Let's talk about acne...

RebeccaFlower

I have it and it sucks, all my teen/young adult life. Within the last year, I used Murad then it stopped working and now I'm using the new Proactiv crap that I cancelled yesterday. I have been on prescription oral medication but it caused me so many stomach issues, it wasn't worth it. I am currently trying a new BCP but will be changing it again, so that definitely isn't helping. I eat well, exercise daily and drink lots of water. 

It seems like I do the best with new products for 3-4 months, then they stop working. I generally have 2-3 deep pimples a month and then they leave a pink spot that evens out pretty well with makeup. Anyone have any suggestions for acne sets that have worked for them? I know it's individual, but I'm basically willing to try anything. Thanks! 

buttercup1958

You should try clinique. Their line is amazing and I rarely ever get pimples. I only get maybe a couple on my period but other than that, my face is clear!

beethery

I figured out after years and years that my skin doesn't like salicylic acid. I would get weird little breakouts just below one corner of my mouth. It's so odd, the rest of my face won't react, but my chin will look like I had a wild run as an 80's hair metal band groupie and finished up with the herp.

I started using this stuff for a face wash and my skin is almost completely clear. (click) I follow it with neutrogena alcohol-free toner and rose water.

If I get a new zit, I use the face wash as a spot treatment and if it's really red I'll alternate with Mario Badescu anti-redness stuff they sell at Ulta.

My main gripe is that the pores on/around my nose are ginormous and constantly look filthy. I really need to get an extraction from a good facialist or go back to regularly using those biore pore strips.

blabla89

Have you seen a dermatologist? If not, I highly recommend it. I was in the same boat - I tried every over-the-counter treatment under the sun, plus a lot of prescription treatments, nothing worked for long. I didn't have horrible acne, but I always had a few pimples and nothing seemed to help. Finally I went to a new dermatologist who prescribed spironolactone and it really helped.

Another thing that's worked really well for me is oil cleansing. You can find lots of info about it online.

iloveotters2014

Mario badescu is amazing. I love their face wash and their drying cream clears up zits in 1-2 days.

Artemischief

I love the Liz Earle line. It's a UK brand, but their website sells in the US. I buy it through Birchbox. It's all natural. Like you, I've been struggling for years, then I found the Cleanse and Polish and will never look back. I've even gotten a few compliments from people about how great my skin is looking.

NavyBlue143

If you have hormonal acne, Spiranolactone can be a lifesaver. I take it for my PCOS and it helps so much with acne and inflammation. You'll have to pee a lot though.

Also, have you tried oil cleansing? If your acne is caused by a hormonal imbalance only correcting the hormones will help, but if not, oil cleansing may be the way to go. Different oil work for different people, but coconut or jojoba are good places to start. I use a blend of coconut, jojoba, and tea tree oil as a moisturizer at night, and when I take good care of my skin I won't ever have a deep cystic pimple.

AddieCake

I recommend stopping wasting time and money trying to figure it out with OTC stuff and see a dermatologist. I can second the Spironolactone.

ohannabelle

After suffering for years, and spending probably 1000s, I finally figured out I was actually over drying my skin, which then freaked out, going hey, where's my oil? I need my oil! I better start producing more oil! (That's my very unscientific explanation of a very real phenomenon.) The gentler Clinique products have been amazing for me. I would never have believed less drying would be better, since my skin produces enough oil to fund a small Middle Eastern nation. 

That being said, what works really well for one person may be crap for another.

So, yes, if you can spring for it, a good dermatologist is worth their weight in gold. 

@beethery- I hate hate hate my pores. A little pricey but the only thing I have ever been happy with is the Hollywood Glamglow Supermud Mask. Holy hell, I love this stuff. Go to Sephora and ask for a free sample. If you love it as much as I do, it's worth the price. 

beethery

ohannabelle said:

After suffering for years, and spending probably 1000s, I finally figured out I was actually over drying my skin, which then freaked out, going hey, where's my oil? I need my oil! I better start producing more oil! (That's my very unscientific explanation of a very real phenomenon.) The gentler Clinique products have been amazing for me. I would never have believed less drying would be better, since my skin produces enough oil to fund a small Middle Eastern nation. 

That being said, what works really well for one person may be crap for another.

So, yes, if you can spring for it, a good dermatologist is worth their weight in gold. 

@beethery- I hate hate hate my pores. A little pricey but the only thing I have ever been happy with is the Hollywood Glamglow Supermud Mask. Holy hell, I love this stuff. Go to Sephora and ask for a free sample. If you love it as much as I do, it's worth the price. 

Yet another thing for my shopping list! Thank you for the rec!

emmaaa

I have dealt with the same issue. Actually if you check here: http://forums.theknot.com/discussion/1010620/my-skin-is-terrible-what-do-i-do#latest I had a post about it and some ladies gave some really god advice. 

I will say that I have found a system recently that has been doing really well. My skin is generally oil/combination with some dry areas. So naturally, I wanted to fry my skin out. Big mistake. Drying out your skin will cause your skin to over produce oil. 

Now, I wash my face in the morning with Neutrogena Cleansing Gel (the orange stuff) and moisturize with Clinique Dramatically Different Gel (this stuff is absolutely amazing). At night I wash with a bar of Dove Soap (the pink kind) and use a baby cleansing brush (like this:http://www.walmart.com/ip/Safety-1st-Soft-Grip-Brush-and-Comb/16383402) to "exfoliate." It is really gentle and helps get all the gunk off from the day. Then moisturize with vitamin E oil.

As far as make up, I use Revlon color stay for oil skin. This stuff literally lasts all day. Set with e.l.f. powder ($1) and bronze with Milan "Fake Bake." None of this stuff causes me to break out.

theexactlee

I swear by The Body Shop Tea Tree Line. I never had zits growing up however once I had kids my face got bad. And by bad I mean cystic acne. That deep painful acne that almost seems like chicken pox. The tea tree line helped so much. Most of my mommy friends agree with me. I wash my face with one of the washes (they have numerous types but they are all the same formula). I exfoliate once in a while with the tea tree line exfoliant and my clarisonic. Then I get out and use their toner. If it is day time I use their lotion and if it night time I use the Blemish spot treatment (OMG MIRACLE). That's about it. It cleans up the cysts so well. My face literally HURT.

d2va

Three months ago, I just randomly got cystic acne on one side of my face. A cystic family I should say.

It got to the point that I had to go to the dermatologist. They injected my face with god knows what, but thank god because I looked like a human being at my bridal shower.

I cried hysterically in the derms office. Im turning 27 in 15 days, and I have never had an acne "problem" of course Ill start having one right before my wedding!

They gave me Solodyn as a daily oral, and two different creams. It has improved a great deal. I have not had one new pimple, and they are slowly going away. Hopefully by the time the wedding comes they will be flat.

VulgarGirl

I'm with @theexcatlee the Tea Tree Oil stuff from the body shop has really helped my skin.

I also second anyone who suggested a visit to a dermatologist. They know skin. My derm is actually the one who suggested the tea tree oil stuff for me.

ohannabelle

My son wanted me to buy him a system called "No zit, Sherlock." Just because of the funny name. I almost did, because it cracked me up.

Couggal12

A combination of being on a BC pill and this face wash is the only thing that I've found has helped keep my acne at bay: http://www.amazon.com/Basis-Cleaner-Clean-Face-Ounce/dp/B001FB5IIM

After I use that I moisturize with this: http://www.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Fragrance-Moisturizing-16-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001ET76GW/ref=sr_1_8?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1405361836&sr=1-8&keywords=cetaphil+face+moisturizer

However I do recommend the dermatologist like PP have said.  I saw one many years ago and he told me that I was actually making my acne worse by over drying my face out. I had a combination skin so I thought that by getting rid of the oil I could get rid of my acne but, I was actually making it worse.

raissyrais

I hope your skin gets better soon, I can understand all too well what you're going through! I had a very bad bout of acne, deep cystic nodules that would leave brown spots for months, for a whole year last year until my dad (a GP) prescribed me with a whole month of 100mg a day Doxycycline. It's been three months since I finished the course and I haven't had one pimple since. Not one! I also use Clearasil Ultra Wash (it's so cheap but it's amazing) and every night before bed I mix Retin-A (retinoids/vitamin A) with my light night cream. This helps with exfoliation meaning pimples have little to no time even showing up! Good luck