Acne on neck

Nov 26, 2012

Lyndsey S.

so I've had moderate acne all my life pretty much, and nothing I've ever used has ever helped! well within the past 3-4 weeks I've been getting lots of deep cystic-like acne on the back of my neck. I haven't changed any products or anything so idk what's going on!!! does anybody know why or what I can do to make it go away.

Nov 26, 2012

Jordan W.

You could try black soap! It's really amazing for acne. Some people (including me) have a transition period where I broke out more but it has helped my fiancé and I tremendously. He has extremely oily skin with pretty bad acne and it has been helping him so far too! He even uses it on his back and shoulders. 

Nov 26, 2012

Lyndsey S.

I've never heard of black soap before! where do you get it?? 

Nov 26, 2012

Jordan W.

I got mine at whole foods! I heard it should be at a beauty supply store like Sally's but they had never heard of it there. It's all natural and usually made in Africa. It has plant ashes in it and Shea butter and all kinds of good stuff for your skin! Read some more reviews on it you'll be dying to try it! It's a tad bit drying but for my fiancé with his oily skin it really helps and he has had bad acne for years and this has finally helped! Definitely give it a try! But if you do and you break out more dont get discouraged! It made me break out more for a week and then it calmed down. :) 

Nov 26, 2012

Shelley W.

The flip side to this gem is that if you stop using it your skin rebels and acts up. I stopped for a week and used another cleanser and my skin was ticked off. Started back up again with it and it was happy again. Jordan W. is 100% percent correct in saying that you will initially experience a minor breakout but once it clears up your skin will look so much better. Best buy of the year for me. 

Nov 26, 2012

Naaz K.

If you suffer so much acne ask your dr for roacutaine!

Nov 26, 2012

Lyndsey S.

I'll have to see if I can find it! I've also heard baby soap works really well too

Nov 26, 2012

Shelley W.

Have you tried a new soap detergent? Or sleeping on new bedding? I cannot use anything scented or colored when it comes to detergent. Tide for example, breaks me out in wet looking hives. And same goes with fabric softener. 

Nov 26, 2012

Lyndsey S.

nope! I haven't changed anything!! I know I stopped taking birth control 2 months ago, so I figured that might be it. my face has also gotten worse since I've stopped :-( I've been to many dermatologists and tried many products! blah!!

Nov 26, 2012

Madi O.

I've had the same issues as you (really, really bad acne, made worse by sensitive and red skin). Here's what I have done that has made the world of difference! GO NATURAL! I know that seems crazy (it did for me) because your skin is so bad, but its actually overproducing oil to try to get rid of the chemicals on your face. Now that I've been using all natural products, my face is lovingggg me and looks great! Try and use gentler products with a targeted acne fighter.

Nov 26, 2012

Lyndsey S.

I'll try that. I've tried cetaphil and cerave and none of them helped (but I love cerave face lotion!) there is a newer brand I've wanted to try called simply pure or something like that. what do you use??

Nov 26, 2012

Madi O.

This is my regime, and what I suggest you do as well (it doesnt have to be the same products)

Cleanser: Something soothing or gentle that still has an anti acne fighter. I personally use LUSH's Herbalism (it has made the world of difference). If you don't have a lush near you, I would try the Aveeno products or Yes To Tomatoes line. That way it soothes your actual skin, while still having something in it. I know people have suggested the African Black, and I have heard it was good, so you decide :)

Toner: Nothing with alcohol in it! NO NO NO. It will dry out your skin, making your skin produce more oil to compensate, breaking you out further. Instead try a sea salt/water mixture, green tea/ACV, or a tea tree toner (I love LUSH's, again lol). This way it won't dry you out!
Treatment: Something with approx. 2% sal. acid. It will combat acne while still not over drying your skin. A HUGE no is Benzoyl Peroxide- it is a bleach and can lead to cancer... ahhh. I use the YTT product.

Moisturizer: A moisturizer is really important, especially now that it's getting cold. This restores hydration to your face and will help your skin fight the acne bacteria. If you have oily skin, use something oil free, but do use it! I know clean and clear's is oil free and also has .5% sal. acid.

Spot treatment: This is what you should use to clear up acne that pops up. I know that Mario Badescu has a product that is specifically for cystic acne and is apparently great (I haven't tried it myself). There's lots of other things too, just sal. acid will do.

Mask: I CANNOT recommend the Aztec Healing Clay mask enough. It has done wonders for my skin. It sucks out all the gross stuff and you can actually feel it working. But any clay mask, if you don't want that one, will do. But seriously, it is amazingggg.

Scrub: You should exfoliate only 1 a week to get rid of shedding skin but any more will irritate your already irritated skin. DO NOT use St. Ives as it actually rips skin microscopically, so instead use something gentler.

As well as all of this, eat healthy (all your fruits and vegetables!), drink lots of water, and exercise! It really does help! If your acne is still really bad, try going to to a vitamin shop and getting a vitamin especially for clearing acne as there are lots of natural plants that really work. I take something and it has dramatically cleared my acne! Sorry this is long, I have just had such a great experience using natural products that have changed my life, and I want to pass it on! :D Hope this helps and everything goes well. If you have any questions, let me know!

Nov 26, 2012

Lyndsey S.

thanks so much!! have you tried the YES brands? I do not like tomatoes and wondered what the line smells like. idk if I could get past the smell!!! I used to use witch hazel and never noticed a difference so I stopped using it :-/

Nov 27, 2012

Megan G.

How about you try Proactive body wash it works.

Nov 27, 2012

Lyndsey S.

I tried proactive for quite awhile and I honestly think I made it worse while using it 

Nov 27, 2012

Lyndsey S.

oh wow Shelley && Jordan! so I finally had time to actually sit down and look up that black soap and can find nothing but amazing reviews for it!! plus it's cheaper then anything I've been using! I think I might see some black soap in my next paychecks future :-D 

Nov 28, 2012

Madi O.

Yes, I do use some of the Yes products and they don't smell at all like tomatoes!