Adult Acne

[NoWomanNoCry]

I'm so sick and tired of ACNE!

Seriouslly, I had great skin until I turned 20, and then I developed cystic acne. It only shows up on my lower cheeks, under my jaw bone. I feel like I have tried everything short of accutane to treat this, it is so frustrating. It's not severe by any means, but when I get the pimples there red and painful and usually leave red marks behind that don't fully fade for at least three months. I am extremely self concious and just want to be rid of this plague. Anyone else out there suffer from adult acne??????

[tina1979]

I do. I've had it all my life though. I went through 2 rounds of accutane, so its 99% better. I usually only have breakouts before and during my period now. I've actually considered asking my doctor if I can go one more round on accutane to see if it will get rid of it.

BTW: The reason I went through it twice is because the first time. I was still kinda young and didn't appreciate what it would do for me so I would skip pills and all that. I didn't like taking them. The second time around it worked because I took the medication properly.

[bridgetjones]

Hey I had great near perfect skin until the last few months. That I think is due to stress and crap eating.

Is there any major QLC stress you need to well deal with? Plus you might try to drink lotsa water, eat veggies, exercise until sweaty as hell and clean your body out.

Oh yes and cheesy as it sounds Proactiv does work. I would try anything else before going on Accutane. That can have nasty side effects plus I generally avoid drugs when I can... That is just part of my philospohy on health stuff.

[wordsmith]

The bummer about cystic acne (besides it being very painful) is that it's not something that you can really do much about in terms of keeping your skin clean and eating right...it doesn't really affect it much. It's not exterior, topical factors that cause it (blocked pores, etc.). It's just the amount of oil your oil glands produce. Accutane works by decreasing the amount of oil you produce.

This has some of the pros and cons of Accutane: http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/acne/l/blacne8.htm

[MetFanL]

I went through 2 rounds of Accutane and it was wonderful for me. No side effects or anything. Honestly, IMO, it's totally worth it. It's somewhat inconvenient b/c you can't drink, you must be on bc and you get monthly blood tests, but it's only for a few months and then you don't have to deal with that sh*t ever again.

My friend had cystic acne and just went off accutane. Her pores are REALLY small but her skin was producing a lot of oil, which was immediately getting trapped and causing acne. Her skin feels so much better. If you've tried everything else, read the literature on accutane and research it. In my experience, it's worth trying.

[shimmer728]

My skin looks good as long as I use Differin. Without it, I am totally broken-out. :(

Oddly enough, I never had this problem before the age of around 18 or 19.

[temptation]

Hey I had great near perfect skin until the last few months. That I think is due to stress and crap eating.

Is there any major QLC stress you need to well deal with? Plus you might try to drink lotsa water, eat veggies, exercise until sweaty as hell and clean your body out.


Yeah. Me too. I usually have pretty nice skin but stress, junk food and lack of exercise are major causes for me. And sleep is the number one factor. I break out if I don't get at least 8 hours. My body is so high maintenance it's ridiculous. I feel like a 16 yr. old girl sometimes.

As Bjones said. Drink lots of water, eat fruits, clean your face, exfoliate, meditate and get your beauty sleep. Damn, I am a girl. :frustrate

[MetFanL]

I should also add that my skin has been even better since I stopped using store-bought facial stuff and started using Paula's Choice. It's super gentle and doesn't have any bullsh*t stuff in it... My skin has totally changed. I don't get anymore dry patches or oily patches... just nice skin.

*end gratutious plug*

[wordsmith]

I did all my breaking out in 7th/8th grade. Although it sucks to have it anytime, I'd honestly be more comfortable with having acne now than then, when I was very insecure and self-conscious, and during that icky formative emotional growth time. I think I could handle it a lot better now, keep it in healthier perspective. Junior high is not the time where you want something you feel is disfiguring and sets you apart from others.

[shimmer728]

One thing I consistently have a problem with--since I was around 14--is oily, shiny skin. Nothing seems to really help, although it has gotten minimally better now that I'm in my mid-20s. My mother has the same problem, and she's in her early 50s. She consoles me by telling me I'll never get wrinkles because of the oiliness.

Still, it sucks. And yes, when I was a teen, people WERE rude enough to comment on my shiny face.

[MetFanL]

Shim, have you ever tried using alpha or beta hydroxy to cut the shiny-ness? I used to be shiny around my nose and, if I use those at night consistently, I don't have a problem.

[bridgetjones]

Yeah. Me too. I usually have pretty nice skin but stress, junk food and lack of exercise are major causes for me. And sleep is the number one factor. I break out if I don't get at least 8 hours. My body is so high maintenance it's ridiculous. I feel like a 16 yr. old girl sometimes.

As Bjones said. Drink lots of water, eat fruits, clean your face, exfoliate, meditate and get your beauty sleep. Damn, I am a girl. :frustrate

Yeah I feel like a 16 year old girl sometimes too. I am getting regular breakouts now! It is so annoying. Then again I am under more stress than when I was 16.

I need at least 6 hours or my skin looks like crap.

You can try going on a cleanse or juice fast. There is plenty of crap in your body that is coming out your skin. I find that when I sweat alot, drink water and eat right my skin looks good. Garbage in, garbage out... At least I would try that before drugs. It works!

Where does one get Paulas Choice Met?

[wordsmith]

Still, it sucks. And yes, when I was a teen, people WERE rude enough to comment on my shiny face.

People are STILL rude. I honestly can't believe people sometimes. Would you ever, in a million years, comment on somebody's complexion? I wouldn't. I don't know where people get off.

[shimmer728]

Shim, have you ever tried using alpha or beta hydroxy to cut the shiny-ness? I used to be shiny around my nose and, if I use those at night consistently, I don't have a problem.

Honestly, I'm not sure. It seems like I've tried about everything! The one thing that at least takes away the oil are those Neutrogena blotters. Clinique powder also makes me look less shiny without clogging my pores further.

[shimmer728]

People are STILL rude. I honestly can't believe people sometimes. Would you ever, in a million years, comment on somebody's complexion? I wouldn't. I don't know where people get off.

I KNOW! It just boggles the mind sometimes. Various classmates of mine would ask, "Allison, why is your face so shiny?" Did their parents not raise them right or something? In what world is that appropriate?

[wordsmith]

Loose powder has been my lifelong foolproof oil-absorber.

[wordsmith]

I KNOW! It just boggles the mind sometimes. Various classmates of mine would ask, "Allison, why is your face so shiny?" Did their parents not raise them right or something? In what world is that appropriate?

I don't know. They rank right up there with the people who feel free to comment on people's weight in terms of being moronic classless clods.

[temptation]

Yeah I feel like a 16 year old girl sometimes too. I am getting regular breakouts now! It is so annoying. Then again I am under more stress than when I was 16.



Yeah, but you ARE a girl :p . Historically, guys are supposed to just roll out of bed, not sleep, not shower, smoke cigarettes, fight, roll around in the mud, leap tall buildings in a single bound and still look good. Unfortunately, I would look like the swampmonster if I did all those things.

[SunDevil]

Try giving up diary products for a while. Milk, cheese and yogurt caused me to have issues. Which Hazel is a good thing to wash your face with to get rid of dead skin and oil.

[NoWomanNoCry]

Thanks to all who responded.

Let's see - I am a vegatarian, so I don't really eat a lot of crap. I also run 6 miles, 6 days a week, so I sweat a lot. (If anything, that seems to make it worse, even though I shower right away and never touch my face. Sometimes I almost feel like I am allergic to my sweat!) I've tried Proactive - if anything it seemed to make my skin worse. The crappy thing about my skin is that it is super senisitve and thin, which I hate. Because I have thin skin I also get little broken capillaries that are visible and it can look so blotchy sometimes.

I definitely have a shit load of QLC issues - but I've had the acne before all that started.

As far as not trying accutane, I have no insurance and no "real" job that pays enough. I know that it is expensive. :sad:

[Katiann]

I know exactly how you feel. I went from teenage acne right on to adult acne with a little break inbetween both. While it sucks to have acne as a teenager, I'd almost think it's worse as an adult because "adults aren't suppose to have acne." At least when you're a teenager, acne is "normal."

I tend to get lovely cystic acne on my chin. It swells up, is red, hurts LIKE HELL and, best of all, sticks out if it's in the right place.

BHAs and AHAs (glycolic acid and salicylic acid) help a lot, as does benzoyl peroxide if you're not allergic. Try a regular routine of a gentle face wash, followed by one of the acids (either toner, oxy pads, gel) and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. You'll probably want to start slow and work up so your skin can get used to it. Always moisturize after using the products.

I've been using Klear Action (cheap knock-off from Proactiv) and it seems to be working. With all these medications, it takes time for your skin to heal itself and start preventing pimples. Generally, a cyst (or whitehead / blackhead) starts forming 2 weeks before you can even see it. Sometimes your acne can get worse and then (as it's also been preventing pimples) it gets clear. This is why you'll want to stick with the same treatment(s) for 2 weeks or more before you know if it's working or not. Always do it morning and night, whether or not you see / feel any bumps.

[blueyes]

I have tried everything up to Accutane, and if I had had the guts when I was younger (or the right dermatologist), I wouldn't have the scars I have now. It makes me incredibly self-conscious AND it doesn't help that I still (continually) break out.

I told my new dermatologist that I'm willing to try Accutane, but she put me on an oral antibiotic and topical. I see her in six weeks; maybe this'll be the time it works, but - go figure - I'm entering into this with a healthy dose of skepticism. I'm thinking if things keep on keeping on the way they are, I'll be on Accutane within six months. :frustrate

I wish I could help and tell you that something OTC has worked for me...but it hasn't. I'm here to commisserate if you need. ((HUG))

[MetFanL]

NWNC, sometimes accutane isn't even covered if you have insurance. When I was on it, I was paying $150 every 21 days to get my scrip.

What are you using on your face now, NWNC? Proactive can be pretty harsh, at least it was on my skin. You want something gentle, without a lot of nonsense in it that'll stop the oily/dry back and forth that people with acne are prone to -- especially if you're using topical stuff b/c that dries the sh*t out of your skin. I know I've posted this on here before, but this stuff is so wonderful. My skin has never felt so good. And, I have about 5 of my friends, my mother and my brother using it now. The woman who I get my facials from sells it, but you can buy it online. It's really great.

Paula's Choice (http://www.paulaschoice.com/default-pc.asp)

[bridgetjones]

You can skip the toner if Proactiv makes your skin dry. That made it work for me. That being said Neutrogena has released a new acne kit with 3 products that works like Proactiv. It does not dry my face like Proactive but it comes with no toner. It comes with a cleanser, Acne treatment and face cream for day. I skip the face cream.

[ollie11]

I've become something of an expert on acne due to having had some pretty awful skin from age 13 to 24. My dad's a doctor, so I had the privilege of trying just about every Rx remedy available, including Accutane. It was awful and never completely worked for me. The side effects were awful, it dried out my skin to the point where I had to put vaseline on it at times, and it made me throw up if I didn't take it with enough food. My skin would clear up while I was on it but get bad again after a month off. I went through about 4 rounds of it, and the results never lasted.

The only thing that finally worked was going on BC pills (so if you're a guy, that won't help obviously). Also, for the few zits I do still get on occasion, I use a Rx cream, Tazorac, on the spots only (can be drying) and use a salicyc acid (sensitive skin) wipe on on my face, neck, chest, and back.

I feel your pain. :neutral: