A year and a half ago I went to see a dermatologist about a skin condition that bore some resemblance to acne but came on suddenly, aggressively, and left of a LOT of pitted scarring. This condition was all over my body (face, neck, legs, shoulders, chest, back, butt and arms), and I was on antibiotics for 8 months before my dermatology appointment. The derm diagnosed me with acne/folliculitis and prescribed me tretinoin.

For the past year I've been diligently applying the microsphere gel (been at 0.1% for at least a year) 3-7 days a week. I wash my face twice a day, have experimented with applying tret at different intervals, ALWAYS moisturize, and have used it in combination with/alternating vitamin serums, acids and other actives.

I have never purged and honestly see no improvement on my condition. The one positive I've had from using it is that the pitted scarring I have appears more faint (at least, I think so). I have tons of CC's, get occasional whiteheads and have a lot of cystic issues around my chin/jawline/ears that seem to never go away. I've had one cyst under my ear that has been there for over a year, it shrinks and then gets inflamed at regular intervals.

I've used other prescriptions to help with my symptoms- benzaclyn, clindamycin, and a steroid cream- but nothing has helped me at all. My acne is just as bad as it was when I went to the derm, although the symptoms of the rest of my body have gone and only scars remain. Is it time to go to isotretinoin? Will it help?