I used to have crazy bad acne. Like 5 pimples per square inch, all over my face, neck, back and chest. Over a two year period, I went on two accutane runs, which got rid of most of of the acne, but over time it would always come back. Having acne since before high school, I am now almost 19, and finally have it under control. Basically, I have three basic rules to live by:
1) DO NOT overwash or over dry your skin. torturing your skin will only cause it to break out more. Washing more than twice daily will usually do this.
2) DO NOT over moisturize your skin. I only use non-alcoholic moisturizer, and on the really dry skin (facial dandruff around the mouth) I use Eucerin cream(oil free)
3) Different strokes for different folks. In order to achieve the two above, I had to toy with different perscriptions and washes for over 4 years. In the morning, I use Proactiv on my face, and Brevoxyl 4% wash on my back and chest, and apply Differin to my face. At night, it is the same, but w/o the Differin. I also take two minocycline pills each day. I use moisturizers as needed.
Basically almost five years of trial and error have paid off. I always stuck with it, tried different things every month or two, and now, I get maybe a small pimple each week. Good luck and don't give up!
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