How did you get rid of your acne?

[babybell]

I had great skin in my teens and it all went downhill when I hit 20, and it hasn't recovered. It comes and goes in waves, but my face is definitely never all-clear (except for when I was pregnant). It makes me feel embarrassed, especially at work, where I am already much younger than my colleagues and I feel like my acne makes it way worse!

I've tried Body Shop tea tree oil, astringent, ProActive, Mary Kay, Arbonne... nada. Please give me some more suggestions!

[DrSally]

Sounds like it may be hormonal for you. Are you on the BCP? Which one? I went on a more estrogenic pill, and it helped a lot. I also started differin (a version of the active ingred in Retin A). That helps keep the pores unclogged. I also use a BHA gel, which does the same. That pretty much keeps me pretty clear now.

[bubbaray]

So, I've tried every.thing. there is to try.

What works best for me right now is a wash with salicylic acid in it (2%), a light, oilfree moisturizer, then 10% benzoyl peroxide on problem areas. Its kinda like the proactive regine, except minus the toner. If you do a toner, use a salicylic acid toner.

[AnnieW625]

I stopped eating a lot of wheat when I was 27 and I pretty much never looked back. Now I limit my wheat intake to one specific brand or bread at home (or sourdough if I am not at home and a sandwich is likely my only option), tortillas, or an occaisional cookie or piece of pie. I used to be on antibiotics for my acne twice daily and within a month I was off of them. It's been 7 yrs. now and I have very little acne problems. I also started using Kiehl's Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser about the same time and that stuff is magic. I also found that once I eliminated any topical OTC benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid cream that it made my skin a lot better. The only BP cream that really worked for me was Benzaclin which is RX only.

[babybell]

That's the funny thing about acne, I've discovered.... some people swear by salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, and others say it doesn't work. I'm not on birth control so that can't be effecting it... and I haven't given much thought to the fact that it could be diet related, since my diet has honestly only gotten better since I was a teenager with great skin! Maybe I should look into that.

I did go to the doctor about it a few years ago and got an RX for minocycline (I think), but very soon after I got pregnant and had to stop taking it. I guess part of me is also uncomfortable taking drugs to get rid of acne. Deep down inside I feel that there must be a better way!

[lizzywednesday]

I switched facewashes.

I was using one with salycic acid, but then I got all paranoid about chemical exposure while pregnant, so I quit using that one.

Then I used an apricot scrub which, I've read recently, is supposed to be bad for your skin because the unequal particles can cause smal tears in your skin surface, leading to more exposure to bacteria, etc.

These days, I'm rotating between the orange "spa" facewash at Trader Joe's and a kit from Kiss My Face, depending on which bathroom I shower in.

I use a toner by Boots and a lightweight moisturizer (when I remember) and sleep on my back.

I've also tried not to go to bed with product (Moroccan oil) in my hair because I don't wash it every day so I bought some spray dry shampoo to use before I go to bed on days I use product. Tresseme (?) makes one that is very affordable and easy to find - I got mine at Target - and it works just as well as the pricey one I bought 2 years ago at Sephora!

[wendibird22]

I've always had moderate acne that was cyclical...flaring up around my period. At 36 I do still get the occasional break out but much less than I used to. I've been using BE Purifying Facial Cleanser (http://www.bareescentuals.com/Purifying-Facial-Cleanser/51591,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=BE_SUB_FACE) and BE Purely Nourishing Moisturizer (http://www.bareescentuals.com/Purely-Nourishing-Moisturizer%3A-Combination-Skin/53698,default,pd.html?start=7&cgid=BE_SUB_MOISTURIZE_FACE) (combo skin) for about 4 months now and love it and find that my pores are less clogged and I rarely get breakouts and when I do it's a small white head that clears in a day (I'll spot treat with tea tree oil) instead of the deep, painful, inflamed cystic acne I used to get.

[pb&j]

I went to a dermatologist and got all kinds of wonderful prescription meds. I highly recommend it.

[mom2khj]

Paula's Choice. (http://www.paulaschoice.com/) Balancinng Cleanser, 2% BHA lotion and Blemish Solution (regular strength).

I have tried everything else (even derm prescribed topical/oral products) and nothing works this well, short of the Accutane I took in college. If I'm consistent in using those three products (only at night), I rarely get a breakout. My breakouts are typically large painful cysts. When one does come through, it goes away MUCH faster than when I'm not consistent with the products. I've tried lower priced versions of her stuff (ensuring I used both salicylic acid and benzoil peroxide products together) and still don't get the same results. Something about her stuff just really works, for me.

I also use Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Foundation Powder and I think the makeup makes a difference as well. Drugstore makeup breaks me out crazy. As does Bare Escentuals.

[ThreeofUs]

For me and my DH, it's purely diet. I know on my face if I've eaten something I shouldn't - particularly chocolate.

[LarsMal]

My skin got bad after I weaned my youngest- last summer. It was very frustrating because I had never had anything more than some hormonal blemishes. I started taking biotin supplements- for my hair- but it's supposed to be good for skin, too. I also found Bare Minerals Blemis Therapy. It's amazing stuff!! It has sulfur in it, but the smell isn't bad. I spot treat with it at night. I like it because it "conceals as it heals"- just like the box says! My skin has been SO much better, pretty much back to normal, since I started the biotin and the blemish therapy stuff.

I'd like to try the BE facewash and lotion, too. Last time I went into the store they were offering drinks made with the ingredients!

[bisous]

I've done antibiotics, Retin-A, differin, Orthotricyclen and everything over the counter. The only thing I never tried was Accutane. I still get zits from time to time but just changing products has worked as well as all the prescription stuff above!

I actually learned a ton about skin from Paula Begoun (author of the Beauty Bible, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Store Without Me, and owner of the site that sells Paula's Choice). For me, some of the strong products were major overkill and when I'd try to moisturize (because I dried the heck out of my skin) the products would clog.

This is what works for me:

I use Cetaphil to cleanse and 5 % benzoyl peroxide cream on any breakouts. If I have a breakout, I also try to drink a ton of water and unless it comes to a head I don't touch it. For me, I can trace my outbreaks to bacteria--they'll cluster around the same area so I'm extra vigilant about not touching my face, drinking water and cleansing with Cetaphil well each evening.

I've also changed to a makeup brand that is probably horrible on the EWG guide! But it DOES have SPF in it and it really, really doesn't make me break out. I've actually told people that my skin is BETTER when I use this foundation. It kind of dries it out/protects it from the sun/hydrates it minimally. I don't use any moisturizer at all.

My skin is under control as well as it ever has been.

I recommend doing a search to find Paula Begoun's website. She used to have what she called "battle plans" for acne and they go up in severity. (I think you can also find the "Battle Plans" in her Beauty Bible book that I checked out from the local library). You start with a very simple regime of just daily cleansing and maybe BP and it increases until you introduce prescription stuff like Accutane.

Good luck!

[bisous]

I can't find the battle plans page from Paula on the site anymore but here is a link to some info about acne. I think it is quite helpful. Good luck!

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/best-acne-fighting-products.aspx

[babybell]

I went to a dermatologist and got all kinds of wonderful prescription meds. I highly recommend it.

I am admittedly overwhelmed by all these responses, so the suggestion to go to a dermatologist is honestly the most enticing. I feel like going through tons of different washes, toners, moisturizers, etc will be expensive and time-consuming to find the right combination for me.

Are you still on the meds for acne? Or did it clear up after a certain point and now you're no longer tied to it?

[bisous]

I hate to tell you this but I find the right combination of products to be MORE effective than any treatment from the derm. You have to do what you feel good about but I'm not sure you'll get an easy fix by taking meds! Maybe the derm will have recommendations (aside from what we've mentioned here) that will help you?

[DrSally]

I wanted to add that I get my BHa gel from Paula Begoun too. Her's is one of the few that is at the proper PH to be effective. Her website has lots of good advice.

[willow33]

I tried everything over the counter, went to a derm and tried retin-A and changed my diet and nothing helped. I finally decided to go on birth control pills and within 2 months my skin completely cleared up. It's the only thing that works for me. I'd rather not be on BCP, but I'm so much happier not having to deal with all of the break-outs.

[DrSally]

I tried everything over the counter, went to a derm and tried retin-A and changed my diet and nothing helped. I finally decided to go on birth control pills and within 2 months my skin completely cleared up. It's the only thing that works for me. I'd rather not be on BCP, but I'm so much happier not having to deal with all of the break-outs.

Which BCP are you on?

[emily]

In my early twenties, my skin went nuts. Until I got pregnant in my early thirties, I had tried pretty much everything. Minocylin (sp?), differin, tazorac, retin -a, Bencylin, birth control. Went to the derm regularly. It would improve but not to the point where I was happy with my skin. I got tired of getting shots for the zits. A friend recommended her facialist and I went to her every 3-4 weeks for over a year. My skin is far from perfect but it's only an occasional hormonal breakout.

I use Cetaphil cleanser for oily skin with a Clarisonic. Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Facial cleanser when I feel a break out happening. I used to use only dept store brands. Now I use drug store stuff and am content.

I wish I had the time and money for the facials tho. I miss them.

[willow33]

Which BCP are you on?

I'm on the generic of Estro-Step.

[eh613c]

I went to a dermatologist and got all kinds of wonderful prescription meds. I highly recommend it.

:yeahthat:

A dermatologist will give you a regimen to clean your skin and also meds (if needed). Plus, he/she may determine what might be causing it.

[hoodlims]

I used to go to a derm to get treatments, but after I started using mineral makeup, my skin cleared up on its own. I still have acne scars, but no new pimples, so I am pretty happy.

[jennilynn]

I stopped eating a lot of wheat when I was 27 and I pretty much never looked back. Now I limit my wheat intake to one specific brand or bread at home (or sourdough if I am not at home and a sandwich is likely my only option), tortillas, or an occaisional cookie or piece of pie. I used to be on antibiotics for my acne twice daily and within a month I was off of them. It's been 7 yrs. now and I have very little acne problems. I also started using Kiehl's Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser about the same time and that stuff is magic. I also found that once I eliminated any topical OTC benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid cream that it made my skin a lot better. The only BP cream that really worked for me was Benzaclin which is RX only.

This is really interesting Annie! I started eating gluten free at the suggestion of my esthetician a few weeks ago and it's starting to look like it's helping. Another thing that really helped me was finally discovering that I have sensitive skin, not oily/combination/acne prone skin, so using products that are gentle and moisturizing actually helps. I love Ecco Bella products and Everyday Minerals makeup. Antibiotics worked for me but I wasn't comfortable being on them long-term. I saw a dermatologist a few weeks ago and he was so unhelpful. He wasn't at all willing to try to figure out the cause, just wrote me a prescription and gave me some creams. He told me I'm stuck with it until I "outgrow" it. I hate that attitude and strongly believe there is a cause or a trigger and I just have to discover mine.

[artvandalay]

Where is your acne located? Hormonal acne is usually on the jawline or chin. It's also really hard to treat topically.

If it is hormonal, oral BCP and spironolactone are good bets. Not everyone wants to be on bcp, though. Spironolactone is actually used to treat high blood pressure, so if you have low blood pressure you can't use it. You also can't be on it if you think you might want to get pregnant - I think it might be category X or one of the bad ones.

[SoloMelody]

I stopped eating a lot of wheat when I was 27 and I pretty much never looked back. Now I limit my wheat intake to one specific brand or bread at home (or sourdough if I am not at home and a sandwich is likely my only option), tortillas, or an occaisional cookie or piece of pie. I used to be on antibiotics for my acne twice daily and within a month I was off of them. It's been 7 yrs. now and I have very little acne problems.

I recently learned from my endocrinologist after talking to him about skin, hair,nails issues and a missed period that I am sensitive to carbs. I also described the past 2-3 months of lifestyle to him which included a vacation back home where I ate a lot of carbs and continued eating desserts I bought back for a month. I missed my period, acne/breakouts, chest size increase, hair loss etc...a lot of pregnancy type symptoms.

To cut the long story short....I ate too many carbs and eventually bad skin, hair, weight gain etc. So as long as I watch my carbs/eliminate it...I have beautiful glowing skin and I feel great, so now I am a firm believer of what you put into your body is what shows on your skin.

[babybell]

Where is your acne located? Hormonal acne is usually on the jawline or chin. It's also really hard to treat topically.

If it is hormonal, oral BCP and spironolactone are good bets. Not everyone wants to be on bcp, though. Spironolactone is actually used to treat high blood pressure, so if you have low blood pressure you can't use it. You also can't be on it if you think you might want to get pregnant - I think it might be category X or one of the bad ones.

I did not know that certain kinds of acne were located in different places on the face. Mine is mainly on my cheeks with some on the jawline. I'm currently not on any BC but am considering the pill because it might clear up my acne... still not sure I want to be on it, though.

[artvandalay]

I did not know that certain kinds of acne were located in different places on the face. Mine is mainly on my cheeks with some on the jawline. I'm currently not on any BC but am considering the pill because it might clear up my acne... still not sure I want to be on it, though.

Have you changed cosmetics or cleansers? It could be blush, bronzer or foundation.

You can still get hormonal acne on cheeks, but it being on the jawline is sort of the hallmark symptom. If you think of where a man gets a beard, if you break out in those areas, that is typically hormonal. Also sometimes you can even get deeper, cyst like pimples under your jawline, that is usually hormonal as well.

I've been struggling with hormonal acne for years. The only thing that kept me clear was Ortho Tri Cyclen and pregnancy. I can't take oral BCP anymore, and I'm not a candidate for spironolactone. I actually just saw my derm for hormonal acne. She originally gave me antibiotics but they didn't agree with me. Now she is trying Duac (topical - clindamycin plus benzoyl peroxide) on my jawline in the morning, and Retin A Micro (topical) at night. I pretty much only break out along my jaw. Hopefully this will work.

I've also had success with BHA's and AHA's. I'd really recommend seeing a dermatologist, if nothing else to get some of your questions answered.

[artvandalay]

That's the funny thing about acne, I've discovered.... some people swear by salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, and others say it doesn't work.!

Ok I must have missed this. Have you ever actually tried BHA's (salycilic acid) or benzoyl peroxide?

[mikala]

I am admittedly overwhelmed by all these responses, so the suggestion to go to a dermatologist is honestly the most enticing. I feel like going through tons of different washes, toners, moisturizers, etc will be expensive and time-consuming to find the right combination for me.


IMHO I think this is the most frustrating part of acne treatment. The causes and thus effective treatments vary quite a bit from person to person and over time so a lot of trial and error is often necessary. Hormones vary as we go through pregnancy and age and the effects of products vary with the seasons. For some people water intake and diet makes a huge impact.

While a doctor's visit may help you get it under control quickly I think it's at least worth a try to look at lifestyle changes that can help instead of or in addition to the prescription meds. Medications can work wonders but it is awfully nice to get to a place where you can manage it without doctor's visits, co-pays and extra strong chemicals. Long term antiobiotic usage definitely has side effects and Accutane is a total no-no if there is any chance you may become pregnant for a period of time after treatment.

For me fabric softener is a definite trigger so that might be an easy thing to stop using on your clothes, sheets and bath towels.