Suggestions for Acne Treatments?

steph1091

I've suffered from moderate acne my entire life and haven't been able to find anything that takes away all my blemishes. Acne runs in the family - my mom still suffers from it, so I know this is something I will deal with for my entire life. BUT, for my wedding, I want my skin to look flawless. I don't only have acne on my face, but also on my chest and back. I've tried Proactiv before, but it really dried my skin out. Currently I'm using Clean & Clear, but within the past week my face has broken out like crazy (and it's not my time of the month). Does anyone have suggestions on what to use? Or what works for you? I have sensitive, combination skin. Thanks!!

megN21689

Accutane.  It works miracles.

HaileyDancingbear

What works for me is a combo of baking soda, honey, and cinnamon- Equal parts cinnamon/baking soda, just enough honey to make a paste

Baking soda itself is amazing for acne.  It's a great exfoliant that gets your skin very clean without drying you out.  The biggest problem people have with acne treatments is getting dried out- your skin then produces oil like crazy to compensate which causes more zits.  It's best not to let your skin get dried out in the first place, and baking soda is great for that. 

 

Cinnamon is anti-inflammatory (but test a patch of skin first- I've made this scrub for lots of people but my sister has a sensitivity to cinnamon so the scrub bothered her, I just use sugar in place of cinnamon for her)  

Honey is anti bacterial, anti fungal, and a lovely moisturizer.  All three ingredients in this scrub are helpful for getting rid of acne without harming your skin.  I have yet to give this to someone who did not later come back raving about what a difference it made!

Afterwards I use witch hazel as a toner, which is extremely soothing on skin, and is often used to treat cuts/bruises.  Coconut oil is my go-to moisturizer.  Does not clog pores, sinks right into the skin and feels heavenly.  I've bought tons of expensive creams, but my favorite thing by far is my $8 jar of coconut oil, I always go back to it.  I also love vitamin E.

mlg78

My skin has improved quite a bit since I got a Clairsonic. It's so much tighter and cleaner and breakouts happen less. Benzaclin (sp?) from my dermatologist has also helped.

cosenti7

I also have moderate adult acne, so I'm also concerned for my wedding pictures. My skin has improved using Dermalogica products along with my Clarisonic. Dermalogica has a good line for adult acne called MediBac. I use the Medibac cleanser followed by their Active Moist moisturizer. Its important to moisturize even though we have trouble skin, that way the skin doesn't over produce oil to compensate. I've also gotten lactic acid peels at a spa to help with my acne scarring.

@HaileyDancingbear Where is a good place to get coconut oil? A Health food store? I heard good things about it!

HaileyDancingbear

@cosenti7 Most grocery stores carry it.  I get it at either Trader Joes or the healthy section of shop rite

mlg78

I get coconut oil at GNC. It's great for hair, too!

jezmerelda

I've used many things over the years, including Dermalogica, Elemis, and holistic options...I tried coconut oil and it made my skin break out. So far, the best thing I have found is Unblemish by Rodan+Fields. I had tried Proactiv but found it was too harsh and trying, but I experienced great success with R+F Unblemish. I had about a 1 month adjustment period with the product. I never had a huge breakout, but I had blackheads where I never had them before and it drew out impurities like crazy! I never realized how much junk was in my pores!!! Now my skin is smooth and clear. 60 day money back guarantee if you are willing to try.

https://jroseberry.myrandf.com/Shop/Unblemish

 

The other idea I had is maybe your skin is too sensitive and using acne products just flares your skin up. Perhaps something to soothe and calm your skin. Not sure how sensitive you are though...You may need a customized routine.

https://jroseberry.myrandf.com/Pages/OurProducts/GetAdvice/SolutionsTool

vmj23

have you gone to a dermatologist?  I would recommend doing so, if you haven't.    I only started getting acne as an adult and use a prescription called benzaclin which worked for me.  Ive been using it for a  few years now with clear skin.  I went off it once just to see if I still needed it and the acne started coming back.  once I started using it again, all clear.   I don't know how soon your wedding is, but it took me about 1-2 months for it to start working. it doesn't dry out my skin at all and keeps me clear.  I use to also take an oral medication, I don't recall the name...but again, see a dermatologist, they can prescribe something that is right for you.  good luck!

AddieCake

I highly recommend seeing a dermatologist.

steph1091

Thanks girls!  

You've all helped A TON! And I'm looking into everything you've all said.

I'm going to look into a clarisonic and my next dermatologist appointment is in a couple of months. The last thing they prescribed me really irritated my skin, made it really itchy and red. I know that they say it takes at least a month for acne treatments to work, but I would wake up in the middle of the night itching my face. So, I stopped taking it - I didn't think my itching was probably helping anything

[Deleted User]

Thanks @shrekspeare ! 

[Deleted User]

I know you're seeing your dermatologist soon, but the following could help:

If acne products have dried out your skin, you may have dehydrated blemished skin. Many people think it's not possible to have excess sebum and dehydrated skin at once, but it is (not knowing this was why I couldn't get out of my blemishes for many years; an aesthetician changed that and recommended Neutrogena products). My skin care routine:

Morning

- Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Cleanser

- Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Fight & Fade Toner

- Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer with Sunscreen

Evening

- Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (to remove makeup)

- Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleanser (I find my skin dries out if I use it morning and night)

- Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Toner

- Neutrogena Rapid Clear Defense Face Lotion or just the oil free moisturizer without sunscreen for combination skin if my skin is feeling dry

- Spot Treatment: Neutrogena Rapid Clear Spot Treatment

- Twice per week: rather than washing with my usual cleanser after removing my makeup, I exfoliate with Neutrogena Pore Refining cleanser

- Once per week: I use the Origins Clay Mask (it's AMAZING!)

I think you should also find a good aesthetician and do a cleansing facial every three months. By the time your wedding day arrives, your skin will be radiant!! 

Also, retinol actually helps with acne. La Roche Posay and Vichy have some excellent retinol serums and creams that you can use on your acne.

hellohkb

Coconut oil cleared my skin so much. You can get it at the supermarket or a health food store.

Bonus: it's an awesome shaving cream and makes my legs silky smooth.

Mitch617

Think about your diet too. Vitamin A is good for skin, in carrots, kale, red peppers, etc. Different people react differently to certain food too. I was breaking out really bad on my neck one summer and went to a Chinese facialist who told me "no more fish!"

CrazyCatBride

I've had acne my whole life.I went to school for skincare too. I've been on accutane, antibiotics, tried creams, peels and everything. One thing that worked for me is upping my water intake. Do you wear makeup? oily skin?
Things that have helped me:
Water, Queen Ann's mint mask (apply before shower, wash off at the end 2-3X week...also dab on a night for big pimples and wash off in am), Peter Roth glycolic serum at night, neutrogena grapefruit wash, glycolic acid peels (derm office), things with sulfer
Make sure you moisturize with oil free cream/gel. I like clinique dramaticly different gel for face.
If you wear makeup, cleanse 2X at night. I also love clinique clarifying lotion.
For makeup I love minerals. My favorite is Everyday minerals.
For body acne, I love using an acne face scrub (chest/back) and make sure you rinse conditioner out first because that can cause acne.

verde1984

I've also had acne my whole life.  Neutrogena's stuff did nothing.   Proactiv DESTROYED my skin. My first dermatologist put me on Retin-A which only made it worse (I'm convinced she had a deal with the company because she would always hand out tons of samples and refused to take me off it).  My second dermatologist put me on Accutane 2 years ago and it did clear the acne up (but there's also a slew of potential side effects so I had to get monthly bloodtests while on it). And even though my acne was better, my skin was still super dry and I had a LOT of redness from the products I was on before that. 

About a year ago, my mother started going to an esthetician who recommended monthly facials and the Image Skincare line.  Not to sound like a commercial, but I started doing that and my skin looks better than it ever has.

My mom told me that you can only buy Image from an esthetician but I actually found most of their products on Amazon for cheaper.  I use the Clear Cell Salicylic Gel Cleanser in both the morning and night, the Vital C Hydrating Lotion in the morning, and the Clear Cell Medicated Acne Lotion at night.  They ARE a little expensive but you don't have to use very much.  The 6 oz. $20 bottle of cleanser lasts me about 5 months and the little 2oz. $30 lotions have lasted at least 8 months and I still have quite a bit left..... 

And monthly facials might seem like overkill but it really helps!!  I found an esthetician working out of her apartment that only charges $65 for a 60 min facial and that's in Los Angeles.  I imagine other areas of the country would be cheaper if you can find someone similiar????