The Acne Thread

[LifeNatureLove]

^Yeah, toothpaste, in the long run, is one of the worst. I know that from expereience also!
I got Spot Remover from Origin's and it works wonderfully! Definatly dries up spots in the half the time my others do. Just wanted to let you guys know it definatly worked for me, so I'm passing the word along.

 

[DA-82100]

Retin-A Micro

I want to try Retin-A Micro but I'm wondering if I have to go to a dermatologists? Can I just get a prescription from a physcian's office?

 

[maybe_tonight]

Zeno

I got my ZENO (the "zit zapper" that is supposed to eliminate pimples in 24 hours) and ... don't waste your money. I used it on two pimples, and I saw no difference (in fact, one of the pimples got worse than ever). I followed the directions exactly and it still didn't work.

 

[holiday]

I use VICHY's Normaderm anti-imperfection for the small spots in my face. I don't wash my face with any other soap then cliniques! My skin is next intil perfect! (It was horrible before)

 

[Sara_1987]

God. I hate acne. some of the treatments i've tried:

- almost all ove-the-counte products
- differin gel with monocycline antibiotics
- i've had series of veyr painful fruit acid peelings, stripping off the top layers of my skin.... it's good for marks etc...but didn't clear my skin....
- tetracycline with the Neostrata skin cleansers gamma: didn't work one bit
- Diane35 (Dianette) birth control pill: almost perfectly cleare dup my skin after one year of taking it, but I moved to California and my skin has become awful aagin. veyr veyr depressing sinceI had clear skin before I got here!!!
it could be the polluted air..or the hormones in the american food.... i don't really know.

i'm consulting a derm again here. I'm now on doxycycline antibiotics. Benzaclin as a topical antibiotic and Tazorac cream at night.... initial breakout was awful....sometimes my skin looks good but then in pictures it looks absolutely awful....i still am getting zits and have A LOT of red marks left..scars even. god. i just want to stay inside and cry the whole time. i'm so sick of it.. i've been struggling for years and everwhere I look I can only see people with nice skin.

any way. i've been on this regimen for a month now. I'm gonna try to stick it out another 3 months or so and we'll see then...

 

[Guessgirl96]

God. I hate acne. some of the treatments i've tried:

- almost all ove-the-counte products
- differin gel with monocycline antibiotics
- i've had series of veyr painful fruit acid peelings, stripping off the top layers of my skin.... it's good for marks etc...but didn't clear my skin....
- tetracycline with the Neostrata skin cleansers gamma: didn't work one bit
- Diane35 (Dianette) birth control pill: almost perfectly cleare dup my skin after one year of taking it, but I moved to California and my skin has become awful aagin. veyr veyr depressing sinceI had clear skin before I got here!!!
it could be the polluted air..or the hormones in the american food.... i don't really know.

i'm consulting a derm again here. I'm now on doxycycline antibiotics. Benzaclin as a topical antibiotic and Tazorac cream at night.... initial breakout was awful....sometimes my skin looks good but then in pictures it looks absolutely awful....i still am getting zits and have A LOT of red marks left..scars even. god. i just want to stay inside and cry the whole time. i'm so sick of it.. i've been struggling for years and everwhere I look I can only see people with nice skin.

any way. i've been on this regimen for a month now. I'm gonna try to stick it out another 3 months or so and we'll see then...

I'm tried pretty much everything you have as well and more, I know how you feel! I'm currently trying to get accutane, my dermo keeps perscribing different things and saying that if it doesn't clear up we'll do accutane. I hope I get it soon. I recommend you talk to your dermo about it, I've had several freinds with very bad acne that took it and they're skin is flawless now, it's pretty much the most hardcore thing out there for acne as far as I know. It can be a litle difficult for girls to get though becuase of the risks and I know some of the other dermo's I've seen before were very against it.

 

[Sara_1987]

I'm tried pretty much everything you have as well and more, I know how you feel! I'm currently trying to get accutane, my dermo keeps perscribing different things and saying that if it doesn't clear up we'll do accutane. I hope I get it soon. I recommend you talk to your dermo about it, I've had several freinds with very bad acne that took it and they're skin is flawless now, it's pretty much the most hardcore thing out there for acne as far as I know. It can be a litle difficult for girls to get though becuase of the risks and I know some of the other dermo's I've seen before were very against it.

I could get Accutane a year ago but I don't want it. the side effects scare me...especially the thing about more risk of depression.... scary stuff. but it would be nice to take it and be cured

 

[alouisa]

Anybody have comments on covering a blemish with skin-coloured concealer vs. green concealer? Anybody tried both?

 

[Sara_1987]

Anybody have comments on covering a blemish with skin-coloured concealer vs. green concealer? Anybody tried both?

green concealer really does hide redness (way better than normal concealer). dab some on and then cover with normal foundation. jsut make sure the green doesn't shine through

 

[Becky_da_da_da]

Yeah, Accuatne is the strongest acne medication.

Some are worried about the depression and side effects like you Sara, but before I started taking it, the reason I was so depressed was because of my skin!

As long as your doctor/dermo keeps an eye on you while you take it, you'll be fine. I was

 

[fruchttasche]

Don't use it every single night if you have very sensitive skin just like anything else. When people have acne or skin problems people tend too put way too much 'crap' on their skin wheather it be to clean it or cover it it up thinking that the more= the better= quicker results. DON'T. Let the pores breathe.

I totally agree with you! From my experience, too much acne products like benzol peroxide, or too strong cleanser, chemical exfoliation only make skin sensitized, and make it more prone to acne.

I experienced this horror a few months ago. I broke out badly due to reaction against my new cleanser, and I desperately tried to fix it by using benzol peroxide (clearasil vanishing cream), strong aha+bha, and it literally stripped out my skin (making skin very dry and sensitive + more acne: it was horrible ).

Often acne problems get worse when the surface of skin is stripped out. Once I stopped using all these products, and simplified my routine (cleanser and simple moisturizer), my acne cleared up. The key is to rebalance skin by using gentle soap free cleanser and non pore clogging moisturizer. Never let it completely dry out, and also regular exfoliation will help...

 

[cosmogrl5]

I got my ZENO (the "zit zapper" that is supposed to eliminate pimples in 24 hours) and ... don't waste your money. I used it on two pimples, and I saw no difference (in fact, one of the pimples got worse than ever). I followed the directions exactly and it still didn't work.

Thanks for letting us know. That's 200 bucks I will be saving. I am sorry that you lost your $$ though. Can you return it?

 

[marcy248]

Update: I'm really sorry to all that were cheering me on, but I gave up on the Differin. It was making my skin so horrible. I went back to Benzyclin gel at night (and using Cleocin-T wipes and taking Dynacin orally) and now my skin is perfect again after a week and a half.

 

[shoegal2183]

Update: I'm really sorry to all that were cheering me on, but I gave up on the Differin. It was making my skin so horrible. I went back to Benzyclin gel at night (and using Cleocin-T wipes and taking Dynacin orally) and now my skin is perfect again after a week and a half.

You have to find what works for you!
I woke up this morning and had clear skin from Differin...it was a great way to start the day. (I dont know if I'm alone, but the first thing I do in the morning is have a look in the mirror)

 

[Sara_1987]

the first thing I do in the morning is have a look in the mirror)

I avoid mirrors at all costs...except in dark, almost no light... it's pretty sad actually. when i'm in front of the mirror and my roommate turns on the light i run away.... lol...I have some self esteem problems

 

[Becky_da_da_da]

I avoid mirrors at all costs...except in dark, almost no light... it's pretty sad actually. when i'm in front of the mirror and my roommate turns on the light i run away.... lol...I have some self esteem problems

Aw, don't worry... I used to be exactly the same, so I know how you feel

 

[Kriss]

Acne, finally I have gotten rid of it and I feel free for the first time in about 5 years. I have used everything from tee tree oil to differin, which worked when I first used it but I still didn't get rid of all the pimples. In September my grandmother recommended me a dermatologist, who had helped her friends daughter to get rid of acne. I went to see her and straight away she knew that I should be prescribed Roaccutane and I was up for everything! I went on 30mg a day, which is a pretty low dose but because of this I had almost no side affects. Right now is my fourth month on it and my face has finally clared up! I love it At first my skin went worse, the worse it has every been but I'm glad I continued because nothing can describe how great a clear skin is. No more hiding my face, no more avoiding people, so that they couldn't see my skin, no more waking up early just to put on make-up!! I'm free!!!!
A long story but I just had to get it out of myself. Nobody I know really understands my struggle with acne, even my parents and its good to share your thoughts with people who have been/still are in the same situation that I was

 

[Kriss]

I could get Accutane a year ago but I don't want it. the side effects scare me...especially the thing about more risk of depression.... scary stuff. but it would be nice to take it and be cured

In my case there were minimal side effects, only dry skin and lips. The lips weren't so bad as I had heared and my dry skin improved with moisturizing twice a day. My dermo put me on a quite a low dose 30mg, so the side effects wouldn't be so bad but it took me more time to get rid of it, which wasn't really a problem, if I have lived with acne so long, I can wait for another month.
Trust your doctor and the drug isn't really that bad, living with acne on the other hand is.

 

[skot4mc]

congratulations Kriss
thats really great news!

 

[Kriss]

Thanks
Its one of the best things ever happened to me.