Many thanks to Mumblesorusjen for posting this article in the Acne Research forum .... and to Lorrie for suggesting that we spread the news.



The pH (power of hydrogen) factor is a term most of us have heard but which few understand the significance of as it relates to skin care. Calculated on a scale of one to 14, pH refers to the levels of acid or alkaline in a substance. Below seven is acidic, above is alkaline, and seven – the approximate optimum level for the body – is neutral. However, skin has a different pH and to avoid and treat dry skin, it is important to choose skin care treatment products that have the proper pH balance.

The pH of normal skin ranges from 4 to 6.5, which is slightly acidic. This acidic environment is referred to as the skin’s ‘acid mantle’. It contains a number of different acids including lactic acid, amino acids and free fatty acids. One of the major functions of the acid mantle is to protect the skin and body from the absorption of bacteria. As bacteria cannot survive in an acidic environment, maintaining the correct level of acidity is vital.

If the acid mantle is disrupted, the skin also becomes more susceptible to damage. Although acid and alkaline are on opposite ends of the spectrum, either disrupts the pH and either can cause dry skin.

Alkaline stronger than pH 8 is very irritating to the skin and, unfortunately, the majority of skin care treatment products and household cleansers are far too alkaline. Most skin care soaps have a pH factor of 9 to 11 and many household cleansers range between 10 and 12. Oven cleaners come in around pH 13, which is why using rubber gloves is recommended.

When the acid mantle is disrupted by using skin care treatment that is too alkaline, it takes about 14 hours for the skin to get back to normal. However, by that time we’ve usually used the products again so, in fact, the damage never really gets repaired. The result is apparently permanent dry skin.

Fortunately, the condition is not actually permanent and you can start improving it by reading product labels. Often a label will state the pH or describe the product as ‘pH balanced’ which is supposed to denote a pH that approximates that of the skin – although, to be certain, I would look for the number, not just the ‘pH balanced’ designation. Look for skin care products that are between pH 4 and 7 and you will be on your way to preventing and treating dry skin.


[article from http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=16033]

Part I: Avoiding Harmful Products


When Buying Products

Don't Buy Cleansers That:

1. Contain harsh surfectants like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate.

2. Are in bar form. These contain harsh cleansing agents like sodium cocoate, and the ingredients that keep them in bar form can be absorbed into the skin to clog pores. Also, many bar soaps have alkaline pH levels, which actually encourages bacterial growth.

3. Are daily scrubs containing uneven particles like walnut . These can tear at the skin and cause irritation.
Look for scrubs with smooth, round, bead-like particles.

4. Contain waxy, pore-clogging thickeners. Products in cream form tend to have these.

5. Contain animal oils*. Animal oils resemble human sebum and can clog pores similarly.

4. Give a "tingly" or "cooling" feeling. That feeling is caused by skin irritants like menthol and camphor.

5. Are medicated. If the medication contains a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid, the cleanser is almost certain to have too high of a pH (over 4) to allow it to act as an exfoliant. Chances are that the majority of any medictation used in a cleanser will be washed away before having any real effect. If you let a medicated cleanser (either one containing a chemical exfoliant or one containing benzoyl peroxide) sit on the skin in hopes of giving the medications time to penetrate, than chances are you'll also be allowing the cleansing agents time to irritate the skin.

* Emu oil for some reason seems to be an exception according to users of this site.

Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:

1. Contain drying alcohols, witch hazel, peppermint, or other skin irritants.

2. Contain animal oils. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients, as these can encourage bacterial growth.

Don't Buy Salicylic Acid Products* That:

1. Contain skin irritants like drying alcohols, witch hazel, peppermint, or other skin irritants.

2. Have a pH higher than 4 or else the salicylic acid will not be an effective exfoliant. A good idea of a product's pH can be obtained with pH indicator strips.

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients (See "Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:")

* Most salicylic acid products are not pH correct, contain irritants, or both.

Don't Buy Benzoyl Peroxide Products:

1. That contain skin irritants.

2. To use in conjunction with prescription retinoids (with the exception of adapalene which is used in Differin). Benzoyl peroxide renders most retinoids unstable and should be applied only in the morning if a prescription retinoid is being used at night.

3. Contain animal oils. (See Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

Don't Buy Tea Tree Oil Products That:

1. Contain skin irritants.

2. Have less than a 5% concentration of tea tree oil, or more than a 15% concentration. Too little tea tree oil is likely to be ineffective, and too much may be irritating. You can, however, buy pure tea tree oil and dilute it, so long as you aim for the right concentration.

3. Contain animal oils. (See Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

Don't Buy Moisturizers That:

1. Are in cream form. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

2. Contain animal oils. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients. (See "Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:")

4. Contain skin irritants.

Don't Buy Sunscreens That:

1. Are in cream form. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

2. Contain animal oils. (See "Don't Buy Cleansers That:")

3. Contain rice or corn ingredients. (See "Don't Buy Toners or Astringents That:")

4. Do not contain avobenzone, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, mexoryl sx, or tinosorb; the ingredients recognized by the FDA to provide adequate UVA protection.

5. Do not have an SPF of 15 or higher.

6. Contain skin irritants.

In General

1. Don't use products that contain skin irritants. Skin irritants prematurely kill skin cells, littering the skin with more dead skin cells than it can naturally slough off, thus creating a greater risk of clogged pores. Skin irritants also interfere with the skin's healing process, which can result in an increase in bacteria.

Some common skin irritants are:

Alcohols. Ethanol (grain alcohol), denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl, and SD alcohol should be avoided. (Exceptions: Ingredients like cetyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols. Some alcohols like SD alcohols can be used in small amounts. An ingredient is in a small amount if it appears at the end of an ingredients list).
Ammonia
Arnica
Balm mint
Balsam
Bentonite (can be used in the occasional clay mask, but avoid frequent use or formulations which contain other "actives")
Benzalkonium chloride (if it is one of the main ingredients)
Benzyl Alcohol (if it is one of the main ingredients)
Bergamot
Camphor
Cinnamon
Citrus juices and oils
Clove
Clover blossom
Coriander
Cornstarch
Essential Oils
Eucalyptus
Eugenol
Fennel
Fennel oil
Feverfew
Fir needle
Fragrance (may be listed as "Parfum")
Geranium
Ginger
Grapefruit
Horsetail
Jasmine
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Linalool
Marjoram
Melissa (lemon balm)
Menthol, Menthyl Acetate, and Menthyl PCA
Mint
Oak bark
Orange
Oregano
Papaya
Peppermint
Phenol
Rose
Sandalwood oil
Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
TEA-lauryl sulfate
Thyme
Wintergreen
Witch hazel
Ylang-ylang

2. Don't base your use of a product on whether or not it says "non-comedogenic," "oil-free," "hypo-allergenic," "dermatologically tested," and similar terms. These are flashy marketing terms that have no regulations, therefore, they can mean anything. As mentioned earlier, products with waxy thickeners and animal oils (not plant oils) are most likely to clog pores. Mineral sunscreen ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can clog pores, though synthetic sunscreens like avobenzone can irritate the skin of certain people and also trigger breakouts. Everyone is different and will be sensitive to different ingredients, so there is no real way of knowing what will or will not clog pores, just what may clog pores. One other thing- acne can take two weeks to form, so if you break out right after starting a product, don't assume that product was the culprit.

3. Don't use specialty products (chemical exfoliants, moisturizers, etc...) that are in jar packaging to minimize air exposure. Oxygen can render certain ingredients unstable. Also, with jar packaging, there is a concern for product contamination. Sunlight can also render certain ingredients unstable, so if you buy a product in clear packaging, be sure to store it in a dark space (such as a medicine cabinet or drawer).

4. Don't assume that the stronger a product (i.e. the higher the concentration of an active ingredient), the more effective it will be. Using a product that is too strong for you may cause irritation that can worsen acne. What is a good strength varies by person.

5. Don't assume that naturally-occurring ingredients are better for your skin. As can be seen by the list of common skin irritants above, there are plenty of ingredients both man-made and naturally-occurring that can be irritating to the skin.

6. Don't touch your face if you can avoid it so as to prevent the spread of contaminants.

7. If you have trouble with inflammatory acne, change your bedding often (once a week), and keep anything that touches your face frequently (like a phone or washcloth) clean and disinfected to prevent the spread of contaminants.

8. Don't use makeup testers on your face to prevent the risk of contamination.

9. Don't apply your moisturizer over areas of your face that are not dry. Applying moisturizer where it is not needed can increase the risk of clogged pores by mixing with excess sebum and "gluing" dead skin cells to the skin's surface.

10. Don't tan. Tanning only temporarily masks acne, damaging the skin in the process, which can actually lead to a worsening of acne. Even if tanning did help, it's not worth the risk of skin cancer, premature aging, cataracts, cellulite, and rosacea associated with unprotected sun exposure.

11. Don't steam the skin or rinse with hot water as this can cause irritation and capillaries to surface. It is best to wash with luke-warm water.

12. Don't give up on a new regimen. You need at the very minimum one month and preferrably two to see results. When using prescription retinoids, you need at least three months.

13. Don't over-scrub the skin as this can cause irritations. It is best to use gentle, circular motions. When drying the face, pat the skin dry as opposed to rubbing it dry.

14. Avoid doing anything to aggravate a pimple. It may be beneficial to pop one provided the pimple is ready to pop, but only apply light pressure. Never squeeze, scratch, or pick at it. If light pressure does not release the contents of a pimple, you will likely worsen it should you increase that pressure.

15. Don't use more than one method of exfoliation at once. For example, don't use a scrub followed by a salicylic acid product, or a salicylic acid product followed by an alpha hydroxy acid product. You risk over-irritating the skin.

16. Don't generously apply products (with the exception of sunscreen, which should be generously applied). Usually only a dime-sized amount / thinly applied layer is all that's needed for the entire face. Over-applying products can be harmful to the skin.

17. Be happy! Who knows, your skin might even get clearer as a result. If not, it's better to have acne and be happy than it is to have acne and wallow in gloom.


__________________________________________________________________________



Part II: Building a Regimen

Here are some products you could use to help build your own customized regimen, which are also listed in the responses below.
I recommend building a basic regimen that includes at the minimum these steps:

1) Cleansing with Lukewarm Water
2) Exfoliating
3) Disinfecting (If You Have Inflammatory Acne)
4) Moisturizing Dry Areas Only (Nighttime)
5) Applying Sunscreen to All Exposed Areas of Skin (Daytime)

You can also include other steps in your regimen, like the application of toners which don't contain chemical exfoliants (not that toners containing chemical exfoliants shouldn't be used if that's your method of exfoliation) or of retinoids. Also, you don't have to apply all these products at the same time; for example, you can exfoliate as often as twice a day or as little as once every other day. You should, however, cleanse twice daily.

Something I want to make very clear is that I am not advertising a cure for acne. The above mentioned steps follow skin care basics and are beneficial to most people. Subsequently, using a regimen following these steps may result in clear skin, but it may make absolutely no change whatsoever. If you use the wrong products or can't tolerate certain steps like exfoliation or certain types of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, it might even make your skin worse. If you're looking for a starting point to treating acne or have been following a damaging skin care routine and want to stop, I definately recommend giving such a regimen a chance, but I don't want to give anyone false hope that their acne will disappear from following it. You may have a stubborn case of acne that is beyond the help of over-the-counter treatments, in which case I advise you seek a dermatologist's help. I also want to stress that the treatments I recommend below are not the only decently formulated products out there (though the salicylic acid products I listed are the only ones I know of that are both pH correct and gentle).


Some cleansers you may want to consider are:

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild Formula
Eucerin Baby Aquaphor Gentle Wash
Eucerin Redness Relief Cleansing Gel
Paula's Choice (any cleanser)
Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash


Some manual scrubs you may want to consider as exfoliants are:

Essential Nutrients Daily Exfoliating Cleanser with Soft Massage Beads
Nivea for Men Energizing Face Scrub (women can use this too)


Some toners (not containing chemical exfoliants) you may want to consider are:

Biotherm Biosensitive Soothing Refreshing Spring Mist
Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion*
Derma E Pycnogenol Facial Toner, Fragrance Free
Nivea Visage Moisturizing Toner
Paula's Choice Toners

*This contains about a 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid at a pH of around 4, making it minimally effective for exfoliation, though you probably won't notice a significant difference in your skin due

Some salicylic acid products you may want to consider as exfoliants are:

Bare Vitamins Skin Rever-Upper (if it really has a pH of 3.8, as the company claimed in an e-mail)
Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Defense Face Lotion
Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Anti-Blemish Daily Moisturizer
Paula's Choice 1% or 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid products*
Serious Skin Care Clarifying Treatment

*Paula's Choice makes by far the best salicylic acid products


Some benzoyl peroxide products you may want to consider as disinfectants are:

Dan's Clear Skin Regimen Gel (2.5%)
Jan Marini Skin Research Benzoyl Peroxide (2.5%)
Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel (5%)
Oxy Balance, Sensitive Skin Acne Treatment, Vanishing Formula (5%)
Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solutions (2.5% or 5%)
Persa-Gel 10, Maximum Strength (10%)
Zapzyt 10% Benzoyl Peroxide

Some tea tree oil products you may want to consider as disinfectants are:

Derma E Tea Tree and Antiseptic Cream* (5%)
Desert Essence 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil (diluted; aim for between a 5 and 15% concentration in your mixture)

*This product is in jar packaging, so the vitamin E and other antioxidants won't be stable, but the tea tree oil should work. It is also in cream form, which users may want to be wary of.

Some over-the-counter retinol* products you may want to consider are:

Diacneal with 6.4% Glycolic Acid
Green Cream
Jan Marini Factor-A Lotion
Makeup Artist's Choice Retinol Serum (which comes in clear packaging, so store it in a dark place)

*Products containing retinol do not necessarily produce similar results to prescription retinoid products

Some moisturizers you may want to consider are:

Dove Sensitive Essentials Daytime Lotion (no SPF)
Green Canyon Spa Skin Barrier Serum
Malibu Hemp Moisturizer Body Lotion for Dry Skin
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisture Gel
Zia Natural Skincare Herbal Moisture Gel

Some sunscreens you may want to consider are:

Clinique Super City Block SPF 25 Oil-Free Daily Face Protector
Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protector
M.A.C. Daily SPF 15 Light Moisture
Neutrogena Active Breathable Sunblocks
Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunsblocks
Proactiv Solution Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15

There is an esthetician in the San Francisco Bay Area who has a very high success rate with patients who come in for acne. She and her staff are passionate in this area. In particular, I'm hoping she'll fill in where I leave off when it comes to non-inflammatory acne (the stuff that stays under the skin and doesn't get red). Please post your questions for her by replying to this thread and I will ask her your questions in our interview. Questions on blackheads are welcome as well.

Thanks!

Dan

Since so many people including myself have questions about BHA's and AHA's, I thought I would post this for everyone to read and learn about them. I got it from the Paula's Choice website so I have to give her props for educating us. It's long but very imformative. Read and learn:

Understanding Exfoliants

AHAs vs. BHA
There are two primary topical ways to exfoliate skin, either with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), or with beta hydroxy acid (BHA). There is only one BHA (beta hydroxy acid) and that is salicylic acid, but there are a variety of AHAs. The five major types of AHAs that show up in skin-care products are glycolic, lactic, malic, citric, and tartaric acids. Of these, the most commonly used and most effective AHAs are glycolic and lactic acids. Both of these have the ability to penetrate the skin, plus they have the most accumulated research on their functionality and benefit for skin.

What glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids both do is "unglue" the outer layer of dead skin cells, allowing healthier cells to come to the surface. Removing this dead layer can improve skin texture and color, unclog pores, and allow moisturizers to be better absorbed by the skin. Both AHAs and BHA affect the top layers of skin, and they help to improve the appearance of sun-damaged, dry, and/or thickened skin. Sun damage in particular causes the top layer of skin to become thicker, creating a dull, rough appearance on the surface of skin (Sources: Archives of Dermatologic Research, June 1997, pages 404–409; Dermatologic Surgery, May 1998, pages 573–577). There is even research showing AHAs can generate collagen production (Sources: Experimental Dermatology, April 2003, (Supplemental), pages 57-63 and Dermatologic Surgery, May 2001, page 429.)

Because AHAs and BHA work through chemical processes, they can penetrate the skin and produce better results than cosmetic scrubs, which work only on the exposed surface of the skin. And, there is no risk that AHAs and BHA will cause you to lose too much skin. Technically, there is a drop-off rate, meaning the AHA and BHA will exfoliate just the dead or damaged surface skin and leave the healthy skin alone. This is the main reason why you will see a drop-off in performance when using an AHA or BHA product. The dramatic results in the beginning of usage (when the thickened, discolored layers of skin are being removed) seem much more impressive than the results from continued use. This is to be expected, and it is important to note that continued use of an AHA or BHA product is required in order to maintain skin’s smooth, even-toned, healthy appearance.

The primary difference between AHAs and BHA is that AHAs are water-soluble, while BHA is lipid-(oil) soluble. This unique property of BHA allows it to penetrate the oil in the pores and exfoliate accumulated skin cells inside the oil gland that can clog pores. BHA is best used where blackheads and blemishes are the issue, and AHAs are best for sun-damaged, thickened, dry skin where breakouts are not a problem (Source: Global Cosmetic Industry, November 2000, pages 56–57).

pH Sensitive AHA and BHA
AHAs work best at concentrations of 5% to 10% with a pH of 3 to 4, and their effectiveness diminishes as you go above a pH of 4.5. BHA works best at concentrations of between 1% and 2%, and at an optimal pH of 3, diminishing in effectiveness as you go past a pH of 4. Both AHAs and BHA lose their effectiveness as a product's pH goes up or the concentration of the ingredient goes down. (Source: Cosmetic Dermatology, October 2001, pages 15–18).

If the cosmetics industry isn't forthcoming about the necessary percentages and pH for a BHA or AHA product (and most companies aren't), how can you tell if it provides decent or effective exfoliation? Consumers can't, not unless they are shopping with pH measuring paper in hand, which is exactly how I rate exfoliants when I review products for my book, newsletter, or Beauty Bulletin. As a general rule, it is best if the AHA ingredient is either second or third on the ingredient list, making it likely that the product contains a 5% or higher concentration of AHAs. For salicylic acid, because only a 2% to 0.5% concentration is required, it is fine if this ingredient is located toward the middle or end of the ingredient list.

It is interesting to not that at any pH, AHAs provide the added benefit of helping to keep water in the skin at the same time that exfoliation is taking place. This is due to the way they affect skin cells adding increased protection. AHAs can also increase the production of ceramides in the skin, which help keep it moist and healthy (Source: Dry Skin and Moisturizers Chemistry and Function, edited by Marie Loden and Howard Maibach, 2000, page 237).

While BHA penetrates deeper into the pore than AHAs, it can be less irritating than AHAs. This is due to BHA's relation to aspirin. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has anti-inflammatory properties and BHA, salicylic acid, is derived from aspirin and on the skin, retains some of its same anti-inflammatory benefits.

AHA and BHA products can definitely smooth the skin, fade signs of sun damage, correct uneven skin tone, improve texture, unclog pores, and give the appearance of plumper, firmer skin (because more healthy skin cells are now on the surface). Unfortunately, they have no residual effect—when you stop using them the skin will go back to the condition it was in before you started.

AHA Confusion
There are AHA sound-alikes, including sugarcane extract, mixed fruit acids, fruit extracts, milk extract, and citrus extract. You may think you've purchased a more natural AHA product when you see these less technical names, but that isn't the case. Although glycolic acid is derived from sugarcane, and lactic acid from milk, that doesn't mean sugarcane extract or milk extract are the same as glycolic or lactic acid, yet they do share these acid’s water-binding properties, in much the same way as salicylic acid share’s the anti-inflammatory properties of its relation, aspirin.

Unless you see glycolic, lactic, malic, tartaric, or citric acid on the ingredient list, it's all too vague and meaningless, making it impossible to determine what you are really buying. My advice is to be very suspicious of any product that claims an association with AHAs but contains a variety of sound-alike ingredients.

BHA Confusion
Products boasting that they contain a natural source of salicylic acid (BHA) usually add willow bark. Willow bark contains salicin, a substance that when taken orally is converted by the digestion process to salicylic acid. That means the process of converting willow bark to salicylic acid requires the presence of enzymes to turn the salicin into salicylic acid. The likelihood that willow bark in the tiny amount used in cosmetics can mimic the effectiveness of salicylic acid on skin is in all likelihood impossible. However, willow bark may indeed have some anti-inflammatory benefits for skin because, in this form, it appears to retain more of its aspirin-like composition.

What About Higher Concentrations of AHAs?
Removing the outer layer of skin can be taken too far, and many cosmetic dermatologists and researchers worry that the increased irritation and exfoliation caused by higher concentrations (above 10%) of AHAs may be too much for skin. Without more evidence showing a benefit from higher concentrations, I feel that you can achieve great results without any unwanted side effects. Further, the positive results women and men perceive with higher concentrations of AHAs may come from the swelling and edema they cause. That may diminish the appearance of wrinkles and make the skin feel smoother, but it is most likely not best for the long-term health of the skin due to the increased amount of constant irritation.

Polyhydroxy Acids
The search for an effective form of AHA or an extra ingredient that can enhance performance and reduce irritation has been a popular topic of discussion among cosmetics formulators. Gluconolactone is a type of polyhydroxy acid that NeoStrata believes serves both ends: It is supposed to be just as effective as AHAs but also less irritating.

Gluconolactone (PHA) is similar to AHAs. The significant difference between the two is that gluconolactone has a larger molecular structure, which limits its penetration into the skin, resulting in a reduction of irritating side effects in some skin types. So is gluconolactone better for your skin than AHAs? Research indicates that AHA and PHA perform identically with AHA having a slight edge for improving the appearance of skin and PHA having less risk of irritation (Source: Cutis, February 2003, (2 Supplemental), pages14-17).

Retinoids (Retin-A, Differin, and Tazorac)
Let me make it perfectly clear that retinoids are not exfoliants, though many people think that's what they do. Retinoids are a general term referring to a vast range of ingredients derived from vitamin A. Prescription-only, topically applied retinoids are significant for skin because they can positively affect the way cells are formed deep in the dermis.

If you have sun-damaged, dry, wrinkled, or acne-prone skin, you should become familiar with the names Retin-A, Renova, Differin, Avita, and Tazorac, which all contain different forms of retinoids. The active ingredient in Retin-A, Avita, and Renova is tretinoin, Differin uses adapalene, and Tazorac uses tazorotene. In fact, both Renova and Tazorac have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles (Sources: Dermatologic Surgery, June 2004, pages 864-866; Archives of Dermatology, November 2002, pages 1486-1493; Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, October 2001, pages 613–618; and www.fda.gov).

Exfoliants such as AHAs and BHA primarily affect the surface of the skin (epidermis) or the lining of the pore by actually ungluing or dissolving layers of skin cells. In contrast, retinoids affects the lower layers of skin (dermis), where new skin cells are produced. Retinoids actually communicate with a skin cell as it is being formed, telling it to develop normally instead of developing as a sun-damaged or genetically malformed skin cell.

Why the confusion about the effect retinoids can have on the skin? Primarily it's due to the fact that products containing retinoids can cause irritation and inflammation, resulting in the skin becoming flaky and dry. This flaking and dryness is not exfoliation, nor is it a desirable or advantageous result. If retinoids cause your skin to be consistently dry and flaky, it is a problem and you should probably avoid products that contain it or reduce how often you use them.

Despite the valuable effect retinoids can have for skin, don't expect retinoids to erase wrinkles because they are not a wrinkle cure. However, if skin cells can be produced with a healthier form and shape, the skin's surface will have a smoother appearance, skin cells will do their job of turning over in a more normal fashion, the protective outer layer of skin will remain intact, enhancing the skin's healing response, and on and on. In essence, the skin will behave and look the way it did (to some extent) before it was damaged by the sun.

Regardless of these positive effects, retinoids will be useless, and the skin will be prone to more damage, if you do not wear a sunscreen as well. Not a wrinkle cream in the world, even one approved by the FDA, can have positive results if you don't use an effective sunscreen; without that, you are just adding to damage you already have accumulated.

What retinoids, AHA, and BHA products have in common is that once you stop using them, your skin will revert to the way it was before. These products will not produce permanent change. The smooth exterior lasts only as long as you use them. But used together long-term, they are a formidable weapon in the battle against wrinkles and blemishes.

-One big teaspoon of honey.
-One big teaspoon of basic water-based moisturizer.
-8 Drops of rubbing alcohol/surgical spirit.
-6 Drops of apple cider vinegar.
-4 Drops of 100% tea tree oil.
-2 * 300mg aspirin pills (has to be a very fine powder like flour, no chunks!)
-2 * 200mg ibuprofen pills (has to be a very fine powder like flour, no chunks!)
This makes enough to cover the entire face.

This has everything you will need to get rid of acne. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, very mild-peel, moisturizing, pain relieving, cheap, easy, and also anything else which any of the products do. Once it dries slightly, it becomes really sticky Wash your face before applying it.

Heres a short success story:
I decided for a weekend (the past one) that I would just stay in. I had this on for the entire weekend, and replaced it once every 24 hours. Every morning I would wash my face with regular soap, and reapply the mask. I did not get one single new pimple, the existing ones were as good as gone, and the size and redness of my red marks had reduced by about half. It gets very very sticky to sleep with, if you can't sleep on your back then youre in for one hell of a ride I had to wash my sheets once a day but it was worth it.

I havent tried it for shorter periods of time, say 1 hour.. but I took it to the extreme and it worked very well. I had it on for 72 hours straight and it was amazing.

Have a go at it, and tell me how it worked for you.

What if im just washing my face with soap and water, and a pimple started bleeding?
Is that considered popping it?
Will it leave scars?

What DOES a scar look like? Is it like a darker color on your skin?
Because all my past pimples have left a darker mark on my skin.

Hey guys and girls

I'm a 22 year old male, and I have been using Neutrogena Deep Poor Cleanser for a over a year now. It helped a LOT in the beginning, but now it doesn't seams to help at all, actually it's almost like it's getting worse. I got a lot of outbreaks, and I have tried to be extra careful not to irritate the skin for the last week or so, but it doesn't really seams to help at all (yeah it might be too little to actually see a difference, but I'm beginning to doubt that this product do any good anymore).

So I want to hear if the salicylic acid really is needed for my skin?

I have also used Benzolperoxide but it didn't do much for me so I stopped it after a 4-5 months.

I would say my skin is somewhat oily, and I get outbreaks pretty much everywhere also shoulders/back. Right now I have a lot of red pimpels, some few big ones, many smaller ones, and a few white heads. I also have some scars/deep pimples (not sure what it's called) caused by scratching, but I generally try to be gentle with the outbreaks and not touching the skin.

I read about the acid mantle, and wonder if it actually helps that much to use salicylic acid, and not just try making the acid mantle work for me instead? I'm very much for trying to make my body work for me, instead of applying chemicals (as many times the body will get used to that after a while and it makes no difference).

I have tried to search but haven't really found much about how salicylic acid treatment affect acid mantle, but I appologies if there already has been a post about this.

Oh yeah, I wash my face two times a day.

Have no idea what to do now, but I think about stop using the products and try making the skin heal itself. But maybe it will just make the skin worse as then there will be no acid (because skin is used to the salicylic acid)?

Any input is appreciated. Thanks a million!

Hello,

I've been using the electric toothbrush method to exfoliate for around 6-7 days.

Has anyone else using this method experienced a breakout of small red spots - over that period, almost looks like a rash. My skin looks worse then when I started using it, and I'm thinking of giving up

cheers,

Hi, I'm new here and I just want to share my problem with all of you....I am 31 years old and for the past 3 years I experienced the worst time of my life: battling adult acne. I never had this problem before but once I hit 29, they hit me....BAD My acnes are mild/moderate and they all focus on my chin...I began with those superficial pimples & white heads, then later I had these red cysts with pus (yuke!) and now..they've upgraded to these deep skin big red ones that are hard underneath, seldom comes to a head and last for weeks..if not months (sounds kinda like nodular acne)...I've tried everything OTC like bp, SA, retinol, herbs...then my doc gave me oral antibiotics, clindamycin topical, hydrocortisone topical, Azelex etc..and yet my deep skin acnes remain...I'm thinking about trying the 10% Sodium Sulfacetamide like Klaron or the Plexion/Clenia wash...if you have tried any of these, can you share you experience with me??? Or just tell me what you think... Thank you people!

on my chin it seems like almost every pore is a tiny blackhead in a sense that if i push on it with my tongue (from inside the mouth to stretch the skin) and it seems like the dried stuff comes out of the pores.. its not really noticeable but i'm just wondering what it is and how to get rid of it. sometimes i just do the stretching thing and wipe it off with a towel or something... and then my skin feels smooth and looks better but then it usually comes back within a week again or something.

My doctor prescribed it so I think that this one is finally gonna work

I shall be logging my experience so that you all can learn from my expierence ok? ok

I am also using Checks and Balances by origins which is GREAT!

im also using a moisturizer by Gunilla of sweeden but i might find a new one, maybe a jojaba oil or whatever.

Well i gotta go put this stuff on nows! xD

Tomorrow i will detail my first night of the stuff! (exciting much?! )

HERE I GO!

WISH ME LUCK!

i always hear people talking about how youre better off having small pores and "my pores are getting huge!" quotes often come up in drama comedies.

but what are pores? and what is the difference between large and small? (pics please?)

are large pores just another way of saying pimple?

what about small bumps on the skin? i have them and i was wondering what i could do about them, i originalyl thought about a microdermabrasion cloth.

Hello,

I'm kind of unclear on whether I have dry skin or oily skin.

I'm 22, and have moderate/severe acne on my face. Been struggling with it for about four of five years now. Took minocycline for awhile and it really really helps but it doesn't get my acne all the way gone. Taken lots of topicals too. And when I run out of pills, it comes back full force.

So, I'm thinking of trying accutane.

Anyways, I see a lot of people on this forum say that acne comes from oily skin.

I don't know which skin type I am.

I'm half italian, and half irish. I tan pretty easily, in the summer everyone will comment how tan I have gotten. I have acne on my forehead and chin mostly.

I have dandruff on my scalp. There is this weird thing on my calves too. There seems to be a thin layer of white on them. If I lick my finger and rub it on my calves, the wetness seems to remove this very thin layer of whiteness, which I just assume is dry skin.

My dandruff and leg don't bother me at all, but my nose does. My nose is red and pinkish most of the time. Pretty much the whole nose and cheeks connecting to the nose are reddish. When I get out of the shower it turns the brightest red. It ithces a lot sometimes. I have to use moisturizer pretty much twice a day or else it gets really ithcy/flakey/red. I rarely get any zits on my nose. If I don't moisturize for awhile, small red bumps form on the area that my nose meets my cheeks. I just examined my nose closely in the mirror and their seems to be small black little bumps all over it (blackheads?).

I put some hydrocortison on my nose/cheeks every week or so and it helps a lot but I hear it is not good to use it everyday so I don't.

Anyways, I'm thinking of starting accutane and I hear it really drys out your skin. Will it make my nose super dry and more irratated than normal? Or will it help my red nose?

Does accutane work for only oily skin?

It seems like I have oily (where the acne is) and dry skin (nose)? But i'm not sure.

About six or seven years ago in high school I had mild acne. Back then my nose never had this redness. My nose got acne too and it was very oily, my friend would call it 'an oil slick.' Now it's just red and dry as hell. Strange. I always thought oily and dry were opposites, maybe not.

Thoughts?


I'll try to post some pictures later.

Thanks!

-J

I've been seeing a dermatologist for about 2 years, for mild/moderate acne. He put me on a pretty intense acne routine. I've been following it religiously. But my acne only started to truly improve after I went on Yaz, birth control.

Now I feel like my skin is WAY too dry and my routine needs to change. I still have blemishes but hardly ever have bad breakouts anymore. This is what it is now:

-Cetaphil face wash
-Benzoyl Peroxide Pad (6%)
-MGM Erythromycin topical solution (morning) or Differin (night)
-Olay moisturizer

I'm thinking about changing the BP pad at night to a salicylic pad. Good/bad idea? Any other suggestions?

Sorry another question! If you ae a woman and have taken roaccutane, when were you able to use make up again after finishing the course?
Thank you,
Rasha19

Hi all,

Ive been on azelaic acid for 6 days, and i have had a bit of a breakout at the side of my mouth, only small zits, and a few on my nose, and a couple here and there. Its a fair bit worse than it was before i started using it, at which point i was just spot treating with Dans BP and then Dans AHA.I know that skinoren is supposed to unclog your pores so i was wondering whether this breakout could be part of the process with azelaic acids. I know its not very common but was just wondering if anyone has experienced the same sort of thing on this med and then experienced good results. I like the product overall, good for controlling oil and gives my skin an even tone but just need to know if this initial breakout is anything to worry about. The reason i suspect it might be a 'purge' is because ive always had a fair few blackheads on my nose and these seem to have developed into microzits so i assume/hope my skin is just being unclogged and will settle down as time goes on. Any advice would be welcomed.

Many thanks,

Tommy

I have had a blind pimple coming up for the last couple of days. I just applied a tiny bit of pressure to the side of it and it popped. What should I do to calm the inflamation now and try to avoid it getting bigger?

The Regimen Rules:

*NO CHEMICALS

*Eat as Healthy as you can. No Refined Carbohydrates.

*Drink enough Water and eat enough Vegetables.

*NEVER EVER USE HOT WATER ON BODY OR FACE, ITS NOT NATURAL.

*Exfoliate with Baking Soda.

*Supplements: Cod liver oil tablets with Vitamins A D E and Evening Primrose oil(Balances Hormones)

*Optional - Urine Therapy.

The Method

Morning:

Fill sink with cold water

Dip face in for two minutes.

Dry face with paper towels.

Take Supplements.(Cod liver oil tablets, Urine therapy?)

Afternoon:

5 O'Clock :Exfoliate with Baking Soda

Cold Shower or

Fill sink with Cold water

Dip face in for two minutes.

Dry face with paper towels.


Later, depending on what i did earlier :Cold Shower or

Fill sink with Cold water

Dip face in for two minutes.

Dry face with paper towels.

Why It Works

Supplements: Aid skin repair, hormone balance and general health

COLD water: Closes pores so NO MORE DEAD SKIN CELLS CAN BUILD UP AND SO ONLY PORES BLOCKED BEFORE REGIMEN CAN BECOME INFLAMED.

Exfoliation: To try and unblock pores blocked before regimen began, to prevent them from becoming inflamed.

No Chemicals: Chemicals are totally drying, harmful and not natural.

What To Expect

WEEK 1: Less uninflamed acne

WEEK 2: Less uninflamed acne and less inflamed acne

WEEK 3: Minimal uninflamed acne and less inflamed acne

WEEK 4: Minimal uninflamed acne and minimal inflamed acne

Sorry if this sounds like a bit too much information but I feel compelled to shed some light on a possible cure for others.

I'm a healthy eater and I've always very careful not to eat greasy oily food. I couldn't figure out why I had sandpaper bumpy skin. I went to several top derms in my state and they didn't help me after two years. My skin got worse- it was irritated and red. I was left with only accutane as an option. I refused to go on it.

After stopping the irritating creams (I have VERY sensitive skin), I went on a search to find what might cause my acne. I havent posted much on these boards but I do take a peek here time to time looking for possible cures.

About a week and a half ago, I found a post about Activia and how it helped people to cure their acne. I look more into this concept of "dirty stomach" and how the toxins building up can cause acne. Being completely honest, I had bowel movements on an average once every three days.

I read that one person had to take 4 activias a day to achieve clear skin. I take one a day. Almost instantly, I noticed my skin was getting better. Right now, my skin is 90% smoother (and I've been having daily bm). And I wouldn't have come across this if it had not been for these boards.

To all you contributers and posters, thank you. I sincerely mean it. I don't know how long this will last (hopefully forever) but I'm still very thankful.

So this is what I've been doing:
- every day for breakfast I eat one yogurt with live cultures. Along with Activia, I also purchased Darigold's yogurt with active probiotic cultures. Both of them work well for me so I would suggest you try both brands in case. I've used Activia for 4 days (it comes in a pack of 4) and for the last 5 days I've been eating the Darigold.
- I don't wash with a bar soap anymore. My facialists told me that my skin had residue from the soap i was using (ivory) and recommended I change to another. Currently I'm using ORIKI Oily skin cleanser and toner. It cost me $50 for both but I think it's worth it. I've had it over 2 months and I'm about 1/4 done with both. I wash my face twice a day and I pat my face dry GENTLY with a paper towel. My facialist told me that the acne bacteria can stay on towels even after it's been put in the wash. I usually get a paper towel, cut it in half since only half is needed, pat my face dry, and then wipe around the sink with it (hey it's clean!)
- I've been careful to try and stay away from MSG. I think I might have an allergy to it. I read on a website how harmful it is and how some people are very sensitive to it. Knowing this, I've been careful to cut MSG out of my diet as much as I can since I've started this yogurt thing a week and a half ago. I want to note that the day I did try something with MSG (bamboo shoots with chilli oil) two small zits appeared. It went away after the next bm.
- I don't drink milk anymore. I only drink soy milk. I also don't use iodine salt and tend to stay away from products with iodine (ex. seaweed).

I hope this information can help someone as much as it helped me.

Again, thank you so much to the all contributors on this board. You have helped me find my "cure" to acne which I have battled for over 7 years.

Okay so I'm 18 years old now and my acne seems to be worse then ever. I used to have very very mild acne with no red bumps, but the white ones that you couldn't really see with the occasional pimple. So because of the mildness I tried to get rid of it. I went to a dermatologist and he prescribed Differin to me. That made my face burn and dry up so much I couldn't use it anymore. I took that for about 2 weeks or so.

Then I would try treatments from places like CVS. Those seemed to do okay, kind of just preventing any new pimples, but didn't get rid of my mild acne.

Now the worst of them all, ProActiv. I purchased ProActiv at...the beginning of October. I continued to use it, day and night like it said, all 3 treatments, for about a month and a half to 2 months. In the beginning it seemed to be clearing it up and then a little while later my face just broke out. Worse than ever. Now I have about 5-6 red bumps on my left side of my face and 2 on my right side and they will not go away. It seemed as if ProActiv was making them worse so I stopped using it. This was about a week and a half ago and I still have the bumps on my face. I assumed that if I stopped using it my face would clear up somewhat right?

I really don't know what to do anymore and this seems like one of the worst ages to have it. Also, I'm active playing football every weekend and hockey every once in a while too. And yes, I take showers after I play too. I a lot of water, around 3-4 Poland Spring bottles a day. I don't eat fast food a lot, I work out. I'm lost here lol. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

i was clear during the summer, and now im breaking out with the cold weather
I dont know what to change though

I use retin A every other night
I shave every other night as well
And i use Aloa vera gel morning and night
I use Spectro Gel morning and night

If i use retin A every third night is this okay?
and i would stop shaving as it is drying but it really does help with my acne, but i just dont know what to do anymore...

would is be better to apply the aloa vera right after i wash my face?

Anyone have any suggestions?
Im getting red bumps that arent forming whiteheads right now, they are not moving off my face!!

hey ...its been just over two weeks since drinking acv and using it as a toner after i cleanse my face and my face is breaking out in tiny comedones more...does anyone know whats going on ?
thanks....

Has anyone tried this stuff? My parents went to vegas and as my mom was getting a facial she asked if they had anything for acne, the lady recommended this stuff and my mom bought it for me. It was $99 and is apparently really good for the treatment of acne. Now I'm really iffy about trying a new product just because I have been using the same regimen for so long. Has anyone tried this with results, or heard of anything???

i was just wondering how come video gamers always seem to have acne? well not all, but a lot of them do. My brother used to do boxing and he stopped palying games because he didnt have time and his acne disappeared, but now he started playing again and isnt boxing as much, and now he is breaking out again!
ok too much info i was just wondering why videogamers tend to have more acne than others.

http://www.amazon.com/OLAY-Regenerist-Micr...t/dp/B000F63TW0
This is it right here, I've been looking at it for awhile now, but a bit hestitant to get it.
Anybody know if this will work will for red marks?
I've been using lemon juice for a few weeks now and it's been doing okay, noting quite too mindblowing.
Should i stop doing that and do this?

Thanks!

has anyone tried this? http://www.purpleemu.com/store/newarcreme.html

my mom got me a jar and I was wondering if anyone has used this. its website talks it up a lot. she got me the $80 jar too, pretty expensive. it is worth it?

I've been getting these a lot lately, and have no idea how to treat them. They're the kind of spots that linger mostly under the skin and don't come to a head. Mine last for about a month (!!!), and rarely respond to the topicals I've used.

I've tried BP on them, which was a huge mistake... each time I'd try, they'd swell up and get a lot bigger than they were originally. I've also used tea tree oil, sulfur, calomine, SA, clay masks, Mario Badescu, you name it, I've probably slopped it on my face.

I was wondering if there was any way to draw them out and speed the healing process. Does anybody know of any topical treatments that might help with under-the-skin spots? They're my biggest problem right now, and I've been getting them almost exclusively. No whiteheads, but always these huge papules. They're almost like mini-cysts, though the stuff inside isn't squishy/watery. It feels pretty solid.

I'd really, really appreciate any advice from somebody who's found a good solution for these things. I have no idea what to do with them anymore, because nothing I've tried has done a thing. Thanks much, and hope to hear from some of you soon!

Hi, I'm new here and I just want to share my problem with all of you....I am 31 years old and for the past 3 years I experienced the worst time of my life: battling adult acne. I never had this problem before but once I hit 29, they hit me.... My acnes are mild/moderate and they all focus on my chin...I began with those superficial pimples & white heads, then later I had these red cysts with pus (yuke!) and now..they've upgraded to these deep skin big red ones that are hard underneath, never came to a head and last for weeks..if not months...I've tried everything OTC like bp, SA, retinol, herbs...then my doc gave me oral antibiotics, clindamycin topical, hydrocortisone topical, Azelex etc..and yet my deep skin acnes remain...I'm thinking about trying the 10% Sodium Sulfacetamide like Klaron or the Plexion wash...if you have tried any of these, can you share you experience with me???

Heya.

I never wash my face. Not even just with water. And I dont because I was completly clear in summer and all I did was eat healthly and get sun:)


Now, back in cold wet england, my skin is itcy and seriously flaky. If i rub the sleeve of my jumper over my forehead my sleeve will be basically white, and my skin is itcy.


How can I stop this?



Thanks Dipo

So I have long hair (for a guys standards) and I part it to the left. Whenever I get a rare breakout, it seems that it is right where my hair touches my face.

What do you guys think?