Acne Help!

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Mar 20, 2012

Forrest G.

Is there any products or techniques that I could try to help my acne?!? It has been going on for too long and I am fed up because what I am doing isn't working. It is so depressing looking in the mirror let alone going outside. I want this summer to come along and not have to worry as much about wearing so much makeup to cover it all up when I go out. 

Mar 20, 2012

Bee K.

if you want to try a homemade remedy you should try an oatmeal mask. blend the oatmeal and add enough water, honey, or milk to make a paste and apply it to your face for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. The oatmeal can be cooked or uncooked...but if it's cooked make sure you wait for it to cool down!

Mar 20, 2012

Amanda J.

MURAD!!! Totally, just try it. :D It may be a little bit of an investment, but it is a trillion times better than Proactiv or anything else. It's just insanely amazing. You can buy the kit online for $30. http://murad.com/acne-kit.jsp And also, if you pop, STOP!!!!! That will just cause scarring, and will slow down the healing process. Just continuing to wash your face will make the zits go away. And then, if you have lots of blackheads, there's this thing you can buy, which is a lot better than using your fingers, and dermatologists recommend it, and I love mine. Here's a link for one. http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2136816&productId=xlsImpprod1810149&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat1100001 Hope I helped!!! :D

Mar 20, 2012

Lisa U.

How To: Clear/Improve Acne:
http://www.kissandmakeup00.com/2012/02/how-to-clearimprove-acne.html

Hope this helps xox

Mar 20, 2012

Catherine T.

Somme Institute's 5-Step Regimen really helped clear my acne! I'm sure it'll do the same for you.

Hope that helps!

Mar 20, 2012

Jane A.

I agree with Yumi 100%!! This is what I posted in a different thread, and I was in your exact situation last year...

I was the same way. I had ugly bumps on my forehead from all the big cystic acne, my cheeks and especially my chin were filled with scars and new cystic acne.

I tried covering them up with full coverage make up, and I tried everything (drug store, high end, organic, online brands, etc. etc.). Nothing really worked, until one day back around this time last year, I came here and asked the same question... and this is what a few Beauties told me, which I took to heart and did...

On my own I went to see my derm, he prescribed me Differin and Duac -- a Benzo peroxide. Differin helps take off that top layer of gunk from your face, Duac and just any BP kills the acne bacteria. I use one in the morning and the other at night. During the day I have to use a good sunblock on my face, due to your skin being sensitive, esp when the top layer of gunk is being taken off.

One Beauty (Soma S.) mentioned the CeraVe line. I went out to get it... it's a very gentle line found in drug stores. I bought the facial cleanser (foaming due to my oily skin), the AM lotion (due to the SPF) and PM lotion --- I have now added the moisturizing cream to my arsenal and I loooooooove it!!!

The difference between using a gentle face wash versus one with say (acne fighting ingredients like Sacylic Acid) is it's way better on your face. Face wash with harsh ingredients are actually hurting your skin versus making it better. Not only that, the ingredients like SA aren't on your face long enough to make a lasting impact on your acne -- and that is what the topicals (from your derm) are for.

CeraVe has "ceramides" which are found in a lot of high end products. Ceramides are skin regenerating properties, so I take it as, it's healing my face at the same time. I really like CeraVe because 1. it's very reasonable price and 2. very accessible considering it's found at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, etc.

Another Beauty (Mandy K.) suggested giving my skin a breather from my harsh full coverage make up. I was very terrified to do so, considering the condition my face was in -- but I took her advice to heart too. I went out to buy Meow Comestic (online brand only) mineral make up. Something she did too to help with her acne. I bought the mineral foundation that had the most coverage, which I believe is the "Feirce Feline" line. Not only was my skin able to breathe with just the MMU alone; it covered the same as my "liquid foundation and concealer and setting powder" routine.

A few months after taking these two beauties advice to heart, my skin was a million times better. My horrible cystic break outs stopped, the bumps on my skin smoothen, and the acne scars faded faster than it did before.

Since then I've slowly been getting back to the liquid foundation routine, etc. etc. The only difference now is that no more cystic acne or horrible break outs!

Mar 21, 2012

Soma S.

^Hahah... oh, Jane - I'm so glad I'm not the only one that obsesses about CeraVe anymore!

Forrest G. - I feel your pain! Last year, I finally was able to clear up a breakout that lasted almost a year! [It was the kind of breakout that made you look in the mirror and think, "What did I do in a previous lifetime to deserve this?"] T_T

I went through everything I possibly could to try and self treat: asprin masks, glycolic peels, 10% BP, OCM, microdermabrasion, salicylic acid [sp?], etc...

I tried Cetaphil, but all it did was regulate my skin so no NEW breakouts occurred, but it did nothing to help heal me. I was at Target randomly with time to kill, so I read up all of the MUA reviews I could find on each brand I came across and settled on CeraVe's PM moisturizer and added that to my OCM/Cetaphil facewash routine. Results were fantastic, and I've never seen my skin "glow" before after each morning I woke up using the PM moisturizer. My cystic acne started to dry up, but my skin still needed extra moisture. I went out and bought the CeraVe facewash and moisturizing cream and the progress went by faster... I soon abandoned the OCM realizing it has conditioned my skin to stop producing any natural oils, which dried out my skin severely and caused my skin to overcompensate producing oils.

6 months later, no more cystic acne, no more new break outs and my skin was finally starting to regulate. 1 year later, and I feel ok going out without makeup again on days I can't afford time to put any on. The scarring from a bad habit of picking with an extraction tool is something I'm still working on, but my face is smooth, and I get one or two tiny surface white heads during my monthly period, and that's IT!

I know it's not going to work for EVERYONE, but the price is so affordable [compared to all of the high-end brands I've wasted my $ on with less results] - it's DEFINITELY worth a shot!

It takes a bit of conditioning to get used to the CeraVe or Cetaphil facewash's "clean" feeling... since it's more hydrating than stripping. I know I was disappointed when I switched from my St. Ives apricot scrub to this, but I can never use the St. Ives stuff again! It's way too harsh, and I wonder what I was thinking rubbing that against my skin!

Mar 21, 2012

Michelle E.

I simply spray my face with Apple Cider Vinegar, leave it on a few minutes..but only get the raw unfiltered organic bragg brand. Then I rinse it on and use evening primrose oil on my face every other day. Nivea face cream if I need it. The only reason you are having acne break outs is the simple fact you are lacking Vitamin A and possibly C. Drink lots of Water!! If you wanna know more research these products for more info...I have glowing skin, Trust me they work!! Cheap, healthy organic!

Mar 21, 2012

Bee K.

I agree with Michelle.... thanks for the advice on Vit A and C! I just drank a huge glass of OJ after reading that post, LOL.

My best bet is to go to a dermotologist. No offense ladies, but everybody's different in skin type, texture etc. I tried everything on this post: oatmeal masks, lemon masks, Mint Julep masks, Proactiv, every over-the-counter brand you can name, vinegar, sugar scrubs, UGH! I tried everything and nothing worked.(I even tried to make my own peel-off mask once....It wasn't pretty...) I know how it feels, bcuz I still feel sort of insecure because used to pop my ance so now I have big ugly scars left behind. But the dermo will give you a prescription adjusted to your face exactly. It may be a bit pricey, but it's worth it, believe me. 

Mar 21, 2012

Candice W.

When you find the cure, let me know. I've tried EVERYTHING

Mar 21, 2012

Forrest G.

I think I am going to try the CeraVe line.
Right now, I am using Avalon Organics COQ10 Milk Wash to remove excess makeup after removing it, Clinique's Acne Solutions wash, Avalon Organics Vitamin C Toner, and during the day Clean & Clear Dual Action moisturizer and at night Burt's Bees Radiance Night Cream. In the shower I use the St. Jives Apricot Scrub about 2 to 3 times a week. 

Mar 21, 2012

Jane A.

CeraVe is a really good and gentle line for very sensitive skin. Something you need to remember though, it doesn't have any acne fighting ingredients. That is why I use topicals that my derm prescribe. If you want something over the counter though, I say Benzo Peroxide in a low percentage (Neutrogena's BP at 3% or so veruss BP at 10%).

My routine looks like: CeraVe Foaming Face Wash (this is for normal to oily skin and like the name says it "foams" -- They have a hydrating Face Wash for normal to dry skin that doesn't foam, it's more creamy... I still like it though; it cleans your skin). I follow it with Witch Hazel (found in drug stores). Then I put my acne topicals (Differin in the morning, and Duac at night (If I remember to do it.)) Then comes the CeraVe AM Lotion w/ spf in the morning and CeraVe PM Lotion/CeraVe Moisturizing Cream at night. And that's it.

I believe using Masks and Scrubs every other day (mask on monday, scrub on tuesday) helped to fade my scars/brown marks faster. <<< I hardly do this step now a days, only if I noticed my skin is getting congested.

I was looking for affordable products considering I wasted possibly 1000s trying to find a good brand, routine, products, etc. for years. I was fed up when I'd break out with 3-4 pimples on 2-3 parts of my face at the same time. 

Mar 21, 2012

Amanda J.

EXACTLY VICTORIA!!! Everybody is suggesting CeraVe, but it was TOO gentle on my skin!!! Like Jane said, it doesn't have acne fighting ingredients. It was too creamy, verging on slimy. It didn't do anything for my skin. My acne was bad, and my skin is really tough, so it doesn't take to things that are weak. I still stand by Murad. That stuff altered my skin completely. It just did a complete 180 on my skin. My skin was rough and nasty. But the Murad treatment comes with the facewash (which I STILL use, because I love it so much), their SA treatment, which can be a little intense if you use too much, their awesome moisturizer which you NEED to use, because it hydrates perfectly (because all the other things dry out your skin a little bit ). The system is perfect. I also take an acne pill, which I can't remember... But they started me out on menocycline, which dear God caused so many problems... I ended up being allergic to it, and it exacerbated pre-existing pseudo tumor cerebri. Which is just a really long story, but it was terrible. Obviously, I don't take that one anymore. But as Jane did, I was given Differin, and that stuff is absolute magic. :) But all in all, it just depends on the person's skin.

Mar 21, 2012

Luciee D.

Olive oil.It migt sound weird but omg i tryed it and like alll my spots went in like a hour i dont know if it works for everyone but you might as well try it:) just leave it on for 1 to 2 hours and the wash it off with warm water:)

Mar 21, 2012

Jane A.

I was given menocycline and another pill, but I would get bad vertigo, so I decided to stop taking the pills, and just use the topicals. The pills helped to kill the acne bacteria from the inside, and the topicals from the out. But the pills were too strong for me.

Mar 22, 2012

Amanda J.

@Jane Vertigo is so weird... I hate how it feels. I can't stand straight, lol. Me and my sister both take the same acne pill now... I can't remember the name of it. >.< But never even TOUCHING menocycline again, that just... Ugh. :P haha But yeah, just depends on the person.

Mar 22, 2012

Forrest G.

I have never been to a derm and I really don't feel like I need to, especially since I am not taking whatever pill they prescribe to me. I don't believe in that. In my opinion, they can do so much more harm to the body than acne does. I would rather be self conscious about my face than sick all the time just because of wanting to fix my looks.
I am going to try the CeraVe moisturizers first. With past experience my skin would break out to anything that had SPF but that was a while ago so I will try the AM moisturizer and see how my skin is now. And I will try some benzyl peroxide treatment also. 

Mar 22, 2012

Zoe W.

i had awful skin a few years ago after a while i went to the doctors and i tried so many treatments and none of them worked finally i went on something called roacutaine. it is a permanent cure once you finish a full course. 

Mar 22, 2012

Paige S.

Try Reversion by theraderm ive been using it for 2 months, i had terrible cystic acne, and now i never break out unless i use any kind of makeup with oil. its cheap, only 31$'s on amazon. And its only a two step system. The best part of it is how you can control the amount of salicylic acid you use instead of constantly washing your face with it. i have a review on my blog if your interested.