Skip to main content

What the doctor gave me: Duac Topical Gel

I feel as if I've run a circular race. I went from carelessly using products regardless of ingredients to extreme crunchiness and now I'm back again, although my use is not careless, it's desperate. And it's working, so I'm no longer desperate, which is a good thing.

Anyway, the doctor (or rather nurse practitioner) gave me a sample of Duac Topical Gel (prescription only). It contains Benzoyl Peroxide and Clindamycin Phosphate, which apparently is antibacterial. Here is more info on the product itself. Go to acne.org or any website connected with the face for user reviews. It seems to be a polarizing product: either you love it or hate it. So far I'm on the love it side.

Now, I'm only using it as a spot treatment. My face was getting better; I had finally mastered the urge to try and fix it. My secret? Leaving concealer on all day (although I did wash my face after work because of all the dirt). That way it didn't look as bad. I'm also off almost all the vitamins I was taking; not because they weren't working but because I was trying to stop focusing on the issue. I think my real problem is stress (although I'm eagerly awaiting the blood test results) and spending so much time worrying was definitely not helping.

So, spot treatment. Very good. It is very drying, so moisturizing is an absolute must. I shudder at the thought of using it all over my face; it's hard enough keeping the small area I use it on moisturized. I wash my face with Cetaphil, use Witch Hazel as an astringent, apply the Duac (only at night, way too drying to use in the morning), apply my L'Oreal Revitalift cream, wait a bit, apply jojoba oil. Right before bed I apply jojoba oil again. In the morning I use Cetaphil and the Revitalift only.

From what I've read this is a short-term fix. For some people it continues to work, for others their skin adjusts and it doesn't work as well. Since my skin was never that bad (although I thought it was) and I think the underlying issue was stress this is ok with me. It will reduce stress levels. And once Damm is done with the never-ending cycle of school and has a job I think most of our remaining stress levels will die down. And I will no longer need harsh products. I can go back to being crunchy.

Comments

Unknown said…
Ugh. I'm allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide, and I've yet to find a really effective spot treatment that doesn't contain it. The one I have now is better than nothing... but not by much. And honestly might be more of a placebo than anything else ("You just put this stuff on, now stop touching!" And, go figure, it gets better... very slowly... you know, like it might have on its own anyway.) I don't have terrible skin, but I usually have at least one or two problem areas at any given time. They just like to rotate.

Popular posts from this blog

The Cat is Out of the Bag

I wonder where that expression comes from? There is this fabulous book that can tell you, only I forgot the name of it. Next time I come across it I think I'm going to have to buy it. Anyway. I was going to wait. A long time. Maybe forever. I don't like people coming up and hugging me, smiling and saying congratulations, or asking me questions. But Damm was talking to his recruiter about insurance. And he mentioned something that he should've told the recruiter was non-repeatable, because 5 minutes later the recruiter told Damm's mother (I have no earthly idea why he's talking to her-I keep forgetting to ask). After that I had to tell my mother. We haven't told any extended family members because there are quite a few here celebrating Damm's mother's graduation and that would be the worst form of torture I can imagine. So yeah, I'm knocked up again :P And this time I'm getting the t-shirt. "It" is due August 11. I have not been to a doc...

There be too much history.

For the past couple of weeks Damm and I have been faithfully spending an hour each day working on our respective summer projects-he on his writing and me on Spanish and history. I had previously mentioned wanting to create some sort of series that I’d work on throughout the summer. I did a bit of brainstorming and decided that I should write essays on bits of fun and fascinating history. Then I started thinking up topic ideas and realized that I didn’t have enough time to randomly pick subjects, research them, and then write entertainingly. So I decided to pick one area of focus. It came down to either Modern Russia or the Civil War Era, since these are the two history courses I’ll be taking in the fall. I chose the Civil War. And even then I have not narrowed my focus enough. The essays one could write on the American Civil War … the possibilities are endless. And so I’m in the process of redefining what I will write/research. I’m in the midst of gathering info for a...

Guildless.

Me and Wulfa are now guildless. This came as kinda a shock and with no communication from the deciding party. I'm currently looking for a guild for us. We are not "raiders" and will never be. We do research our gear and fights and in general our classes. We are looking for a guild that we can be a part of, chat with, and not be expected to raid or be on specific times. I think that means we're looking for a "social" guild. We are primarily alliance but once finances get squared away(aka my bonus arrives) we could possibly convert to horde. If anyone knows of any guilds that they would recommend please let us know.