Annoying acne

[dreamgirl_leah]

I need all of your expert advice!! I have had somewhat mild acne for years. I never went to the dermatologist for a long time because it didn't seem severe enough. I decided to go to the dermatologist about 7 months ago. I occasionally will have a pretty bad break out, but generally it is just surface bumps and small pimples. Many times, when I have foundation on you can't really tell they are there until you get up close. I was put of a RX cream and an antibiotic. None of this seemed to get rid of the "annoying" ance that has lingered for years. Do you all have any suggestions? I have quit taking the antibiotic over the past month and only occasionally use the cream at night. Both of these make my face sensitive to the sun and if I can't see a huge difference with them, then I am not going to keep taking them and be scared of getting sun burnt. I need help!!! My current routine is: Cleanse with Cetaphil Cleanser, moisturize with Cetaphil moisturizer. I will do the aspirin mask about 2 times a week and last night I tried the baking soda and honey mask for the first time.

Sorry this is so LONG!!

 

[chic_chica]

I used to use proactiv and it actually worked for me. Maybe u can give it a try.

 

[Dragonfly]

I have oily skin and prone to cystic acne. This is what I do:

Liquid cleanser daily. Once a week, mix baking soda with cleanser to exfoliate.

In am, apply moisturizer with spf 15.

In pm, I use Retin A. I also apply prescribed topical acne med on cystic breakouts, if I get one.

I think your routine is pretty good. Plus it is simple which I think is much better that apply all kinds of stuff on your face.

Have you considered a birth control pill that can have a positive affect on your complexion?

 

[dreamgirl_leah]

I have heard good and bad things about Proactiv so I am somewhat skeptical of using it. I have been told by people that once you start using it and quit, then your face will start breaking out worse than it did when you started because your face starts to depend on Proactiv, but I actually havent ever used it myself.

My routine is simple, but it doesn't really seem to get better. I would like to be able to get to the point where I don't have to wear foundation unless i just want to. I will probably give this routine time to set in through the summer and see how it works out without my medicine. Retin A is the cream I was prescribed too.

If anyone has any other suggestion, please help me. Sometimes its almost more annoying to me that my skin won't fully clear up and be smooth than as if it was broke out all the time. I might just have to try Accutane, but I really don't have bad enough acne for that!

 

[watyouWANT]

i use skin care that has salicylic acid in it.

it really helps. just dot it on your face at night and wash it off in the morning.

 

[magosienne]

make sure your cleanser contains salicylic acid, and be careful it's not too harsh for your skin, or your skin may produce more oil just to compensate.

you can try a green clay mask (once or twice a week). it really helped me a lot. and you can use it also on your hair if yours is oily.

make sure you always wear a good sunscreen when you go out because sun is a false friend. mine is LRP anthelios (i love it because it doesn't clog my pores or make my skin oilier).

and i know this sounds stupid but make sure you always have your hands clean before touching your face.

 

[chic_chica]

I don't know if its like that for some ppl. But it wasnt' like that for me. I used it for about 4 years. I stopped using it last year and i didnt break out. But everybody is different. U just gotta try it and then you'll know.

 

[Flawless_Skin]

I'm using Vit.B-Complex Acne Vit. now to reduce the secretion of oil in my body which causes acne. Just PM me if you have questions. I may be able to help you.

 

[girl_geek]

I have a bunch of info about acne in my notepad, just click the link in my signature!

Be careful with Proactive though -- it is very strong and is too drying and irritating for many people! (I *think* it has the same active ingredients as drugstore products, just at higher concentrations. I could be wrong though.)

Do you have oily skin? If you have oily skin and a lot of small bumps (but few or no large blemishes), then you probably have clogged pores from your oily skin and not true acne -- which is what I have. My dermatologist gave me some prescriptions that worked for a while (a combo of Tazorac and Clindagel was the best), but after a few years I wanted to save money and now use Neutrogenia On-The-Spot treatment (2.5% benzoyl peroxide) which has also done a great job of keeping the blemishes away, though my skin is still oily. My derm also emphasized the importance of keeping my skin clean and oil-free, using noncomedogenic (won't clog pores) products for everything that comes near my face (including hair products) and/or keeping oily products off my face, and exfoliation to keep dead skin cells out of my pores.

 

[Becka]

try mario badescu's acne products, and their glycolic foaming cleanser 3x/wk !

 

[Dragonfly]

Be careful with any over the counter products that claim to reduce the amount of oil your body creates -unless valid clinical trials that have been published in JAMA or similar.

Accutane can reduce and even stop oil from being produced.

If there are any other products, your pharmacist will know of them.

 

[dreamgirl_leah]

I don't really have oily skin. My pores may be just clogged. I really pay attention to products that are non-comedogenic too. I might look into a good facial to help open me up.

My sister took Accutane and its some heavy duty serious stuff. I don't think that my acne is truely bad enough for that intense of a regimen.

Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[dinokiss21]

i have the exact same problem, nothing seems to clear it up. I kind of want to go back to the derm and see if they will put me on a round of accutane, im soooo sick of the constant pimples.

 

[Jesskaa]

I doubt you can go on Accutane if your acne isn't that bad. Its some reallly strong stuff and most people treat it like gold, atleast the people I've talked too & I`m on it and its rather a hassle at times but in the end i expect it to be worth it. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

i hope you find something good to go for you though!