What are you doing for acne?

[Blue Moon]

My skin is getting out of control.  I have always been fortunate to have had clear skin so I know I'm being really vain about this, but it's getting worse and worse.  I have red pimples in a giant cluster all over my chin and clusters of whiteheads all over my forehead too.  I feel very self-conscious.  I've been using a gentle cleanser/moisturizer and nothing else.  I mentioned it to my OB and she just said it happens to someone women with the surge in estrogen and just basically deal with it.  Of course in the grand scheme of things it's no big deal and I can certainly deal with it, but if anyone has any remedies or tips, I'm all ears! 

[MrsDarcy]

Nothing, ugh. I normally have some acne, but it's somewhat worse now. I wonder if something natural like tea tree oil is safe?

[shekels1222]

I'm using Neutrogena Naturals facewash and an all natural tea tree oil astringent from the body shop. I have giant zits on my nose and chin right now. Between that and the god awful bloat and gaggies, I feel like an effing supermodel these days.

[rbp]

I quit all my acne creams either when we started TTC (retin A) or when I got my BFP (benzoyl peroxide). My acne has been out of control lately, so I asked my OB what I could use. He said benzoyl peroxide is fine in second tri, so I restarted that over the weekend. I sure hope it helps, because I don't like looking like a damn teenager!

Just don't use any retinoids or salicylate acid.

[bowies]

I've been using tea tree oil on the 3 zits located on my left cheek. It hasn't helped.

[MrsDarcy]

Mar 24, 2014 19:53:12 GMT -5 bowies said:

I've been using tea tree oil on the 3 zits located on my left cheek. It hasn't helped.

bummer.

[orangetennvolfan]

I'm using the PLO blemish serum. It seems to help a good bit. They have a pregnancy formula that excludes ingredients that should be avoided while pregnant. It does burn for a few minutes but it's helped more than anything else. It's pricey but a little goes a LONG way. I've been using it almost daily for 4 months and I have over 1/2 bottle left.

www.primallifeorganics.com/products/banished-primal-blemish-serum-0-5-oz

[speckledfrog]

Mostly just bemoaning my fate.

[starfish79]

Mar 24, 2014 21:13:40 GMT -5 luckydog said:

I have noticed that when I drink way more water, like over 100oz at work alone, my skin is in better shape. I have no idea how that plays into hormones though. Hormones are pretty damn stubborn.

Be careful about so much water.  I think 80 oz is about what you want to drink per day.  It can actually be life-threateningly dangerous to drink too much water (upsets your blood chemistry balance-- for real, I know someone in high school who was a mega athelete who hydrated so much she wound up in the hospital with a heart problem caused by too much water).

Anyway, back to pimples-- I've had skin like a 16 year old boy since going off the pill (it wasn't even this bad back in H.S. BEFORE I went on the pill!) and now that I'm pg, I'm just using tea tree oil and it actually does seem to help a bit. Doesn't prevent, but I do feel like it's making them not get bigger and disappear sooner.

[jewel]

I use Philosophy Purity and my Clarisonic for regular cleansing, which was my pre-pg system. This mask is fantastic, and can be used as a general mask or a spot treatment. A little on a zit overnight usually helps quite a bit. My OB said that sulfur products are fine... www.sephora.com/therapeutic-sulfur-masque-acne-treatment-masque-P3617?skuId=1446178 I also use this EradiKate spot treatment, which is mostly sulfur, but does have some salicyclic acid. I'm really not worried about the occasional use as a spot treatment, and it works really well for me: www.sephora.com/eradikate-acne-treatment-P232903?skuId=1167147

[mannah]

Mar 24, 2014 21:40:22 GMT -5 starfish79 said:

Mar 24, 2014 21:13:40 GMT -5 luckydog said:

I have noticed that when I drink way more water, like over 100oz at work alone, my skin is in better shape. I have no idea how that plays into hormones though. Hormones are pretty damn stubborn.

Be careful about so much water.  I think 80 oz is about what you want to drink per day.  It can actually be life-threateningly dangerous to drink too much water (upsets your blood chemistry balance-- for real, I know someone in high school who was a mega athelete who hydrated so much she wound up in the hospital with a heart problem caused by too much water).



My MW gave me the guideline to take your body weight in pounds and divide it in half, and then add 15. So for examse, if you weighed 160, you would need 95 ounces/day. That's the total number of ounces per day to aim for (not all at once but throughout the day). As you gain more weight throughout the pregnancy, you're water requirement goes up a bit. I just thought id throw that out there. That over hydration thing is scary.

[starfish79]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

[rbp]

Mar 24, 2014 23:18:12 GMT -5 starfish79 said:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

You have got to be kidding me. There's not that much difference between the 80 oz. recommendation you cite and the 100 oz. that luckydog is drinking. Water intoxication requires far more volume, like gallons a day. 

From the website you link: "Water intoxication can be prevented if a person's intake of water does not grossly exceed his or her losses.[12] Healthy kidneys are able to excrete approximately 0.8 to 1 litre of fluid water (0.21 - 0.26 gallons) per hour.[12]"

100 oz./day is less than a gallon.

[blushing]

My skin tends to flare up along my jaw line so my beautician told me that it may be from how I wash my face. The dirt slides down and gathers there so to make sure I rinse there and my neck properly. So I wash my face and then take a face cloth after wards and rinse that area again. It does seem to make a big difference. That and I use a foaming face wash. I am using a No7 range now, but I have used Estee Lauder foaming face wash before. It was seriously awesome stuff and lasted forever.

[mrssandro]

I drink lots of water as well.

But also I wash my face nightly with a light face wash for sensitive skin. I haven't got to the bad stage yet for acne. But I am sure it's coming. I also use a light moisturizer during the day for sensitive skin and a BB cream. No foundation.  

[FastHands]

Mar 25, 2014 5:55:49 GMT -5 rbp said:

Mar 24, 2014 23:18:12 GMT -5 starfish79 said:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

You have got to be kidding me. There's not that much difference between the 80 oz. recommendation you cite and the 100 oz. that luckydog is drinking. Water intoxication requires far more volume, like gallons a day. 

From the website you link: "Water intoxication can be prevented if a person's intake of water does not grossly exceed his or her losses.[12] Healthy kidneys are able to excrete approximately 0.8 to 1 litre of fluid water (0.21 - 0.26 gallons) per hour.[12]"

100 oz./day is less than a gallon.

This. I've actually read that some drs enciurage as much as 3L/day during pg. A lot of your normal fluids are going to replenishing amniotic fluid, so unless you up your intake, you will have issues with yiur normal needs -- skin problems, headaches, dizziness, low bp, etc etc. I really suck at this, but I'm trying!

[mrspost08]

I use Clinique face wash & clindamycin lotion. The doctor said it was fine to continue the while I was pregnant. My face has improved since the 1st tri. I looked 13 again.

[Blue Moon]

Mar 24, 2014 21:44:33 GMT -5 jewel said:

I use Philosophy Purity and my Clarisonic for regular cleansing, which was my pre-pg system. This mask is fantastic, and can be used as a general mask or a spot treatment. A little on a zit overnight usually helps quite a bit. My OB said that sulfur products are fine... www.sephora.com/therapeutic-sulfur-masque-acne-treatment-masque-P3617?skuId=1446178 I also use this EradiKate spot treatment, which is mostly sulfur, but does have some salicyclic acid. I'm really not worried about the occasional use as a spot treatment, and it works really well for me: www.sephora.com/eradikate-acne-treatment-P232903?skuId=1167147

Finally getting to the mall tomorrow, and I'm think I'll check these out.  Thanks!  Hoping Sephora will give me a little sample to try, but I'll definitely report back.

The tea tree oil I tried the last few nights made my face worse, so that was a no go.  

Thanks for all the other suggestions.  Hopefully, all of our pregnancy 'glows' will emerge from under the cover of acne soon  

[rbp]

Mar 27, 2014 19:31:18 GMT -5 Blue Moon said:

Mar 24, 2014 21:44:33 GMT -5 jewel said:

I use Philosophy Purity and my Clarisonic for regular cleansing, which was my pre-pg system. This mask is fantastic, and can be used as a general mask or a spot treatment. A little on a zit overnight usually helps quite a bit. My OB said that sulfur products are fine... www.sephora.com/therapeutic-sulfur-masque-acne-treatment-masque-P3617?skuId=1446178 I also use this EradiKate spot treatment, which is mostly sulfur, but does have some salicyclic acid. I'm really not worried about the occasional use as a spot treatment, and it works really well for me: www.sephora.com/eradikate-acne-treatment-P232903?skuId=1167147

Finally getting to the mall tomorrow, and I'm think I'll check these out.  Thanks!  Hoping Sephora will give me a little sample to try, but I'll definitely report back.

The tea tree oil I tried the last few nights made my face worse, so that was a no go.  

Thanks for all the other suggestions.  Hopefully, all of our pregnancy 'glows' will emerge from under the cover of acne soon  

Seriously! I want my glow dammit!