Acne (offical thread)

[Kid B]

All things acne be discussed here.

Every zit I pop, two more show up.
Anybody have advice on what treatment to use, etc?

[sdbrown]

Get some Rose Water from your local ethnic grocery store. It's an awesome, gentle astringent and works on most zits (but not cystic acne).

[Smash Adams]

go to a dermatologist
I'm not just saying this since my mom's one but honestly any stuff you get without one like Proactiv or Neutrogena isn't going to help you

[walking_person]

go to a dermatologist
I'm not just saying this since my mom's one but honestly any stuff you get without one like Proactiv or Neutrogena isn't going to help you
I plan on doing this soon. I'm terrible about putting anything on regularly though (especially twice a day because I always sleep in).

I'm trying to cut down on the Coke and Dr. Pepper I drink because I guess that doesn't help it at all. It's not working very well.

[lovely864md]

proactiv-works mad good but dries your skin out like crazy

[walking_person]

proactiv-works mad good but dries your skin out like crazy
It didn't do anything for me


This Neutrogena stuff I'm trying now dries out my skin so I am just going to return it since it's less than sixty days. I don't like peeling skin, so I'll stick to my eating less oily foods approach until I see a dermatologist.

[nostalgia]

acne has ruined my life. it won't go away!

[m_rue]

Yeah, going to a derm is a good idea.
Even if you have an oily skin type, use moisterizer, and wear sunscreen everyday.

[Kassie09]

I got a Wave and it cleans your skin so good/prevents acne, just from how it cleans.
The Clean & Clear three day stuff also does not work.

And, my stuff from the dermatologist didn't really do anything..but I think it's because I don't really have much acne, just occasional.

[TK]

I used to have mad crazy acne. I went on accutane for 3 months about a year ago, and it cleared it all up. Although accutane is only for severe cases.

[shes.a.ghost]

I never really had bad acne, but my brother did. He finally went on accutane(?) and it cleared it up. It's pretty crazy stuff though. They had to check his kidneys first, or something like that. I used to use proactive only because I had occasional break outs. It worked pretty well. I'm not sure if it's just a myth, but cutting out cokes and other bad foods/drinks helps too. I only drink water so I'm pretty sure that is good for my skin, ha.

[Kassie09]

Was accutane the stuff that made a few teenagers commit suicide?

[concernedparent]

Very rarely get any

[JJJ]

Was accutane the stuff that made a few teenagers commit suicide?

yea, its pretty crazy stuff, i had to take it..twice. ive always have had bad skin problems, i had excema when i was younger, then acne pretty early like 5th grade until like last year, i have cystic acne which fucken blows......
ive tried every acne medicine ever made, and my dermatologist is like a friend of mine now because ive been there so much. for the most part, acne is hereditary, and what you eat really doesnt make a difference. i couldnt recommend one thing over another, it how depends on who you are and the severity of your acne, i would recommend going to a dermatologist though.

[disco.tetris]

Drink tons of water to help prevent it. That's what someone told me works. And wash your face with a good face wash atleast 2-3 times a day.

Simple advice.

[Renee]

proactiv-works mad good but dries your skin out like crazy
I agree. It's so harsh on my skin that I can't use the lotion. When I was ordering more, I spoke to a lady that said a lot of people don't use the lotion because it dries out their skin. It's made to dry and kill the bacteria, to clear up the acne.

[Renee]

One of my co-workers said that when she was little, a family member told her and her sister to rub lemon juice (squeezed from an actual lemon and applied like a lotion) on their faces to get rid of black heads.

I haven't tried it, but I've heard from other people that it actually works. Stings, but works.


I'd suggest researching it for more information, like timing, amount, ect.

[allhourcymbals]

proactiv-works mad good but dries your skin out like crazy
It doesn't dry my skin out. That's what the moisturizer (third step?) is there for.

[0starter0]

I only use the first step in proactiv now, the second and third seemed to make it worse.

[googirl8907]

proactiv-works mad good but dries your skin out like crazy

I've tried it several times and it did nothing for me except dry my skin out.

[The_kok]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/17/nhealth417.xml

[Tabz]

http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=HwEV+ j4qfNQhlFp8iJuFmg**.bsbwilapp03-bsprd-app-101?productId=prod170248&categoryId=productRelatedItems

works amazing, but make sure you use all three steps (wash, tone, moisture)

[xconcretenwater]

Accutane IS a last resort, but it's great. I'm almost 19 now and I've had acne since I was 13. It's never gotten too severe, but it's always been there. I tried different face washes and prescriptions (both topical and pills) which never really had that much of an effect. I have been on Accutane now for 3 (out of 5) months, and it's going great. Depending on your dosage it can dry out your face pretty hard, but it's worth it. The only major downside is the fact that it requires monthly blood test to check that your cholesterol and liver enzyme levels are stable... therefore it's not a good idea to drink while you're on it or you could fuck your liver. Also if your liver levels are too high, your dermatologist may very well take you off it (this happened to me once in the past). I think the depression thing is BS for the most part though. If you really want to get rid of your acne, and you're willing to make a committment for (in my case) 20 weeks, get on it!

[GoWaitInTheCar]

proactiv-works mad good but dries your skin out like crazy

Proactiv worked after a year or so. The problem I had with this product that it ate away my hairline. The hair around my face is very thin because of it. My sister used it and her dark hair was bleached.

Haha. I'm not saying I'm going bald from it or anything, I'm merely saying it's clearly more thin.

[GoWaitInTheCar]

Proactiv never dried out my face. And if it ever did, I feel as though that's what it was suppose to do. My skin was greasy and it made sure it wasn't.

I still use it three times a day but in all honesty, it's a face drug. If I stop using it now, my face would explode. It's a dangerous treatment to get into, believe it or not. (Also : See post above.)

[allhourcymbals]

Proactiv never dried out my face. And if it ever did, I feel as though that's what it was suppose to do. My skin was greasy and it made sure it wasn't.

I still use it three times a day but in all honesty, it's a face drug. If I stop using it now, my face would explode. It's a dangerous treatment to get into, believe it or not. (Also : See post above.)
My face completely breaks out if I stop using it for even a few days.

[shes.a.ghost]

I have no acne problems at all now that I'm older. I still use clean and clear face scrub everyday in the shower, though.

[daniel.e]

Very rarely get any

Sex? Yeah that's tough, life sucks.

[Foosimoo]

I take tetracycline pills.

[TheByrus]

i had it pretty bad as a teen but on my 18th birthday it was pretty much gone for good.



i still get one or two once in a while, usually when i'm stressed out.


like during finals.

[scmaley]

I never broke out as a teenager until I was a few months from turning 20. I went to the dermatologist and now I use Benzaclin at night (kind of a spot treatment and in places that I'm prone to break out). I also take some antibiotic every day to prevent breakouts. It would probably be more effective if I ever remembered to take it.
Also, I use Cetaphil lotion on my face like a fiend. My skin is better (as in my over all complexion) now than before all of the breakouts.

[scmaley]

Was accutane the stuff that made a few teenagers commit suicide?

I saw an episode of 20/20 or some similar show about a guy who took two accutane pills and blamed them for his mental instability (he was already unstable) and then went back and murdered his dermatologist. It was really, really sad.

[Villanova1L]

"I use Pro-Activ to preserve my situation, and to moisturize my sexy."

[chronomic]

im about to go on accutaine (sp?) am im excited as hell


ive had a mild case of acne for a long time now, its not terrible, but its enough to drive me bat shit crazy once in a while.

things like proactive never really did the trick for me...or any other kinds of topical or medical crap.

[Chris Fallon]

Zits don't like me. I've never had a problem with acne.

[daniel.e]

im about to go on accutaine (sp?) am im excited as hell


ive had a mild case of acne for a long time now, its not terrible, but its enough to drive me bat shit crazy once in a while.

things like proactive never really did the trick for me...or any other kinds of topical or medical crap.

Go for it! But you'll have very dry skin for a period. Moisturize often. :P

[argg_xo]

Zits don't like me. I've never had a problem with acne.

ditto!
my skin's flawless. just kidding, i've never had acne but my little bro has it.
its a major bummer.

[bluecrunchy]

Drinking a whole bunch of water every day actually helps a lot. And products that dry your face out a lot tend to only make things worse.

[thesafeword]

I use Clearisal face wash in the shower and the creme stuff before I go to bed, it works pretty good for me. I get a few pimples and the occasional zit, but I just treat them with that stuff. It works for me.

[williek311]

Drink tons of water to help prevent it. That's what someone told me works. And wash your face with a good face wash atleast 2-3 times a day.

Simple advice.
That's horrible advice. That will dry your skin out.

[wewascontenders]

That's horrible advice. That will dry your skin out.

only if you use soap every time, i wash mine 4 or 5 times a day with just water and it doesn't get dried out. i only use soap on it once a day.

[PadraicPrincess]

I have generally good skin, except during exam week.. I stress and break out.
Don't touch your face during the day. Anything that was on your hands will instantly be transferred to your face, most of which is probably bacteria.

[HelpMeSleep]

i have pretty good skin in general. but i have this one thing on my cheek i've had forever which makeup pretty much covers up but if i don't wear enough makeup everyone always asked me if someone hit me haha. i'd like to get rid of it though so i didn't feel the need to always have makeup on.. i need to go to a dermatologist.

also, when i do get zits i pop them with tweezers and i've never gotten any sort of scars or anything even though my mom always says i will.

and my brother and sisters all use Proactiv. but i refuse to use anything Jessica Simpson endorses.

[disco.tetris]

That's horrible advice. That will dry your skin out.
I said good face wash. I used to use this really nice blue one that made my face all tingly and smell like all fruity and didn't dry it out at all. And even if it does, just dab on some moisturizer.

[CityOfLust]

i use pro active?... idk if its working or not.

[m_rue]

Does anyone have any good solutions for clogged pores? Stuff that worked/didn't work?

[brunettebarbie1]

Hi

The only thing i found that worked for my acne was the beautyskin aacne lamp, i used it every day for 15mins a day for the last 3 months and my acne has all but gone, the reults are amazing. Up until that point i had tried nesrly everything else available with little or no effect, but this really works. i would suggest it to snyone.

[Nevuk]

My back gets it fairly bad, but my face doesn't really get it. So I don't care.

[chronomic]

Hi

The only thing i found that worked for my acne was the beautyskin aacne lamp, i used it every day for 15mins a day for the last 3 months and my acne has all but gone, the reults are amazing. Up until that point i had tried nesrly everything else available with little or no effect, but this really works. i would suggest it to snyone.

does it only work while youre using it? 15 min a day is a decent amount of time...

[chrisstahl]

just go on accutane.