Please talk to you pdoc first, don't take yourself off the Lithium. I went off it because of the acne it gave me so I do know how that all is. There are creams and retin-a gels that could be prescribed for your acne if you want to go that route and stay on the lithium.....you may want to try an acne treatment first. I know it sucks....gave me horrible acne that I have some scars from and I hate my skin because of it....but there are other options out there....talk to the pdoc and tell him "this is just not something that is acceptable to you....what are some other options?" Hang tight this is a fixable problem!!! oxox

That would be a terrible side effect sweetie..can you see your doc soon and talk to him/her about a med change?... I would want one to.. you are not hideous.. this can be fixed pretty easily.. huge hug for you..x

Thanks, I hope you're right. I really really hope you're right. My dermatologist doesn't know what to do... I hope my psychiatrist will know. Proactiv? Does that work?

Lamictal has been a God send to me.. I don't know if you've tried it.. I asked to because I heard so many good things about it on here.. I want to put it in our water supply.. I haven't felt so good in years..x

Yeah I've been on it before, but if it doesn't get rid of my pimples I don't really care about it. My stupid meds work well. I hate the stupid side effects of all this shit!

I think Proactive is very expensive and you can get the same ingredients in cheaper products. You may want to try Manuka honey facials or spot treatments. An ex-gf swore by them.
http://www.homeremedies-for-acne.com/home-remedies-for-acne/acne-home-remedies/honey-for-acne/

Thank you. And thank you for being kind, I feel like im going to lose it right now. I love to eat Manuka honey for extreme cold/coughs, it's delicious. That's cool it does something for your skin too.

Both my sons had acne and proactiv didn't touch it.....I would not waste my money on that stuff Grenadine.....I really hope the pdoc can switch you to something else. Have you tried Abilify...have to start on a loooooow dose but it has worked wonders for me and keeps me more stalbe than any drug I have tried and I have been on just about all of them! Good luck to you!!

Thanks, I'll bring it up with my doctor when I see him. I'm calling the office tomorrow to see if I can get on the cancelation list, I think my appointment now is in January or February.


By the way I read your article and I have organic home harvested honey on my face. I hope it hardens so I can lay my face down on my pillow and fall asleep.

Ok first of all while I have never had skin problems I know what they can do to your self esteem. I have been on lithium for about 6 yrs . I think proactive is a great product. I used it as a teen and it worked well. To be honest I have always had nice skin and strangers complimented my complexion. After proactive I always continued a akin regimine and I still have great skin and at 26 still get IDed as pol think I am much younger

I am.not trying to brag I am simply saying I think the.most important thing is getting a regime and sticking to it. Mornign AND night NO eXCEPTIONS. And I truly think you get what you pay for. Also resist the urge for heavy makeup. Your skin has to breathe. I use bare minerals.

I just remembered clinique had an acne system. But overall I would say try not to beat yourself up. Remember that Er see our own flaws FAR more than others see them.

Try a face cleanser made with Tea tree oil, The Body Shop has a really good one.

It's cheaper that the proactiv and works just as good. And it's natural so it shouldn't irritate your skin. =)

(((hugs)))

I have increased acne and bacne since starting lithium, but I'm lucky in that it is not severe. I'm sorry, grenadine, that it has affected you in this severe way and you should take this up with your pdoc. I'm getting really good results with lithium, but if a side effect became severe then I'd be looking to get off of it asap. Good luck, it sure is tough finding a med which behaves itself.

I'm sorry that you are going through this. I don't know if Proactive works or not. But I do know that you should start a skin care regimen and stick with it. As one previous poster said, that is important. I hope it gets better. In the meantime, please try not to beat yourself up about this. You are not hideous.

Thanks guys, it would be a dream to have bare minerals because I hate leaving the house without all the make up on, I look so gray and tired and like I have acne all around my mouth and neck. Ugh....

I wonder if proactiv works... if it does, that would also be expensive and I have little-no money.

I'll check out the body shop for the tea tree oil cleanser.

It's true, I just have bad confidence... well for a number of reasons... but when I look in the mirror I just feel... hideous.