88 replies to this topic

[LadyWillow]

Before I start logging about my daily acne woes and such I should give a history
I got acne in 5th grade and started Proactiv and used that through 6th grade. Proactiv seemed to help but then made my skin worse.. I tried all the OTC products nothing really helped I didn't know anything about skin and probably made it a lot worse just by picking and using wayy too strong cleansers and all that crap. Went to dermatologist in 7th grade. I tried a lot of products containing Benzoyl Peroxide. Then Retin-A Micro, Ziana, a bunch of shit I can't really recall all through 8th grade. I basically felt like a guinea pig and nothing was working my acne was pretty bad I had tons of zits and blackheads and I have the redmarks to show for it because I had a crazy picking problem [gross]
Umm freshmen year I was still on a lot of topicals and then maybe like 2nd quarter I got doryx antibiotics I don't know the full name sorry, but that reduced my spots but didn't help that much I went on Amoxicillin this May [freshmen year] that helped a lot and I was also on Tazorac and Finacea.
I still wasn't clear though and i kept breaking out so my dermatologist gave me two options Photodynamic Light Therapy [PDT] or Accutane [which was really overwhelming for me] and I had joined Acne.org and I researched both online an on the message boards here and I chose the PDT because it seemed less of a risk and less time but it costs a lot more money and I almost wish I did accutane because i would be almost over by now. I've done 3 treatments of the PDT and I don't have a lot of zits right now but my face is still red because I just got a treatment on monday so I'm looking foward/dreading when I see how my skin really is in a couple of days once the redness and peeling goes down [that's a normal side effect]. I have a shitload of redmarks on my cheeks and on my chin my forehead is clear for now.
I feel like my skin gets clear but then in a week or so it will break out again. I get so frustrated [sp?] because I am the only one in my big circle of friends that has this problem and I have been dealing with it for so long and I feel like I will never have clear skin.
I'm going into my sophmore year of high school and I don't really know what people generally log about but I think recording how my skin changes will help me learn what I am doing wrong and suchh hah.
Sorry if that bore you to death

[SCaliGirl]

It's a normal thing, I've battled with acne throughout half of middle school, through high school and now it kind of sucks that when you have a crush on a cute guy or something you're always afraid they won't return your feelings because of your appearance. A lot of people in high school are jerks, so forget about them acne is a normal thing, you'll get through it .

Good luck !

P.S. I'm sure more girls than you think face acne, make-up does wonder to cover it up

[Beckham Girl]

Hang in there, you'll find something that works for you. Don't feel bad about yourself because of your skin, you're doing what you can and TRYING, which is what counts! Don't give up. Easier said than done, right? But I've heard great success stories here so I know it's possible.

As far as school, I can't say I know exactly how you feel, my skin didn't start breaking out until my end years of hs, but not that long ago I had to meet a guy about some classes and my skin was having a horrible, one of my worst, breakouts. I was highly embarrassed, and even though I knew I kept my skin clean and tried to keep it healthy, I felt like he would judge me and think I was dirty or that my skin was gross. I think we've all been there (acne suffers anyway) so hang tight and read up on some more accutane logs, maybe it will help you make a helpful decision!

[LadyWillow]

Thanks for the support its nice to hear
So I am still doing my regimen but I added 4 tablespoons of ACV a day 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening . I'll report if I see any improvements later on
I heard its really helpful and I don't think it will hurt. It tastes so nasty though I hate it lol.
My skin has 2 zits that are slowly reducing in size. One is a blackhead that is now like a craterlike thing and another above my eyebrow
I hope my redmarks fade they are pretty bad on my cheeks and I don't want to do another expensive treatment.
I am happy that my skin has improved so much since May, when I started the PDT treatments
but I don't want to do a fourth treatment I don't think its necessary
-BB

[LadyWillow]

So looking in the mirror right now .. starting with my forehead i have zit that is reducing in size moving down to my nose which has many blackheads but none are raised..my cheeks [least favorite] are still really red [hyperpigmentation?] and the redmarks on my cheekbones are still there but possibly reducing [hopefully] my chin is covered in the same type of blackheads as my nose.
I am going to give up foundation [ i use everyday minerals] because i know it isn't really making me breakout but it is certainly not helping so I want to wait a few weeks and try to get more improvement because my skin is looking the best it has since last summer so i really hope it gets better.
i am taking 40 ml of acv instead of 60 a day because my stomach couldn't handle 4 tablespoons.
i never threw up or anything just nauseous. went shopping today bought new tote to use for school, clothes, shoes, and a new eyeliner :]
i want to try the MoM as a mask but i wont do that for a while because i want to see if the acv is helping and i dont want to try a bunch of other things that might change results and whatnot..
hopefully my durrn redmarks and red as a fire hydrant cheeks will frickin go away.
goodnight :]

[LadyWillow]

School starts tommorow and I am nervous because I also get so stressed during the school year. I stress about everything and I have to find ways to deal with it!
My skin is alright.. My redmarks are really noticeable aswell as my blackheads. I have a little whitehead under my nose and a redbump that could turn into a zit but is still small inbetween my eyebrows. [worst place]
I wish my skin was less oily I don't know what to use to help. I don't want to wear makeup everday and I use blotting sheets but my skin is still so oily. I read that fish oil helps but I don't really want to try that with the ACV.
I always feel like peopld are judging my at school [hair, skin,outfits] so I am also kinda stressed by that and I have to start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier i'm horrible at that!
I can't fall asleep lately until 1:30-2:00 am every day..=\

[LadyWillow]

Today my skin is looking a little teensy bit better
My skin isn't as bumpy as usual
I did a MoM mask for the first time just to try it. I might do it once a week if I have time maybe one week I will do aspirin mask and one week I will do a MoM mask
school starts tommorow!!
I am kind of excited to see whos in my classes besides my circle of friends
I'm going to go to bed early tonight!!
that will be a struggle

[LadyWillow]

My skin is looking good except for the redness =(
the bump on my forehead is going down
my skin is SO oily i have to use at least 3 of those oil pads during the school day.
primer doesn't really help unless i put on foundation and 2 layers of finishing powder
I just don't know what is going to work.
im starting to take two fish oil pill during the morning and two tablespoons of acv at night because its hard to do 4 especially during the hectic school year..
im happy my skin is improving and i feel a lot more confident but i wish that this durrn redness would fade

[SCaliGirl]

Hey breakoutbabe,

I know what you're talking about with using 3 of those oil absorbing sheets lol, just went to buy another pack of those at a store today. They work wonders, but wish you could stay excess oil free most products that say that will control the oil of your skin dries you out, haven't found a good product. Although the oilness of my skin isn't too bad being on the regimen for a month already, and go out in the fresh air instead of the room does some good I guess . I wear mineral make-up so when I over apply and I look cakey in some spots, the oils in my skin does me some good

Good luck though, you'll have clear skin too, just keep up the regimen !

[LadyWillow]

I haven't posted back in a REALLY long time. wellll
My skin has been breaking out lately =[
Not horrible but verrrry aggravating.
My dermatologist was pleased with my skin but upgraded me to Tazorac 1% and a ZNP bar for face wash in the morning
it made my chin SO peely. and it made my skin red.
Before i started I was breaking out on my chin a little and now its coming to a whitehead
recently i just got a pimple next to my nose
on the left side of my face i had a lot of redbumps but they are going away now
I still drink ACV
my dad is gonna call the dermatologist soon so we'll see what her advice is to do. I think the ZNP bar is what is irritating my face..
ahhh homecoming is soon
school sucks - written 3 papers already writing my 4th today.
i dont like aspirin masks anymore they kinda seem to aggravate my skin.

[LadyWillow]

my derm switched me back to my old regimen
im breaking out on one side of my cheek in itchy bumps and a couple old spots on my chin. skin is looking better than freshman year
trying to stay positive
lately ive been wearing a MoM mask as a primer and then everyday minerals foundation my skin is a lot less oily

[LadyWillow]

my cheeks are breaking out =[
i only wear makeup on weekends n stuff cuz it seems like the whiteheads on my cheek bones/ temple go away when i wear less makeup
i have an incoming zit on my chin that kinda hurts
my regimen isnt working

[LadyWillow]

I started to use an ACV toner
I can not drink that shit anymore its so disgusting. plus its bad for my teeth.
It wasn't helping anyways my skin looks better since I have stopped
school is annoying I have so much homework everyday plus babysitting after school i hate it
face status:
forehead: clear
right cheek: the big zit in the middle is drying up i have a couple red bumps possibly incoming zits and generally a big path of redness
left cheek: my cheekbone has a lot of red bumps on the cheek bone and two whitheads
chin:blackheads 2 former whiteheads and one incoming zit that i iced and is reducing i wonder if icing helps
my skin is still pretty oily but makeup helps. the MoM masks slightly help with oil but I am going to stay away from them for now
my log is so interesting =D. i have to keep a more detailed track of my skin to see how the ACV affects it

[SCaliGirl]

Hey Ladywillow,

Sorry to hear you're not having luck with acne magically going away

I never went to a dermatologist, but I have learned a lot about acne from this site for sure. Maybe it's because you're switching products so much that your skin is becoming irritated a lot? I've been sticking with my regimen for a little over 3 months now and I haven't had serious breakouts like before and nasty huge pustules. I do get one or two, usually during the time I have my period or I stay up till 7 A.M. in the morning and no get sleep like I should have lol ~

But ! Don't give up, you'll make it.

As for ACV, last time when I was on my period and I was breaking out I used ACV 100% as a toner and let it dry for like 20 min and washed it off with warm water. I don't think it does much for my skin after the first time when it stung so bad >_> ... It actually makes my scars looks more red at first which makes me stress out lol, so I'm staying away from it.

I have oily skin issues too by the mid-day, so I use those blue oil absorber sheets... like 2 of them lol.

Stick to something you like ! Good luck

[LadyWillow]

thanks=]
the products I am using right now aren't irritating my skin and so far I have seen a slight improvement with using the ACV

[LadyWillow]

my skin looks a lot better but my redmarks are going to take a very long time to get rid off
also i am getting some more blackheads on my chin
there are a couple clogged pores on my forehead but other than that it is clear
I am hoping the ACV will help with redmarks and that I don't purge because I havent really that much I did a little but it went away pretty quickly [2 pimples on chin]

[LadyWillow]

My skin looks okay.
Im breaking out in a little patch on my cheek but its not like raised acne its just like slightly raised but kinda large red spots
i got a zit near my mouth too but thats it
my skin is looking better overall
I just have to be patient
Milk of Magnesia makes my skin worse. I am almost positive it does something. I'm always tempted to use it because it helps with oil. but its not worth it.
Also I've been taking fish oil capsules. 2 , twice a day
I forget a lot but I need to keep up with it
I want to lay off foundation but its really hard at school. Im going to try to go without it for a little while and see if i c an improvement

[LadyWillow]

my skin is looking better
i have recent redmarks on both cheeks that used to be bumps but are now just spots
overall my cheeks , inbetween eyebrows, and chin are red
my forehead is generally clear i have the smallest bump or two on the upperleft side
my pores are HUGE but i feel like thats never gonna change
blackheads on nose and chin are still there but they dont bother me too much on my right cheek there is a zit but its small so hopefully it wont get worse

[LadyWillow]

The EDM foundation I use doesn't seem to be making my skin worse at all
I think I need to exfoliate twice a week because when I put foundation on sometimes it appears flakier idn.
my skin looks better but the inflamed spots on my cheeks are really stubborn
I'm going to change the ACV toner to just plain 50:50 acv and water and not use green tea because it's just too much
The redness is slightly going away and my old redmarks are slowly fading but the new inflamed spots on my cheeks are very noticeable and hard to cover up even with the green concealer
I hate it I just want clear skin already arghhhhh
I feel like I am so close though, my skin is looking a lot better than last year
I need to get my prescription refilled for my tazorac

the clarifoam I am using doesn't seem to do anything
I'm not positive its purpose but I assumed it was for redness but I could be wrong, my redness has gotten better ever since I started using ACV as a toner. I'm going to go make the toner right now

oh and I'm not sure how my skin reacts to jojoba oil, I use it at nightime when my skin is extremely dry and I haven't had any new breakouts except one little red bump on my chin

[jokerj]

glad the redness seems to be going away with your toner!
good luck!