Adult acne question

[Bernadine]

I'm getting period-related acne, and I feel like it's getting worse.  Right now, I have five big, red, painful zits coming in, a week before my period.  And I still have spots on my face from zits I got with last month's period.  Is five zits enough that I can go to the dr?

[bluesbaby]

I'd see a dermatologist. That sounds painful. Adult acne pisses me off- We should not have to buy zit cream and eye wrinkle cream at the same damn time!

[eddy]

I would if they are cystic.

I have issues with my chin, which is hormonal I guess. I have started using Ole Henderkson oil at night and it has made a difference with keeping my face moisurized and fading my acne scars.

I have been to the derm and use the products they gave me but I normally always give up on them. What works best for me is a really gentle cleanser, an exfoliating (gentle like Paula's Choice) face oil and then moisurizer. Spot treatment for the zits.

I think part of my problem is my face gets so dry so I am going the opposite direction and picking more gentle products to fight my acne.

[wambam]

*sigh* This is my life now, apparently, ever since I went off the pill. I know I should see a doctor, but my face is so sensitive to products and my gut does not respond to antibiotics well AT ALL, so I don’t know what they’d do. *kicks rocks*

[Deleted]

Now that I'm off the pill. And have been for a few years, I am in the same boat. I've tried multiple things from the Derm and nothing seems to completely help since it's hormonal. I caved and bought a blue light laser about 5 months ago and it has changed my life. Best $300 I've spent on myself in a while. All the chin and cheek breakouts have completely stopped! I ordered it on sephora

[FastHands]

Jan 13, 2015 10:39:24 GMT -5 @holly said:

Now that I'm off the pill. And have been for a few years, I am in the same boat. I've tried multiple things from the Derm and nothing seems to completely help since it's hormonal. I caved and bought a blue light laser about 5 months ago and it has changed my life. Best $300 I've spent on myself in a while. All the chin and cheek breakouts have completely stopped! I ordered it on sephora

essplain.

[Deleted]

Ugh. I have just recently been getting acne on my chin line, which is hormonal. It is a pain in the ass. I have been drinking a ton of water and switched to black soap and alternate with sulfur soap - which smells awful while using it but it is doing amazing things. The cystic acne is only treated internally though right?


My overall complexion is getting better with these hippie soaps my mom made me use though. LOL.

[cbwm1]

I've been getting a lot of acne too. It's like, COME ON BODY I AM TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT.

I've been looking into the Illumask. You can get it at Target. The reviews I've been reading are very positive. It's light therapy, and it's only $30 so I'm willing to give it a go!

[CloudBee]

I would see the derm. Honestly, though, I do better finding products that work on my own.

Something that's been a lifesaver that just went back into my routine is Philosophy's "Help Me" cream. It's a spot treatment with retinol. You can also apply a thin layer to your entire face. It fights acne and wrinkles. I used it for years, then stopped when I was TTC/pregnant. Your face may purge a little at first with any good treatment. So make sure you give new products a few weeks, or a full cycle.

Murad's moisturizers are great, too, and some also contain small amounts of retinol.

Amazon has a steal on one right now: www.amazon.com/Murad-Anti-Aging-Moisturizer-SPF-1-7/dp/B0030F4XJQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1421163916&sr=1-4&keywords=murad+moisturizer

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2015 10:41:15 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Jan 13, 2015 10:39:24 GMT -5 @holly said:

Now that I'm off the pill. And have been for a few years, I am in the same boat. I've tried multiple things from the Derm and nothing seems to completely help since it's hormonal. I caved and bought a blue light laser about 5 months ago and it has changed my life. Best $300 I've spent on myself in a while. All the chin and cheek breakouts have completely stopped! I ordered it on sephora

essplain.

I tried two different antibiotics and multiple creams from the derm, but no lasting, dramatic improvement so on a whim I ordered the Tria blue light laser and it seems to have done the trick! I use it twice a day for 2-5 minutes depending on if I am spot treating something I feel flaring up, or just doing a quick all over maintenance. It is completely painless and doesn't have any side effects so I'm sold.

[joenali]

I had horrible,painful cystic acne. I finally went on accutane.

[Deleted]

I have had adult acne since going off the pill last April. I didn't really have a skincare routine before because I had very few blemishes pop up. I have since had to adopt a cleaning regimen but it's only lessened the severity of the blemishes I do get. I'm at the "I need to see a derm" crossroads myself.

[sangria]

Screw antibiotics. Spironolactone is where it's at for hormonal acne. Changed my life.

[candyland]

I would see an esthetician. I see one every 4-6 weeks and my skin has improved drastically!

[Deleted]

BCP is the only thing that truly controls my acne and rosacea (cystic and whiteheads); it's all tied to hormone levels for me. Drinking water, watching caffeine levels, gentle exfoliation (Amore Pacific microdermabrasion) and eating well all help; but hormones are the primary factor.

In my experience, I'd consult with a Licensed Paramedical Esthetician (provide facials) over a derm; and I'm not into 'woo' medicine and essential oils. Every time I've gone to a derm they prescribe antibiotics and MetroGel, even those have never, ever worked for me; and shrug their shoulders when it magically doesn't work again. The licensed esthetician will consider your diet, hair products, and daily routine, and figure out what can bring your skin back to a healthy balance without meds that mess with your entire system (laser treatments, exfoliation, hydration, chemicals in your makeup and hair products to avoid).

[juliette21]

If they hurt, they are probably cystic. I have hormonal, cystic acne and I am in my mid-30s. Yay!

I see a derm, and the only thing that has worked for me topically is Retin-A. It is a lifesaver, my skin looks amazing now that I've been using it for a year+. Definitely go in and ask about it. A bonus is Retin-A is also for wrinkles, the only silver lining of having acne in your 30s.

Per my derm, I also use a benzyl peroxide face wash in the mornings to kill bacteria on my skin. I use a Neutrogena one, it's a Face Wash/Mask and comes in a white bottle. Sorry I'm running into a meeting so I can't post the link right now.

So, my skin routine is using the Neutrogena wash in the morning, remove makeup and cleanse skin thoroughly at night, then 30 minutes after washing face apply Retin-A. This routine has been a gamechanger for my skin.

GL!

ETA: I specifically told my derm I only want to use topical treatments. I was on BCP for years, and my skin was awesome. I don't want to go back on hormonal BC, and I also don't want to use antibiotics or other systemic meds so this was the regimen she suggested since I am against using other meds. Totally personal preference, but I just didn't want to go that route. 

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2015 10:59:14 GMT -5 juliette21 said:

If they hurt, they are probably cystic. I have hormonal, cystic acne and I am in my mid-30s. Yay!

I see a derm, and the only thing that has worked for me topically is Retin-A. It is a lifesaver, my skin looks amazing now that I've been using it for a year+. Definitely go in and ask about it. A bonus is Retin-A is also for wrinkles, the only silver lining of having acne in your 30s.

Per my derm, I also use a benzyl peroxide face wash in the mornings to kill bacteria on my skin. I use a Neutrogena one, it's a Face Wash/Mask and comes in a white bottle. Sorry I'm running into a meeting so I can't post the link right now.

So, my skin routine is using the Neutrogena wash in the morning, remove makeup and cleanse skin thoroughly at night, then 30 minutes after washing face apply Retin-A. This routine has been a gamechanger for my skin.

GL!

Is this the one? 
www.neutrogena.ca/acne/oil-free/cleanser-mask

i use it as well and it is awesome. Doesn't completely clear things up for me, but it is so fresh and cool to use and definitely doesn't make things worse so I'm hooked.

[rosiedozie]

Jan 13, 2015 10:56:04 GMT -5 sangria said:

Screw antibiotics. Spironolactone is where it's at for hormonal acne. Changed my life.

Same here! I'm on two topicals and spironolactone now and I can't remember the last time I had a cystic breakout. It's amazing. 

[juliette21]

Jan 13, 2015 11:03:27 GMT -5 @holly said:

Jan 13, 2015 10:59:14 GMT -5 juliette21 said:

If they hurt, they are probably cystic. I have hormonal, cystic acne and I am in my mid-30s. Yay!

I see a derm, and the only thing that has worked for me topically is Retin-A. It is a lifesaver, my skin looks amazing now that I've been using it for a year+. Definitely go in and ask about it. A bonus is Retin-A is also for wrinkles, the only silver lining of having acne in your 30s.

Per my derm, I also use a benzyl peroxide face wash in the mornings to kill bacteria on my skin. I use a Neutrogena one, it's a Face Wash/Mask and comes in a white bottle. Sorry I'm running into a meeting so I can't post the link right now.

So, my skin routine is using the Neutrogena wash in the morning, remove makeup and cleanse skin thoroughly at night, then 30 minutes after washing face apply Retin-A. This routine has been a gamechanger for my skin.

GL!

Is this the one? 
www.neutrogena.ca/acne/oil-free/cleanser-mask

i use it as well and it is awesome. Doesn't completely clear things up for me, but it is so fresh and cool to use and definitely doesn't make things worse so I'm hooked.

It's actually this one below, but anything with benzyl peroxide will reduce the bacteria on your skin, which will help prevent breakouts. There aren't a lot of cleansers out there with benzyl peroxide, most have salicyclic acid which is why my derm suggested this one:

www.neutrogena.com/product/clear+pore+cleanser-mask.do

[Bernadine]

Jan 13, 2015 10:56:06 GMT -5 candyland said:

I would see an esthetician. I see one every 4-6 weeks and my skin has improved drastically!

What type of treatment do you have done?

I've been trying to switch over to cruelty-free products, but idk- I might have to make an exception for some of this stuff.

[candyland]

Jan 13, 2015 11:13:16 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Jan 13, 2015 10:56:06 GMT -5 candyland said:

I would see an esthetician. I see one every 4-6 weeks and my skin has improved drastically!

What type of treatment do you have done?

I've been trying to switch over to cruelty-free products, but idk- I might have to make an exception for some of this stuff.

The skin care line I use is www.delaterreskincare.com. It is a natural product line. The esthetician will do extractions on my face and uses a blue light wand to help eliminate bacteria. She has done more for my face than any dermatologist.
(I have been on accutane before as well as tried other prescription topical products.)

[discogranny]

I take a supplement for a blood clotting disorder and for the first time in my life I have acne, generally on my chin and forehead. I didn't know what to do and have run through tons of "systems." Right now Clinique's three step acne program is giving me good results, so I really hope it keeps up.

Good luck to you - adult acne sucks so much.

[Deleted]

Paulas Choice acne line.. Saved my cystic jawline. Now she is saving me from tons of wrinkles.

Paulas Choice CLEAR Products

[Bernadine]

Jan 13, 2015 14:19:57 GMT -5 tarzanswife said:

Paulas Choice acne line.. Saved my cystic jawline. Now she is saving me from tons of wrinkles.

Paulas Choice CLEAR Products

They even have a trial kit!  WIN!

[soleil]

I use this line:

robinmcgrawrevelation.com/products/30-day-kit-items

I thought it looked hokey but my mom was raving about it. As soon as Chicago winter hit my skin became even more sensitive than it usually is and has been turning red and irritated, was still having hormonal breakouts and was grossly dry and flaky so matter what lotion I used. So gave it a go when I visited my parents.

Well I liked it enough to order--and I've been using it for a month now and so far I love it. My skin is smooth, clear (my acne cleared up within days and has stayed clear so far which is quite unusual for my skin) and no longer dry and flaky. Its a bit expensive I think but it might be worth a go.

My roommate uses Paulas Choice and loves it--though it didn't work well for me unfortunately.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2015 14:29:23 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Jan 13, 2015 14:27:05 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

They even have a trial kit!  WIN!

You can even consult customer service and tell them your skin type and concerns and they will recommend products for you. I love PC! Their products have been good for my skin as well. 

Another bonus is that you can return items for a refund that do not work for you. This was huge for me. If the kit that comes doesn't work, call them and talk to a customer service rep. My aesthetician had recommended products and then had me call prior to ordering. The service has been amazing and I've used her products for almost 10 years.

[cbwm1]

The Illumask has been purchased. This bitch better work.

www.illumask.com

[cinderbella]

I was on spironolactone along with clindamycin in the morning and tretinoin in the evenings......the combo was amazing.

I stopped them because I was out of refills and we are TTC so I didn't think she would let me keep it up. I want to go back, though - hopefully there is something ttc/pregnancy safe.

[elfinia7]

I too struggle though mine is mostly white heads and black heads with only the occasional cystic pimple showing up. I've yet to find something that works well. I have an oily chin but dry forehead so it makes it annoying trying to find something. Though the nuetragena product mentioned earlier looks like something I might try next.

[joenali]

Jan 13, 2015 18:56:29 GMT -5 @booby said:

i have cystic, hormonal acne too. i actually went to a derm to inquire about accutane b/c i was at my limit! it was so bad and b/c i have darker skin, the scarring was crazy.

i eventually found a topical cream combo that works amazingly. and i tried a lot of things (not that hoity toity laser though [@holly] - i may need to do that if this stops working).

anyway - i use aczone in the morning and finachea in the evening. you've seen my skin - it really works. now, instead of 3-4 cysts every cycle, i get maybe 2-3 a year. no biggie.


eta: derm would not prescribe accutane to me, which is how i ended up on the creams

Why wouldn't they prescribe it?