FeR

Unfortunately, Marcia thinks I would need to start taking doxycycline again until my breakout clears – then decrease frequency, then see if it would be under control with just the Estelle-35ED. It only lasted for 6 months (without any medication), now it’s back. Initially I thought it was just a normal PMS spot or something – but that same spot is kind of still there at the bottom of my chin. Despite coming back from a relaxing trip, I find my skin has gotten worse in the last week! There is a cluster on my left cheek and wider-spread cluster on the right.

I really don’t want to be on anymore medication but I didn’t want to wait till it got even worse. Hopefully I won’t need to be on the Estelle-35ED for too long, I’m wary of the side effects. Here’s hoping the pill would also clear my upper lip fluff (I’m convinced I’ve got it, okay!).

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I also went to the hygienist today. Initially the receptionist wanted to schedule an appointment last Monday (5 days after my extraction!), early morning. I’m glad I asked, “How early?” because she said 8am! Can you imagine going to a dental practice at 8am (not to work, mind you)?? I chose today because I got the day off and the appointment was for 1015am. Phew.

I really dislike scaling my teeth – now the bottom incisors feel so sensitive, especially when I have a hot/cold drink or when I try to clear off food particles and air goes through them. Ugh! I’m looking forward to getting a Waterpik so I can floss easier and hopefully, not to have my gums bleed like no tomorrow. Yuck.

Handed over $140 at the end of my appointment – $35 was for the ToothMousse (melon flavour – yum!) and I also scored a free toothbrush. Dental practices here seem to like giving out free toothbrushes.

I was told I should use soft bristle toothbrushes. I’ve always picked medium, so this is something new. I’m currently using both my electric (haven’t tried the Ortho refill yet) and the Sensitive one that the orthodontist gave me. I’d have enough brushes to last me for 6 months or more now.

I wonder if I would ever dare going to work with pigtails. Dahlah uniform makes me look like a Chinese waitress, what more with pigtails?!

Then again…

I painted my nails on Saturday – tried out this navy blue colour (cheap and cheerful for less than $4 a bottle) but I told myself I have to remove the polish before I start work. I don’t think navy is appropriate for work. Although I feel it’s a shame to remove it, I know I have to.

But guess what?
I went to work with goth nails.

I didn’t mean to but I got called to work at 7am and didn’t have enough time to remove the colour. I was so conscious about my fingernails that I would ask someone else to hand the scripts out.

Ah! It’s been 6 months since I went to get help for my skin. It means I have to let go of the azelaic acid cream and probably switch to benzoyl peroxide for now. When I last saw Marcia on the 11th of December, she told me to gradually reduce my Doxy as well – 100mg on alternate days (because the 50mg tablets are not subsidised and I still have leftover of the 100mg tablets). She also told me that there is about 30% chance that the acne may recur when I stop the antibiotics. It’s not TOO bad a number, right?

Still curious about the late acne onset, I asked Marcia if I should get tested for PCOS – she took the question as me wanting to get it done and handed over the blood test request form to me.

I was prepared to pay for the lab fee since I am not a resident (although I know with my work visa, I am entitled to healthcare here – I wasn’t too sure about lab tests) – but whee! Got my passport, got my work visa slapped on it – got my blood test done for free. I expected to wait for a bit because there were about 3 people in the waiting area but the next thing I know, my name was called! I was slightly nervous (if you know me, you know I don’t do needles+blood well), thinking to myself, “What have I done? Why did I decide this so suddenly? Why did I drive to the lab directly from the surgery??? Why didn’t I think it over before coming here?”

It was all good, albeit I was a bit giggly to hide my nervousness about the needles.

(Side note: Had my first McD’s breakfast that day to replenish my loss )

Skin comparison after the cut – I’ve included older photos from the first skin update. I didn’t imagine it to be that different but looking back, I thought to myself, “WHYYYY did I let myself go out of the house looking like THAT without covering it up?????”

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For those I grew up with in school, they all had the same reaction when they saw pictures of me in Glasgow – “What happened to your skin??”

It was both frustrating and infuriating – I KNOW it’s horrible but I don’t know what’s going on!

Puberty was kind to my skin, but I think the reason why it was so is because my hormones decided that it would more fun to start torturing me from my 20s. That my skin would bring me grief once I’m no longer a “teen”.

I’ve tried all sorts to clear my skin – from switching face care products (going with what family/friends recommended that worked for them), changing diet, detox, sleep, water, etc. Nothing helped.
Funny observation – skin is (more) horrible out of Malaysia (which led me to my latest “theory” of hard/soft water).

Anyway, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I really didn’t want to go on medication but I had no choice. My acne problem involved cysts and nodules (the kind where it’s under your skin, never coming up to the surface and the very angry looking ones) – I had no choice but to resign to the fact I need professional help. I didn’t want to be left with scars (though at this point, I already have a few).

There is only one dermatologist serving the HawkesBay area (so I’ve read) and it’s a loooooooooong wait to see him. I didn’t know who else to turn to, so I thought I’d have to wait it out – I went online to get the clinic’s number (the one I found in the phone book seems to be engaged ALL THE TIME – so I wondered if I had the right number) and instead, I found a GPwSI (GP with a special interest or “gypsy”) who can see me the week I called up! I chose the week after, 9th July, because it was my day off.
Since I was willing to spend my money on a specialist’s consultation, the fact that her surgery is not under the HawkesBay PHO did not bother me – I’m sure the fees would be more affordable than a specialist.

Now, a side note.
It’s not that I don’t have faith in GPs but I have no idea who to go to. I understand most would do a trial-and-error (as each patient would be different) but I know I would want to go to someone who has seen more skin problems than your usual coughs&colds. I hope to get some answers (apart from what I could search for online) as to why am I inflicted with adult acne.
[I know it's hormonal - but why? Why now? Still no answer to that, unfortunately.]

I guessed she would give me Doxycycline 100mg – it’s the only funded tetracycline (and strength).
Azelaic acid apparently suits my skin type – not only it’s an antibacterial, it will help reduce pigmentation as well (judging from the residual brown marks from previous spots). I am to use this at night and Benzoyl Peroxide in the morning.

She did give me a few choices – doxycycline+topical preparations, the pill (Estelle – but I would have to be tested for polycystic ovarian syndrome first) or isotretinoin (it does work but she admits that she is reluctant to offer that as a first choice for my case).
I said I’d like to go with the antibiotics first.

Pictures of my skin is a click away – you have been warned.

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