The Acne Thread

[Niusity]

Guys, first of all thanks everyone for all your adviced it has really helped me a lot!

I need your advice on this Neutrogena acne treatment, I'm not sure abot the salicylic acid because I've been using it in soo many products lately that I think my skin got used to it.

neutrogena.com

 

[Vega Magnus]

My skin hasn't been very good for the past couple of months. Back towards the end of March, I had a couple of pimples on the left side of my jaw/chin. I decided to start applying salicylic acid moisturizer followed by some very strong salicylic acid gel twice during the day on top of my usual night treatment night to try to get rid of them and prevent others, but I think that ended up doing far more harm than good. It didn't work as intended, and I think I ended up over-moisturizing and clogging my pores even worse. My hormonal/stress pimples on my chin and jawline seem to be going away now, (I think due to hormonal changes more than anything I've done.) but now I'm having some difficulty with my forehead. Nothing really horrible, just one or two really small pimples pop up one after another, mostly on the left side. Generally, they're pretty easy to treat, but they often take a long time to fully heal and my forehead skin in general looks kind of clogged if examined closely. I think it's probably a combination of several different things that are causing it.

First, even though it's been about a month since I quit applying stuff during the day, I think my skin is probably still recovering from the damage that doing so caused. Second, I've been slacking off my regular exercise routine. Third, sometimes I headbang if I'm listening to a song I like, which causes my long-ish hair to hit my face. Probably grasping a straws a bit there, but it's a possibility. Fourth, my sleep schedule is unnatural. I generally get to bed around 6 AM, something that I really need to change for plenty of reasons unrelated to my skin. Fifth, simple stress. I've had some stressful things going on in my life (Mostly self-inflicted.) that would require far too lengthy an explanation for this post, so let's just say that they are probably enough to cause some breakouts. And sixth and likely the most relevant, I'm just eighteen, so this could simply be a hormonal shift. The issue there is that I've never had acne quite like this in the past. Heck, a couple of years ago, I was able to go days without applying any treatment at all with no really noticeable negative impact. Still, this is probably the most likely culprit, in which case there isn't a whole lot I can really do about it. I'll just fix the aforementioned problems that I can fix and see what happens.

 

[Kenysha75]

My skin hasn't been very good for the past couple of months. Back towards the end of March, I had a couple of pimples on the left side of my jaw/chin. I decided to start applying salicylic acid moisturizer followed by some very strong salicylic acid gel twice during the day on top of my usual night treatment night to try to get rid of them and prevent others, but I think that ended up doing far more harm than good. It didn't work as intended, and I think I ended up over-moisturizing and clogging my pores even worse. My hormonal/stress pimples on my chin and jawline seem to be going away now, (I think due to hormonal changes more than anything I've done.) but now I'm having some difficulty with my forehead. Nothing really horrible, just one or two really small pimples pop up one after another, mostly on the left side. Generally, they're pretty easy to treat, but they often take a long time to fully heal and my forehead skin in general looks kind of clogged if examined closely. I think it's probably a combination of several different things that are causing it.

First, even though it's been about a month since I quit applying stuff during the day, I think my skin is probably still recovering from the damage that doing so caused. Second, I've been slacking off my regular exercise routine. Third, sometimes I headbang if I'm listening to a song I like, which causes my long-ish hair to hit my face. Probably grasping a straws a bit there, but it's a possibility. Fourth, my sleep schedule is unnatural. I generally get to bed around 6 AM, something that I really need to change for plenty of reasons unrelated to my skin. Fifth, simple stress. I've had some stressful things going on in my life (Mostly self-inflicted.) that would require far too lengthy an explanation for this post, so let's just say that they are probably enough to cause some breakouts. And sixth and likely the most relevant, I'm just eighteen, so this could simply be a hormonal shift. The issue there is that I've never had acne quite like this in the past. Heck, a couple of years ago, I was able to go days without applying any treatment at all with no really noticeable negative impact. Still, this is probably the most likely culprit, in which case there isn't a whole lot I can really do about it. I'll just fix the aforementioned problems that I can fix and see what happens.

U Should try to get a healthier lifestyle even if its hard sometimes
I think the lack of sleep and the stress can play (depending on the person) on your skin
Im goin out for a run twice or once a week and now my skin is flawless
I have been through a lot too so I understand and the best is to let your skin breathe from all these chemical products
If you feel your acne is a problem go see a dermatologist its the best way trust me
you could start antibiotics maybe for a 1/2 months
but try to get some good sleep and do something that will take your stress away it can be anything

 

[dumbfairy]

About a month ago I got a total of 6 horrible spots all pretty much one next to another just by the side of my nose. 3 of them are STILL there. They keep coming back and I am at a loss of how to treat them?

 

[Kenysha75]

maybe let your skin breathe and stop putting treatment on the spots

 

[dumbfairy]

I didn't use anything on them :-/ They cleared eventually,but they've left a really horrible red mark on the side of my nose. I'm wondering about going back to my doctors and asking for some treatment,because whilst I'm not acne ridden,I'm getting one bad spot after another.

 

[lucy92]

there are products from eucerin (eucerin redness relief) and la roche posay that may help with redness.

i think i might be lucky, i've never had any acne scars even though i picked (yuck, i know) at a number of my pimples over the years. i've had a few that have been taken a while to heal leaving redness, but they've always gone away.

laser treatments and chemical peels can help with acne scars and redness.

i havent had a real pimple in maybe 6 months (just a few of the tiny ones that go away quickly)

for me the formula that has worked is every other night apply retin A (its a low concentration only 0.05 %) and a night moisturizer the other nights. and a moisturizer with suncreen in the AM of course.

 

[Rova]

This is disturbing if you love coffee:

Video is called "Cystic Acne healed after testing for hidden food allergies"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpBuw5_6YL4&feature=related

 

[Vega Magnus]

Well, I seem to have solved my major acne issues, but I have another question now; what is a good way to treat blackheads? I have a great many on my forehead now, and while they are only noticeable if one looks very closely, they sometimes get clogged and turn in to very small pimples. Those are easy to treat, but I'd prefer to solve the issue that causes them in the first place. My usual salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide acne treatments are ineffective.

 

[lucy92]

Well, I seem to have solved my major acne issues, but I have another question now; what is a good way to treat blackheads? I have a great many on my forehead now, and while they are only noticeable if one looks very closely, they sometimes get clogged and turn in to very small pimples. Those are easy to treat, but I'd prefer to solve the issue that causes them in the first place. My usual salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide acne treatments are ineffective.

you might want to try biore pore strips. you have to leave them on longer than the package says to however. the good thing about it is that you can actually see them working.

 

[Vega Magnus]

^Looks good to me. I'll try to find some tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[theatretokens]

i find blackheads are caused by too much product. also some 'good' brands leave me covered in them, avene, many moisturisers with spf. anything clinique (although if youve any sense, you wont consider that a decent brand. read the ingredients, theyre terribly harsh). many cleansers, not specifically very harsh ones but aimed at acne that really foam and strip your skin of its natural oil will result in blackheads because your skin goes into overtime producing more oil. i cleanse using almond oil or jojoba. once youve washed most of it off with warm water and a clean cloth, whats left moisturisers your skin

 

[theatretokens]

This is disturbing if you love coffee:

Video is called "Cystic Acne healed after testing for hidden food allergies"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpBuw5_6YL4&feature=related

this is so depressing innit. lol.

 

[Vega Magnus]

I just finished my first use of Biore pore strips. I tried one on my nose first to see how it works. I left it on for over twenty minutes, but it wouldn't come off when I tried to remove it, so I had to wet it a bit first. It unfortunately left most of the adhesive stuff on my nose instead of yanking it all off nicely, so I had to wipe it off with a washcloth instead. Visibly, the difference is pretty small, but the amount of gunk that came off in to the washcloth was quite astounding. I then put some on my forehead and left them for as close to the recommended fifteen minutes as I could get without a timer. These were extremely sticky and had to basically be rinsed off, but once again, quite a bit of crap came out on to that washcloth also. I think these made more of a visible difference also. In conclusion, I think this was an acceptable first try. This is obviously not the sort of product that will solve everything in one use, but I think that everything will improve considerably with continued use. I also think I need to wait considerably longer than the recommended time before removal, like lucy92 suggested. Perhaps forty-five minutes to an hour would work better. By the way, do I have to wait the recommended three days in between treatments, or could I try again tomorrow?

 

[Vega Magnus]

I've always used a two percent concentration salicylic acid astringent, but it has been making my skin very dry and red. I put up with it for a long time because it worked so well, butit has gotten worse recently, so I decided that I've finally had enough. I bought some one percent concentration astringent today. I hope it's strong enough.

 

[pennyroyaltea]

hormonal acne is the worst.... anyone tried any supplements that work in balancing out your hormones and effectively preventing hormonal acne as a result? I've heard agnus castus works ...?

 

[planted]

Thought I'd pop in to say that I've had some degree of acne all my life. A few months ago I started taking vitamin A and zinc and now my skin is clear. Sometimes I'll get a small spot here or there - but overall I've never seen my skin look this good! I love that I can use better, more natural products on my face now

 

[lucy92]

I just finished my first use of Biore pore strips. I tried one on my nose first to see how it works. I left it on for over twenty minutes, but it wouldn't come off when I tried to remove it, so I had to wet it a bit first. It unfortunately left most of the adhesive stuff on my nose instead of yanking it all off nicely, so I had to wipe it off with a washcloth instead. Visibly, the difference is pretty small, but the amount of gunk that came off in to the washcloth was quite astounding. I then put some on my forehead and left them for as close to the recommended fifteen minutes as I could get without a timer. These were extremely sticky and had to basically be rinsed off, but once again, quite a bit of crap came out on to that washcloth also. I think these made more of a visible difference also. In conclusion, I think this was an acceptable first try. This is obviously not the sort of product that will solve everything in one use, but I think that everything will improve considerably with continued use. I also think I need to wait considerably longer than the recommended time before removal, like lucy92 suggested. Perhaps forty-five minutes to an hour would work better. By the way, do I have to wait the recommended three days in between treatments, or could I try again tomorrow?

you have to rip off the strip like a brandaid. it might hurt a teeny bit. they also pull off peach fuzz (ie hair).

i leave mine on for almost half an hour. (where i am is humid so i have to adjust)

you are right, it is amazing how much gunk are on those strips.

i would try again on another spot on your face if you dont want to wait a week.

 

[Vega Magnus]

^Well, either that first instance was a fluke, or (More likely.) I mistook the discolored parts of my washcloth for crap from my face, because I've tried them again twice; once about a week ago, and a few minutes ago; and they did basically nothing. I screwed up and waited too long the time before last, so that is why they did nothing then, but I did everything perfectly tonight, and it barely did anything. I think my blackheads are too old and too deep for these strips.

 

[lucy92]

it could be. i have blackheads on my nose that wont go away. however i am considering a chemical TCA peel and resurfacing treatment that might combat this problem. my appointment for the consultation is next month.

you might also want to go to a salon and get a facial with extraction. mens facials are much cheaper than womens. and you can always ask if you can get an "express" facial at a reduced cost if you are concerned about cost.

the last facial i had was 90 mins. some people might consider that too long.