Hi all. If you are 25+ and still have acne, please take part in this poll!
As for me, I am option # 2. My acne is due to genetics...

At what age is it most common for males to scar facially?

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I am new to acne.org. I never wouldve thought I would need to join, but here I am trying to get some help and advice from women that have been through this. At 15 years old, I finished yet another round of antibiotics and the Dr had no other choice but to prescribe Accutane. For 7 years I was acne free. Beautiful skin! I had my first baby November of 2008. I had absolutely no acne while I was pregnant or after. In January of 2009 I had the Mirena IUD placed. Then, thats where it all goes down hill. I started breaking out in June, July, and August. I went to the dermatologist and had the IUD removed. I am now on ortho tri cyclen lo, and minocycline. Its my second month of ortho tri cyclen lo, and 2nd day of minocycline. I am also using Acanya and benzoyl body wash. Please tell me this will get better. I am trying to be patient. But I am extremely down. I fixate on this all day long. It obviously has to be hormonal. Am I doing the right things here? I beg of someone to help me, or give me advice, anything. Its ruining my life. I no longer work out, I barely want to go to work, and dont want to see anyone anymore. I just want my life back. Anything would be so greatly appreciated.

I've been using Neutragena's Healthy Skin anti-wrinkle cream for acne prone skin. I've had great success with it. I just found out that they dicontinued it! The cosmetic girl at my local pharmacy told me that few product lines carry that combination because "there aren't many people with wrinkles and acne". (sigh ) Any suggestions?

Britney Spears





Cameron Diaz (bless her)







and found this info too:

Justin Timberlake

November 29, 2004 - Anonymous writes "Alot of people wonder why Justin Timberlake prefers to sit in the shade, avoids the sun in most cases, and prefers to occassionally visit the beach. The reason? The 23 year old has been taking Accutane the last 2 years to avoid acne breakouts. As a young adult, the *NSYNC star suffered from pimples in his teenage years and today goes to all extincts to avoid breakouts. Most cases he keeps a strict and healthy diet, drinks minimum 8 classes of water and keeps very minimal consumption of alcohol (most clubs lately he drinks only water bottles) Under accutane prescription the young Hollywood store is set to only occassionally receive limited sun exposure. The next time someone asks why Justin looks pale, now y'all got the answer. That's the inside tip- Beverly"


Keep posting if you have any pics people. This thread could easily make us all feel a lotm ore happier that even the celebs go through what we go through!

So, I'm new here and trying to figure out the best inside and outside therapy for this mess that is my face. I know my acne is connected to hormones and going off BCP and I really want to use effective natural remedies and vitamins in conjunction with other things if needed. I'd would love some feedback.

Here's my situation: I had been on and off BCPs since high school (I'm 24 now) and have had really clear skin until recently. For the last two years or so, my skin has been much less clear (like, 1-2 zits almost all the time) but totally manageable. I stopped BCP in September (because of panic attacks, mood, low sex drive, etc.) and I have experienced 2-3 months of horrible break outs that started about a month after switching to the copper IUD.

At first, I thought I'd wait it out while my hormones balance and try topicals (Murad--the lotion is good, but no clearing, gentle cleansers and moisturizers, benzoyl peroxide). I have been using Differin for about three months and it might actually be worse than it was when I started. Nothing seems to be working and my whole right cheek is one big red mark now from both acne and the healing acne.

Has anyone tried Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) for hormonal acne? It sounds like it might be a more natural thing to get women's hormones back in balance, rather than relying on BCP or spiro.

I'd love to hear any personal experience (good and bad) with the following products I'm thinking about using...

Inside:
Vitamin B Complex
Fish Oil
Zinc
Vitex
Apple Cider Vinegar (2 T in water, 2x daily)
Very little dairy (this one is going to be hard---cheese is like a food group for me)
Lots of water and moderate exercise

Outside:
Vitamin E Oil (for red marks)
Jojoba Oil (a few drops in lotion)
Cetaphil wash
Cetaphil (2x daily)

Neutrogena On The Spot Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% (spot treatment? or all over 1x daily?)
OR Continuing up to two months longer with Differin??

Hi everyone,

I left my doctors office near tears this morning after basically being told that nothing is going to work.

Don't get me wrong, after thirteen years of putting up with acne and going through various topical treatments, antibiotics and eventually fourth months of roaccutane treatment I pretty much already KNEW this but the doctors attituted was just horrible. It was almost like "Why are you even bothering me with this??".

I asked him if he thought the BCP would help and his basic response was "probably not, that's not what it's for". I figure my only options now are either find a private doctor who might actually care about helping or I just give up and resign myself to this forever.......................

xxx

yo
so i get these little hard white bumps under my skin and then randomly the area around them will start getting red and swelling up until it is this humungous zit that you can't squeeze cuz the gunk inside is hard, not squishy. yum.

so my question is how the F do i get rid of this kind?
i got 2 of them 2 weeks ago and and they are stilll on my face, less huge but still red and raised.
now i just am getting another.

does AHA work on these suckers or just on smaller zits?

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone else out there who has recently getting chin and jawlline acne and was given a BCP for it. I was given Yaz and am afraid to start taking it. Unsure if it is worth going back on it. I hate the pimples, but I would hate the effects the Yaz may have on my body. Unsure if it will even work. Have had no period trouble and I'm pretty regular. The only thing is the acne. Any ideas why? My acne started getting worse within the past 4 months. I had a few here and there but now all over chin on cheek and jawline. Help...

I had to go off Minocycline due to a bad reaction after a year of clear skin.

I have to get more serious about my topicals now. I've been using Tazorac at night and clindamycin lotion AMs but the pharmacy gives me a generic substitute in a lotion-type base. I have comedones despite the Taz so I'm wondering if this lotion base is problematic.

I read about Clindagel in Lydia Preston's Breaking Out - it's supposed to be oil-free and alcohol-free. I can ask my pharmacy to not substitute generic, but then I pay full retail. I will if it's worth it, so I was wondering whether any of you have used it, and if so, what you think. Thank you!

Can someone please help I'm a 38year old female the past 6mouths i've been fighting with Acne of all sorts blackheads whiteheads and cycts. I never had a huge problem with Acne before. I have been to the doctor they had me on everything is working. I starting seeing that WHEN I COME ON MY PERIOD MY SKIN IS CLEAR YES CLEAR AND AS SOON AS MY PERIOD END I BREAKOUT ALL OVER THE PLACE UNDER THE JAW LINE AND FOREHEAD ALSO. This was never a problem before. Do anyone have a clue what could be going on. I'm sick of paying the $15 co pays and the $60 medication that don't work.

"Alot of people wonder why Justin Timberlake prefers to sit in the shade, avoids the sun in most cases, and prefers to occassionally visit the beach. The reason? The 23 year old has been taking Accutane the last 2 years to avoid acne breakouts. As a young adult, the *NSYNC star suffered from pimples in his teenage years and today goes to all extincts to avoid breakouts. Most cases he keeps a strict and healthy diet, drinks minimum 8 classes of water and keeps very minimal consumption of alcohol (most clubs lately he drinks only water bottles) Under accutane prescription the young Hollywood store is set to only occassionally receive limited sun exposure. The next time someone asks why Justin looks pale, now y'all got the answer. That's the inside tip- Beverly"

I had 2 horrible spots, which I squeezed last night. This morning they are red and dry. Ikve moisturised but anything else I can use ?

I decided it was time to get some more and I went to two different Walgreens. The lady said they discontinued the product. I'm so sad since it was the only thing that did a decent job.

Are there any other products like the Walgreens version? I know Walgreens usually have their own cheap brand to compete with name brands.

I posted this on the wrong board before so here goes.

I finished up a 6 month treatment for latent TB about a week ago. I noticed I was getting acne flare ups pretty regularly after starting treatment. Near the end of my treatment, my acne seemed to be getting worse with lots of blackheads and non-inflamed acne on just the left side of my face (cheeks and jawline)...?...weird. I'm in my mid 30s and haven't had acne issues in 15 year prior to taking Isoniazid.

Are people having similar issues with Isoniazid ? It does come up as a drug that could potentially aggravate acne when I "google" it but I wanted to hear more testimonials. Also, how long after you finished taking Isoniazid did it take for your skin to return to normal

No it's not because you have 'undersized' pores, or because of germs living on your face.

It is simply this:

When you put stuff in your body which does not support its growth, the body will expel it. If it is in large amounts the body will simply make you vomit the substance out (like alcohol). But if you consume these substances little by little the body isn't called to such a drastic expulsion, so the substances slowly build up in the body.

These toxins enter your body every day from a variety of sources: they are in your foods; water; air; and some are even produced by the body (stress hormones)

However, they still need to be removed. This is mainly the job of the liver and kidneys, to gather all of the toxins in the body and get rid of it through the excretory system.

But when you get to the point where the toxins in your body are too much for the liver to handle on it’s own, it has to resort to the body’s secondary cleansing tools, which include the body’s largest organ, the skin.

So when the body realizes that the liver and kidneys cannot expel all of the toxins on it’s own, it calls upon the skin to help out. When toxins are trying to escape through the skin on your face, thats when the trouble occurs and acne forms.

The same concept applies to teenagers going through puberty, the surge in the production of hormones causes a surplus that the body can’t use and which has to be flushed out of the body. Again, the liver cannot filter it all on its own and again waste must be passed through the skin which causes acne.

So basically to get rid of acne you only need to do 3 things:

1. Remove the built up toxins in your body (exercise and clean water)
2. Stop putting toxins in your body (Stress, mental attitude, diet)
3. Allow your body to heal itself (Mental attitude)

Using very simple methods I am pleased to say that I am clear of acne after 7 years of sever acne.

I have a quick overview of my regimen for getting clear here on acne.org the link to it is in my signature.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask!

K

Hey, my name is Laurie, and I had perfectly clear skin until about the age of 18. This fact however, I was completely oblivious of. There is nothing worse than taking clear skin for granted!! So anyway, I started working in a greasy cafe, which irritated my skin. It was not just the grease but the itchiness from using harsh cleaning products (chlorine based) that would remain suspended inthe air.

I had the implant at the time, which is progesterone only. I had been on this for about 2 years with no problems. However,it did make me prone to the odd spot (once a month). Due to this, I had it taken out, which cleared my skin. Following this I started on the pill. Big mistake. After about 9 pills I ended up with massive tender spots on my cheeks that seemed to grow painfully and then remain dormant for about a week! I thought I would persist but the acne never fully went. I canged my pill to brevinor, which made it worse.

I am now on my 14th pill of dianette, and suffering my initial breakout. I feel as though I am constantly making excuses because I dont want ACNE. It's ruining my life, do not want to go out, work, exercise..
I need some sort of comfort but I fear I will never get it, my boyfriend tells me I'm beautiful but that's not enough.. although it should be I just feel 'grubby' all the time.

My skin may look clear on photos but it's really not..

Someone help!!!!

I have found that salicyclic acid makes my acne WORSE. totally doesnt work for me. Here's what i use, after 8 years of trying crap, my acne is under control

Current acne level- MILD. Due to:
1) Claravis (generic Accutane) started 10/21/2009 (today!) hopefully it will get better from today on out!
2) Orthotricyclin low (im just using for pregnancy prevention and its required w/ accutane- this hasn't helped me much as an acne prevention when used alone)
3)Panoxyl facial cleansing bar- My MAIN squeeze. It has totally cleared up my body breakout. (i use a facial buffing pad and wash for at least a whole minute, working it into the skin in circles, and it works MUCH better this way). This is the reason I stopped using all the other stuff down below. It does the same thing and it costs soo much less. also over the counter). I alternate this with Purpose brand gentle cleansing wash because this can be verry drying when used twice a day.
4) Neutrogena oil free fresh moisture- the blue bottle-love it! Only moisturizer I found that doesn't clog pores.
5) Ultra Pure Fish Oil- this reallly helps bring the inflammation down. When I dont take 2-3 capsules a day, I notice my acne gets much worse
I ONLY USE CLEAR OR TRANSLUCENT SHOWER GELS. THE OTHERS SEEM TO BREAK OUT SKIN ON MY BODY. ALSO, IF I POP A PIMPLE I IMMEDIATELY WASH IT WITH A BACTERIA KILLING CLEANSER LIKE PANOXYL. OTHERWISE, IT SPREADS. I WAS MY HANDS ALOT. AND I TRY NOT TO TOUCH MY FACE OR SKIN DURING THE DAY. ALSO CHANGE MY PILLOW CASE EVERY NIGHT TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF OIL (from hair and stuff)

If you can't do accutane, I would recommend using the panoxyl bar and getting a script for retin-A. this helps with cell turnover rate and the panoxyl will help with control of bacteria.

Previously:
IPL Light Treatments- intense pulsed light
Minocycline 100 mg 2 times a day along w/ Retin-A
Doxycycline
Sulfatol Cleanser
Duac Gel (Clindamycin w/ Benzoyl Peroxide)
Neutrogen BodyClear
Proactiv
Rodan and Field sulfur based skin care system
Obagi Clenziderm
(I didnt like any of these. They didnt do all that much)


Not 100% clear, but almost there!

Sorry if this is a repeat by any chance...

So, yesterday I talked with a woman that is 35 and who has really beautiful skin.
She told me that she has been battleing acne since she was 14, right until 5 years ago.
I asked for her secret, and she told me that at least 4 times a week she takes her husband's sperm (I don't think I need to explain how? ) and she puts it on her skin for at least half an hour (eew?)
She claims it has done wonders not just for her acne but also wrinkles.

Does this sound a bit far fetched? Anyone tried it?

P.S. If it worked for someone else, then while I'm at it, I'd like to say that I'm single and available

Hi everyone,
This is a bit of a long story but I appreciate anyone who sticks with it!
I went off birth control pills in August, after being on them since I was 17 I believe, I am now 24. They did wonders for my face, except for one time about a year ago when I switched brands and my face broke out again. I saw a dermatologist who gave me differin and benzacline (sorry, my spelling is terrible). I do not like the benzacline only because it was costing me $50 and only had a three month shelf life, in which I would use well under half of the jar! Plus, it bleached my towels which was super frustrating. The differin I kept using until just recently because I am out and that prescription is also expensive- not to mention that I just moved to a different state, got new health insurance, and don't have a doctor or dermatologist to see here... yet. Which is part of the reason I decided to go off the pill (I just got married in July as well, so it is something I've been thinking about doing anyways). I was fine all through August and most of September until about two weeks ago my face started to break out and it is now super super super oily!
I used to have classic combination skin- it was oily & dry all at the same time (I dont mean oily in the t zone and dry in other places, it would be shiny and oily but flaking in the same areas... I dont know how that happens..??). Now it seems to just be oily (a touch dry around my eyes, but that *seems* to be it - this could be a different story come winter time, my skin always gets way dryer in the winter!)
So, right now, i am using the same Neutrogena foaming cleanser that I've always used for years (not medicated, the one in the blue bottle) and I have Neutrogena astringent / toner (again, oil free, alcohol free, and non-medicated). I picked up some Neutrogena on the spot acne cream, and I've also used the Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer for "sensitive skin" for years now as well... it was only today that I thought maybe I should stop using that? I can see the shine on my face increase as soon as I put it on...
I've also have been wearing make-up (because of the break-outs, likely causing more break outs at the same time...) but its the bare essentuals mineral based make up, I've tried the oil-free primer but it seems to make my face feel tight and flaky... and still oily and shiny.
I've just started law school (I've been out of school for a few years prior) and I am sure that the stress is playing a huge part in this... I've just noticed my back is breaking out as well (
I know that acne and oil production will tend to be worse around menstrual cycles, but since I've gone off the pills everything has been so sporadic it is so hard to tell if that is playing a part!

SO I guess I am looking for some insight / help
I am really looking to treat this over the counter (lack of a doctor at the moment and all...)
I need something that is going to seriously reduce the oiliness (that's my #1) and then to treat my face (which could likely get better with less oil... right??). I'd love to go back to not wearing makeup every day- but I can't walk around law school with obvious pimples on my face ( Its been soooo long since I've really had to deal with break outs!
Also, i dont think that that acne at the moment is THAT bad, its all small red pimples with one or two white heads, on my forehead (mostly T zone... again, super oily but dry at the same time?) and on my chin the most.

I'm worried about my face getting dryer in the winter ( in the past my face always gets really dry and flaky in the winter (again, still shiny though... ugh)

Does anyone have any suggestions, at all??

Thanks!!

It has been years since I have been to these boards, and I am so sad to be back.

I was on antibiotics for cystic acne for years, when I finally decided to do a course of accutane. It worked wonderfully. A couple mini pimples here and there, but no big deal. Fast-forward a couple years and I get pregnant.

My back broke out during pregnancy, but my face remained clear.

My daughter was born in November 2008, and my skin has been getting progressively worse since then. This past week I had my first cycle since my daughter's birth, and all hell broke loose on my face I have several large and red bumps on my forehead, plus tons of other blemishes. So, so sad

My daughter is still nursing, and she is quite opposed to weaning anytime soon, so I plan to continue to nurse at least a couple times a day for the foreseeable future.

I suppose once we are done having kids, I will do another course of accutane, but I would like a solution for now.

I have an IUD, so I don't think birth control would be a choice for treatment.

Anyone have any experience with this? What are my options? I have a doctor's appointment set-up, but I like to go to the doctor having done my own research first. Are there any antibiotic options that are nursing-safe?

After accutane I bought all new (and NICE) towels and sheets - because I didn't have bp bleaching everything I owned! (no matter how careful I was, it still happened)
I hate the thought of having to go back to bp everyday....

Thanks to anyone that can help!

I have hormonal and adult acne. I just started taking vitex a month ago for the hormonal acne so that is about 6-8 weeks from working and I'm just coming out of a major breakout. I've changed my regiman though and I can tell my skin is healing differently this time. It looks healthy and dewy and way less blackheads. Of course I started a lot of stuff at once, like I know you shouldn't, so I'm not sure exactly what is working. Here is the regiman.

Morning
No Cleanser (5x a week, I'm sensitive to over washing I think)
Earth Science Mint Tingle Mask (2-3x a week)
Olay Rengenerist Daily Cleanser (2x a week, to exfoliate)
Earth Science Aloe Toner
Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream

Night
Earth Science Clarifying Cleanser
Earth Science Aloe Toner
BP
Regenerist Night Recovery Cream

I just started using Neosporin on this last breakout and it has cleared up the scabs DRAMATICALLY. I plan only to use this to speed up healing when I can't resist picking. I hear you build up a resistance to it.

After I clear I'd like to stop the bp, I LOATH this stuff. The drying and bleaching is just awful. Would this be a mistake? I'd like to switch to Earth Science's Glycolic Peel (probably 2x a week). Also when I run out of the olay creams I want to switch to Earth Science's mosturizer and A/B HA Night Recovery because it's more natural. I know if this system works I should probably just leave it alone. I think I'll only make one change at a time so if there is a breakout I'll know why.

Hi my name is zsa zsa and I am new here I found this site while googling info on acne. I'm 28 years old and about 4 years ago I started breaking out really bad with acne and it is bad. it is now also little bumps under my skin. I was put on antibiotics, birth control, retin a, all kinds of other stuff I tried pro active but nothing worked then a doctor I had gave me Benzamycin it worked really well and cleared up my skin in like a day. Well that was when I lived in Hawaii well I moved to Washington then to San Antonio and I was using something else because the doctors there didn't want to give me the benzamycin because they didn't want to orderit I guess so they kind of pushed this other product on me. Anyways in San Antonio my new doctor has told me that they have taken benzamycin off the market, I called the pharmacy in Hawaii and they said as far as they know it is still available I was just wondering if anyone else knows anything about this or is still getting prescriptions for this. Any answers would be greatly appreciated my skin has gotten so horrible and Benzamycin is the only thing that works on me.

I'm 25 and I've had acne during my 20s. It was getting bad when I was 24 so I started on Accutane and it worked and my face stayed clear for about 6-7 months after I finished the 6 month regimen. But now my face acne is back to how it was before.

I have no clue what to do. I have terrible insurance now which won't cover a dermatologist.

What are some of the ways you reduce the redness around the acne?

I am seeing a endocrinologist thursday about my hyperthyroidism i was diagnosed with from blood work drawn last week. I plan on asking him if hyper and acne can be related and to see if further tests can be done hormone wise to see if that is the problem with my acne.

Again i have repeated acne on 2 general areas of my chin every week, and it has been that way for over a year now. Since i have heard over and over that this is more than likely hormonal acne and since endocrinologist's are specialists in hormonal activiity within the body, maybe i can finally get an answer.

Has anyone else been cured from their endocrinologist or had really good success from there visit or prescribed medication? I am really hoping to get to the bottom of the cause of this acne once and for all and praying that this endo can really provide that.

Hi there. I'm new to this blog thing so I'll give this thing a try lol. Well to start off I started having a few here and there pimples when I was 10 and now as a 13 year old its extremely hard for me to deal with this. I have the worst breakouts meaning 4-5 huge pimples at once and my entire face is covered with blackheads. Luckily, I went to a derm. and they gave me Tazorac 0.1 cream and I have been using this medication for about a week. Any one who has or had used it give me your results or how it works or worked for you.

Soooo I'm 26 and I have terrible skin. It has really ruined my life. I mostly get cysts...a lot especially before that wonderful "time of the month". I just got mama lotion (well M2 skin refinish) and i'm really hoping for my own sanity it works. I've read so many good things and I used to use mandelic acid a long time ago when my skin wasn't that bad and it would calm down my breakouts. My fingers are crossed!! I think that know that i'm older I need something that exfoliates my skin more than just an exfoliating scrub. Does anyone have any experience with it!! Also any words of encouragement would be very much appreciated! I've been so depressed lately

I struggled with acne all of my teenage life and tried numerous medications. Nothing seemed to help. Nothing the dermitologist gave me made much of a difference. It wasn't severe, so I never had to take accutane. Retina did nothing. It got slightly better sometimes. I still struggled a little in college and finally saw a commercial for Murad. I tried it and it was the only thing that worked for me. I was acne free for years after college with only the occasional pimple. Well, 2 mornings ago I woke up with a horrible break out. It's mostly on my forehead- lots of tiny pimples. I always had bangs before to cover it and now it's in full few and I am so upset. It is also on my right cheek. I didn't use anything different on my skin. The only think I can think of is a makeup sponge that might have been too dirty, so I threw it out. This all came so out of the blue and if it doesn't clear up in a few days I don't know how I'll face people. I feel horrible! Has anyone else had success with Murad? I'm going to try the regimen I guess and see how it works. I really hope this is not the beginning of more years of acne for me.

Hi guys
I posted at length on this board about a year ago about my struggles with depression while taking yasmin bcp and my desperation to come off the pill without the severe cystic breakouts i had experienced every time i had tried to come off the pill in the past.

My derm switched me from yasmin to cilest (which i THINK is the same as ortho cyclen) around 6-8 months ago and my depression has somewhat improved from this transition. The cilest combined with nlite laser treatment and topicals (bp and isotrexin) is keeping my skin 99% clear.

The improvement in my depression since changing pill has made me realise it was largely the yasmin that was making me depressed all along. This has made me want so badly to stop taking the pill altogether - i am sick of the fake hormones and my body just not being in its natural state, the pill in general does not agree with me and not to mention i want to be able to have kids and want to sort this situation out before that becomes an issue.

I have read countless posts on this board from ladies who have suffered bad acne after coming off the pill but have yet to find any accounts that have been particularly positive. Most have just ended up going back on the pill.

Mankind has achieved so many incredible things, we have split the atom we have sent people to the moon
THERE HAS TO BE A WAY OF COMING OFF BCPS WITHOUT GETTING ACNE!!!
I refuse to believe there is no way of doing it
Guys.....there have to be some success stories???