Dermatologist Journey Part V

~AG~

Skin care regimen since 12 April 2014.

MORNING:

Vitamin C Essence ( I asked Dr. Joyce Lim about the difference between Vitamin C Serum and Vitamin C Essence. She mentioned that Vitamin C Essence has more moisturising properties. She added that initially, the Vitamin C Serum is needed to "emerge" the pimples and that not much moisturising properties are needed )
Antioxidant Moisturizing Lotion
Pigment Fader
Erythromycin gel

NIGHT:

Vitamin C Essence
Pigment Fader
Retinol + Recovery Cream (1:1)
Erythromycin gel

I mentioned to Dr. Joyce Lim that my skin will get irritated whenever I use retinol. I had stopped using it for two weeks because the cheeks area had become red and had bumps. I asked her whether the bumps were adverse reaction or pimples. She told me that they were pimples, and for me to use the antibiotic acne treatment on them. I told her that the previous antibiotic, Dalacin, did not really work for the pimples on my cheeks area. She told me that over time, the skin can become resistant to one antibiotic. So, she suggested I switch to another antibiotic, Erythromycin gel.  

Dr. Joyce Lim recommend that I alternate the use of retinol at night. She said that in order for retinol to "control" my skin I would have to use it regularly. But I find that even when I use it every other day, my skin will go haywire. For example, I will use Retinol on Sunday night. My skin will be okay on Monday. But then on Tuesday there will be bumps on my cheeks area. When this happens, I stop using the retinol and just apply Desonide Cream for the adverse reaction. I have tried doing this several times. But without fail, tiny bumps will appear on my face two days after I use the retinol. 

My conclusion is that I will stop seeing Dr. Joyce Lim. It has been over 6 months. I have tried a few combination of her products and yet my skin is not getting better. Moreover, my skin seems to be worst especially my cheeks area that tend to get red and have tiny bumps. 

I do have to add that Dr. Joyce Lim do work on some people. My cousin who has troubled skin has had good results with her products and swear by it. But for me, the products did not work. Do note, that I did "allow" her to change up the products to accommodate my skin on the second and third visits, but it still did not yield the result that I had hoped for. To me, spending that much money should result in clear and flawless skin, or at least achieve the same result as when my skin was at its best.