7 replies to this topic

[Motownmia]

This is kinda long but if you have the time and inclination to read I would be forever grtateful to read your feedback....

I had pretty good skin for most of my teenage years. Come 20 I had such severe acne Accutane was the only thing that helped. Clear skin for almost seven years and now I'm almost where I was before. Except several big huge nodule cystic zits I'm getting a million small and medium sized ones.

My skin has always been very irritable so I was skeptical about this regimen but I've been using for a week. I have to say that I noticed a difference in the discoloration of the bumps that I do get. They also come to a hard bump quicker than they ever have, but now my face is almost looking like sandpaper. So of course I try to get rid of the tiny ones (I KNOW I KNOW I SHOULDN'T PICK AND IF I DID MY FACE WOULD BE A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER...I'M WORKING ON THAT

So I'm wondering if anyone has any insight as to why I'm getting all these little tiny hard non swollen or discolored ones (like every pore {not exaggerating} in my face is clogged)...I use Dan's cleanser and 2.5 and a very rich moisturizer.

My dermatologists told me I had eczema and follicular dermatitis on my body skin that was never going to go away because it was genetic and my skin just doesn't turn over it's own cells well. After some time I realized that I just need to exfoliate every day and use a super thick moisturizer. I wonder if my face is having the same kinda issues. I would like to exfoliate every day but even a mild exfoliant irritates me (or doesn't really exfoliate). Can any one recommend a good masque or facial scrub that I could use some times a week to get my dead skin off?

Thanks for any help, advice or encouragement you can send my way,

m


Oh yeah, and my diet is really good and almost anal.

[Brandy]

Hi and welcome!

You mentioned using a super rich moisturizer, I am suspicious that it may be the cause of your clogged pores. Normally, for oily acne prone skin, a light moisturizing lotion (rather than a cream) is better. See if you can find something oil-free and non-comedogenic.
Also, something to think about since your skin doesn't seem to shed cells normally, I wonder if some alpha hydroxy acid might be good for you. Have you ever used glycolic or lactic acid?
You can think about using an AHA moisturizer instead of your usual moisturizer. Something like Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion would be good ( you can find this at Walmart, CVS, Walgreen etc.), or something I have recently discovered is Lac-Hydrin Five (found it at Walgreen). The acids help to exfoliate, and I like using something like this because it is less irritating than using a scrub or mask.

[Motownmia]

thank you for your feedback. the moisturizer i'm using is oil of olay complete all day moisture lotion (sensitive skin - frag free, non comed, oil free...) and olay total effects at night (fragrance free). the latter is choc full of vitamins and seems to make the bumps smaller and softer.

when i was going thru the dermatologist for years they had me using the Healthy Skin face Lotion, it gave me a lot of little bumps. i've used stuff with aha and aba and that gives me little bumps too. even if i use a little. i'm using the oil of olay cuz it was given to me ... perhaps when this runs out i will try what you've suggested. it's been over ten years so maybe my face will be more agreeable with the Neutragena.

i don't think i've ever used glycolic acid. i was prescribed something with lactic acid for my body skin when i was having issues back in the day and i didn't notice a reaction to that.

thank you again!...i look forward to writing with some good news soon.

maria

[Motownmia]

ok, today i have a bump in my earlobe. nothing on the surface, my ear is red and i feel a painful little bump in there. never in my life has this happened. is this weird or normal? i think maybe i should really start trying those suggestions now rather than later...it's so weird and my ear lobe hurts!

still have lots around my chin, jawline...well everywhere else, but they seem to be getting a little better...just curious about the earlobe

[Brandy]

I'm sortof confused on your skin description.
Do you have acne? or is it the skin-shedding problem that is your main concern?

If the skin-shedding problem is creating an environment in which acne thrives, I think you need to address both issues. Try to find something to help your skin shed properly, and find something to kill the acne bacteria.

Have you read the CSR description? This is a program to treat active acne. I am wondering if you were to begin the CSR (mild unmedicated cleanser, 2.5% bp, oil-free moisturizer) if this would help to clear the active acne, then you could add in a lactic acid or glycolic acid moisturizer in a month or so, and this would help address the shedding issue.

http://www.acne.org/regimen.html

What do you think?

The only other thing I can think of that would probably help you is Retin-A. It is a prescription medication that helps to normalize the rate that skin cells shed. Sortof makes them behave the way they are supposed to. This can help with acne and the bumpy skin problems. Has your derm ever had you try Retin-A?

[Motownmia]

i have acne and a skin shedding problem.
i'm using the CSR cleanser and gel. i've been using oil of olay for sensitive skin but am going to try the lac-hydrin five in a while.
my derm tried me on retin-a years and years ago and it didn't do much but make my skin red and blotchy.

it looks SO much better in the camera phone picture but in reality seems to be getting worse now scars are staying forever, super red and i get something or three new on my face everyday...

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[Brandy]

ok, stick with the CSS cleanser and gel, they are good mild products.
and I think you will like the Lac-hydrin Five moisturizer. It feels so good going on. It should help exfoliate but it is super mild, hopefully won't irritate.

Hang in there! It can take awhile to get the problem under control. Just stick with it!

[Motownmia]

Thanks still for your suggestions. Things seem to be getting smaller and turn over more quickly. My PCP prescribed some differin for nighttime and said the CSR sounds perfect. I'm not looking forward to another "purging" break out after a couple weeks of differin but after having a face full of grade III's (not exagerrating and i have no pics of that) i should be able to deal with another full face for a few weeks... Here's to hoping!