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I am currently 16, nearing 17 years old, entering into my Junior year of high school. CUrrently, my acne situation is mostly (what I thoroughly believe) hormonal breakouts just around my mouth, like above my lips occasionally and mostly that soft skin kind of between your chin area, jawline area, and bottom lip. Okay so this is going to be a pretty extensive post; it seems there is a lot for me to cover.
Basically, throughout middle school I didn't have much skin problems, maybe one or two tiny red bumps here and there; I didn't really notice them, and certainly didn't stress about them. The summer before my Freshman year of high school, however, I started to get much more persistent and annoying acne. I was noticing it much more, because there was more to notice, and I started really freaking out. It probably wasn't all that bad, in hindsight, but it was at least one pimple at all times, around the sides of my mouth. I think that was my main concern - that it was in such a central position on my face. You know talking, eating - focus is on your mouth and they were big, red, and painful, and as soon as one healed, one day later there'd be another one.
Freshman year I went through usnig a bunch of different face washes and treatments, mostly over-the-counter Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatments and Neutrogena/Clean-and-Clear/Clearasil etc. I even tried Proactiv, but found it was much too harsh for my very sensitive skin. I was also wearing full, heavy, thick foundation and coverup every day, possibly harming my skin more.
The next summer, I had my acne under fairly decent control, getting one or two pimples occasionally and mostly just dealing with scars and redness. I took a trip to Hawaii that summer, and found my skin considerably cleared up within one or two days of being out in the sun, pool water, and ocean; plus, I wasn't wearing any makeup on my skin. Of course, as soon as I got back to dry, hot COlorado, my skin broke out terribly. After that, I started really researching more natural techniques to helping my skin, after seeing the positive effects of the sun and salt water. I began using honey to alm the redness, and got a natural (Desert Essences) tea tree oil face wash. My face cleared considerably and was really quite decent, up until about a week before school. I had a smoothie with a lot of milk and yogurt in it, as a power-up for a Tae Kwon Do testing I was about to tak part in. I had a horrible breakout, 4 or five pimples are scattered around my mouth the next day. I had read about milk and dairy causing acne because of the hormones in them, so I immediately cut dairy milk out of my diet, switching to almond milk instead.
For a while, my acne seemed almost well under control. I was still wearing foundation and could deal with the few pimples that would come up, mostly in the mouth area on the left side of my face. Around December of that school year (2011) and lasting until about February, I had a good couple of months, with actually really clear skin. It was so much better that I thought I didn't need to focus so much on my acne control at the time, but instead work on the scars and the overall appearance and state of my skin.
However, around the middle of February, it all started to go downhill again. I was devastated and went to the doctor to see if there was anything else I could do. She put me on birth control, saying it would help in about 3 months. After those first 3 months, my skin didn't seem to be improving, so I went back and was prescribed a different birth control, one more often used to treat acne. I have been on this birth control for about 3 1/2 months now and have seen no considerable improvement.
At this point, my acne has taken a terrible turn. It was tolerable up until about the week after the end of the school year this summer, and since then it has simply gone berserk. I have horrible breakouts - however, they are still just around the mouth. Unfortunately, I have at least 2 or 3 pimples at a time, and they are starting to scar very badly, leaving even clear areas very red and irritated looking. I have tried quite literally everything!!! If anyone has any suggestions for female, teenage, hormonal acne, it would be greatly appreciated!
My attempts:
Topical-salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, Aztec clay mask, mint julep mask, oatmeal, honey (good), lemon juice, cinnamon (mostly good), vitamin E oil (good for healing and scars), tamanu oil (also for healing and scars), jojoba oil, witch hazel (good), hydrogen peroxide, calamine lotion, homemade salt water, baking soda, alka seltzer (diminishes redness and bumps temporarily), turmeric, egg whites, egg yolks, apple cider vinegar (astringent), onion, garlic
Internal-drinking lemon water daily; no milk; almonds; raisins; garlic (seemed to work for awhile); lots of water; GNC healthy hair, skin and nails vitamin; fish oil supplements; "Akne-zyne" vitamins; "Perfect Skin" multi-vitamins; Zinc supplements; currently trying Spirulina
*I live a very healthy lifestyle, working out every day, and drinking tons of water, as well as having plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet. I sleep plenty but not too much, and am very fit and strong. The only problem seems to be these damn teenage hormones >
Basically, throughout middle school I didn't have much skin problems, maybe one or two tiny red bumps here and there; I didn't really notice them, and certainly didn't stress about them. The summer before my Freshman year of high school, however, I started to get much more persistent and annoying acne. I was noticing it much more, because there was more to notice, and I started really freaking out. It probably wasn't all that bad, in hindsight, but it was at least one pimple at all times, around the sides of my mouth. I think that was my main concern - that it was in such a central position on my face. You know talking, eating - focus is on your mouth and they were big, red, and painful, and as soon as one healed, one day later there'd be another one.
Freshman year I went through usnig a bunch of different face washes and treatments, mostly over-the-counter Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatments and Neutrogena/Clean-and-Clear/Clearasil etc. I even tried Proactiv, but found it was much too harsh for my very sensitive skin. I was also wearing full, heavy, thick foundation and coverup every day, possibly harming my skin more.
The next summer, I had my acne under fairly decent control, getting one or two pimples occasionally and mostly just dealing with scars and redness. I took a trip to Hawaii that summer, and found my skin considerably cleared up within one or two days of being out in the sun, pool water, and ocean; plus, I wasn't wearing any makeup on my skin. Of course, as soon as I got back to dry, hot COlorado, my skin broke out terribly. After that, I started really researching more natural techniques to helping my skin, after seeing the positive effects of the sun and salt water. I began using honey to alm the redness, and got a natural (Desert Essences) tea tree oil face wash. My face cleared considerably and was really quite decent, up until about a week before school. I had a smoothie with a lot of milk and yogurt in it, as a power-up for a Tae Kwon Do testing I was about to tak part in. I had a horrible breakout, 4 or five pimples are scattered around my mouth the next day. I had read about milk and dairy causing acne because of the hormones in them, so I immediately cut dairy milk out of my diet, switching to almond milk instead.
For a while, my acne seemed almost well under control. I was still wearing foundation and could deal with the few pimples that would come up, mostly in the mouth area on the left side of my face. Around December of that school year (2011) and lasting until about February, I had a good couple of months, with actually really clear skin. It was so much better that I thought I didn't need to focus so much on my acne control at the time, but instead work on the scars and the overall appearance and state of my skin.
However, around the middle of February, it all started to go downhill again. I was devastated and went to the doctor to see if there was anything else I could do. She put me on birth control, saying it would help in about 3 months. After those first 3 months, my skin didn't seem to be improving, so I went back and was prescribed a different birth control, one more often used to treat acne. I have been on this birth control for about 3 1/2 months now and have seen no considerable improvement.
At this point, my acne has taken a terrible turn. It was tolerable up until about the week after the end of the school year this summer, and since then it has simply gone berserk. I have horrible breakouts - however, they are still just around the mouth. Unfortunately, I have at least 2 or 3 pimples at a time, and they are starting to scar very badly, leaving even clear areas very red and irritated looking. I have tried quite literally everything!!! If anyone has any suggestions for female, teenage, hormonal acne, it would be greatly appreciated!
My attempts:
Topical-salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, Aztec clay mask, mint julep mask, oatmeal, honey (good), lemon juice, cinnamon (mostly good), vitamin E oil (good for healing and scars), tamanu oil (also for healing and scars), jojoba oil, witch hazel (good), hydrogen peroxide, calamine lotion, homemade salt water, baking soda, alka seltzer (diminishes redness and bumps temporarily), turmeric, egg whites, egg yolks, apple cider vinegar (astringent), onion, garlic
Internal-drinking lemon water daily; no milk; almonds; raisins; garlic (seemed to work for awhile); lots of water; GNC healthy hair, skin and nails vitamin; fish oil supplements; "Akne-zyne" vitamins; "Perfect Skin" multi-vitamins; Zinc supplements; currently trying Spirulina
*I live a very healthy lifestyle, working out every day, and drinking tons of water, as well as having plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet. I sleep plenty but not too much, and am very fit and strong. The only problem seems to be these damn teenage hormones >
