4 replies to this topic

[uh8012]

First off, I'll give you a short history on my face's struggle with oil.

It all started in 8th grade with a huge breakout that never seemed to end. I went to the dermatologist, who prescribed me the usual regime along with cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer. I was so happy with the relative results (i say relative because although I wasn't completely clear, it was a huge improvement) that until the end of high school I hadn't noticed that my face was practically dripping with oil on a daily basis.

I should've mentioned that i visited the dermatologist semi-yearly, and each time I would wash my face prior to the visit. This changed my skin from being extremely oily to peeling within the 30 minutes I got home from school to the dermatologist's office. This was my first mistake, as I should've noticed that all my dermatologist saw was my extremely dry and peeling face, and not the oil bucket I carried around 99% of the time. I believe my seemingly dry skin is what prompted my dermatologist to recommend cetaphil, which I never thought would have been part of my problems.

While in high school I took a health class run by a lady whom at the time I thought was insane. I now know without a doubt that she was. Her lessons were purely opinion based, without the slightest credibility. One day in class the my worst fears came about, as she introduced the lecture on acne. I've always been very introverted in terms of acne, and when possible I try to avoid the topic. To this day I still remember what she claimed was the true cure for ALL acne cases......"the beach". I'm not too sure why I listened, maybe it was the desperate hope we all seek when it comes to something such as acne. That summer I went to the beach at least 5 times a week. The first week it seemed to work, probably due to my skin being dried out and burnt from the sun. A month in the effects seemed to wear off, but I hadn't noticed. After about a year I moved to college, where my oily skin issues became apparent. I'd like to say my pre-beach rituals had magnified the oil effects, but I can't be sure.

I was finally in college. The walking distance between classes had increased greatly since high school. It was to the point that I would have a sweaty face (hmm?) all the time. I began to notice that my face was always "wet". Eventually I began to realize it wasn't only when I was hot that my face felt wet...it was all the time (less the 30 minutes it took for my face to become oily after showering)

At this point I decided to do something about it. I actually used oil blotting sheets. I would never do it in public of course. It's strange how it seems totally natural for a girl to do it, but if you ever see a guy blotting his face its like wtf...

I decided to visit a new dermatologist. It's not like I blame my old dermatologist for my oil problems, but instead I blame myself for not allowing him to aid me better. This time I knew what to do. I walked in with the oiliest face I could muster (which wasn't hard, i mean i do it on a daily basis). He immediately told me off for using cetaphil, and I switched to Ceravae cleanser and moisturizer. A couple of weeks later I noticed a slight decrease in oil (maybe 25% less), but this was far from the results I wanted.

2 treatments of accutane later my face was still oily as ever. I even got desperate enough to try some female facial products, some which slightly reduced my oily-ness, but at the cost of causing me to to break out. Sometimes I wonder which is worse.

My first day of full-time work is coming up, I would like to make a good first impression. A random thought, does anyone else feel guilty or strange when buying pizza with an oily face? Sometimes I feel like I'm "that guy" whom people see and are like "and that's why you don't eat pizza". Anyway, I'm shopping with my girlfriend at Sephora, when I see a tea tree oil toner. I've read of the possible effects of the product, but never tried it. I wasn't even on the search for a product at the time, so I probably wouldn't have given it a second chance. I'm not sure why. but for some reason I ended up buying it. A week in, I began noticing slight acne. I kept going, and nearly 2 months later my oil production has decreased at least 80%. I still try to blot my face occasionally when I go to the bathroom, but now I notice that there isn't nearly as much oil to blot.

My first impressions of the tea tree oil toner was that it felt exactly like witch hazel when applied. Both had that tingly feeling, along with a pungent smell, but at least the tea tree oil toner smells of mint. I still use the typical prescription benzaclin and differin (gel). I've tried nearly every product and these are what I've found the best results for me in. It's funny because these are the two products I started on, and after all the changes I end up with them again. The true improvement came when I supplemented these great products with Ceravae and Tea tree oil toner. I never use any of over-marketed over the counter anti acne products (acnefree, proactive, neutrogena, etc.) anymore, as I tried all of them and none have even helped my acne let alone the oil.

As for diet, I've tried changes in that as well. Despite constant reminders from the dermatologist that diet has no effect on acne/oil, I still believe it does. Unfortunately I'm not observant enough to tell any changes, which you've probably already discerned based on my past.

Thank you for reading my story, I hope I have inspired at least one of you to keep on trucking....!

[bryan]

Anyway, I'm shopping with my girlfriend at Sephora, when I see a tea tree oil toner. I've read of the possible effects of the product, but never tried it. I wasn't even on the search for a product at the time, so I probably wouldn't have given it a second chance. I'm not sure why. but for some reason I ended up buying it. A week in, I began noticing slight acne. I kept going, and nearly 2 months later my oil production has decreased at least 80%. I still try to blot my face occasionally when I go to the bathroom, but now I notice that there isn't nearly as much oil to blot.

Have you tried stopping the "tea tree oil toner", to see if the oiliness came back as before?

[missmissy]

I've been battling the oil on my face and scalp for the past year at 31. I first got oily 3 years ago, but this past year has been reallyyyyyy bad. Wondering if these hormonal fluctuations ever go away on their own as I never had acne or oily skin as a teen but got my first blackhead or bump at the age of 28 and first pimple at 30.

[babypokemasta]

I have extremely oily skin as well. It'd probably take 1 blotting paper per hour to maintain it but that's not idealistic since its wasting a lot of paper...

Just one question: Does anyone here still use moisturizer? I know Dan says oily peeps should still incorporate moisturizers because it'll actually help control the oil production. But I'm still super sketched out about it >.< I'm going to give it a try with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel tonight

[bryan]

Just one question: Does anyone here still use moisturizer? I know Dan says oily peeps should still incorporate moisturizers because it'll actually help control the oil production. But I'm still super sketched out about it >.<

Don't pay any attention to what Dan says about it. Oil production has nothing to do with levels of moisture in the skin.