The Acne Thread

[tocceve]

Did it just go away when you got older because you use past tense?

 

[loonaka]

Did it just go away when you got older because you use past tense?

Are you asking me?
No I asked a doctor and he gave me birth control pills, antibiotics and a cream to dry out the pimples and then it went away...

 

[Sara_1987]

Great that it worked for you

I'm really at my wit's end. I also was given the pill (Diane) years ago, but it never helped my skin. I've been seeing a dermatologist for 6 years. I've done 7 courses of antibiotics, used pretty much every type of topical a derm can prescribe...Was on accutane...
Also tried all sorts of changes in my diet. I drink only water (and a lot of it). Tried cutting out pork, dairy, chocolate...etc. Nothing helped.
Also tried all sorts of "natural" remedies and vitamin supplements.
And yes, I have also tried the "not doing anything to your skin" approach. Doesn't work either.

My acne isn't severe though. I don't get cysts. But it's mild to moderate and ALWAYS there. I'm also very fair and my skin is sensitive so my skin gets all red and irritated.
Last night i put BP on my face (it never worked for me in the past, just irritated my skin, but I was going crazy and was willing to try anything again..) and this morning I got up, my face was so red and dry and itchy (after just 1 application) and the skin around my eyes was completely dry and in creases and anything I put on it just made it burn (I didn't put the bp around my eyes...it's just srt of migrated there or sth. My skin is so sensitive).

 

[loonaka]

Great that it worked for you

I'm really at my wit's end. I also was given the pill (Diane) years ago, but it never helped my skin. I've done 7 courses of antibiotics, used pretty much every type of topical a derm can prescribe...Was on accutane...
Also tried all sorts of changes in my diet. I drink only water (and a lot of it). Tried cutting out pork, dairy, chocolate...etc. Nothing helped.
Also tried all sorts of "natural" remedies and vitamin supplements.
And yes, I have also tried the "not doing anything to your skin" approach. Doesn't work either.

So what have ppl told you, like doctors and stuff? I wish the pill would work for all girls!!!!

 

[Deleted member 106803]

I wish the pill would work for all girls!!!!

I wish the pill worked for guys

 

[alejandropa89]

Uh, i remember when i used to deal with acne, it was horrible, first of all when i was 15, i had a FLAWLESS face, one day i decided to change my skin treatment and i made the WORST mistake ever, i choose clinique 3 steps, first i was like... wow this is incredible, my skin looks healthy and such, 3 months after, i started to develope pimples, and 6 months later my face was covered by little acne almost in every pore, anyway, i went thru many treatments, first i was Vichy (it worked like for one year), but then i started to develope BIGGER pimples, so i said...i have to go to the doctor definitely. He gave me Neutrogena soap bar, some lotion called Novadol 8, Ionax Scrub by Galderma, and the best pills ever: Roaccutane, and now my skin is...FLAWLESS again (of course i had to keep that treatment like for a year)

Roaccutane is DA s••t, after that many friends saw that it worked and they took it too (of course with prescription)

 

[mousquerader]

Great that it worked for you

I'm really at my wit's end. I also was given the pill (Diane) years ago, but it never helped my skin. I've been seeing a dermatologist for 6 years. I've done 7 courses of antibiotics, used pretty much every type of topical a derm can prescribe...Was on accutane...
Also tried all sorts of changes in my diet. I drink only water (and a lot of it). Tried cutting out pork, dairy, chocolate...etc. Nothing helped.
Also tried all sorts of "natural" remedies and vitamin supplements.
And yes, I have also tried the "not doing anything to your skin" approach. Doesn't work either.

My acne isn't severe though. I don't get cysts. But it's mild to moderate and ALWAYS there. I'm also very fair and my skin is sensitive so my skin gets all red and irritated.
Last night i put BP on my face (it never worked for me in the past, just irritated my skin, but I was going crazy and was willing to try anything again..) and this morning I got up, my face was so red and dry and itchy (after just 1 application) and the skin around my eyes was completely dry and in creases and anything I put on it just made it burn (I didn't put the bp around my eyes...it's just srt of migrated there or sth. My skin is so sensitive).

I'm sorry to hear that. You must be so frustrated. I've tried pretty much everything as well except the pill and accutane because I'm kind of scared to mess with my hormones (I hear the pill can make skin worse sometimes!) and the side effects of accutane are scary... plus, like you, my acne isn't severe enough to qualify but it's still persistent. The only thing I can suggest is trying other types of birth control pills like Yas or Ortho-tricyclen because they have different effects on people. And you sound like you're allergic to BP or something, so never put that on again... and if your skin still hurts put on aloe vera gel.


Right now I have more breakouts than usual because I took up hiking and not being able to wash off sweat for hours just took a toll on my skin.

 

[Suburban Snob]

I've heard the supplement DIM works like the pill for hormonal acne, even guys can take it.

 

[Sara_1987]

thanks for the replies.
I've tried different BC pills already, but they never did anything which led me to believe my acne is not hormonal.
I don't know what causes it though...I mean, doctors aren't even sure what causes acne...
I'm on minocycline now, which will most probably work because it has worked in the past. The problem is once I stop the antibiotics the acne comes right back. And I refuse to be n antibiotics for my entire life (people actually do this!) because it is so unhealthy and you become resistant to them.
i'm also taking some brewer's yeast and fish (salmon) oil to help my skin's recovery.
Right now it looks pretty bad though...

It just irks me that I know that in like 2 months I'll stop the antibiotics and the acne will come back and then my derm will put my on my 2nd course of accutane (which is what I want because it works great and most people need two courses to really get rid of it). These antibiotics are just a bit a waste of time, but my derm was all "let's try these before another round of accutane..." even though she knows all the past times on antibiotics my acne has returned after quitting. It's just such a hassle...

 

[Suburban Snob]

I feel you. I never had horrible acne just persistant acne and I had only one full course of Accutane in 1999. Then I've had 2 other Accutane prescriptions that I've had to stop because it jacked my triglyceride levels. So sad. I had to get my gallbladder out and now no one wants to give me Accutane again. My skin isn't bad at all right now but I'd take it again if I could!

 

[Sara_1987]

oh my god...Really? you'd want to take it again even after what happened?!
I would be too scared...
My triglyceride levels also went up during my 4th month and my derm said I would have to be taken off if it stayed that way, but the next time they were normal again; I think it was because I had a big fatty meal right before I had my blood drawn the 4th month...haha, that wasn't very smart...

 

[Crying Diamonds]

Okay i've been meaning to post this for an eternity

The skin on my face is the most nightmarish thing ever and I would love someone to suggest something I could use to treat it.

After I wash and my face dries it all goes really horrible, dry and flakey so I use moistureiser, but then, without fail, my face always goes really shiny, and i'm not talking like "oh, i'm hot" shiny, i'm talking glassy, reflective shiny. I also suffer with a bit of acne (it used to be a lot worse).

So i'm in a dilemma of what to do? Can someone suggest something I could use?

 

[loonaka]

Okay i've been meaning to post this for an eternity

The skin on my face is the most nightmarish thing ever and I would love someone to suggest something I could use to treat it.

After I wash and my face dries it all goes really horrible, dry and flakey so I use moistureiser, but then, without fail, my face always goes really shiny, and i'm not talking like "oh, i'm hot" shiny, i'm talking glassy, reflective shiny. I also suffer with a bit of acne (it used to be a lot worse).

So i'm in a dilemma of what to do? Can someone suggest something I could use?

Ok, what kind of moist do you use? Does your skin get better after you add moist or does it like look dry under the shininess?

 

[Sara_1987]

I suggest you use one of those moisturizers specifically made to counteract the effects of drying anti-acne products. (even if you don't use those and your skin is dry for another reason). Maybe you can try Hydrafnia, I like that one.

 

[Crying Diamonds]

Uhh, I use all mens' products, methinks, I mainly use L'Oreal anti-wrinkle (not all over my face though) and i did use L'Oreal anti-reshine but it just made it worse. I also use this soothing cream by Nivea for after having a shave, but I only put that around where I shave, and it doesn't get particularly shiny.
On days off I use this stuff you pump into your hand and spread over your face to clear your skin. I forget what it's called. That makes my face uber-shiny if I go out after using it.

My skin does get better after using moistureiser; as in, it stops being flakey and dry altogether and feels relatively nice. It just gets so shiny and awful.

Urgh, it's such a nightmare.

 

[loonaka]

Uhh, I use all mens' products, methinks, I mainly use L'Oreal anti-wrinkle (not all over my face though) and i did use L'Oreal anti-reshine but it just made it worse. I also use this soothing cream by Nivea for after having a shave, but I only put that around where I shave, and it doesn't get particularly shiny.
On days off I use this stuff you pump into your hand and spread over your face to clear your skin. I forget what it's called. That makes my face uber-shiny if I go out after using it.

My skin does get better after using moistureiser; as in, it stops being flakey and dry altogether and feels relatively nice. It just gets so shiny and awful.

Urgh, it's such a nightmare.

have you tried to ask someone in a pharmacy? They might give you some products which are better than the ones made by l'oreal and nivea

 

[Crying Diamonds]

Where I live they'd probably give me a blank look and suggest the L'oreal and Nivea

 

[QUINNSTIL]

Interestingly enough, in conjunction to taking Zinc, which have worked brilliantly, I've changed to an oil-free moisturizer that contains the active ingredient Zinc Oxide (for SPF) and the change these two simple things have made on my skin is amazing. I'm going to attribute my mild but persistent acne to hormonal imbalance because of this. It must be mentioned that the Zinc (pill and Oxide) also controls the oil serum production and has skin healing properties that have helped my skin tremendously. I do think acne is curable, but its important to find out the hidden source of the problem instead of expecting potions to cure the surface.

Crying Diamonds, do you exfoliate after washing your face for the flaky skin? I suffered from this as well. I also have extremely dry and sensitive skin so I would pile on the moisturizer on my face thinking too much of it could never be bad, but this actually counteracted and made my skin even more drying, since it relied on the product to moisturize my skin, not my natural oils. So I only apply necessary moisturizer and I have upped my water consumption. Although others might say otherwise, hydrating my body did hydrate and had an effect on the dryness of my skin. Try using an oil free moisturizer for the shine. Good luck.

 

[QUINNSTIL]

Sara- Even if you do not get physically burned, I think it's best to stay out of tanning beds. I read your post and I wanted to ask: How long did you stick with the dietary + vitamin regime? I'm a firm believer that diet does play a role on your skin, however, I completely understand your frustration. I used to be health nut vegan for quite some time and could not fathom why my skin was not flawless when I was eating only the best foods. So again, even if it takes time, you need to eliminate the root cause of the problem. You said that your acne is coming back...what have you changed during then and now? Maybe you can take a blood test to see which foods you are sensitive/allergic to. For the antibiotic, did you know that garlic is a natural antibiotic? You can ingest raw finely chopped garlic for immense health benefits. (Make sure on a full stomach)

 

[mousquerader]

Hmm. The last time I took a zinc pill I got really nauseous(sp?), but I read that could be from not taking it with a meal. I could've sworn I had eaten something when I took that, but maybe it wasn't enough. I'll try again and see how that goes...