Skin problem question

baystateapple

I've been lucky enough to not have had too many skin issues, but lately I've been having a real problem with the skin on my lower face and chin.  Over the past week, my face has broken out in a rash of acne on my chin.  Each day, it seems like one or two new zits start up.  I normally don't use any skin products or foundation besides moisturizer (I have vicious dry skin during the winter months), and I've never really had acne, so I'm not familiar with skin products to treat it.  I've tried using H's Oxy face pads and my sister's Neutrogena Acne Wash, but neither of them are giving me any success.  Do any of you have suggestions?  TY in advance!

J&K10910

Do you spend a lot of time on the phone?  With your chin in your hand?  That's a big reason for lower face acne.  Clean your phone well daily, keep your hands off your face.

You said a week--OTC skin meds like you've been using take longer than that to work.  Just be patient.  And if your skin is super dry, you might just be irritating it more.  I'd skip the acne wash and use whatever you normally do, and then use the face pads after that.  Wait about 15 minutes before moisturizing.

J&K10910

And?  Are you sure it's acne and not an allergic reaction to something?

Do you have any new products?  Laundry detergent?  Fabric softener?  Makeup?  Moisturizer?  Hand soap? 

J&K10910

Any new medications?  Some of those can make you break out too.

MyUserName1

on adult skin, sometimes those acne fighting products can actually CAUSE breakouts.  

For me, zits are caused by my skin being too dry- the dry flakes clog my pores.  So, zit creams, etc. make it worse.

I used to have terrible cystic acne, and i was making it worse by fighting it with tough stuff.  I went to the derm, got an oral antibiotic.  I went cold turkey on salycilic acid and whatnot and it cleared up in a month.  

Since then, I only wash my face in the evenings, with cetaphyl.  I moisturize twice a day and exfoliate with St. Ives for sensitive skin 2-3 times a weeek.  In the winter I wash my face with my clarisonic knock off and that keeps it entirely under control.

Good luck!

ETA: I had no acne as a teenager, and then it popped up in my mid twenties

J&K10910

Everything MUN1 is true.  Most acne products are not made for adult skin and are very irritating to it.  I really liked Noxema's foaming face wash for adult acne but I can't find it anymore

But I oil cleanse now anyway.

sb9411

Sounds hormonal. I get it too. I agree with Rach. Moisture. Skin gets super dry in the winter, and it could benefit from more moisture, which seems backwards because you think it will make the pimples greasy, but it won't. I had great results with plain out  Neutragena Oil Free Acne Wash.



ETA: Just saw you tried, did you try the scrub? And you really need to lather on the moisterizer afterwards. The more the better. I use Kiehl's Creme De Elegance, it's awesome!

baystateapple

Thanks for all the suggestions, ladies!

J&K, I'm on the phone a LOT at work, so I'm wondering if that has something to do with it.  I haven't changed skin care products, soap, or medication, so nothing there. 

J&K10910

That definitely doesn't help!  Get a bottle of spray lysol, or the little wipes, and clean it every morning.  It made a big difference for me at my job where I was on the phone a lot. 

baystateapple

Okay, so I think I will lysol spray the phone, and just keep moisturizing and hope for the best.

Thanks everyone!

MyUserName1

And exfoliate!  Gotta get the flakes to come off or else they'll clog.  assholes.

entropicbeauty

I use organic honey as a facial cleanser. It doesn't strip my face of the natural oils so in return my face doesn't overproduce oil. Since I started using honey my face has broken out MUCH less and is softer to the touch. Love it!

(P.S. I know it sounds crazy, when my friend recommended honey to me I laughed at them, then out of curiousity tried it and haven't gone back!)

KatePlusNate04

I started having skin issues about 6 months before my wedding last year. I think it was a combo of stress and new BCP. It was definitely part hormonal b/c I would break out around my period. Could that be the culprit?

I went to see a dermatologist and got some different types of topical creams that helped. But I really wanted to make sure my face was clear for my wedding. If this just started happening, you might hold off on the derm unless it continues. I have found that Cetaphil is a great face wash that works well with sensitive skin and has never caused me to break out. Have you started using any new skin products lately?

If it continues for awhile, I might make an appt. with a derm. They can recommend topical creams (prescription) or oral meds that can help with acne.