Acne Advice

The best thing I ever did was nix any facial wash that targeted acne. It was too drying, which in turn, was causing my breakouts. Cetaphil is my new favorite.

Im interested to hear because I have been breaking out lately

www.theinfamouslife.com

i second cetaphil... only the cleanser though.

The Clarisonic brush has worked for me better than ANYTHING else! just be sure to clean the brushhead often & replace as needed.

I have hormonal acne (started after I went off of birth control, and I had been on that for about 6 years). The BEST thing I ever did was learn to stop picking! I know how hard this is, trust me. But all it ever did was make them worse and promote acne scarring. Also , I continue to use a good benzoyl peroxide solution. Typically makes them heal faster.

See a dermatologist, especially if you have cystic acne. The time and money spent on hoping on an over the counter cure isn't worth it.

The Pill aside, use ghassoul clay daily as a cleanser - this stuff is a miracle from the heavens, I used to have nasty, scarred, cystic face and 100% of the skin problems I experience have improved since using it ( and it's super cheap and has no chemicals) plus don't pick or constantly touch your face, do not use a face scrub and take oil of evening primrose (balances out your hormones)

my dermatologist prescribed me a benzoyl peroxide cleansing scrub, medicated moisturizer & acne cream. can't tell you much abt ingredients cos they're not listed in the packaging.
he concocts his own topical medication. what's interesting is that i need to wash & apply the topical creams 4 times a day in specific hours.

does anyone know why this is?
all i know i have used his treatment before & it worked for me previously.
but obv sometimes i found myself can't follow the exact regimen being an office worker & all..

for cosmetics.. try to read ingredients before buying & research over the internet abt comedogenic ingredients. yesterday i jst bought confessions of a concealaholic & the concealers have isopropyl palmitate ingredient in them! bummer.. maybe i'll use them when my skin's better..

1) See a dermatologist. A cream and antibiotic nearly eradicated my severe acne.

2) Exfoliate and use salicylic acid treatments at night. Also, moisturize a bit more heavily at night.

2) Use benzoyl peroxide treatments in the morning/day.

3) Do a face mask formulated for your skin type once a week. And never overexfoliate, as this will cause more breakouts and irritation and flaking of the skin.

Don't touch your face. Keep your phone clean. Change your pillowcases frequently. Avoid harsh, drying cleansers. Eat a healthy diet. See a dermatologist if the problem persists.

Drink water! Staying hydrated helps keep all your systems in balance, not just the ones affecting your acne.

aspirin masks work very nicely, along with sulfur based products. an example is mario badescu drying cream. put that on the spot and it works very nicely. salycilic acid works well for my skin altho some ppl respond better to benzoyl peroxide. remember to not use dark sheets if you use BP! your sheets can get stained. clean your face morning and night with gentle cleansers, remove all makeup from your face at night and dont touch pimples (if you must, wait till the pimple is 'ripe' and do it in a aseptic manner)

curious..

eek i r no has money for the dermatologist

If you have really bad cystic acne, nothing will help. I spent years doing all of these tips, and nothing helped. I finally went on accutane, which is the only thing that worked. Now I use Retin-A every other day and Burts Bees cleansers and moisturizers. I have great skin, and the scarring is even fading because of the Retin-A

I went BACK AND FORTH to all sorts of face washes creams etc etc etc. I STILL had bad acne. I was tempted to use accutane (a super super effective but HARSH pill that dries out sebaceous glands...it's also INCREDIBLY hard on the liver) as I was literally at my wits end. Then I talked to a doctor who had just come back from a dermatology conference and there is two topical creams you use clindoxyl and steivamycin and you alternate by wearing the first at night mon wed fri and the second tues thurs sat with nothing on sunday. UNBELIEVEABLE RESULTS!! the benefits are:

It's topical so no harsh ingesting, it targets only where it's applied (so if you have acne on back this might not help you)
it can be used long term!
The side effects are MINIMAL
it's efficacy is equal to accutane (according to the dermatology conference) but MUCH safer!!!

So if you're struggling go to your GP and tell them you want this!! I'm so happy I'll never go back to anythign else

i used accutane 12 years ago and it changed my face completely! i was 19 and had super-oily skin and consistent acne - i never had cystic acne, but i always had at least 10-15 zits on my face. i had tried retin-a, prescription benzoyl/salicylic acid creams, antibiotics...nothing worked. accutane is really harsh, true, but it worked - my skin went from oily to normal, and i didn't have a zit for 10 years. seriously. but taking it is a serious commitment - you have to pledge to use 2 forms of birth control (it causes crazy birth defects), go in for blood tests to check your liver and deal with the dryness - cracked lips, dry eyes (i had a hard time wearing contacts).

now that i'm over 30, i'm getting some adult acne - not as bad as before, but still annoying. i'm finding that the best medicine is regular exercise (i definitely see a difference if i don't go for regular runs - i just make sure to clean my face before and after, of course!), gentle cleanser and clinique "acne solutions" toner. i tried murad products but they made my face worse, actually, so after 3 months i stopped. i like kiehl's salicylic acid cream a lot, too, and use it a few times a week. it isn't drying and it prevents those monthly breakouts.

For run-of-the-mill, minor breakouts, I've found that the basic advice many have given works best: keep your skin clean with very gentle cleansers, wear as little foundation or powder as possible, keep your hands off your face, don't pinch or try to burst pimples, eat a healthy diet, get as much rest as possible, reduce sun exposure, and stay hydrated.

For an occasional blemish, I dab witch hazel on it morning and evening after cleansing. I cannot use oily cleansers or makeup.
I use a French clay mask every few months, but I find that most of my problems are avoided and more quickly solved if I just don't touch my face very often.

I try to keep foundation, powder, moisturizers and concealers away from the blemish.

I suspect stress and lack of sleep also affect how our skin reacts to infection and the environment. Genetics and hormones play their part as well, but I believe if we do our part by following simple regiments simple breakouts can be quickly managed and perhaps even avoided.

Serious skin problems, probably won't be harmed with the tried and true approaches but cannot be ignored and medical advice and treatment may be the only choice.

I've been struggling with adult acne for years! The one tried and true method that cleared my face up was antibiotics: Minocycline. I used it for my wedding, so I wouldn't have to worry about a breakout, but I'm now off of them and trying to control my skin with a more holistic approach: L-lysine, CoQ10, Zinc, and Flaxseed Oil, every day. It's been working so far;)!

"i second cetaphil... only the cleanser though."

Why only the cleanser??

WASH YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES.

I have perfect skin after accutane(which is worth it only if you have completely unmanagable acne...most derms won't perscribe unless the situation is dire),

But if I go too long without washing my brushes, my skin goes completely out of control. it's so easy to overlook, and I used to panic. Now whenever I breakout (like last week! It was bad, too.) I wash my bare minerals brushes. Immediately. My skin cleared up in a couple days.

also, don't use your make up brushes on other people, but if you do... Wash them!

Omega-3 Fish oil supplements, Solgar whole food supplement/multi vitamin, Neutrogena On the Spot acne treatment, sunscreen.

stay hydrated! don't wear makeup everyday, and make sure you wash your makeup brushes!

Thanks for all of your tips!! Lots of great advice

Drink lots of water! Put lemon wedges in your water every once and a while to clean your body of all the toxins. Eat Brazil nuts and walnuts, berries with high antioxidants (like strawberries and blueberries) and put grounded flax seed in your morning cereal. Also drink green tea once a day, like in the evening when you are winding down.

I found that over washing made my face break out. So I wash my face with Clean and Clear in the evening and rinse my face with warm water in the morning. Also, I found that my acne came from my face overcompensating for the oil that was lost in the washing process and for the cold weather, so I added a little (and I mean little) drop of olive oil to my moisturizer. I exfoliate with St. Ives once a week and do a deep cleansing mask (honey and lemon juice) once a week. Hope this helps!!

Ice! Whenever I feel a blemish starting to form I start putting ice compresses on it. Ten seconds every few minutes a couple times a day. Helps keep the inflammation at bay and has ended countless zits before they happen.

avoid overdrying, use an oil-based cleanser on dry skin to remove all longwear makeup, NEVER fall asleep with your makeup on. clean cell phones, keyboards, pillowcases, hairbrushes, and makeup brushes. give your skin enough moisture. fresh umbrian clay treatment and use caudalie purifying concentrate at bedtime. exfoliate (but don't scrub if your skin is sensitive or you have rosacea, use an acid based exfoliant for those). never touch the concealer applicator to any blemishes, use your fingers. get plenty of vitamin C, zinc, etc, I second the evening primrose. mild benzoil peroxide for active or forming blemishes.

For acne that is mild to moderate (not bad cystic acne, that's a whole other story!), treat the problem internally first. If your face is clean, and you take care of yourself, there's another reason your breaking out.

And all-natural esthetician told me once that certain vitamin shortages in your diet, such as vitamin A, the range of Bs, and Zinc can cause breakouts. I started taking supplements of those & a month later most of my acne had gone. Also, you need to have a healthy lifestyle, exercise and drinking enough water, to flush the bad bacteria out.

Also, use an all natural scrub (light pumice or sugar works great) a few times a week and moisturize every day. Remember that your skin is your biggest organ, don't put nasty chemicals on it (or in it!).

Who doesnt want beautiful radiant skin!!!
Here are my favorite things that I cannot live without:

Clarisonic
Olay foaming mud face wash
Cetaphil moisturizing/hydrating lotion (large tube)
Saliylic peel 15% once every other week
Glycolic serum 30% every night under moisturizer
TCA peel twice a year (3 layers)
Persa gel by clean and clear...its a 10% spot treatment
The new Zeno...GREAT for spot treating a pimple

I really feel that diet plays the largest role in the way skin looks. I RARELY, if ever drink alcohol and never have smoked. I try to drink lemon water daily, I also take vitamins and I have cut sugar, meat, dairy, and junk food OUT of my diet. Its made a difference and I feel healthier. Just whole grain foods and vegetables/fruits for me. As far as makeup goes, I where it when Im out and about, but if Im at home I usually dont where it, I like to let my skin breath. What I have been doing has been working and I regularly have people shocked when I tell them my real age, I just turned 35, people usually think Im in my late teens early twenties.

Being gentle made a world of difference for me! I use Purpose or Clean &Clear sensitive skin foaming wash (both made by Johnson & Johnson, same ingredient list so pretty much the same product), depending on what's cheaper. I also use Cetaphil cream moisturizer (in the jar) mixed with a little bit of Vaseline. That's it. I was previously using St. Ive's Apricot Scrub for blemishes and prescription Retin-A with just Cetaphil moisturizer. My skin wasn't nearly as clear as it is now. I guess it was just too harsh.

I've found that taking a vitamin a supplement everyday really helps, as does a retin a cream. make sure to clean your phones, change your pillowcases, and keep your hands off your face! as well, always, always wash your face before bed. and don't cut out moisturizer if you have oily skin / acne. your skin still needs moisture, just a different formulation.

My advice is try out products until you find something that works for you.
Everyone has great suggestions, but don't get frustrated when/if they don't work for you. Work through the products/brands until you find one that your skin reacts positively too.
Some people find perscribed solutions work, while others find that particular drug store products solved their problems.

Personally, I found success by starting with a real basic cleanser - dove bar soap. I now use a wide collection of products and the brands that my skin seems to love are Mario Badescu and Neutrogena.

i've had awful cystic acne w. large pores and blackheads for most of my adult life, until 6 months ago, i found my cure.

1) omega 3-6-9 w. dha's, eha's, vitamin d. & borage oil all in one gel cap i take daily.

2) evan healy. her products have done wonders for my fair delicate skin & my scarring is starting to vanish. my pores/blackheads have decreased immensely.

Going to skin care has made the biggest difference for me. I usually go once every month and half and the difference is remarkable.

The products I use are from PCA and they are amazing and my skin has responded to it nicely. You can try out trial sizes.

I fight more with Acne during weather changes and around my period. Most the time it isn't very noticeable. I tried an acne fighting set that actually wasn't what I needed. I thought I had bad acne but after talking to some people it apparently was all in my head.
Drinking plenty of water helps and washing my face regularly helps. I do have picking habits that are hard to stop. Its my only bad habit (besides coffee). I don't exfoliate. I know I should but I don't know any good products. Any tips on that would be great, just message me.

NEVER EVER PICK! This in combination with good meds (I'm on benzaclin + sulfur cleanser) makes my adult acne manageable. I have a bad habit of squeezing white/black head & cystic acne & it always makes it so much worse.

Another thing is my Clairsonic. On my meds I get really dry flaky skin but I don't like to use heavy moisturizers since they make me break out. I use this every night & it is a miracle worker & makes my skin really smooth with no dry patches. It also seems to really clear my skin up by deep cleaning every night.

Don't pick on the pimple, it will get worse.

When you take prescription drugs, please be patient and it will take at least three months before you see any results.

Sometimes less is more, meaning you don't need the harsh acne treatments to treat it. Sometimes the stuff could be making it worse.

Be aware on what irritate your skin.

If u have tried it all without result look towards what u are eatint.Dairy ws the main reason I had acne.Expensive doesnt work for everyone. I tried Pro active but within two days of using Clean&Clear Advantage I saw results..actually abt 8 hrs after using the on teh spot treatment the redness ws gone!!!!!!! USE MOISTURISER!! pref one that is oil free wth sme acne medicine.AVOID OVER EXFOLIATING! st ives gentle scrub or Olay pore minimizer worked well fos me

As I read through the comments, Im seeing some recurring things for fighting acne:

DO NOT PICK
Lemon Water
Clarisonic (it does do an amazing job at cleaning the skin)
Not using harsh cleansers as they only seem to exagerate the problem.

My no fail combo is a salicylic acid face wash (i use the orange gel Neutrogena one..Oil Free Acne Wash) and a benzoyl peroxide spot cream. I use Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10. It's super potent and dries zits up like that! But, you have to be careful not to use too much or it can really dry your skin out. I also use Cerave Mosturizing lotion on my face, it really helps keep it hydrated since I use both benzoyl peroxide and sal. acid.

I love Mary Kay's Velocity line. And their acne treatment gel works better than any i have used before! I use it liberally on problem areas at night and in the morning there is a huge difference! It is easily the best thing to happen to my teenaged skin haha.

No matter what I do, what I eat, etc., I still break out, and I'm closer to 40 than 20. Genetics plays a big part. (Grandma Blonde is 82 and still breaks out.) I have been on Accutane in the past, which helped immensely, as well as topical and oral antibiotics. What I find helps to keep my acne under reasonable control: Salicylic acid washes (I'm a fan of Neutrogena's, even though I hate the pink grapefruit smell), using my Clairisonic brush, exfoliating, and a good moisturizer. Too many of my sisters in oily skin don't moisturize enough. Gel moisturizers are nice, especially in the summer (my favorite: Clinique Moisture Surge), and Korres has a moisturizer for oily & dehydrated skin that I like as well.

Salicylic acid has done nothing for me, I used to apply creams and spot treatments daily but one day I just stopped all pimple creams. Pearl powder is good for disguising and healing skin.

Birth control and Clean and Clear with 10% benzoyl peroxide. No exfoliating, wear lots of sunblock, and use clean and clear in the morning and before bed. I still get some breakouts, but this stuff will make it go away after about 2 days. I've never had such clear skin in my life!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that before I was with C&C, I wash my face and neck with either Dove soap or Olive soap by Kiss my Face. Both gentle cleansers. No hot water.

After trying many different OTC cleansers, creams, etc. I went to my doctor, and was prescribed Benzaclin, a daily cream, and minocycline, an antibiotic. The duo is working wonderfully so far, and my skin is nearly clear now. Sometimes I get worse acne during my period, even while doing my meds, but it's certainly a lot better than it used to be! I would recommend just going to your doctor. And drinking a lot of water, and being generally healthy.

And I also recommend, not touching your face. Sometimes the Benzaclin and minocycline can make my skin red and flaky, but putting a natural Aveeno or Cetaphil lotion on the areas right after cleaning my face fixes the problem before it begins!

take care of your face by ignoring pimples, well cleaning your face, moisturize and my secret weapon : ROSE WATER as tonic!!! it makes miracles!

I stopped using anything to wash my face besides slightly warm water (twice a day), and i put diluted apple cider vinegar on my face after i wash it. my acne is so much better. my face smells like feet after i put the acv on though

Accutane. I had horrible cystic acne and it was the only thing that worked for me. I just wish I'd done it sooner to avoid the scars that I developed. Not that my skin is mostly clear I use Cetaphil to keep it that way with a cinnamon/nutmeg/honey mask twice a week for exfoliation.