savmesom11

Ladies: Your expertise is greatly needed on the subject of adult acne.

All of my life I have had beautifully clear skin. Don't get me wrong as a teenager I did have the occasional zit pop up but I was never the girl who had to follow a skin care regimen. Today I am in my thirties and mother nature has decided to slap me in the face (literally) with a serious skin problem. The pimple problem began over the summer, red ones, white ones, black heads, you name it I am suffering from it. I can't stand it!!!!! It's bad enough gravity is taking over and I am slowly watching my body go south, I refuse to be the before picture in the next acne miracle campaign. What I am hoping for is your advise on what you have tried, what works and doesn't, over-the-counter or prescription remedies. Feel free to share your own horror stories so we can laugh and cry together!

PS: I would even consider changing my birth control to one of those pills that supposedly helps get rid of acne too, just let me know what brand you are using. Thanks for your help.

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StellaLuna

What are you using on your face now?

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Screw tradition!

savmesom11

Well I have two systems I have followed

1. Clean & Clear - oil free foaming facial cleanser, Clean & Clear continuous control acne cleanser, and Clean & Clear Sensitive skin deep cleaning astringent.

2. AcneFree purifying cleanser step 1, AcneFree renewing toner step 2, and AcneFree repair lotion step 3.

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* I do not believe that struggles are a sign of life falling apart, but rather a step of life falling into place. *

mixedmedia

I went through this in my twenties and early thirties. And I tried everything to no avail. I'm sorry to say that you might just have to get through it.

Not to say that you shouldn't try different remedies, because what is true for one often isn't for another, but I had to wait until my late 30's to see myself with clear skin again. It finally just stopped.

And yes, my face was clear all through my teen years, too.

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ngdawg

Read the ingredients on those Clean & Clear and other acne treatments. Many contain alcohol and other drying, stripping chemicals that actually are contrary to what you need. The higher the alcohol content, the more stripping and drying they are.
My daughter has been using Biore with decent results, including their moisturizer.
As my dermatologist explained, those cleansers that strip your skin with the explanation that they're cleaning 'oil that clog pores' are opening those same pores to more dirt and germs and stripping off the natural protectant oils. If you use acne products use a moisturizer. Don't pick or scratch, there are tools that will help and using the curved end of a sterilized hairpin is similar. If you do that, immediately but gently wash and spot treat and moisturize. Don't let blackheads sit-they'll embed.
L'Oreal's Adult Acne treatment kit is good-both my kids have used it-as is L'Oreal's Glycol Peel kit.

Acetylene

Ngdawg is right, acne cleansers make things worse.

There's two kinds of acne, ones caused by bacterial infections and ones caused by clogged pores. Clogged pores often become bacterial infections because the body can't keep them clean.

Your pores don't make oil, they make sebum, which is a mix of oil and dead skin cell "gunk". It's the gunk that clogs your pores, not the oil. Acne problems happen when too much "gunk" is produced for your body to deal with. Delicate and sensitive skin is more prone to irritation from sebum and more likely to get zits, especially the bacterial kind (cystic acne and inflamed whiteheads). Tougher skin, like that on your nose, is more resistant to the bacterial infection but will get blackheads in the even of excess sebum.

Stripping oil from your skin causes your pores to produce more sebum! Oil is not the enemy here. Neither is the "large pore" issue; trying to reduce your pore size with astringents can irritate pores and make them less capable of simply expressing the sebum and more likely to clog.

There are three very good ways to prevent and cope with acne.

The first is to use the right cleanser and moisturizer.

The best cleanser is a very gentle soap, such as Nutrogena, that is non-comodogenic (means it won't clog pores). Don't use a harsh detergent meant for acne, it's too much. This removes surface dirt and excess oil.

Moisturizing is vital because if your skin is dry it will only make more sebum. Choose a moisturizer that is non-comodogenic and non-medicated; beyond that, it doesn't really matter, just pick one that makes your skin feel comfortable and supple. I like pretty much anything made by Aveeno as it's all very soothing and gentle. Always apply right after washing; if you apply it later, it will sit on top of your skin and block pores.

The second step is to deal with any sebum clogging your pores.

You can physically remove the sebum from your pores using a clay mask. Anything that has kaolin clay will draw oil and gunk directly out of your pores. Choose a gentle one, without medications, and you can use it three times a week. You can also leave it on longer than it says on the package and it won't harm you at all, as long as it's non-medicated. My favorite is the Neem mask they sell at Bath and Body Works. It looks expensive but lasts a really long time. You can apply a glob of clay directly onto a zit, let it dry, and put a band-aid on it, and wear that overnight; my mother swears by this. But it's better to prevent blackheads by applying it regularly and preventing build-up.

Finally, if you get a zit, how you deal with it is important. Blackheads should be left alone or removed with keolin clay, because trying to squeeze them will cause them to turn into infected zits (whiteheads) if you aren't able to completely remove the clog.

Any inflamed zit should be carefully observed. There is an optimal point to deal with a zit. If it has not developed a very clear white head, leave it alone! Trying to squeeze it before it's ready can cause a cystic zit--that's a deep, painful zit that can't be squeezed and may scar.

Once the zit has developed a clear whitehead and a slightly pointed shape (instead of being mostly flat or rounded) the clog is close enough to the surface to remove without causing damage. It is very important to remove ALL of the infection.

Use a pin or fine tweezers to very gently break the skin over the whitehead, which is like a blister so this should not hurt. This is so you do not have to use as much force when squeezing. It might "pop", and you might think you're done, but always give another gentle squeeze to be thorough. If you leave any infection inside it will only get worse and more painful and might scar.

Once you're sure the pore is completely clean (if it bleeds, it's clean--don't be alarmed, it's your body attacking the infection), disinfect the outside area with something like Bactine or rubbing alchocol to prevent the spread of infection. If it's bleeding, gently dab at it with a tissue to prevent a scab forming (large scabs slow healing and look ugly!). The zit should be gone by the next morning. If it's still red and angry, the infection is still there and you should start the watching and waiting process over again.

OK! So, who's grossed out now? Seriously, all of this stuff works. Prevention is key, but when you do break out, I can't stress enough the importance of leaving a zit alone until it's ready. Mess with it too early and you'll be sorry!

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savmesom11

You seem to know your stuff! Thanks for the advice I will certainly give it a try!

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* I do not believe that struggles are a sign of life falling apart, but rather a step of life falling into place. *

Sultana

I didn't get satisfaction until I went to the dr.'s and got an Rx for Retin A and a low-level antibiotic. No worries any more.

I had lousy acne as a teen.

Good Luck!

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My goal? To fulfill my potential.

noodle

I swear by proactiv.
It got rid of Depo acne.
And I had horrible skin as a teenager and still have scars.

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jewels

Sometimes simple soap and water can rectify, and if you're over 30, a moisturizer.

I always refused to use moisturizers since I have oily skin, but when I hit somewhere around 30 went through a period of breakouts. At one time, I used expensive cleansers, toners, astringents, you name it. But when this started, I used plain old Witch Hazel when I was feeling oily and used a very gentle soap only on my face and, since my mom kept insisting, I finally began a regime with a nighttime moisturizer. For me, breakouts stopped and haven't had a problem since.

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
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Acetylene

Yeah RetinA and other antibiotics are the big guns. They only help with the whiteheads, not with blackheads, since they don't control sebum, only bacteria. RetinA has its own host of side effects and most doctors I know only prescribe it if the acne is bad enough to cause scarring. Topical antibiotics are milder but man oh man do they smell bad :P I don't know anything about Proactiv though.

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There's no justice. There's just us.

ring

I know hormonal changes and stress can be a factor...

there are a lot of studies that have been done on Progesterone..
it can sometimes help and sometimes make it worse..

My acne went away as I got older, yet I had a big burst of it
right before menopause hit...
have you seen a doctor about hormone levels? I wish you well
in this struggle, it aint no fun is it.

this site has some info that might be of help..there are others as well

http://www.acneteam.com/acne-&-progesterone.html

savmesom11

Thanks you guys are all rockstars!!! I bought my lil sister some proactiv for
Xmas and she really liked it too, I just wasn't sure about it working for me but maybe i'll give it a shot. I am going to talk to the Dr. about hormone levels and stuff first tho, that way Im not wasting money if the problem can be fixed with a pill or something.

__________________
* I do not believe that struggles are a sign of life falling apart, but rather a step of life falling into place. *

snowy

What works about Proactiv is the system. There is nothing special about Proactiv--it's just the fact that you are using a regimen. The active ingredients in Proactiv (depending on the product) are salicylic acid, sulphur, and benzoyl peroxide. All of these active ingredients can be found in products available at Target or whatever for much less.

I really recommend Paula Begoun's books for more information on skin care products. They're an invaluable resource.

The KISS Method of Skincare:

1) Use a gentle, mild soap-free cleanser, like Neutrogena's Fresh Foaming Cleanser. There is no point in using a cleanser with an active ingredient such as salicylic acid in it--it's just going to wash off anyways.

2) If you need to exfoliate, do it gently and use a clean wash cloth. No need to buy scrubs or anything fancy. Rub the wash cloth in gentle circles over your face.

3) Use a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic. If your skin is not sensitive, you should consider using a moisturizer that has low levels of alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid or lactic acid) or beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid)--but don't do this in combination with physical exfoliation. Both AHAs and BHAs act as chemical exfoliants. Too much exfoliation=irritation=more acne. But you do need a little exfoliation to get your skin clear, and keep it clear--otherwise your pores will get clogged up with gunk.

And, yes, you can use an astringent if you so desire, but it isn't going to affect your pore size. It's merely one more way to get an active ingredient on to your skin. Witch hazel makes a great, affordable, and effective astringent--after all, they make salicylic acid out of witch hazel, so it functions as a BHA when applied to skin.

But the trick is not to freak out your skin with too many products or chemicals. Personally, I use a soap-free cleanser, witch hazel, and Nivea Simply Glowing moisturizer (no active ingredients) with occasional physical exfoliation (via washcloth), and it's quite effective.

Oh, and another thing--take into consideration what your face comes into contact with. Do you touch your face a lot? Do you change your pillowcases on a regular basis? Do you let your hair touch your face considerably? Do you talk on the phone a lot? These things can introduce a surprising amount of bacteria and other things besides to your face, which can lead to acne.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

noodle

My dermatologist stripped three layers of skin off my face with Retin-A before I convinced him and my mother that it was Not A Good Idea to combine the strongest solution with 2pm Tennis class in high school... in the Florida sun. It was horrible and my skin rebelled because of the insensitive treatment.
Just be careful and considerate.
I like the Proactiv because of the soothing ingredients combined with the stronger medicines. Mine actually requires intervention of a higher order than most because of the tendency for anything that sticks around longer than a few days to turn cystic. And, I get my Proactive delivered every 10-12 weeks so it ends up being cheaper.

And I quit touching my face so much and used hand soap a lot. Especially before bed since I tend to pull my hands up towards my face when I'm sleeping. I switched to All Free and Clear detergent and my face also showed some decrease in irriation. Yay!

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Kaimi

I was having this issue as well. My best results were found with a couple of the previously mentioned items. Bentonite clay masks, if you look around for a company that sells products for home spa product making(soaps, masks, etc) you can find the dry clay fairly cheap. Far cheaper than it would be were you to buy a mask at the store and a small tub of clay will last you quite a long time. Used regularly on acne prone skin this can dry you out without over drying which is a real problem for me.

For particularly painful pimples I have used the facial tools, mine came from Body Toolz Inc(I just took a peek to verify) I don't want to pass around a number of links and come off as a sales representative but I have faith you can find it if you look.

settie

As a teenager, I had breakouts 24/7. Eventually, after trying every cleaner, every topical cream/ointment, etc. I pulled out the big guns and went on Accutane for 8 months or so. It made a big difference. When I get stressed, and lazy, I have the occasional zit. But as long as I follow my cleansing regimen, my skin is clear.
My biggest issue now is moisturizing my entire body, as Accutane dries you out like a raisin... :P
I'm not necessarily suggesting the use of Accutane to anyone though. I'd say its a last resort-type med. The one you take when NOTHING else works, and you're absolutely fed up with acne. Accutane gave me a mishmash of side effects, some I still experience today, years after stopping. I used Accutane long before Proactiv went on the market. I've never tried it out, but it looks like a good product line.
I used to use Neutrogena products, but found they weren't really doing anything...not particularly preventing breakouts, and not helping the ones I had.
So I switched back to Biore, and now use their cleansers. I love their astringent, I feel like theirs actually works, as opposed to some on the market. And I Love love LOVE their exfoliating facial product...whatever its called. It makes your skin so smooth after...for days and days. <3

ngdawg

For a year and a half I took my daughter every two weeks to a dermatologist. She had horrible acne-red, huge zits..from her elbows to her forehead. They tried everything from oral meds to RetinA to chemical peels and it didn't get even a smidge better. When they recommended Accutane, she was handed this huge book about it, saw that she'd have to go for blood work and said "No way, Mom".
First we tried OTC versions of Proactiv but they didn't do much. Then I went and bought Biore products and Panoxyl cream. It worked. She still has some acne, especially on her torso, which she is attacking with the L'Oreal Adult Acne kit, with good results.
I myself still get pimples-I have oily skin and huge pores. I use a glycerin soap from Bath and Body Works as it's the only thing that doesn't make me feel like a dried leaf after washing. Even Neutragena's glycerin bar irritated my face.
Once or twice a month, I use the L'Oreal Glycol Peel kit for deep cleaning-the stuff that gets on the pad even after a good wash is amazing.
A little trick for those of us with oily skin-don't take the oil off, use it! When the shine starts to show, I just massage the oils back in as if they were moisturizer from a tube. Nothing beats natural.
Disclaimer: don't do that if you're in a dirty environment!

savmesom11

I already seem to be noticing a difference just by easing up on the scrubbing. I used to use this exfoliating pad on my face thinking the harder you scrub the deeper the clean......you'll have helped remind me to gently cleanse my face and that by scrubbing harder it opens the pores up to more bacteria.

__________________
* I do not believe that struggles are a sign of life falling apart, but rather a step of life falling into place. *

snowy

Well, like I said in my post--some exfoliation is okay. Gentle exfoliation is helpful, not harmful. But if you're scrubbing the hell out of your skin, it's gonna throw a shit-fit and break out. The other problem with exfoliating pads is that they can harbor a lot of bacteria. Yuck. Gently exfoliating with a washcloth once or twice a week should be enough for you.

I forgot to add in my post that applying benzoyl peroxide (5% or less--anything more will dry out your skin) to pimples as they appear is very, very helpful. As other ladies have suggested, kaolin/bentonite masks are also great--just watch out for ones that have menthol or camphor in them, as menthol and camphor are big skin irritants.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Kaimi

I just buy the dry clay for a cheap $5/pound at herbal accents. They have an online store if you care to look. I am pretty sure if you looked around on the internet you could find it elsewhere for a comparable price. Just add water and mix it well, I find that I get the best results by adding hot water to a tiny bit of the clay(maybe a teaspoon if that, a little really does go a long, long way)and letting it sit for a while before using it. In any case, it is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a premade mask from a spa.

settie

I'll have to look into that.
I used to buy the pre-made clay masque made by Dormer. They last a long time, but are quite expensive.

And yes ng, the mandatory blood tests done when you're on Accutane can be a pain. I'm not afraid of needles so it didn't bother me. It just upset me when I got a crappy nurse that would hurt me. I must have looked like a drug addict for months with the bruises in the crook of my arm from the blood tests.

savmesom11

Kaimi - got a website in mind that i can find this dry clay?


njdawg - i hope your daughter is feeling better now. it's hard enough being a teen-age girl with all the changes your going through and then to have to deal with bad acne on top of it is hard.

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* I do not believe that struggles are a sign of life falling apart, but rather a step of life falling into place. *

snowy

savmesome--if you have a natural foods store in your area, chances are they'll stock dry clay.

Here is the website Kaimi was referring to: http://www.herbalaccents.com/clays.htm

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

abaya

I had nasty acne from about age 17 to 20... tried Proactiv, did not work AT ALL (despite adhering to their regimen). I started using Neutrogena Deep Clean Scrub at age 20 and haven't had a problem since, unless I have extreme stress. I used to use it every day, but for the last few years I've cut back to every other day and that seems to work just as well.

After washing, I usually put on the Clinique moisturizing lotion (the light yellow one; usually there's a sample of it in ever Bonus bag they give out, which my mother always gets) because it's the only non-scented, non-irritating lotion that I've been able to find. And that's about it.

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for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
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snowy

That would be the Dramatically Different moisturizer. It's a fairly standard moisturizer; nothing fancy. But you're right--it is very hypoallergenic.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

savmesom11

Rock on! Thanks

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* I do not believe that struggles are a sign of life falling apart, but rather a step of life falling into place. *

surferlove007

Man..I had acne since my freshman year in high school...about 6 years ago. I still have imperfect skin but oh well. I reached a point in college where I stopped caring so much and it actually cleared up a lot. I still get rogue zits but then again I'm also 19.
I swear by the biore pore strips. Those things rip out blackheads like they're getting bikini waxed and from the roots.
As for a regimen...I use these pads that come from Clean and Clear that help take the makeup off your face and clean your skin at the same time. Just easier and more conveinent for me.
When I stress about zits more..the more I get. Also my makeup affected it a lot, when I wore a lot of heavy foundations I broke out more often. I switched to just wearing tinted moisturizer (which also protects my face from the sun!) and just bronzer for blush I saw a big difference. Oh and mineral makeup has helped tremendously.

Hope it clears up!

abaya

One would think it was standard, but seriously... feels like every other moisturizer I tried had some irritant in it. It was actually difficult to find a "nothing fancy" one! Any other suggestions for a very plain, more inexpensive moisturizer?

I second GG on cutting back on the make-up. I've never been a user of foundation and powder (I mostly use a dash of blush, eyeliner, lipstick), but the times when I have had to use that pore-clogging stuff for more than a few hours, it's always given me skin problems. If I have a night out now, I use some mineral powder as a base, nothing more than that.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

jewels

I like Neutrogena's Oil Free daily something that has 15 spf and is hypoallergenic. I've got sensitive skin and it works great for me.

__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

Molly_Ringworm

I had some nasty acne during my early 20s. It was frustrating because I had never really had acne as a teen.
I tried everything, Even went to a dermatologist and did the tetracycline and retin A gel treatments.

That cleared it up some, But I still had pretty regular break outs, And usually in the same area too! I started developing some scars.

Luckily for me, I was stationed in Japan at the time. And so I went to a spa and had a facial done and there I met an old Japanese lady who told me to stop "abusing" my skin. I didn't know what she meant, she explained, My body was full of toxins, I wasn't drinking enough water, tea and soda were causing me a lot of problems and not just on my face! So I began drinking the recommended 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day, I was so full of water I didn't even want tea or soda anymore. The other thing she taught me was the use of harsh chemicals that had been prescribed for me was causing more damage than anything! Especially in the hot and strong sun of Okinawa.
She told me to start using a mild soap and gentle scrub motion, and most importantly! STOP using foundation! That crap was really messing my skin up!
So I started washing with Oil of Olay foaming face wash and I applied it with a Buff Puff for sensitive skin. No more foundation, ( in fact these days I don't wear any make up at all) and drinking the water. My skin completely cleared up within a couple of months and people even began to compliment me on it.

Of course this may not work for everyone, But I've never stopped using oil of olay and a buff puff. I also still drink copious amounts of water.
I'm now 43 years old and I still get carded when I try to buy wine.

StellaLuna

I use St Ives medicated scrub in the AM, and a handmade shea butter soap at night, and Origins Spot Remover if absolutely necessary. Add Mary Kay Balancing moisturizer and MK mineral foundation and my skin is clearing up!

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Screw tradition!

raeanna74

I use any facial exfoliating wipes that I can find. Some stores don't even carry them. I keep them handy and when my face feels oily I give it a wipe. Also I use St Ive's Apricot facial scrub a couple times a week.

Otherwise I've found that using makeup as little as possible prevents issues. Lancome seems to be the least clogging when I use it and I rarely have issues with it.

I used to have a LOT of trouble and have breakouts every now and then when I go off BC for that 4 times a year.

The biggest thing is keeping is clean. My skin is so oily that I should use the wipes several times a day. Also dabbing on a little ZAPZIT when I feel one coming prevents them from getting ugly.

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mandy

if you really want to get rid of the acne, you should try a product called skin free.

its a product developed for the south african climate... i've never actually used it but... http://www.skinfree.net/skincarenews.html

i know one of the Miss SA's, Kerishnee Naiker, had terrible acne and she used skin free and she had only great things to say about it.

i just let mine ride out...my dad always use dto tell me just plain soap and warm water...thats what he used to clear his up when he had acne too.

i hope you find something.

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