Recently I had been posting about how my skin had been breaking out again, even after taking 3 courses of roaccutane, and i really really didn’t want to have to resort to roaccutane again so I have been trying a large number of other things in order to try and sort out the spots that were refusing to shift from around my mouth and on my chin.

So basically, after doing lots of research I came across “Wild Oregano Oil” being a very potent anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral agent. I ordered a book called “The cure is in the cupboard” by Dr Cass Ingram that explained that you can’t just use any old oregano. The one we normally put in pizza and spaghetti is actually mexican sage or sweet marjoram. You can only get the medicinal benefits of oregano if it’s the right sort, and it is extracted properly using cold pressing and steam distillation.

The only wild oregano product that I know meets all the requirements is called “Oreganol” and it has P73 on the bottle so you know it is the right stuff. It is made by the North American Herb & Spice company. I want to stress how important it is not to try using some random oil that says its wild oregano oil as it might not be safe for you to put on your skin. I got my “Oreganol” from www.nutricentre.com. You also get tesco clubcard points from that site!!!

So anyway, i ordered some of this Oreganol in liquid form (it is part diluted in olive oil, it must never be used undiluted) and decided to put it on my break out of spots (i had about 7  around my mouth and on my chin). I had been picking at them that day and il warn you, putting the oil onto spots you have picked REALLY really burns, so i don’t recommend doing this.  So i waited until they had scabbed over, and used the oil in the morning and night (you also only need a very very tiny drop as it’s so potent) and literally within about 3 days my skin was flawless again, i was completely amazed!!! I had tried essential oil’s before such as tea tree oil which had been helpful but not cleared everything up, so to see what this oil did really was amazing! I have now been using a tiny drop on my usual breakout areas before i go to bed in order to keep them clear.

I would say that if you are still taking Roaccutane, i wouldn’t try this product as it really is powerful and your skin may be too sensitive for it.

I am also going to try diluting the oil further in Jojoba oil (which is non-comedogenic) and try using that just for maintenance. I also take a couple of drops of it each day, yes it is edible!!!! I get a shot glas and fill it with water than put a few drops in. As it is an oil it floats to the top, and then i take the shot really fast, because the taste really isn’t that great and it does feel hot and spicy.

Anyway, you probably all think im bonkers banging on about this oil, but i wanted to tell you about it, as it’s helped me sort out a nasty breakout that was really getting me down. I will also keep you posted on how my skin is doing.

So, in summary!

• The only brand i know that is definetly completely safe to use is Oreganol by North American herb & Spice Company
• You only need a really tiny drop, i would also do a skin test on your arm or something first before you try and put it on your facial skin
• You may wish to diulte the oil further before applying it if it feels too hot and uncomfortable
• I wouldn’t use it if you are still taking roaccutane, only for post-roaccutane breakouts
• Also, your face will smell like a pizza!
• The bottle i bought was about £21 from www.nutricentre.com

I thought it would be nice to start the year out with something positive. I was looking through my pics and found one of me when I was about 14. At this point I had taken a few antibiotics but nothing was helping. I felt like my skin would never clear up. I was miserable and my self confidence was very very low. I wanted to show you this pic alongside a pic of me now, having been through 3 courses of roaccutane, to give you hope to stick at it as things will get better

I had some issues with having some break outs recently and thought i might have to turn to roaccutane once again but have managed to sort them out using natural products which I will do a post about soon!!!!

This is a pic i took of my skin this morning, it’s very disheartening as only 6 weeks ago my skin was pretty much flawless, and from previous experience, it’s all down hill from here really, the breakouts start around my mouth and then spread. I’m off to the GP 2moro and got a derm appointment on the 26th so going to see how they go….

I work for a care agency now and i keep having to go and meet with new families and i hate having to go and meet all these new people when my skin’s being silly

Surprisingly, i don’t look oily at all! When i was doing my usual cleanse, moisturise and foundation thing, by lunchtime my skin always had a certain “sheen” to it. So, i havn’t washed my face now since thurs morning AND iv put tea tree “oil” on to it, and somehow i’m not oily! It’s great!

I’m not really one to say anything postive at all about topical treatments for acne as the majority are completely useless, however, for the odd spot, i do find tea tree oil helps it heal faster, and it feels cool and refereshing rather than sting and itch like most topical treatments. So, i have decided to continue with the “no washing” thing and use tea tree oil at night on any spots that i have. Currently, i have a really painful one on my upper lip, one on my chin, and a weird collection of mini ones on my forehead.

Have to say though, if the spot situation escalates, i will be calling up my derm again to discuss a possible long term course of roaccutane at a low dose. To me that is my ideal situation, rather than having to take course after course. Think my derm might take a lot of persuading though, last time i saw him he pretty much said that he really didn’t want to be seeing me again lol.

Well, i decided to stop taking the dianette (actually, no, i didn’t decide to, but the doctor told me i wasn’t allowed it anymore). However, since coming off, i have been experiencing some small spots. Nothing very major at the moment, but enough to get me a bit worried. They are mainly around my upper lip/nose area. I’ve also found that my skin is getting a lot greasier.

Sooo..i was thinking that i used to have lots of acne on my back, and ever since my first course of roaccutane i don’t think iv ever had another spot there! The way i treat my back is a lot different to the way i treat my face though. It basically gets ignored, some water and shower gel runs on it in the shower and thats pretty much it! When i compare that to how i treat my face (cleansing twice a day, moisturising, picking at it, putting make up on) it made me think that maybe i should attempt to treat my face in the same way i treat the skin on the rest of my body!!  So i have decided that for one week, i am going to put absolutely nothing on my skin at all, no products, no make up, no nothing. I think it has probably been severeal years since i actually had a day where i put nothing at all on my face, so will be interesting!

Anyway, today was my first day. I was a bit worried about going to work without doing my cleansing/moisturising/foundation routine that i usually do, however, it actually felt quite nice to not put anything on my skin and no one at work seemed to notice that i looked any different. I actually think that the reason i use foundation is to cover up redness, but my redness is worse after i cleanse and moisturise, so by not doing those 2 things means i actually dont have as much of a reason to use the foundation!!

So, it’s now lunchtime, and my face doesn’t actually feel particularly greasy. I’ve still got the small spots, so gonna see how they look by the end of this experimental week! I will keep you posted!!

P.S. I wouldn’t try this if you are still on roaccutane as i think your skin is so dry that u do need moisturiser to get some relief from it!!!

xxxxxxxxxx

I was very nervous to come off the dianette as I had a vision of my face suddenly exploding into a big mass of acne, however, this hasn’t happened as yet, obviously i will let you all know if it does lol.

Having gone through 3 courses of roaccutane, i have spent a good deal of time trying to perfect a “post-roaccutane” routine. After taking roaccutane it can be hard to decide which products are best to use. After my first 2 courses i continued using the same heavy products i was using during my course, and i don’t think this did me any favours.

So….after trying countless products, this is currently the post roaccutane routine I am finding most successful!!

1. Washing my face with “Cleansing Gel” by “It’s Elixir”. It’s Elixir are a products company who use natural, quality, ethically sourced ingredients. You can buy their products from their website. It’s good for people who are prone to breakouts as it’s pretty much oil free, however, it isn’t overly drying. Doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Costs £5.95 for a 60ml jar.
2. In the morning, moisturising my face with “Avene skin recovery cream”. This is a very decent moisturiser, that doesn’t clog pores. Leaves a good base for my make up. You can get it from boots for about £12.
3. Moisturising at night with “Botanics Sensitive Oil-free Moisturiser”. A nice light gel, absorbs into the skin easily and feels very soothing. Costs about a fiver and you can get it at boots.
4. The foundation I use is “Maybelline Pure Liquid Mineral”. I like this foundation as it is oil-free, has no perfume, has spf15, and it allows your skin to breathe!!! Costs about £8.

Also, you will all be glad to know that since coming off roaccutane, all the horrible side effects such as dry lips and scary arm rashes are completely gone.

Hope you are all getting on well with your treatments!!!

xxxxxxxxxx

Since stopping the roaccutane my skin has stayed very good. I currently have 2 tiny spots and they are the first since stopping the course, and as they are only tiny they aren’t really concerning me yet. I am still taking Dianette, however, the doctor called me in for a chat and said i was only allowed to take it for another 2 months (they don’t like u being on this pill too long!). I am quite worried about stopping it as i feel it is helping to keep my skin clear since stopping the roaccutane. I think i may be put onto Yasmin so il have to see how i get on with that!

My skin is still sensitive to the sun and im sitting here with bright red shoulders, very nice!!! This sort of weather really isn’t good for us roaccutane people is it!! I will have to try and locate my industrial strength suncream.

I will post again and let u know how i get on with a change of pill etc..

Abi

xxxxxxxxxx

P.S. Have any of you been recommended creams to put on any spots you get post-roacc?

So, not much else to say really, but il do another update in a couple of months to let you know how my skin is doing post-roaccutane

Hope you’re all getting on well and not suffering too much with the dry lips and scaly arms!!!

Abi

xxxxxxxxx