Update re: azelaic acid, Photoderm, ocular

June 13, 2002

Things are still going well with the azelaic acid cream (brand names

Azelex or Finevin). I'm not using anything on my face except the

Finevin, the Plexion wash, and the Max Factor FaceFinity foundation.

The Finevin does make my skin tingle a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty bit for

a couple of minutes - more of a prickling sensation, really - but I

don't get any redder than usual. I just imagine it getting into

those pores and follicles and cleaning them out (power or positive

thinking). It does seem to be helping. While I'm still ruddy and

oily, I haven't gotten any new pustules or papules, the old bumps are

either healed or healing, the flaking is oodles better and my skin

feels very soft. I think being back on the Pill has helped too. Sure

hope this keeps up.

My skin apparently responds well to products with 'mild (key word -

**mild**) keratolytic activity' or so my derm says. (Meaning - if

your skin responds badly to keratolytics, Plexion and Azelex may not

help you.) Her statement seems to support my contentions that 1)

there's definitely a significant seb derm component at work in my

case and 2) the salicylic acid solution I was using was probably

helping, but I was just using too strong a solution too often,

resulting in too much peeling and flaking. Eventually I'll go back to

the BHAs to help with the redness, but not just yet.

My sixth and last PhotoDerm treatment was yesterday. I'm not

expecting anything more than now my derm will hopefully stop

pestering me to have more PhotoDerm. $350 x 6 = $2100 - cha-ching. My

major concern now is my eyes. They are markedly more bloodshot and

stingy off the antibiotics. In a couple of weeks I have an

appointment with an opthamologist to see what, if anything, can be

done now that I have been forbidden to take oral antibiotics by my

gyno.

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