posted
Hey all, I'm 23 and I thought I'd be done with acne, but it's still there. What treatments are available especially if you have dry skin too?
UPDATE: Already after 1 week, my complexion is much better. I've been using Clean and Clear every morning and night, along with regular brand moisturizer.
Honestly, I think it was the dry skin that was the biggest cause of my outbreaks. Once I bothered to try and get rid of the dryness, it seemed to perk up instantly.
I use the Persagel every other day, one application, and make sure to follow that up with moisturizer as well because it reallllly dries your face up.
All in all, it's nice to know there's a face under there!
posted
One thing to make sure you do if you're using acne products is to moisturize. Get an oil-free moisturizer intended for your face. A lot of people start using a bunch of acne products, which dry your skin out, and to compensate it produces extra oil, which doesn't help the acne.
Posts: 1547 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Roaccutane is a good answer for bad adult acne. But you have to be aware of the possible side-effects and risks to your mental health. And you wouldn't be able to drink alcohol while you're using it, or get pregnant (if you're female).
However, if you've got dry skin already, this drug could cause you some discomfort. You'd need to discuss that with your dermatologist.
Ideally, only go for something this serious once you've tried everything that you can get at the drug store. Then discuss your options with your doctor.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Is there a good cosmetology school in your area? If there is, you can often get good acne facial treatments for reasonable prices at such places.
Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
I say get road runner to help you, Acne has never been able to defeat road runner.
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posted
Tetracycline didn't burn holes in my esophagus or make my teeth glow, but neither did it do anything for my acne.
Accutane cured my acne but was the catalyst for a moderate depression that lasted much longer than the treatment itself did. On the plus side, my acne never came back, my depression subsided (admittedly three years after the treatment), and my liver was fine even though I drank moderately while on the stuff. (I know my liver is fine because I have had two physicals since that time, both of which gave me a clean bill of health.)
I tried various things for my acne, but only Accutane worked. They sort of downplayed the mental health risk, at least to me, but all in all I feel it was worth it.
Posts: 1364 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
One thing that can help: instead of getting an anti-acne face wash with salicylic acid or something else in it, get an antibacterial one instead. It made a huge difference for me. Also, clindamycin gel worked in a day or two for me. My dermatologist told me that a lot of acne-fighting face washes can make the problem much worse by drying out your skin a whole bunch.
I use Clean & Clear Oil Free Foaming Facial Cleanser now. And Persa-gel on the occasional breakouts.
posted
My suggestion is to start with a face wash with one active ingredient (the two most common are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide), and use it twice a day. (Using moisturizer as well, of course) If it isn't clearing up to your satisfaction after a few weeks, add a spot treatment with a different active ingredient. I've found that 10% benzoyl peroxide facewash and 2% salicylic acid spot treatment (the highest of each you can get without a prescription) with neutrogena oil free moisturizer works great for me, but only as long as I'm really careful to not slack off on my routine.
Also, don't give up on any one product too quickly. It takes about four weeks for a pimple to form (or that's what something from my doctor told me a few years ago), so wait about six weeks before deciding something doesn't work. You can also get prescriptions fairly easily for stronger stuff.
Out of curiosity, what are you currently doing (if anything)?
Posts: 1547 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Can neutrogena dry out your skin and make it worse? I recently started using the neutrogena face wash a few times a week, but I don't really have bad acne I just use it to keep my face clean. Can it cause my skin to dry out?
Posts: 2054 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Gaal, not knowing which one you mean, probably yeah. It certainly can if it has alcohol, other things will too.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
If possible, get a referral to see a dermatologist. They'll have the best advice and course of treatment for you.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I'll second proactive. That's the only thing that's been consistent at all in treating my acne (I'm 22). When I was younger I tried Retin-A and it turned my face into hamburger. My face is pretty sensitive and Proactive really helped with it more than any of the products that are designed to dry your skin out. The walmart off-brand of Proactive is useless, and it smells like burning plastic. Salisilic acid spot treatments have worked as well occasionally.
My biggest problem is hormonal acne, when I get big ones that HURT. Haven't found anything to get rid of that yet.
Posts: 4089 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I've gotten a lot of good info from acne.org. The "regimen" there works fairly well. Try it for about 2-3 months before going to a dermatologist. You don't have to buy the products there, they have recommendations of other things you can get at the local drugstore.
I had a fairly bad dermatolgist experience. It was all about the drugs and the real fun part was when he recommended me for laser treatment without telling me. That ended that pretty fast.
Acne that does not go away with age is never going to disappear. You can keep treating it, and the acne.org regimen will keep moderate acne in check.
Accutane, I am told works miracles, but you are selling a bit of your health away to do it, so it is a last resort alone.
Posts: 1757 | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by MidnightBlue: Out of curiosity, what are you currently doing (if anything)?
Every time I shower, I use a salwhatsit 2% acid soap to wash my face, then rinse with warm water. However, I haven't been doing anything to keep my skin moisturized (especially after a shower).
I'm going to try Ph's suggested brands. I don't want to do anything TOO powerful. I know I can do better when it comes to daily facial hygiene so...
Posts: 1236 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Tea tree oil is supposed to be very beneficial. I have a spot-treatment stick (if you'll pardon the pun) which seems to work for the occasional pimple.
The major advantage is that is not going to destroy your skin/liver/esophagus/teeth...
I used to use a product called "Biactol" which seemed to keep acne at bay, but it dried my face into parchment.
I would go and seek professional help and see what they say.
Good luck.
[edited for pre-caffiene spellong]
Posts: 892 | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I had terrible skin until pretty recently. My suggestion would be listen to your skin. If it gets tight, moisturize... if you get a bunch of blackheads, exfoliate a little.
I would recommend Proactiv but I skip the toner. I live in Hawaii (suuuuper humid) and it's still too drying. I mix the Proactiv with Shiseido honey bar soap which lessens the abrasive-ness and drying of the Proactiv wash. At night, I use the reparing lotion that comes with it (that stuff is intense) and in the morning I use a light moisturizer (St Ives w/collagen elastin). I just fiddled around with drying & moisturizing stuff and have found a lovely balance...And now my skin is super!! I tried seeing dermatologists and all that but the key is to find a regimen that works for you! Nothing works for everyone.
If I really need to dry out a pimple I just put the facewash by itself on the pimple and sleep with it there. Drink lots of water and never underestimate the power of ice to reduce redness.
posted
I forgot to add, sometimes the wait to see the dermatologist for the first time can run two months or more (at least in my area of the country). Which means you can make the appointment, try stuff for two months ore more, and then go if nothing you've tried has worked.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
My son had success with ProActiv, but does not use it now during the summer, because it makes his skin too sun-sensitive, and he works outside. He might try using it again when winter comes around.
Also realize that it kind of "bleaches" any hair around your face you might get it on.
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Unfortunately, acne doesn't always go away when you're no longer a teenager. I haven't been a teenager in over a decade and I still have problems with acne. As a teenager I had limited success with products like RetinA and Accutane. My dermatologist finally decided that there really wasn't much that modern medicine could do for me. Living in a dry climate, in addition to cleansing with a mild salysilic acid (2%) cleanser twice a day, I use a moisturizer (my dermatologist recommended Cetaphil - they make both a lotion and a cream). I also rarely wear makeup - even using non-cosmedegenic foundations and powders aggravated my acne so avoiding it makes a big difference. Remembering not to rest my face on my hands helps too. Too bad there's not really anything I can do for hormonal acne. Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Sorry Tuna... I'm 34 and still get frequent breakouts, and I know it's not over for me either cause my almost 60 year old dad does too. I've been taking notes from this thread to see what may work for me.
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by ludosti: Unfortunately, acne doesn't always go away when you're no longer a teenager. I haven't been a teenager in over a decade and I still have problems with acne. As a teenager I had limited success with products like RetinA and Accutane. My dermatologist finally decided that there really wasn't much that modern medicine could do for me. Living in a dry climate, in addition to cleansing with a mild salysilic acid (2%) cleanser twice a day, I use a moisturizer (my dermatologist recommended Cetaphil - they make both a lotion and a cream). I also rarely wear makeup - even using non-cosmedegenic foundations and powders aggravated my acne so avoiding it makes a big difference. Remembering not to rest my face on my hands helps too. Too bad there's not really anything I can do for hormonal acne.
My acne is more hormonal at this point, too. But where makeup is concerned, it helped me a lot to try different brands. Neutrogena makes me break out something fierce, which is strange I guess, since it's supposed to be so good for your skin. Last summer, I used one of those mineral powders, and it made a HUGE difference. I need to start doing that again. Except that I'm working now, and for some reason when I go to work, I feel like I need to wear an actual foundation.
But just using the mineral powder stuff in addition to my cleanser made my skin all nice and soft and non-breaking-outy. I break out more in the summer from sweating.
posted
Accutane just didn't work for me. The health pitfalls, mental and physical just weren't worth it, I won't ever touch the stuff again. It seems as though I've tried everything.
Proactive has been keeping it at bay recently, working rather well. Definitely want a good moisturizer. I use teatree oil for spot treatment.( I like the Melaluca brand products)
I realy wish there were a permanent solution, alas it does not seem possible. I find that stress, and soda pop are two things that trigger breakouts, so I attempt to avoid them. It's not always so easy to avoid the first Posts: 2102 | Registered: Dec 2000
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I'm in my early twenties and still struggling with acne. I use apricot scrubs a few times a week to clear away dead skin. And I have a salicylic acid spot treatment which is great for knocking out bad pimples and spots.
For the ladies, tinted moisturizer and mineral powder has saved my life. The tint provides good coverage without being too heavy or thick, plus its got moisturizer and SPF protection which are essential. And the powder is good for setting it and keeping away shine throughout the day.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by LargeTuna: AAAAHHHHHHGGGG!!!!!!! it might not go away when i'm an adult? say it isn't so.
In my case, it got considerably worse. I had very little acne as a teen, and quite consistent (although as pH mentions, cyclically hormonal) acne as an adult.
I find daily (or twice daily when it's bad) salicylic acid pads (with the stuff in a tube applied to developing spots overnight) very helpful. I also use facial scrubs a couple times a week.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I've found that just making sure to consistently use whatever I'm using helps... obviously. I take tetracycline and I've been fine thus far, I have a clindamycin gel and a benzoyl peroxide cream also. Whatever works for you though
Posts: 655 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Wow, I don't know if all of those mental health warnings were on accutane in the early 90s when I was on it. I know my doc kept me on a lower dose than recommended but I never thought that it could have been associated with my exhaustion and depression in high school.
hmmm... or I could have been stressed out exhausted and depressed too...
quote:Originally posted by rivka: In my case, it got considerably worse. I had very little acne as a teen, and quite consistent (although as pH mentions, cyclically hormonal) acne as an adult.
Yet more evidence that rivka and I are the same person at different points in the time stream... Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Originally posted by rivka: In my case, it got considerably worse. I had very little acne as a teen, and quite consistent (although as pH mentions, cyclically hormonal) acne as an adult.
Yet more evidence that rivka and I are the same person at different points in the time stream...
quote:Originally posted by rivka: In my case, it got considerably worse. I had very little acne as a teen, and quite consistent (although as pH mentions, cyclically hormonal) acne as an adult.
Yet more evidence that rivka and I are the same person at different points in the time stream...
Future self, does it get any better, or will I have pimples for ever and ever, amen?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I thought you were my future self. I'm so confused.
Well, if I am future you, then as of now, we're still getting pimples--not many, but a couple a month, at least.
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
See the trick is to have two parents that just don't GET Acne.
I've been spared the ignominy of acne, God decided to instead sheer off about 1/3rd of my hairline and then leave me teetering on the edge of baldness and reprieve.
I really miss my hair that I had in high school.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Megan: I thought you were my future self. I'm so confused.
Well, if I am future you, then as of now, we're still getting pimples--not many, but a couple a month, at least.
It seems that I am the future self for both of you youngsters. Yes, we still get a couple of cyclical pimples a month - mostly on our jawline. We don't get many wrinkles yet, though, so we count our blessings.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by kmbboots: It seems that I am the future self for both of you youngsters. Yes, we still get a couple of cyclical pimples a month - mostly on our jawline. We don't get many wrinkles yet, though, so we count our blessings.
Pimples mostly on jawline, check. Not many wrinkles . . . well, judging by my mom, that may be too much to hope for. But I'm more ok with wrinkles than pimples, actually.
Wrinkles say I've lived. Pimples say there're pockets of gook under my skin. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I think I'm the same person as Megan, Rivka, and Kate but even younger. I've just gotten any pimples for a year or so now, pretty perfectly hormonal on my jawline.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Ok guys, so I bought pH's clean and clear oil free cleanser. That seems to have helped. Also, I'm putting moisturizer on my face at night, and after I shower in the morning.
That seemed to go well for a while, until it seemed like my skin started to depend on it? Maybe it's too much sun..
My eyes are really itchy, I'm wondering if I'm getting moisturizer in them too because I'm getting so close around my eyes with the cream.
Argh...Anybody...thoughts?
EDIT: It feels like my eye is swollen?? There's pain on the eyelid...? I did a brief bit of research online. I recently switched from "cheap" Albertsons dry skin lotion to St. Ives which has 2 times the ingredients. I think I might be allergic to the St. Ives so I'm taking a moratorium on the moisturizer for now.
posted
The moisturizers I know of say to avoid the eye area.
(My mom uses cucumber slices to sooth and relax the eye region. I dunno if they work, but they don't hurt her eyes.)
Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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How close are you putting moisturizer to your eyes? Getting moisturizer in your eye is definitely unpleasant.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Why? Rinse your eyes with water!
