|
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
 
| The andalou naturals line has been very good for my skin. I just have hormonal acne once a month though. I use Nutribiotic cleanser. It's a big bottle (8 oz) for like $8 and I started using it as my body wash and my back quit breaking out too. My back used to break out worse than my face. |
|
| |
|
 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | horseshorseshorses - 2015-08-25 8:26 AM Rodan+Fields!!! I have horrible cystic acne and hormonal breakouts and keeps them completely under control! I second the Rodan + Fields - I've been using it since April after trying everything else under the sun. If you'd like more information on it, I can hook you up. It has a 60 day money back guarantee if you don't love it.
Edited by MS2011 2015-08-25 8:41 AM
|
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 141
Location: College Station, TX | My dermatologist put me on minocycline. It's a pill you can take daily, I only took it when I needed it. It's the only thing I ever found that worked 100% of the time for me and wasn't super high maintenance. Everyone's bodies handle medicines different, but it might be worth a try! |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: South | I have used ProActive Extra Strength since I was 15 years old. A more powerful formula than the regular ProActive. |
|
| |
|
 Jr. Detective
 
Location: Beggs, OK | Nevertoofast - 2015-08-25 7:19 AM Get a hormone test, see if your testosterone is too high. STOP ALL SUGAR. Drink at least your body weight in ounces of water everyday. You can add lemon and liquid stevia if you can't handle just water. Stop eating dairy, unless it is grass fed butter. Skin issues are simply a result of the body trying to clear out crap/detox. Most face issues are hormone related AND diet allergy related. What you eat and drink can easily send your hormones out of balance. Stop eating gluten, it causes inflammation, which manifests as skin issues, joint pain, leaky gut syndrome, etc. Anything topical is usually chemical based, so you are doing more damage than good. You ARE what you EAT and DRINK........
Exactly. Anything that you put on your face is taking care of the result...you want to prevent it from happening altogether.
Look into what you are eating. Is it maybe the hormones in milk that is causing issues, processed food, gluten sensitivity? There is a gut related issue at work and you see it manifest in your skin. |
|
| |
|
Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I started having horrible hormonal acne when I was 18 (and just headed off to college, yippee!). I tried pretty much all the OTC products that people raved about... but none of that stuff seems to work for hormonal acne. I went to the dermatologist and got some RX meds, but they would dry my face out and make my issues even bigger. The derm said that a lot of problems will clear up in the summer time (which was true for me).
I read once that your skin changes every seven years... and it has been seven years and my skin is much better, but I don't know if I can say it's that or the changes I made. This is what's currently working for me:
No more milk. I don't have the dedication to cut out all dairy. I buy real milk for the holidays when I'm cooking for others and I keep it on hand for my husband, but other than that it's all hormone/lactose free milk. I can't really taste a difference.
Make sure you clean your makeup sponges/brushes after EACH use. This is a pain and I only clean what I apply my foundation with after every use, but it makes a difference.
I only moisturize with coconut oil.
Learn about the ingredients in makeup/face care products that are known to cause breakouts. Eliminate products that contain those. For instance, I can't use anything (primer, moisturizer, foundation, etc) that have silicones in them. They are what cause me to get the little milia bumps.
Ziana helped me a lot... in fact, I need to go see about getting some now for blackheads.
I ONLY wash my face if I've worn make up that day or sweated a lot. I use a Clarisonic and Philosophy face wash. Other than that, just warm water. I'm sure this is against most all skin care philosophies... but it's what works for me.
I did a couple rounds of antibiotics (which I don't think helped AT ALL) and I even did Spironolactone for a few months and I think it gave me mood swings. I would be on top of the world one minute, and then down in the dumps the next. It started affecting my relationships with others and so I stopped the Spiro and felt so much better.
Good luck!! |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I had a couple friends who did the Accutane and it was the miracle drug for them but you had better be prepared to have some drier skin for a while and STAY OUT OF THE SUN. It can take up to a year to really work well. It won't necessarily get rid of your scarring though time can certainly diminish these as can a good Vitamin E moisturizer.
Diet changes, daily cleansing with a gentle cleanser, and birth control are the first line of defense.
|
|
| |
|
Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | oija - 2015-08-25 10:47 AM I had a couple friends who did the Accutane and it was the miracle drug for them but you had better be prepared to have some drier skin for a while and STAY OUT OF THE SUN. It can take up to a year to really work well. It won't necessarily get rid of your scarring though time can certainly diminish these as can a good Vitamin E moisturizer. Diet changes, daily cleansing with a gentle cleanser, and birth control are the first line of defense.
Accutane has been linked to birth defects and depression. My brother took Accutane in high school and while it did fix his skin, he had a lot of psychological problems that came as a result of the drug. He had to do blood tests twice a month to make sure it wasn't affecting his liver function as well. It's a very scary drug. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Accutane absolutely does work to clear up the acne, but if you describe yours as "not that bad" it wouldn't be worth it to me to take it.
It is a seriously powerful drug, with serious side effects.
I had awful acne for many years, tried everything available with no lasting effect. The Accutane cleared up my face and has kept it clear ever since. BUT you deal with extreme dryness, very high sensitivity to sun exposure, I had to stay on two types of birth control the whole time I was on it (because it is linked to severe birth defects) and I had to go for monthly blood tests. They only give you a 30 day supply, you have to see your dermatologists every month and get the blood work monthly to get the next 30 day script. I think I was on it for roughly a year.
There's definitely a reason your doctor will make you exhaust all other possibilities before prescribing it. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I took accutane when I was younger. It works like a charm. I always was placed on birth control for the birth defects, even though I was not sexually active. I had horrible cystic acne. Like mountains on my face. I have some scaring from them as well and large pores. I would love to get rid of the large pores somehow. I also got injections when I had large outbreaks, or cortisone.
Currently, at 27, I am on Spironolactone and I see great results from that. I haven't had but one break out since I started. I have an extremenly stressful job, which is why I think I break out mostly, so this daily pill has really helped.
Good advise on here on some great products as well. But, I highly recommend the Spironolactone. You won't be upeset for trying it.
Edited by TNcowgirl88 2015-08-25 11:46 AM
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | rachellyn80 - 2015-08-25 11:04 AM
oija - 2015-08-25 10:47 AM I had a couple friends who did the Accutane and it was the miracle drug for them but you had better be prepared to have some drier skin for a while and STAY OUT OF THE SUN. It can take up to a year to really work well. It won't necessarily get rid of your scarring though time can certainly diminish these as can a good Vitamin E moisturizer. Diet changes, daily cleansing with a gentle cleanser, and birth control are the first line of defense.
Accutane has been linked to birth defects and depression. My brother took Accutane in high school and while it did fix his skin, he had a lot of psychological problems that came as a result of the drug. He had to do blood tests twice a month to make sure it wasn't affecting his liver function as well. It's a very scary drug.
It sounds like the OP may be aware of some of these risks. You notice I didn't tell her she should take it, only that it worked for a couple of my friends. It is a nasty drug but it also DOES work, which is why it is still available. Its a risk vs. reward thing and the OP will just have to do her research and make up her own mind. I recommended diet, BC, and cleanser first. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 418
| Probably thousands and I'm not kidding, dollars spent on everything single thing under the sun. Finally, my daughter became an adult and I swallowed my reservations and let her go on Accutane. It is a commitment, but it is the only thing that worked. A few things would work for a couple of weeks, then nothing, she has some scarring and I wish I had given in sooner, we did the research, blog after blog, and watch for side effects carefully. still on it for a few more months, dry lips, a little achy some, but has not burned in the sun, has to go once a month for blood tests, and a monthly visit to dermatologist. the large painful bumps are gone and just surface pimples now I think, but she seems to think it is worth it and her skin is much clearer.
there is a mask that is dark mud that did really help and is all natural but im sorry I can't remember the name of it! a swiss brand I think. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1304
| Wow I'm overwhelmed by all the responses!! Sometimes I feel very alone and embarrassed because I feel like why do I have to have this bad of skin...and as much as I don't wish it on anyone else or you all, its nice to know I'm not the only one!! I had acne so bad in high school I almost went on Accutane but found out my acne was so severe because of the birth control I was on. It's progressively gotten better, but I still have bouts of bad acne on my chin. It's not as severe as it used to be and not the really deep under the skin zits that came in big groups and were painful but they're still deep and definitely a good bit to where it's noticeable. I've started to wash my makeup brushes more and will do so after every use, I've been using a hand towel only for my face and swap it out and wash it every couple days as well as washing my pillow cases more. There's so many things out there that sound like they're worth a try and maybe my dermatologist will want to try a different more minor drug first than Accutane like Spiratalactone (or however you all spelled it) but she said that depending on how my face was doing on my medicine (Doxycycline prescribed in early spring) that I may be able to do it. I've reaearched the risks a lot and know that they can be severe. I would want to start Accutane in the fall so that I wouldnt be in the sun as much. My main concern of course is my internal health and mental health because I'm generally a happy person! I need to look for some good face washes or regimens but there's so many out there it's hard to pick!! I also do know that I eat too many breads/pastas and sweets but I've really started to change that, and even when I've gone through long periods of time eating healthy as could be it doesn't change. Another thing I've seemed to notice is when I gained around 15-20 lbs twice, my skin was clearer and I don't know why that would be?? I may need to get a hormone test as well, I'm really not sure but this is all so useful for me so thank you!!! I've been told to use Cetaphil but I feel like the wash isn't sudsy enough and the moisturizer is too greasy. |
|
| |
|
Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | In college I one day woke up and my T-zone was oily and next thing I knew I had some black heads on my nose, some mild acne on my T-zone/chin mostly, and these weird little bumps all over my forehead. They weren't pimples in that they never came to a head and didn't hurt or anything. It was really odd because the rest of my face and body is always extremely dry. The ONLY thing that worked was Mary Kay's clear skin products (face wash, toner, spot treatment, and moisturizer). And let me tell you, I was ready to go to a dermatologist. My forehead looked and felt DISGUSTING. I have used it for over a year and it cleared everything up and kept it clear. Then just a few weeks ago I ran out and after a couple days I could feel the bumps coming back. The black spots and pimples came back too! I just read about African Black Soap which is supposed to work miracles with acne and a variety of other skin issues so I ordered some to try since I don't currently have a Mary Kay dealer. If the ABS doesn't work, I'm definitely going to go back to Mary Kay!
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-08-25 1:54 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | I did about 6 months of Acutane in high school it worked amazing. When I was on the pill it did help some with the hormonal breakouts. My dermatologist gave me a cream I can't remember what it was, but I'll get back with you it helped a lot. For me eating better, a clarisonic brush 1x perday, and washing my face morning and night, and using good makeup has really helped a lot. |
|
| |
|
 Roan On The Range
Posts: 7889
Location: Stephenville, TX | I had adult acne problems too. Went to the dermo, tried BC pills, tried out just about every OTC acne treatment known to man. The best results I've gotten so far came from cleaning up what I eat. I didn't totally "eat clean" but I did quit bread, most dairy and most processed food/drink. My face cleared up nice and I noticed less joint pain (from old injuries). I've fallen off the bandwagon recently and my body definitely let me know! Seeing the results I got, I'm ready to try totally eating clean and see what that does. I just finished a vanilla shake though, so...tomorrow  |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you guys!! My face is a little better today, hopefully it calms down a little now. I really appreciate all of the advice. I'm gonna start eating a little healthier and drinking more water. I'm going to try and stay positive until my next dermatologist appt! I'll definitely mention some of the medicines, etc you all said! |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 582
Location: Wherever They Send Me | I had bad skin from 4th grade until I was a freshman in college...everything I tried didnt work. I tried Retin-A, the stuff you put in the fridge, and some pills. Then I tried Accutane...it worked!! It dried out my lips, so I always carried chap stick. Now I get told I have beautiful skin. I currently take birth control that is supposed to help with skin and I use a Doterra skin care system. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you again for the replies! Now for you that took Accutane or know someone who did, do you/they have to continue to take some kind of medicine? Obviously you can't not continue to take care of your skin but I was just wondering if it's pretty permanent along with good diet/skin regimen or are other acne medicines, etc needed? I'm not sure if I'll be eligible yet for accutane but if anything else doesn't work and I am I'm curious to know what "life" is like after??
ETA: Those that use coconut oil, how do you use it?
Edited by blccwgl55 2015-08-26 4:52 PM
|
|
| |
|
 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | mcorcoran - 2015-08-24 11:09 PM Norwex face cloths!
Norwex products are beyond amazing.
|
|
| |
Folks on-line