Skin Protocol

[AQualityPoop]

Alright guys looking to hear some anecdotal experiences on skincare.

I’ve had facial acne since high school and it has actually vastly improved since being on cycle (maybe due to Estrogen management?).

My Protocol:

Salicylic Acid Face Wash 5% once a day (morning)
Retin-A gel at night
Cetaphil Gentle Moisturizer when needed
Melanotan II (just started today)
Tanning outside 3x a week

That being said, I have some pimples scattered across my beautiful delts and back. I refuse to use Accutane because I have a shit liver and some of the other side effects concern me. What would you guys propose to help clear body acne up? Are there any other peptides that help skin collagen / anti-aging? I’m relatively young and I feel like I look 5 years older than what I am lol.

The trade-offs of being juicy I guess

 

[Bearslovecheese]

Accutane has a lot of horror stories but…so do steroids! 20mg/day orally won’t dry you out badly like the horror stories, kill your liver like the stories, or make you sluggish/lethargic like the stories. If your liver is sensitive just do NOT overlap oral steroids with it ofc.

Otherwise looks like you’re doing everything you can. Do you have a shower brush? If not, get one for really scrubbing at the back. Can you shower more frequently? “Hooker bath” with wash cloth to remove oil/sweat/etc from delts mid day. Try using the face wash on your delts.

 

[rudestyle]

also using dish washing soap has helped a lot of people since it’s known to cut grease. I’ve tried it before but I didn’t benefit me. Many swear by it.

 

[AQualityPoop]

Bearslovecheese" pid='14503' dateline='1527137001:

Accutane has a lot of horror stories but…so do steroids! 20mg/day orally won’t dry you out badly like the horror stories, kill your liver like the stories, or make you sluggish/lethargic like the stories. If your liver is sensitive just do NOT overlap oral steroids with it ofc.

Otherwise looks like you’re doing everything you can. Do you have a shower brush? If not, get one for really scrubbing at the back. Can you shower more frequently? “Hooker bath” with wash cloth to remove oil/sweat/etc from delts mid day. Try using the face wash on your delts.

Thanks brother. I definitely needed to get a nice shower scrubber and maybe an exfoliating wash would help too?

 

[illmortalized]

I just shower using a drop of T/Gel + body wash each day.

Ever so often I’ll get a pimple… but after popping it and cleaning it and maintaining a good hygeine, the sight of it is pretty much gone 4-5 days later, realistically.

 

[Alpha8]

I used Accutane myself to clear my acne. Worked wonders, I rarely get pimples anymore and it cleared my oily skin. Only side effect for me was an insanely dry face, skin was flaking like hell. The horror stories you hear are possible but it’s so uncommon, and the skin specialist will have you come in regularly to check up on you.

 

[AQualityPoop]

illmortalized" pid='14539' dateline='1527176313:

I just shower using a drop of T/Gel + body wash each day.

Ever so often I’ll get a pimple… but after popping it and cleaning it and maintaining a good hygeine, the sight of it is pretty much gone 4-5 days later, realistically.

Any particular body wash you’re a fan of?

 

[SDMoose]

Just got a prescription for doxycycline. Epiduo as well but not sure I’ll pick that up. Heard it’s expensive and it’s just differin combined with BP which I can do myself. No surface treatments, BP, salicylic acid pads, lotions, washes, seem to work. Hopefully this does something.

 

[AQualityPoop]

SDMoose" pid='14572' dateline='1527187494:

Just got a prescription for doxycycline. Epiduo as well but not sure I’ll pick that up. Heard it’s expensive and it’s just differin combined with BP which I can do myself. No surface treatments, BP, salicylic acid pads, lotions, washes, seem to work. Hopefully this does something.

My buddy swears by Epiduo; says it completely cleared him up. Benzoyl Peroxide has never done anything for me lol. I actually was on Doxycycline as a teenager in high school and it gave me the worst stomach aches so I stopped. Salicylic acid and Retin-A seem to be the only things that work for my facial acne

 

[SDMoose]

AQualityPoop" pid='14581' dateline='1527189166:

My buddy swears by Epiduo; says it completely cleared him up. Benzoyl Peroxide has never done anything for me lol. I actually was on Doxycycline as a teenager in high school and it gave me the worst stomach aches so I stopped. Salicylic acid and Retin-A seem to be the only things that work for my facial acne

Yep, I have to take it with food or I get pretty nauseous. Epiduo sounds interesting although I expect to bleach everything I own with a leave-on BP product. Another reason I’m leaning toward differin. Same ingredient (adapalene) but without the BP. Can always just keep using the BP washes. Did your buddy use it on his face, body, or both?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Y’all tried Differin? It used to be script but it’s OTC now for like $12. I use it for small areas and trouble spots when needed

 

[SDMoose]

CaptainAmerica" pid='14600' dateline='1527194206:

Y’all tried Differin? It used to be script but it’s OTC now for like $12. I use it for small areas and trouble spots when needed

Differin (and Epiduo) are retinoids and are supposed to be used long-term like accutane. They aren’t really effective for spot treatment or a quick fix for flare ups.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

SDMoose" pid='14604' dateline='1527194724:

CaptainAmerica" pid='14600' dateline='1527194206:

Y’all tried Differin? It used to be script but it’s OTC now for like $12. I use it for small areas and trouble spots when needed

Differin (and Epiduo) are retinoids and are supposed to be used long-term like accutane. They aren’t really effective for spot treatment or a quick fix for flare ups.

I don’t have severe acne or anything but that stuff seems to clear up any redness I get. Maybe it’s placebo!

 

[Clusterflucker]

I’ve been on Accutane for a while and a maintenance dose worked wonders. Sadly I had to stop taking it because I finally decided to finish my tat. (I’ll say that I’ve had no harsh reactions to it or anything, in fact I’ll probably get back on). For the time being I’ve been mega-dosing vitamin B5 for about 2 weeks. Obviously it’s no Accutane but I can see a difference. It sucks looking good but having some blemishes on the skin.

Goodluck bro.

 

[SDMoose]

CaptainAmerica" pid='14607' dateline='1527195069:

SDMoose" pid='14604' dateline='1527194724:

CaptainAmerica" pid='14600' dateline='1527194206:

Y’all tried Differin? It used to be script but it’s OTC now for like $12. I use it for small areas and trouble spots when needed

Differin (and Epiduo) are retinoids and are supposed to be used long-term like accutane. They aren’t really effective for spot treatment or a quick fix for flare ups.

I don’t have severe acne or anything but that stuff seems to clear up any redness I get. Maybe it’s placebo!

Whatever works! One thing I’ve noticed from these threads is there’s no one answer. Seems everyone has that one thing that works for them when a lot of other stuff fails. Accutane being the exception that seems to work for everyone.

 

[Themallot1]

Accutane worked for me with permanent results. Most of my acne was on chest, shoulders, and back even prior to steroids. Yes accutane can be harsh but you can also take a low dose. The dosage varies anywhere from 5mg to 80ma day.

 

[AQualityPoop]

SDMoose" pid='14597' dateline='1527193453:

AQualityPoop" pid='14581' dateline='1527189166:

My buddy swears by Epiduo; says it completely cleared him up. Benzoyl Peroxide has never done anything for me lol. I actually was on Doxycycline as a teenager in high school and it gave me the worst stomach aches so I stopped. Salicylic acid and Retin-A seem to be the only things that work for my facial acne

Yep, I have to take it with food or I get pretty nauseous. Epiduo sounds interesting although I expect to bleach everything I own with a leave-on BP product. Another reason I’m leaning toward differin. Same ingredient (adapalene) but without the BP. Can always just keep using the BP washes. Did your buddy use it on his face, body, or both?

Pretty sure he just used it on his face. Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one w/ the Doxycycline issue lol. I’ve tried Differin and it made my acne worse, even past the “loading” stage.

 

[illmortalized]

AQualityPoop" pid='14569' dateline='1527187042:

illmortalized" pid='14539' dateline='1527176313:

I just shower using a drop of T/Gel + body wash each day.

Ever so often I’ll get a pimple… but after popping it and cleaning it and maintaining a good hygeine, the sight of it is pretty much gone 4-5 days later, realistically.

Any particular body wash you’re a fan of?

I have a Costco membership, so I have access to, “Neutrogena Rainbath Shower Gel” which is normally pretty pricy at regular grocery stores / Target / Walmart.