv system (less than a year),
my face went back to its old condition with bigger pimples, and this
time, much oilier, and the pores, much bigger. We found another
dermatologist who gave me - azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide-sulfur
soap, etc. She had only one set of a huge number of medications for
her acne patients. Soon after less than a month, I realized her
incompetence so put myself back on Proactiv. I also used Cetaphil
cleanser occasionally after I developed an allergic reaction to one of
the dermatologist’s prescribed topical medications.
-@ 19: My mom found another dermatologist from a family friend (who
also referred us to the previous dermatologist, also an acne
sufferer). This doctor seemed nicer and more knowledgeable about the
experiences (physical and psychological) of an acne sufferer so I
trusted her so much. She said that I probably got immuned to it. She
said that acne treatments shouldn’t be that expensive because the main
ingredients are almost the same with the cheaper, other
dermatologist-formulated ones. She charges much less. She also put me
on regular cleaning sessions and didn’t use additional harsh
medications. She told me that I could use the remaining Proactiv
benzoyl peroxide and shift after to Benzac wash. She gave me
clindamycin tretinoin, glycolic acid, retinoic acid, and 2 other
topical acne gels. I still see her sometimes (irregularly). The
medicines can keep my acne under control most of the time.
-@ 20: I started incorporating Ketsugo spray for my oily skin and
enlarged pores into my system. It helped in controlling acne (pimples,
and whiteheads) but did not really stopped the excessive oiliness. Im
still using it though. However, I am still not 100% clear, am still
oily, and have enlarged pores.
-@ 21: I tried putting myself on Wai’s Acne Diet. I was using only
Face and Body Vitamin C cleanser. I stopped using the medications and
the supplements. I ate only fruits, veggie salad and water for two
weeks. It was soooo hard from the very first day! I lost weight to 90
pounds (from almost a hundred). My back however was noticeable
improving. After that 2-week period I gave myself, my face was already
purging (more white heads and tiny pimples started showing). Since
school was about to start and my grandma was coming to visit for a
month (that means she’d be in charge of the daily meals), I started to
stop the diet. I realized I coundn’t afford it - the costs (since I
also had to finance my helper’s ‘normal’ meals), purging, weight loss,
stronger cravings (even until now, the cravings for sweets and junkies
are much stronger), and the unavailability of the unprocessed foods
around the campus. I increased my fruit intake instead and lessened my
intake of processed foods. I put myself back on my old medications.
-Present, still at 21: I’m very busy now that I can’t see my
dermatologist, get facial cleaning and buy myself the other
medications that I had run out of. So for a few weeks already, I’ve
been using only Lamas Face and Body Vitamin C cleanser, ketsugo,
glycolic acid(morning), retinoic acid(night) and an acne gel. It seems
like they aren’t strong enough to battle the pimples appearing on my
cheeks and forehead which I believe were caused by my overeating of
sweets (chocolates and pastries in the past few days and weeks, caused
by stress I guess), by my bad (irregular) sleeping habits, and
irregular cleansing ‘routine’ (as I’ve said, Im busy right now with
our thesis). I’m willing to try FaceDoctor till I consume the whole
sample bar. I’m still waiting for the arrival of my Queen Helene Mint
Julep Mask (to address my oiliness and enlarged pores). I’m still
working on my plan to improve my diet.