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View Full Version : Differin, Benzacine, Klaron and bad dermatologists


úliel
11-13-2003, 01:17 AM
First off- I have very fair skin which enjoyed breaking out especially around my period.

So this summer, in July, I went to a dermatologist. She put me on Benzacine and Differin. I stuck with it for a bit but in the end it was just drying out my skin way too much- to the point where I prefered the break outs over the dry skin and wasn't really doing anything for me.

Then I went to my doctor, just a general practitioner and asked him about it. He said it was absolutely ridiculous she put me on that stuff because first of all, I told her I had dry skin problems, and 2nd of all he told me people with fairer skin tend to have dry skin problems- so even if I hadn't mentioned it to her she should have known. And benzacine is apparently a very very drying medication, and to have me on Differin at the same time- well!

He put me on Klaron (prescription)- a topical lotion type thing that I put on once a day after cleansing it with a mild cleanser (he recomended Cetaphyl which is over the counter and fabulous- really helps with the drying and makes my face really soft). He told me Klaron does not dry as much as other medications and, unlike products like proactiv, doesn't react badly with too much sun. He said that I would see results as soon as within a week and definately within a month.

And I have. Its wonderful. No dry skin problems, no breakouts, and when my period comes around I just get a few small little buggers that makeup renders invisible anyway. I saw results way faster than when I was on differin and another thing was that it didn't make my skin purge as bad, it just got steadily better.

Anyway, the purpose behind this is just to share what advice I have while in this forum and to let you know dermatologists suck- go to your regular doctor! ;) Hope this helps if anyone is having similar problems or just needs more options. I hadn't heard of Klaron til he mentioned it, now I love it.

cosma
11-15-2003, 11:41 PM
i love my dermatologist. im scheduled for my 8 week checkup in a couple weeks, so thatll be cool.

im on differin right now and i adore it. though im still purging a bit (it got crazy for awhile)...i like the fact that all the gunk is gonna be gone soon. it hasnt dried out my skin at all, and i have very fair skin, too. but everyones different.

im also on Cleocin T. you should ask about it...its a lotion and it tends to make your skin a little oily...so if youre skin is hyper dry, it might help with retaining some moisture.

whirlygirl
11-16-2003, 03:44 PM
Klaron and Cleocin T didn't do anything for me at all... Differin works great for me though. I guess that's why you just need to try things until you find the right one.

glitterspitter
11-16-2003, 05:15 PM
i miss my differin :( but retin-a micro is working way better for me, i must say. i hope to eventually go back to differin though, as it is so much more gentle.

i asked my derm about klaron because i read about it on MUA but he is kind of a moron and he never heard of it. this is my derm #2 who is the house doctor at the clinic where i have been having facials, not my usual derm who is just amazing. anyway, he gave me erythromycin gel after asking me if i like to put alcohol on my face and hearing me say no. when i got the gel home.... well, it's in a vehicle of 96% alcohol! grrrr. that's the last thing i need. also, it's for daytime and it rolls off when i put on my makeup.

imma ask my usual derm about klaron.