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To say it’s been a journey would be the understatement of the century.
Courtesy of Kara Nesvig
However, when I went off both medications while attempting to get pregnant, myacnereturned with a vengeance.
These fluctuations restart, leading to a recurrence of acne in many cases like mine.
You may be asking, “Kara, why don’t you just go back on the meds?”
My skin, a few weeks before starting Winlevi.
Because I’m notnottrying to get pregnant again.
In This Story:
WhatIsHormonal Acne?
And Why Can It Be So Difficult to Treat?
My skin, a month into treatment.
“Hormonal acne is resulting from a sensitivity to fluctuations in hormone levels.
Typically this is tied to normal hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle,” explains Dr. Castilla.
As a result, it can be more difficult to treat than other types of acne.
My skin, about seven weeks in.
Other treatments include topicals, such asDifferin(adapalene) and azelaic acid.
The high level of vitamin A in a retinoid can also be harmful to a developing baby.
It was FDA approved in 2020 the first new acne medication approved sinceAccutanein 1982.
My skin, 12 weeks in.
What Is Winlevi and How Does It Work?
Winleviis a new prescription cream for hormonal acne that should be applied to affected areas twice a day.
(Holmes has been treating my skin and prescribed Winlevi for me.)
Youre supposed to apply Winlevi twice a day, in the morning and before bed.
It’s a thick cream that feels moisturizing, but it’s not completely foolproof to put on.
And it feels moisturizing throughout the day.
Since Winlevi is still relatively new, initial results have been mixed for derms and their patients.
“I was very excited when I heard this new medication was approved, says Dr. Castilla.
I saw it as an alternative tospironolactonewith less potential systemic side effects.
For some it has worked well, often if it is paired with a retinoid.
Personally, I have prescribed it less often than I thought I would due to its unpredictability.”
Winlevi can be more expensive than other topical treatments and over-the-counter products.
And because Winlevi is a newer treatment, there are no generic options available for it yet.
(Ive usedCeraVes AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30for about a decade.)
(And hopefully, pregnancy will mean that my skin clears up again.)
My skin, a few weeks before starting Winlevi.
My skin, a month into treatment.
My skin, about seven weeks in.
My skin, 12 weeks in.
I’ll be honest: I haven’t seen the amazing, rapid results I was dreaming of.
But at my most recent check-in with Holmes, she says shes pleased with what were seeing thus far.
I plan to do a series of three peels to see if that makes a difference.
So, at some point, thingswillget better.
Until then, I’ll take a deep breath, apply the concealer, and move on.
