The Acne Thread

[ffjewelry]

I don't have an acne problem but my son does. I have been on a castor oil kick for two weeks. My skin has never felt better. I put it all over my face about an hour before bed. Pro active did not work on my son, so I had him do the castor oil too. It's a slow process, but his acne is getting much better. His skin looks much more vibrant too and he is getting a lot of compliments. Castor oil absorbs through the skin very well. If you do a search on it's benefits on the skin, it's quite impressive. Some women have also said that it helps eyebrows grow back in from years of over tweezing.

 

[Regina]

I'm 32 years old and since I've started to use cosmetic products I became a victim of Acne... I bought so many many acne products of expensive brands, I went to doctors but nothing could help me. I think my story is different from most of yours, but since I've read that Parabens on cosmetics may cause acne and cancer, I changed my beauty routine. There are several brands with products without parabens or silicon (as Nivea Pure, some stuff from La Roche Posay, Caudalie, some products of Body Shop, etc etc etc). Acne disappeared since I stop using cosmetics and make up without parabens.
I am glad Estee Lauder has several foundations without parabens, that's one of my favorite brands in what concerns to make up. And I really dislike Clinique.

 

[rox_yr_sox]

I too have tried to cut back on the cleansing. Generally in the morning I'll try to do just water. While in the evening I get home and take off my make-up with a milk cleanser, and at night a proper clean with a wash/soap/scrub depending on its condition.

In past four to five years I've been so frustrated with my skin. I swear I think my skin is worse acne-wise than when I was a teenager. I'm now 23, soon to be 24. Why is this so? I'm fitter and healthier than when I was a teenager.

By no means do I get bad all over acne. It's more the odd spot in the t zone, around and on the nose and around mouth and chin (the typically oily areas of the face). I admit I have trouble stopping myself from picking at them (which I know is terrible), which makes them red etc. But I'm of the obsessive disposition and in the last 18 months I got a new bathroom with very bright lighting and large mirror, which just makes me notice all the little, tiny things even more.

The only change I can think of is that when I was sixteen I became a vegetarian (but I still eat fish). Has years of an unbalanced diet screwed my skin up? I'm not sure if I get the right amounts of protein. I think maybe stress may play a factor, as a find university so much more stressful and time-consuming than the final years of high-school.

I just recently tried out a new product which is great for my situation (occasional spots self-exacerbated by scratching Malin + Goetz Acne Treatment. It's by far the best acne product I've ever used. You put it on at night (and can't wear it during the days because it leaves visible white marks when applied). It literally takes almost all of the power, pain and redness out of a nasty spot after only one night. For the day, I generally use a clear tea tree gel stick and tea-tree concealer stick. I'm really going to try to stick to my new vow to not pick at my skin.

About Malin + Goetz Acne Treatment:

This treatment for problem skin synthesizes salicylic acid with active sulfur to effectively target breakouts. Balanced with organic camphor to help fight impurities, the formula incorporates zinc oxide to aid and help prevent scarring.

 

[Cristina777]

Laboratoires SVR Lysalpha Cicapeel did a good job on my acne scars (I mean real scars, NOT red marks). They are not complete gone, but after 5-6 months of use they look a lot better. It improved also the appearance of my big pores.

I am never putting Benzoyl peroxide on my face again...It hurts my face and I don't get good results with it...I had acne mainly on my cheeks, start putting BP there and then all my pimples moved to my neck...Nice!

Pills work for me but only while I take them, after I stop my acne comes back. I am so not looking foward to taking antibiotics during all my life...

Things that have worked to keep my acne under control:

- A good cleanser (not stripping ones like those from Neutrogena, Clean and Clear, L'oreal that I tried before);

- AHAs, BHAs, PHAs. In my teens, when I had really bad acne, the only topical treatments that ever worked for me were a Tensoderm mask and a Neostrata solution;

- Sunscreen. Most acne treatments (oral and topical) are photosensitizer, a lot of sun can agravate acne, sun can make red marks darker and they will take a longer time to go away. I have found a lot of people here (even with a high education level) think that sun is awesome for acne...
A lot of people complain that they breakout from sunscreen, but as long I remove it well and use a face sunscreen for my skin type I don't have that kind of problem. I always use a wide-brim hat when I am outdoors for a long time.

-Consistency and patience. I find that the really good stuff usually take months to produce significant results. I can see almost imediate results on my pores...but for acne I have to wait longer. I think that I usually see "results" after 3 months.



Products that I tried that were a big fail: Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, Clearasil (this gave me major breakouts), Avene cleanance gel cleanser (too harsh for me) and cleanance K (harsh, good for big pimples but gave me many tiny ones)...

 

[hfhommes]

What do y'all think of using a clay mask as a spot treatment?

 

[KamenKutak]

is there a good (organic) product to fight blackheads???

 

[Hexadecimal]

I had really bad cystic acne for about 8 years. I didn't do anything about it except try to cover it up with make up for the first 7 and a half years. Then I realized that it was mostly because of hormones. Which I think all kinds of acne are to some point?
After starting yaz I really started to see improvements! and I then stopped using all things that could possibly clog pores on my face. Which also helped a lot with what was left after a couple of months! The last thing I changed was the amount of sugar I ate.. sugar really does affect your hormone levels... since I got really good results from eliminating what ever sugar I could.

I'm still not acne free but I'd say pretty much! Compared to before my skin looks perfect!

About the clay mask spot treatment... I think that depends on what kind of clay mask it is. But if it has any kind oil reducing properties.. not as in drying, because that will only make it worse, I think it sounds like a great idea

 

[foreverandnone]

Yaz cleared my face too!

 

[serenade]

Have any of you had success with Bio-Oil for scar fading? I've been using it for months now with no visible results

 

[cup-of-tea]

I have not had any success what so ever with bio oil.....I think the mineral oil also clogged my pores. I find much better results with glycolics.

 

[foreverandnone]

Have any of you had success with Bio-Oil for scar fading? I've been using it for months now with no visible results

For acne scars I suggest using fresh lemon juice you squeeze out yourself. Put it on the pimple/scar and leave it there over night - every night - for a few weeks and the mark should fade.
Lemon works cause it's nature's bleach!

 

[rayoflight]

Have any of you had success with Bio-Oil for scar fading? I've been using it for months now with no visible results

It won't do anything. It's just scented oil.

http://www.bio-oil.com/en/product/ingredients

Like cup-of-tea says, glycolic or any other acid stuff will work best. Personally I prefer vitamin C, not the drug store versions, they don't work either, but stuff like Skinceuticals, Cellex-C, Cellbone serums or any other brand that lists 15-20% ascorbic acid in ingredients. Clear, luminous skin courtesy of vit C! Acids make my skin totally smooth and soft as well, but not as clear, so I prefer vit C more!

 

[nzkiwiboy]

I've been using Clearasil pimples and marks facial wash for nearly two months! No change to my skin at all! Its my first facial wash so I don't know what to get next, a lot of people are saying Neutrogena is good, any advice? I'm only 14 so I'm gonna stick with the cheap facial washes for now. Any advice for pimples and pimple marks on my nose too? Worst feeling ever to have it on there.
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[commonpeople]

I had clear skin all throughout my teens until I hit about the age of 18. I'm now 20 and I quit smoking last April not only for health reasons, but because I also suspected that it may have been contributing to my breakouts. My skin has stayed pretty much the same, despite a healthier diet and quitting smoking. I seriously feel that I have tried everything at this point, and my skin still is never clear. I do think that my acne is definitely hormonal.

I am now considering going on the pill, since I do know many people who said it was the only thing that cleared their skin up. My only concerns are that my sister was briefly on Yaz (about a month or two) and she said it made her feel extremely depressed, and she was crying on it non-stop until she went off of it. Has anyone else experienced this on this brand of birth control? Are their any other brands that work (i've heard the regular Tri-cyclen works as well)? And from anyone else's experiences on this board, did you find going on the Pill cleared their skin?

 

[Kenysha75]

I had clear skin all throughout my teens until I hit about the age of 18. I'm now 20 and I quit smoking last April not only for health reasons, but because I also suspected that it may have been contributing to my breakouts. My skin has stayed pretty much the same, despite a healthier diet and quitting smoking. I seriously feel that I have tried everything at this point, and my skin still is never clear. I do think that my acne is definitely hormonal.

I am now considering going on the pill, since I do know many people who said it was the only thing that cleared their skin up. My only concerns are that my sister was briefly on Yaz (about a month or two) and she said it made her feel extremely depressed, and she was crying on it non-stop until she went off of it. Has anyone else experienced this on this brand of birth control? Are their any other brands that work (i've heard the regular Tri-cyclen works as well)? And from anyone else's experiences on this board, did you find going on the Pill cleared their skin?

You should now go see a dermatologist he will see what kind of acne type you have and what treatments will suit you the best
if its regular acne youll get specific cremes and lotions
if its regular to severe youll start an antibiotics cure
if its severe you can start roaccutane
Im off roaccutane since oct november and nothing ever
came back its flawless now
Im also hitting the gym everyday and not smoking which might help too

 

[VersaceVixen009]

I use benzycline (sp). That for me was THE best medicine ever, it clears my breakouts in a week. And as crazy as it sounds, St.Ives Apricot Scrub works too. It clears all my dead skin cells and deep cleanses my skin, and ever since then I have better control of my breakouts.

 

[cup-of-tea]

I had clear skin all throughout my teens until I hit about the age of 18. I'm now 20 and I quit smoking last April not only for health reasons, but because I also suspected that it may have been contributing to my breakouts. My skin has stayed pretty much the same, despite a healthier diet and quitting smoking. I seriously feel that I have tried everything at this point, and my skin still is never clear. I do think that my acne is definitely hormonal.

I am now considering going on the pill, since I do know many people who said it was the only thing that cleared their skin up. My only concerns are that my sister was briefly on Yaz (about a month or two) and she said it made her feel extremely depressed, and she was crying on it non-stop until she went off of it. Has anyone else experienced this on this brand of birth control? Are their any other brands that work (i've heard the regular Tri-cyclen works as well)? And from anyone else's experiences on this board, did you find going on the Pill cleared their skin?

I take Yazmin and it made me very emotional for the first 2 or 3 months, but as your body adjusts its non existent any more. As long as your conscious of it and realise that its just the pill and your not going completely nuts you should be able to survive. It has definitely completely cleared my skin with the help of glycolics.

 

[ShoestringTravel]

At 31 with hormonal acne (I have PCOS), and having tried everything else including Accutane with no lasting effect, I finally went on Yaz (the lower dose Yasmine) pill 7 months ago. The first 3 months saw a crazy amount of breakouts along my jaw line and neck (eww!), but now things have finally settled down and I'm seeing a lot of clearing. My dermatologist said that it typically takes 9-12 months before you see the full effect of the skin clearing. There is also a test you can take to see if you are prone to blood-clotting--it's called a Factor V (V as in 5) Leiden test, and it tests for common blood-clotting disorders that would make you more susceptible to a blood clot on the second generation pills like Yaz, Yasmine, and Nuvaring.

For the first month of the pill I was in a pretty bad mood (cranky), but reminded myself that I was on the pill. After about a month it went away, and I haven't felt out of the ordinary since then.

For those of you who are considering a birth control pill to help with your hormonal acne, I would say to try Yaz or Yasmine, and to keep in mind that your skin will flair up for a few months, but that if you tough it out, things will improve a lot within about a year!

 

[ShoestringTravel]

What do y'all think of using a clay mask as a spot treatment?

I got a good clay mask with a 10% sulphur content that fights acne, and I use it for an overnight spot treatment. If you put it on the moment you feel you might be getting a cyst, it stops it in its tracks! It even helps larger cysts, drying them out and helping them to heal faster. It's fairly gentle on the skin, too; most sulphur products tend to be.

 

[Ivee_]

I did a similar treatment as roaccutane, but it is called ACNEMIN, and it worked great on me. Now I am taking care of the marks, but I will probably use the laser thing for acne scars in the near future.