Non-inflamed acne is acne that stays under the surface and does not get red at all. Some people talk about it by saying their skin has a "pebbly" appearance or that when they stretch their skin they can see lots of white bumps. Non-inflamed acne is also often accompanied by blackheads.

If you have this type of acne, I do think the regular Daniel Kern Regimen is worth a shot. It can be brilliant at preventing future blackheads. However, if you've tried the DKR without the results you'd like to have, Laura's regimen may be worth exploring.

Laura is an esthetician in the Bay Area who I have met several times and interviewed. She has a protocol for non-inflamed acne that is interesting. I'd like to hear how it works for people. You can find it here: http://www.acne.org/non-inflamed-acne-regimen.html

If you try it, please post your review/experience on this forum.

So starting in the middle of june I was fighting with a cluster of what seemed to be just non inflammed acne. small flesh color bumps. You hear alot of people complaining about them. Ive been getting them for quite a while now just here and there but it ONLY bothers me when they are in these clusters. For me the clusters only happened on the right side of my face where my bangs hung down. I mostly had them on my forehead as well. I was at the derm for another reason and I brought it up to him thinking he would tell me its just mild acne, clogged pores and to try SA or that he would try to give me differin or something. He said I think it isnt acne it is a skin yeast infection or Fungus. I know sounds gross! He said its a fungus that grows on all normal skin BUT when it over grows is when its an issue. It thrives on oily skin (which I have) and is very common in hot humid weather. It mimics small acne. It is specifically called Pityrosporum. SO, he said take these pills for 28 days and if it is Pityrosporum then it will disappear decently quickly. Ive been taking it for 2 weeks and pretty much all my tiny bumps are gone. The ones on my forehead are all gone. Just thought id share this since I know there are many complaining of these bumps on their face and forehead. Im going to try to find out more about it when Im done with these pills like,, does it come back.. do I need to do something to maintain it. Ive found a few articles on it.

here is part of an article.. "Pityrosporum folliculitis is a condition where the yeast, pityrosporum ovale/orbicularis spp. (also called Malassezia furfur), gets down into the hair follicles and multiplies, setting up an itchy, acne-like eruption."

Most article mention it itches sometimes. Ive read it does not have too, mine did not, but once I started taking the meds I felt like it did some, although I dunno if it was my imagination because I knew that is can itch LOL!

anyway, hope this can help someone.

UPDATE: This thread kind of wandered off course over time, so I've decided to close it. I have also rewritten this initial post to update and revise it based on current information and experience. If you have questions about the products I recommend, please feel free to PM me.


For those of you who don't know me: I have had acne since I was 12 or so, and I'm now in my mid-40s. Information I came across on this board has enabled me to clear up my mild/moderate acne to the point where no one ever realizes I have acne at all. And after spending a lot of time and money trying out various products, I'm finally down to a pretty simple regimen that is working well for me.

So ...... if you have primarily comedonal acne (clogged pores, whiteheads & blackheads), here is what I have found to work:


PAULA'S CHOICE BHAs (available at www.cosmeticscop.com)

Great product, at a very reasonable price. On the whole, I think this should be your first line of defense. I never thought salicylic acid would work on my face -- I've had horrid reactions to other SA products -- but this stuff is awesome!

I used the 2% BHA gel. The 1% wasn't strong enough for me; I think it's probably for people with highly sensitive skin. There's also a 2% liquid and a 2% lotion.

I recommend trying this product first because it is CHEAP -- about $15 for a 4 oz bottle, which will last you for months. You can get sample packets extremely cheaply if you want to try out the different formulations before placing a full order.


GREEN CREAM/DIACNEAL/Other mild OTC retinoids, such as Jan Marini and Vivant products

If the BHAs aren't quite enough to purge your pores, or if you want to improve the overall quality and radiance of your skin, I recommend these products. They are not cheap. GC goes for $40-50 per bottle, and a bottle lasts 4-6 weeks .... but it is one of the best products I have ever run across. It really works. There's a long GC thread in the OTC forum, and there's also a product website & message board: www.greencream.com

I buy my GC on amazon.com, but there are plenty of online sellers. Look for a list on the product website. Most people with normal skin can start with Level 6; if you have very sensitive skin, you may want to start with Level 3.

You can layer GC on top of BHAs. After cleansing, apply a thin layer of BHAs all over your face, wait 30 minutes, then apply Green Cream.

I did use Diacneal for awhile, and found it effective as well ... but GC just made my skin look prettier. If you live in Canada or Europe, Diacneal may be easier for you to get your hands on. It is made by Avene. And of course, there are other OTC retinoids as well: Vivant Vitamin A products, Jan Marini, Skinceuticals, etc.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that for people with mild acne, these OTC retinoids can actually be more effective than the stronger prescription products because the irritation factor is so much lower. I used Retin A for awhile, and although it cleared my pimples, it made my skin look horrible .... red, oily, and irritated. It's great for moderate/severe acne but I think it may be overkill for mild.


MANDELIC ACID

If your skin doesn't like BHAs ... try mandelic acid. It is awesome against blackheads especially, and there's a long mandelic thread in the Blackheads forum if you want more information.

If you have oily skin, the best mandelic product is probably the 15% Vivant mandelic serum, available at www.dianayvonne.com (I think she sells samples). If you have dry or sensitive skin, or are using topical retinoids, you are better off using the 10% or 15% alcohol-free serums from www.gardenofwisdom.com. Another wonderful formulation is made by Face Reality, but I think you have to be under their care to buy their products. You might check out their website: www.facereality.com

It's possible to combine mandelic with retinoids, but the peeling can be quite annoying. Best bet is to start with mandelic for a few months and ease into the retinoid after your skin is fully adjusted to mandelic.

Hi there

Just wanted to share my experience:

I use paula's choice 2% twice a day for the blackheads on my nose, and it works ok, still not completely sadisfied, but hey you can't have it al. They are way less then before so..

i've really noticed that a lot of factors are also important, like moisturizing and how long you wait before using stuff.
First, if you don't need to moisturize, then don't! Every time i use a moisturizer (even though it's non-com., I have Dans) my blackheads are very severe.
Whén you apply PC and moisturize is also important, if i wait to long with PC, my skin starts to produce oil wich means more blackheads.

This is what i do:
First of all I only use a moisturizer on my nose once a day, in the evening. I don't do the regimen there, so my nose won't be flacky in the morning. I use júst enough, don't use more than you need!
When I washed my face or took a shower, I wait till my nose is dry, and immediately apply PC. After that, still havn't found out how long is best to wait before applying the moisturizer, but I think like 15 min. This will give it time to absorb, and then you apply before your skin is getting dry.

If anyone had any succes with different methods or has feedback on this one, let me know!

Grtz

Two weeks ago I got the original Clinique 3-Step system, and it has worked out really well for me so far. The whiteheads I thought were a permanent fixture on my cheeks have gone down to almost nothing, and I have only gotten a few actual pimples (and this was right before and after my period, which is when I normally breakout like no other!). One thing though, is that all the whiteheads that are on my forehead (quite a few) seem to have gotten bigger/come to the surface more. Is it possible that my skin is still purging after 2 weeks? I did go through an initial breakout, but thats gone now, except for my forehead.

How can I speed up the healing and removal of the whiteheads on my forehead?

Hi.

I have uploaded a picture of my chin. see all the little brown dots, are they blackheads??

Thankyou.

Hey guys!
Ugh! where do i start?!
Ok.. well i was using dan's regimen and later found out i was allergic to bp. i got a horrible rash all over my body so i had to stop using the bp.
BUT i have tons of tiny bumps all over cheeks and chin. Its getting bad! lots of blackheads and bumps under my skin.
Sooooo i was doing some research and thought i should try MaMa lotion. i heard it's good for non-inflamed acne and blackheads. Just order some MaMa today. I was wondering if anyone know a good facial scrub to use with MaMa lotion and a good toner as well. Thanks!

Wow ... this stuff is really, truly, honestly amazing. I just had to let you all know about it.

After 4 months on retinoids (Green Cream, Diacneal, Retin A), I have managed to get rid of all of my old bumps and inflamed acne ... but the pores in my T-zone were still getting badly congested every couple of weeks, resulting in blackheads and microzits. Since I'm a habitual picker, and my skin is currently very fragile from the retinoids, these clogged pores were creating a real problem for me.

As soon as I started reading about mandelic acid, I knew I had to try it. The trouble was, the first MA product I tried really does not work well with Green Cream -- and I LOVE Green Cream and will not give it up! I could see that the MA was zapping the blackheads and tightening my pores, but unfortunately it was also burning my skin -- which is not supposed to happen. Mandelic is a very mild AHA.

Anyway, I finally found a new MA product that I can use with retinoids, and I am just loving it. My pores are tighter and clearer than I ever thought possible and my blackheads are almost entirely extinct.

So here are my product recommendations:

If you have oily skin and are NOT using retinoids, you should be able to use the Vivant mandelic acid serum sold on the Diana Yvonne site. I suggest buying a sample first to try it out. This is probably the purest, most powerful and effective mandelic product out there.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, are using retinoids or other anti-acne products, or just find that you can't tolerate the Vivant mandelic, you are probably better off going with the alcohol-free mandelic acid serum made and sold by Garden of Wisdom. They make a 10% version and a 15% version. Sample sizes are available. I use the 10% if I'm layering it under retinoids and 15% if I'm using it by itself.

Mandelic acid needs about 30 minutes to absorb into the skin and "do its thing" -- so you should apply it to clean dry skin, and not apply anything else for at least 30 minutes.

A little more info about mandelic acid: here's a quote from Deb, the Forum Host at the Diana Yvonne SkinCare Board:

It works in the same manner as salicylic acid, except it cannot penetrate as deep into the pore as salicylic acid. Thus, it increases cell turnover within the pore, causing the release of comedones. As soon as you stop using it faithfully, just like salicylic acid, back they come!

I think the reason people rave about mandelic acid is that it is an AHA with some BHA properties. As well as being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and lipid permeable (thus the pore exfoliation), it is a gentle 15% AHA at a low pH. AHAs exfoliate the epidermis much better than with salicylic acid, which cannot penetrate very deeply into the epidermal layers. So, the skin is smoother, tighter and more even in tone. Thus, the AHA activity combined with the lipid permeability aids in the appearance of smaller pores.

CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!

I've had acne since I was about 9, I'm 22 now. It's gotten better as I'm growing older, but I still can't get rid of the blackheads on my face. They're not really black, a flesh color, but I know they're there, and it seems almost as if every pore on my face has one in it, no matter how many I squeeze out, no matter how many times I wash my face, they come back the next day. I've gone on a sugarless diet, and that cleared up all of my white acne, for the most part. I have such oily skin, that I don't even have to moisturize after using any acne products, and for the most part, I've tried a majority of them. Proactive, Nuetrogena*sp*, etc etc...Anyone have advice for severely Oily skin, aside from a diet change which I've done already?

i hope this isn't a stupid question.

i breakout in the form of these sebum plugs. they're colourless and tiny bumps. after some time, they harden. if i lightly scratch it with my nails or lift the plug up with a tweezer, a little plug comes off. it's a hard solid or semi-solid sometimes and the colour ranges from transparent to a light milky yellow. most are <1mm in length but i do get the occasional ones that are fat and long. i THINK they're hormonal because a lot of them pop up almost overnight 1-2 weeks before my period.

most of them, about 80%, are gone after the plug falls off. but sometimes, i go too far and they get inflamed and turn into pus-filled pimples.

ok, sorry for the long and disgusting description. but i really would like to know how i can prevent them from coming back.

Hey all, was thinking about trying CrystalClear Microdermabrasion and wondered if anyone had tried it with success? It's got good reviews and I've heard that it's effective for scarring/pitting, red marks, enlarged and blocked pores. All of these apply to me so you can understand the attraction!

I'm also gonna try some of the other stuff people are raving about on here, including the baking soda, apple cider vinegar and egg white regime and the things Lion Queen recommends; Diacneal (can't do Green Cream 'fraid as in the UK : ( ), mandelic acid (sincerely wanna get rid of all these minging clogged pores!!) and may have to investigate Paula's Choice BHA's.

Just a bummer I can't go down the shops and conveniently get everything I need, it's all about the on-line ordering isn't it?

hyey guys i have alot of non-inflamed acne on my forehead and chin. i need help with choosing an exfoliant. will a chemical exfoliant or a physical exfoliant clear my acne up faster?

Hello, my name is Trewqp. And im a junior photographer who has been trying to help myself and other friends to help with their acne by when they take a photo, being able to edit the photos and eliminate acne.

Their are some problems though...
1) Finding the way to do this, im a photogrpaher and not a computer wiz and dont know what programs to look at it.

2) when you eliminate the acne form your face in the photo, im not sure how you can... lets say replace a more natrual skin tone to your face.

So, if you have any help, any tips or good programs to use, espically if their FREE. or maybe you want to see if you could help out your fellow Acne.org members.

I have these bumps on my chin, they are always there and have been as long as I can remember at this point. I used to have a lot of small bumps on my forehead as well, which seemed fairly similar, maybe slightly more inflamed. The ones on my forehead are completely gone with regular use of BHA, though, and the ones on my chin haven't responded at all. I've been using 2% BHA daily for quite a long time with no change in this particular area. Any thoughts?

[attachment=12508:chin.jpg]

Hi all!
I haven't been here for a while so I thought I better tell you how I'm going with Paula's choice.
I started using 1% lotion for 2 weeks, just to make sure it was okay for my skin. All ok, I progressed to the 2% lotion which I have been using for over a month.
So far, I had not had any outbreaks that other users have had. The finer, teeny blackheads on my upper forehead are gone. My overall forehead is better. I did have teeny skin colored bumps across my forehead and I would say 95% of them are gone. The skin texture all over my face has improved - not that it was bad in the 1st place, my skin is smoother.
Last week, I thought I getting somewhere as some of the really bad blackheads in my nose and some finer ones on my cheeks were popping out and I could squeeze (I didn't really squeeze that much as they were just popping out) lots out. But now, I'm back to my usual. I don't see any improvement apart from the teeny forehead ones (which you could only see if you were right in my face). I'm going to keep at it coz I think something must be happening for some of the blackheads to just want to come out like that. I'm just getting nervous because I have not had any week 4 purging like other users have had. But I know everyone is different.
I will keep you posted.
BTW, I think I have scarring from some of the huge ones on my nose. Any ideas what to do about this?

Reason Im asking bought a clean an clear product with 2% SA and it says on the front to remove blackheads. I had been using 1.5% NEUTROGENA mens face wash with SA in the black bottle, but have started with 2% clean an clear since it says for blackheads.

I have pretty clear skin other than the occasional small pimple or two. But just this week, I broke out on my forehead. There are little bumps focused in the middle of my forehead. I don't know why this has happened. I haven't changed anything in my daily routine for at least two months. Can anyone give me any advice on how to get rid of them very quickly (preferably within a few days, as they're just little bumps and not inflamed)? Also, I have a couple red marks on my cheeks from two pimples I got recently. Can anyone give me any advice on how to get rid of those as well? They're not bothersome as they're easily concealed with makeup.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you,

Natalia.

Okay so I've been reading a lot about folliculitis and am starting to think that this is what I have. I recently started using benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin topical gel for about a month, which is when I started noticing these tiny whitehead looking things around my mouth and laugh lines. They dont have solid plugs that come out when they pop but a little clear fluid. They DO NOT come in clusters and I usually get around 4 a day( Usually not really close together). After they pop I put clindamycin on them and they usually completely disappear within a couple days. However its like a never ending cycle and everytime I wake up I get maybe 2 or 3 more. I went to the doctor who said it was whiteheads. I was wondering if anyone had experienced folliculitis and knew if my case sounded like theirs. I've read that they usually occur on the back, chest, and forehead. I'm confused because I dont have it in any of these places. They are also not inflamed and do not feel hard to the touch. You can barely see them or feel them, only if you know exactly where they are. Also I'm not sure if the Benzoyl peroxide face wash is just causing my skin to be very dry, thus causing real whiteheads(clogged pores). I usually dont moisturize and thought that maybe its my dry skin thats causing my pores to become clogged. I'm really lost and feel like my doctor didnt really do a thorough examination of my face.

If anyone has information about folliculitis and its symptoms please share your knowledge/experience. I would be truly grateful. Thank you!

PS I also read that folliculitis usually looks like papules and pustules rather than small comedones. If this is true than I must not have folliculitis because they are really tiny and dont feel like they have something under the skin. I also know that since its fungal, doesnt that mean that the clindamycin shouldn't help? But in my case it does. Let me know what you think.

I'm looking for a treatment to reduce the white plugs that are in my pores. Someone posted several yrs back(2006 I believe) and their description and situation was similiar to mine. I have dry irritated skin on top but hard sebum plugs clogging my face as well. They can worse at different times of the year and month. Sal.acid and Benz perox are too hard for my sens. skin. I dont have pimples just the plugs. No matter how you pick them out they re-surface in the morning. Any ideas on cleansers or other treatments such as herbal supplements?
thanks

Hi there
for some reason or other (maybe the antibiotics i was given 4 days ago, not sure) my acne has cleared. I say cleared- I mean i don't have any big spots with pus like normal. But i still have loadsa comedones.

has anyone tried dropping everything? Its worked fo rme with inflamed acne
but what about non-inflamed?

Cheers in advance

I have an insane amount of blackheads on my nose (30+...too many to count really). The blackheads I don't really mind, but here is the problem:
that area of my screen is extremely red. I don't experience this problem anywhere else on my face except on my nose, which also happens to be where all my blackheads are and where it gets really oily.

Just curious as to what I can do to relieve some of the redness?

I used this stuff twice and already see the difference in pore size and amount of blackheads (nose blackheads). Its called L'Bri Pure N' Natural facial masque, it feels like those nose strips but only its a gel and tightens up the area, you're supposed to leave it on for 10 minutes and wash off.. you will see immediate results! Great for of course blackheads and huge pores. worked for me, i just wish i had my camera to take before and after photos.

I've recently been getting all these annoying bumps on my nose and around my nose and as you can see they are not flattering at all.

If anyone has any advice, please tell me! thank you so much for your help

SO I have been struggling with this issue for quiet sometime now. Here is a bit of history:

I started off with proactive since I was 18 and it kind of help clear me from big pimples. Now I'm getting these tiny bumps and its all over my cheeks and forehead. I will take pictures soon. It seems like all the research I've done on the web lead me to believe this is the most frustrating acne to cure. My face looks clear from far but up close and in an angle into a light.... all you see are tiny little bumps. Sometimes it has dried oil which I can pull out using a tweazer.

Self Esteem:
I have been feeling like shit. I'm sure a lot of you can relate. I am so frsutrated.

Anyway I went to an esthetecian as all the dermatologist clinic in my area are fully booked until November. They suggested 3 chemical peels, 1 a month, then I am on Obagi Clenziderm normal to oily skin regime. Along with that, I am also on differin and clearasol (spelling).

Current Status:
I had my chemical peel last week and now I am completely peeled off of my old skin. My face doesn't break out as much with big pimples, but now al these clogged pores are apparent. Tiny little bumps ALL OVER MY FACE.

About Obagi Clenziderm Normal to Oily System

• STEP 1: Daily Care Foaming Cleanser - Removes dirt and excess oil with 2% Salicylic Acid, leaving skin clean and refreshed. 2% Salicylic Acid gently washes away dead skin cells to reveal healthier skin. Menthol cools and calms irritated skin
  
• STEP 2: Pore Therapy - Unclogs pores and clears dead skin cells while preparing skin to deeply absorb a liquified serum that targets acne at its source. 2% Salicylic Acid eliminates residue on the skin and minimizes blemishes.
  
• STEP 3: Serum Gel - Potent gel delivers solubilized BPO deep within the follicles where acne starts. Quickly clears acne and prevents new breakouts from occurring. Solubilized 5% BPO significantly reduces P. acnes.

With that I am also taking the following creams:

• Differin XP Gel 0.3% - Adapalene 0.3%
• Clindasol Cream - Clindamycin Phosphate

Regime:
AM in the morning
I use the Obagi Clenziderm steps 1, 2, 3 (waiting 15 min in between)
Then I apply the clearasol

PM before bed after I shower
I use steps 1 and 2, then Differin.

Please someone out there can relate with me. Or share their experience. I don't know if this regime will work for me, it's only been 4 days. I do however have high hopes and I've read lots of reviews on Obagi Clenziderm normal to oily skin.

-----------------------------------------------
Update:
It's been 5 days so far since I started this regime and I have noticed minimal improvements. I am also breaking out more than usual, but not a big deal as it is suppose to. I'm going to be patient with this.

The regime definitely feels like it is working hard to penetrate my pores and kill the bacteria. My pores are getting better. It does sting and I think it requires you to wait in between application is because it takes time to work. I can definitely feel the stinging with each step for at least 10-15min.

Stay Tuned

I have a lot of little bumps and blackheads and this seems to be the best stuff to get rid of them. But all the posts I've read said buy them online and I was wondering if you could get these at a regular store like rexall or shoppers drug mart?

Good Afternoon/Evening/Morning all

I have been using Differin 0.1% for approxminatly 4 weeks now and have seen little improvement (early stages).

I've ordered some mandelic acid serum 10% and was wondering where to fit it in. Would it be more affected applying at night than the morning?

Furthermore, i am aware that using a cleanser would be better than not using one, so could anyone point out a really gentle one that is oil-free and has little or no salicylic acid in it.

just to be clear on what i do:

AM.
Wash face with cool water
wait 30 minutes
apply Duac gel

PM
Wash face with cool water ^.^
wait 30 minutes
apply differin .1%
wait 30 minutes
apply neutrogena oil-free moisturiser

i apply the duac on my acne only. The duac is near useless for blackheads, so could i fit in the mandelic for the blackheads in the AM or before i apply differin in the PM?


Thank you for reading.
x

Well I have like tiny bumps on my forehead. pretty sure they're clogged pores or comedones I think thats what u guys call em?

Anyways would this work to clean em and make my forehead smooth again? I keep hearing good things about it, then a ton of bad things too so just wanted to see what you guys think

should I use it? why and why not?

Thanks

After dealing with inflamed acne for quite some time, I've finally managed to get it under control.
However, my nose & chin are still coated in blackheads.

Does anyone have any suggestions of products/natural remedies that will get rid of blackheads?

Thanks!