The Acne Thread

[~Fixation~]

is tea tree oil good for applying on pimples?

 

[Deleted member 106803]

It's an antiseptic and an astringent so supposedly yes!

 

[dumbfairy]

Eurgh I'm still having a nightmare. I basically have grown a second nose. I want to hide away in shame. But failing that,I've bought the Clinique Anti-Blemish kit.Mainly cos my friend works for them and got me a discount

 

[imaginethat1107]

So the Proactiv wasn't doing much. Then I bought Clean & Clear on Tuesday and nothing is happening with that either. I'm just having the WORST luck with all these acne treatments.

I really need something that will work. I'm desperate. My skin is extremely sensitive and it can be dry at times. Even some moisturizers irritate it but that was mostly Neutrogena. Can someone please recommend some kind of acne treatment to me?

 

[Mk's Beauty Shop]

I had an accident with my face wash i leaked everywhere so i cant afford to buy it again at the moment so Im trying a face wash called Benzac AC which has benzoyl peroxide in it.. Its been good so far

 

[Deborah]

Oh no! That happened to me with my last dermalogica bottle, I think it was damaged in the post. I had to keep it in a carrier bag! Lol.
I am just getting over a mega breakout. I had one on my chest (I had others, just this one was really bad) that just appeared and if I touch it it felt like a stabbing pain, oh it was dreadful, I could feel it through my clothes. Its popped now so its loads smaller. Phew.

 

[Sav_]

So this summer I'm gonna work on my red marks/blotchiness. I'm going to start lactic acid peels & TCA peels...nervous, but it needs to be done.

 

[golightly89]

I often work with people who suffer from acne and have had a lot of training on how to treat acne, as well as doing my own independent research.

Here are some of my tips -
- Don't use products with alcohol. They are irritating and stripping on your skin, ultimately doing more harm than good. This includes Clinique products.
- Always use oil-free products. Even if your skin feels 'dry', don't use things like rosehip oil on your skin. Your skin is not dry, it is dehydrated, which means it is lacking water (not oil). You need to use oil-free, non-comedegenic products with hyaluronic acid & antioxidants to repair your moisture barrier and replenish your intracelluar fluid. Scientific studies have shown that drinking water does not affect your skin at all. Nor does your diet. This is in terms of dehydration AND acne. Dehydration is caused by a compromised moisture barrier; Acne is caused by hormones & genetics.
- Don't buy into the hype of skincare companies. Learn your ingredients & read the labels. You don't need to spend a fortune on skincare but it is important that the products you use are quality. Many products claiming to be engineered for blemish-prone skin are overly harsh & irritating. Do your research and, if possible, try samples first (don't expect immediate results from the samples, just check that your skin does not react or get worse). Your products do not have to be all from the same brand.

The cause of acne is 3-fold.
1. Excess oil. Your skin is producing too much oil because of over-active hormones. This cannot be solved by skincare, particularly if you are suffering from cystic acne (blind pimples) which means that not only is the pimple itself inflamed, but also your sebaceous gland. If you are suffering from cystic acne then you should see a dermatologist. Applying topical treatments will help relieve the symptoms but will never solve the problem fully.
2. Blockage. The pimple is caused by the excess oil trying to get to the surface of the skin but being blocked by an abnormally shaped pore or dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. It has been found that the skin cells of acne sufferers are more prone to sticking together and therefore blockages. This is why it is important to exfoliate with a chemical exfoliant (manual scrubs can spread the bacteria causing the acne, therefore making it worse). Salicylic acid is fantastic because it is lipid soluble and can therefore penetrate the upper layers of the skin and exfoliate the pore itself. Glycolic acid is fantastic for exfoliating the surface of the skin.
3. Inflammation. On the surface of your skin live a bacteria known as propionibacterium acnes (p. acne bacteria). It feeds on the culmination of oil and dead skin cells and flourishes, causing the redness & inflammation.

The most effective skincare regime for a person suffering from acne is -
- A gentle, foaming, good quality cleanser that does not leave residue: watch out for anything that contains alcohol or menthol. The best cleansers I have come across are the Leaf & Rusher Green Tea Wash, Nude Skincare Facial Cleansing Wash, Malin & Goetz Grapefruit Cleanser.
- A treatment with salicylic acid (not a cleansser, as it will be rinsed off before it can have any effect again, watch out for alcohol as it is not helpful. BareVitamins Skin Rev-Er Upper is great.
- A spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide: You can get this at your local pharmacy for about $5-$10. This is the best form of anti-inflammatory as it is not as irritating as other options (i.e. sulfur) & is more effective. Tea tree oil has been proven to be effective but you must use a very high concentration to get the same results as benzoyl peroxide (which is generally not available on the market).
- A gentle, oil-free, gel or lotion-type moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid & antioxidants: I would highly recommend the Malin & Goetz Vitamin E Moisturiser. MD Skincare Oil Free Moisturiser & Prescriptives Super Line Preventer are also great, although more expensive.
- A gentle, oil-free, light textured sunscreen: Becca Mineral SPF30+ Primer.

As I said before, this regime will help alleviate the symptoms of acne, but will not solve it at all. I would highly recommend seeing a dermatologist. When I was a teenager I suffered from acne & I was perscribed Roaccutane. My skin has been perfect ever since.
I hope this helps people I am more than happy to help out anybody with any questions

 

[WerbowyStegner]

People magic peeling glove it works wonders seriously

 

[dumbfairy]

Thank you for all of the advice golightly89!

I'm hoping to get an emergency appointment at the doctors today. My skin at Christmas was the worst it had ever been with blisters under the skin,and they're back and my bottom lip is getting more and more swollen and my neck also. What started off as a few small pimples on my chin has just escalated,I'm not even sure if it's acne. I seem to have become used to the antibiotics as they are making very little difference any more

 

[golightly89]

Thank you for all of the advice golightly89!

I'm hoping to get an emergency appointment at the doctors today. My skin at Christmas was the worst it had ever been with blisters under the skin,and they're back and my bottom lip is getting more and more swollen and my neck also. What started off as a few small pimples on my chin has just escalated,I'm not even sure if it's acne. I seem to have become used to the antibiotics as they are making very little difference any more

Ohh you poor thing, that sounds like an infection, possibly Impetigo. Definitely go to the doctor as soon as possible & he or she will put you on antibiotics, it will clear up in no time

 

[WerbowyStegner]

For me what works is simply taking internal things as well as external things.

 

[dumbfairy]

I've had a google to see if what I have is cystic acne and I don't think its what I have. There is resemblence,in so far as I would describe what I have on my face as blisters, but I think what I have is worse. (although I'm probably inclined to think that right now given the pain I'm in!) My chin is swollen,I had strangers coming up to me at work asking me if I was aware I was suffering from a food allergy My neck and glands are also swollen. This is exactly how it went at christmas which means my lip will swell next. I'm not sure it's impetigo either because it won't 'scab' over.

I'm so embarassed I haven't felt this bad in months. I really don't want to leave the house

 

[Sav_]

^ That sounds rough, I'm so sorry


Why oh why do some people have to deal with bad skin while others do nothing and have perfect complexions?!

 

[Mk's Beauty Shop]

I seriously think they should introduce a pimpleday off work.. Sometimes I get so down about my skin I hate even going to work.. I serve about 500 people a day so Its hard

 

[dumbfairy]

^I see about the same amount of people at work too

Here the health service will sign you off sick from work for acne but I don't know what the circumstances are.

After a semi-good night of sleep my skin is a good version of horrendous There are no doctors appointments today but I'm going to pop in anyway as I'm hopeful someone will see me

 

[golightly89]

Dumbfairy, it definitely sounds like you have Impetigo. If you work in close contact with people, I would excuse myself from work because it is contagious. That is probably how you contracted it
It can make you sick as well so rest up once you have seen the doctor, I hop you feel better soon

 

[dumbfairy]

Anyone heard of Gram-Negative Folliculitis? No,me neither!Because the pharmacist who came out to see me said that's what she thinks I have,and I am to see the doctor tomorrow. It happens due to complications after a long course of anti-biotics,which I've been on since September. She couldn't explain the swelling though.

And to top it all off,I had to get passport photos done today, thankfully not for a passport as having a photo with this chin for the next 10 years would have killed me, but for a security pass for an event that will need to be checked often during 2 days This is my karma for not having the photos taken last week!!

How is everyone else doing?

 

[.amahlia.]

do supplements ( like vitamin A) help skin? i was at Planet Beauty a while ago and they had thse MURAD supplements, the lady said they help to stop acne from the inside

 

[Sav_]

^ Ahh don't believe the salespeople. I highly doubt that a Murad supplement could STOP your acne. You have to know what kind of acne you have...if it's due to food allergies, then yes, supplements could help, along with a diet change.