Is this the beginning of acne?

[jessimau]

I've always had pretty good skin but it's been kinda...eh...since I went off bc. So right before Thanksgiving I start feeling this huge zit forming on my cheek. #1, I almost never break out on my cheeks, #2 this feels HUGE and worse than anything else I've ever had. When it did "erupt" it was about 3 times the size of the largest blemish I've ever had before and it wasn't a whitehead, but a raised, slightly red bump that hurt at first (now it doesn't and it's finally shrinking). Now I'm getting another huge one on my chin, although not quite as large. But the whole area starts to swell a bit, then gets red, then it starts to erupt and is really painful. I've also got whiteheads going on and I'm getting another one of these kinds of things on my forehead, only it's smaller and not quite as painful. I did some reading and I think they might be "nodules" but I'm not sure. I was wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this and if it's maybe the beginning of acne or if it's just my skin being mean.

So far what's helped is putting a TON of salicylic acid gel on each spot morning & night. I'm going to pick up an antibacterial face wash tonight on my way home to use at night. My skin is still pretty dry, too.

The only things I can think of are falling asleep in my makeup a few times over the last couple weeks (which I've done MANY times before w/o this happening) and I had a makeover at Shiseido and they used some fancy cream on me, then I used samples of some of their products for a couple days afterwards. I also used Vaseline as a night cream, but only after the one on my cheek had stopped hurting.

 

[alice_alice]

i dont have much experience with acne as ive always had very little blemishes even in my teens but the thing u describe - ive had the same thing happen to me. an year ago i got this huge red thing on my chick it hurt like hell it got extremely big and red and it stood there for months. and when it finally went away it left a dent on my skin. i mean it was bad. i suppose it was acne. but the most important thing is - it has not happened since. i still get the usual monthy zit or two but nothing this horrible. so dont worry its probalby just stress. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[makeupchicky]

hi jessimau...i'm so sorry about your problem. something similar happened to me too...i never had acne when i was a teen...but i started breaking out in my 20s...which most likely would be due to hormones and/or stress. i'm thinking you might be experiencing something similar. but since i dont' know much about your condition, i'm not sure if it's acne or just a bad breakout. hopefully it's something that will go away soon.

also, i see that you're using a lot of OTC treatments - be sure not to irritate your skin too much. sometimes, by using too much medication it can dry out your skin and make things worse...that happened to me. if your problem persists, make sure you go see a dermatologist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment. good luck and keep us updated!

 

[TylerD]

I hope its not the start but im glad you are realizing it while its just happening because you can attack it fast. Get some Tea Tree oil spot treater, it works absolutely great. THen just use a really good cleanser, and if it gets worse I say start using some Benzoyl peroxide just in the areas you seem to be getting the acne. Sorry to hear about the breakouts, I know they suck /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[jessimau]

Thanks Tyler! The tea tree oil is a good tip...I forgot about that! I tried BP once before and after 2 days my face completely freaked out...little red itchy bumps, red & my whole face felt like it was on fire. I think I'm allergic to BP. =

Kathy, that's good advice. I stopped using the AHA serum I have because it made one of the bumps look redder...I'm down to just SA/BHA as a treatment now, with a creamy cleanser in the morning for dryness and an antibacterial cleanser at night for the blemishes, plus my usual moisturizers, although I switched back to a sensitive skin moisturizer at night so that I had something working to calm my face instead of adding to the active ingredients. Thanks for reminding me to take it easy on my skin.

Alice, I hope my experience ends up like yours! The reminder to not stress is big for me...I have generalized anxiety disorder so I worry about everything. Thank you for reminding me to relax aobut my skin...I tend to forget that my worrying could just make it worse.

I'm going to the doctor on Tuesday so I'l going to ask her for a referral to a dermatologist.

 

[Aquilah]

I've never had acne, or severe breakouts, but I've heard rave reviews on tea tree oil. Hope you figure something out soon Jessica!

 

[Andi]

so would the Benzoyl peroxide also PREVENT future breakouts? Can you recommend anything? Clean&Clear maybe?

 

[Dragonfly]

The kind of pimples you are describing sound like cystic acne - they resemble boils but are a form of acne.

Description: the pimple takes a few days to form but is painful just touching it. It doesn't break very easily and when it does, liquid comes out but not the core. After a few days, it eventually goes away.

I had to go on Accutane to get rid of my cystic acne but it was really severe. No topical acne product helped. Oral antibiotics help to some degree.

I have always believed that hormones have some affect on break outs, both good and bad. When estrogen, progesteron and tetosterone levels change, skin can become more/less oily or drier for that matter.

 

[jessimau]

Mine don't seem to break at all...that's why I thought they might be nodules. Cystic acne is what I'm afraid it might be, though. Like I said, I'm going to the doctor Tuesday morning, so hopefully I'll have something to report Tuesday.

The good news is that the antibacterial face wash & salicylic acid gel combo seems to be working relatively well (except for the one on my forehead, but luckily I can hide that with my bangs). The few whiteheads I was getting are gone. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Dragonfly]

Jessimau, I've posted this info on other threads but it is worth repeating.

Although I have gone on 2 rounds of Accutane, I still get the occasional cystic acne. This is the ONLY topical product that helps with the severity and duration.

It is made in Canada called Neo-Merol acne lotion,

Topical Antibiotic Glucocorticoid Acne Compound

I don't know if you can get this product in the states but maybe there is a similar one with the same ingredients. The Dermatologist might recognize the formula.

For each ml of Neo Medrol contains:

Methylprednisolone acetate 2.5 mg

Neomycin sulfate 2.5 mg

Aluminum chlorhydroxide complex 100 mg

colloidal Sulfar 50 mg

Good luck with your appt.

 

[jessimau]

Thanks for the rec! I'm writing sdown that info to take to my doctor. She's really good about listening to my concerns & suggestions (but she's also willing to write almost any prescription).

I looked it up and it looks like we have it here in the US. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[stephro123]

the dermatologist is a miracle worker. they'll be the only ones who really know what to do.

 

[TylerD]

Jess how is the skin?? Is it getting any better? I have noticed my skin is breaking out to more then the usual, it could be from the cold winter though. I have noticed I am getting spots on my neck and I usually never get them there. Maybe its just the change of season.

 

[jessimau]

It is getting better, T, thanks for asking. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> The weather here's been crazy lately, going from hot & dry to mild and kinda damp to cold & dry (we had red flag warnings for possible wildfires yet it was getting down into the 40s at night) and now back to hot. The antibacterial cleanser seems to be helping and other than that I'm just trying to keep my skin moisturized. I hope your skin stops acting up soon!

 

[jessimau]

Alright, I went to the Dr today and she took a look at my skin with that magnifying thingy with the light on it. She thinks a couple of the spots look cystic, so she prescribed a topical antibacterial cream (can't remember the name, I'll have to check once I pick it up from the pharmacy). She went that route since I'm already using the AHA & BHA alternately. Plus we're checking my thyroid levels just in case. So hopefully I'm on my way to recovery!