My 3 Month Acne Treatment Update: What Actually Worked After Seeing a Dermatologist
The Real Truth About Tretinoin, Spironolactone, Purging, & How My Skin Completely Transformed In 90 Days
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I honestly can’t believe it’s been three months since I started my acne treatment plan. It’s crazy because at first, it felt like nothing was changing and I looked the same, but now my face is truly night and day.
When I first went to my dermatologist, I wanted to get on Accutane because I was looking for a quick fix to take care of everything. She quickly told me we should take baby steps and break things down into phases instead of trying to do everything at once.
So we came up with a plan. Phase one: clear up all active acne and prevent future breakouts.
At the time, I had so many pimples on my face. Looking at my skin now, it’s super smooth, and I’m honestly so happy with how far I’ve come, and this is just phase one.
If you want the full details of my routine,
click here to catch up on why I finally visited a dermatologist and the acne treatment plan she put me on.
My First 3 Months on Tretinoin, Clindamycin & Spironolactone
I’m not even going to lie, it started off rocky.
My face felt like it was burning and sensitive to everything, but I stuck with it. I’m so glad my dermatologist warned me that it would get worse before it got better, because those first two weeks of purging were disgusting.
My face was super dry, and breakouts were popping up everywhere. Pimples were literally coming out of the woodwork, and I couldn’t imagine how my skin would ever get to where it is now.
My skin has always had ups and downs, especially around my cycle. I used to break out so bad, and those breakouts would turn into dark spots, which is why I have so much hyperpigmentation.
But since starting this plan? I haven’t had a single new breakout after the purging phase.
Even on my cycle, nothing. And that is new for me.
Let’s Talk Side Effects (Because Whew)
The biggest one for me was fatigue from spironolactone.
At first, it was BAD. I’m talking everything made me tired, walking my dog, going to the gym, even just going outside. I felt like I needed a nap to function.
Now? I’d say it’s about 70% better.
I still get a little tired, but it’s nothing like those first few weeks. Getting consistent with my vitamins has definitely helped my energy too.
Skin Texture: A Complete 180
The texture of my skin has completely transformed.
Before, my face was full of inflamed bumps, and even when I wore makeup, it still looked bumpy underneath. Now my skin is smooth, and it really proves the point: If you want flawless makeup, you need healthy skin first.
Lifestyle Changes That Made a Difference
I’m not going to act like products did all the work, my habits changed too.
* I’ve been avoiding pop (for the most part, I still have my cheat days)
* I did a 40 day fast, which cut out a lot of junk food
* I’ve been prioritizing sleep way more
And it’s true, what you eat and how you live shows up on your face.
For a long time, I wasn’t getting a full 6 to 8 hours of sleep, and I could see it in my skin. Stress, lack of rest, it all shows.
Now, I’m way more intentional about resting, and my skin looks more refreshed because of it.
Small Habit, Big Change
One habit I had to break (thanks to my mom) was sleeping in my makeup.
Before, I did it all the time because I was “too exhausted” and didn’t have a real nighttime routine. Now? Maybe once or twice by accident.
This whole journey has improved more than just my skin. I actually have a wind down routine now that sets me up for success, even on long days.
Moving Into Phase Two
Last week, before my trip, I had my follow up appointment with my dermatologist.
She cleared me to move into phase two.
It’s pretty similar to phase one, but now we’re adding a brightening cream to target my dark spots.
* Morning routine: stays the same
* Night routine: cleanse → brightening cream (on dark spots only) → tretinoin → moisturizer → spironolactone
My dermatologist did mention that the brightening cream contains tretinoin, so I only apply it directly to my dark spots.
We’ll focus on this phase for the next three months, and if my spots are improving, we’ll start the process of weaning me off the medications. She doesn’t recommend staying on this treatment forever.
This is technically my first week of phase two since my prescription wasn’t ready before my trip.
Final Thoughts
I’m really excited for this next phase.
Now that my texture is where I want it to be, once my dark spots fade, my skin is going to be a dream.
I honestly can’t remember the last time my skin was this clear.
My only regret? Waiting so long to see a dermatologist.
Some people can use a cleanser and call it a day, but that just wasn’t my story.
I’ll keep you updated as I go through this next phase. Let me know if you have any questions 🤍
