879 replies to this topic

[willow569]

Glad to hear you are testing out the FR products. I've used both the 15% and the 8% strengths and really like them a lot. I still use the 15% on my nose for pore refining purposes and also on my chest and back for folliculitis. I found them both to be less drying than the Vivant (although I do like that product as well).

Definitely keep us posted on how you like the products! And good to hear that your skin is still doing well.

[LionQueen]

Thanks, Willow!

I'm using the Face Reality products pretty much the same way I used the Vivant. In the mornings, I use the 8% all over my face; then I use the 15% to spot treat around the edges -- forehead, temples, cheeks, jaws. This is the zone where folliculitis flares up and also where I get brown marks.

I use Green Cream Level 9 at night.

Even after just a few days, I can definitely see the difference the lactic acid makes; my skin seems much, much softer and more hydrated, a huge plus. On the other hand, I'm not seeing the same dramatic skin-tightening effect that I get with the Vivant formulation, and I do miss that.

Also, probably because my skin is not accustomed to lactic acid, I'm peeling more than usual. I consider this a good thing. I have read that it's a good idea to switch your AHAs around from time to time to keep the exfoliation going strong .... I haven't made much effort to do so, but now I'm seeing the point.

In other skin news: unfortunately, I've had a small flare-up of folliculitis bumps on my forehead and cheeks over the past few days. I think this is hormonal -- it coincided exactly with my period -- and I'm hoping that it will disappear again quickly.

[LionQueen]

Not a good skin day. Worst skin day in nearly a year, actually.

More new folliculitis bumps ... and the others hadn't disappeared yet. If this crap is coming back, I'm going to be seriously unhappy.

I skipped GC the last two nights and used Spin Trap instead ... it seemed to help with the folliculitis before. And I have only used the 8% FR serum for the past two days, because the peeling was intense enough without anything stronger.

So given that I'd backed off on other actives for two days, I figured it'd be fine to spot treat with the 15% serum on my cheeks, forehead & temples today. WRONG. I now have a nice red acid burn on my left temple. Plus folliculitis spots on my forehead and cheeks.

Back to the drawing board. I had forgotten how sneaky lactic acid is to work with. I'm going to have to come up with a new, more cautious routine. Maybe no 15% serum at all this month.

[LionQueen]

Better today .... I left my skin completely alone last night and everything calmed down a lot. Looks good overall today, and I was able to use the 8% serum without problems. I spot treated my forehead and cheeks with the 15% but stayed away from my chin and temples.

The acid burn on my left temple is still visible, but luckily you can hardly see it behind my hair. It should peel off in a day or two, the way it's looking.

I do have a new folliculitis bump behind my hairline .... it itches! but the others are drying up fast.

[Yvette2]

Hi Lionqueen,

Are you still taking Accutane (10mg every four days) for maintenance?

I have folliculitis periodically too. I was on low dose Accutane last year also. I finished 1/2008. I did get a bout of acne/folliculitis a few months ago, mild acne on my chin again, and patch of folliculitis on my neck. As you can imagine, this has been frustrating for me as I was pretty clear before this. Accutane did wonders - I was thrilled with the result. I had started Oracea in May this year also as I started to get a few minor zits during "that time of the month". I'm not on BCP, so a mild antibiotic is fine with me. Something that is working for me very recently, is taking a very good probiotic pill with numerous strains in it. It's called Dr. Ohhira's. It has like 10 super strains of bacteria in it to "beef up" your immune system. It keeps good bacteria in, helps to relieve allergies, combats yeast, and states it can help with acne/skin issues. I take 2-3 a day. I've done nothing else in my skin care regimen the past two weeks (already have been using Finacea in morning and occassional retinol at night for several months now) and my face is clearing up very well. This is the only new thing I added. Could be a coincidence, but I think it's really helping in a big way.

Thanks for all of your posts - you have a very helpful thread!

Yvette

[LionQueen]

Thanks, Yvette! I'll definitely check out that probiotic. Because yes, the folliculitis is annoying me again. I was clear of it for months .... don't know what happened! I eat a very low carb diet, and the only real change in my routine has been the decreased Accutane dose. That has been happening gradually, though, and it's not like I'm suddenly really oily again. I am puzzled.

Anyway, I do have a few new itchy bumps at my hairline today. Sigh.

Other than that, my skin looks quite nice. I really like the hydrating effect of the lactic acid in the Face Reality serums .... I can definitely see its effects.

The acid burn on my temple is pretty much gone now, but I haven't been using Green Cream for several nights in a row. That's partly to let my skin recover from its massive peeling attack, and partly so that I could use Spin Trap instead. If the damn folliculitis goes back into remission, I will try adding GC back into my routine and see if I can make it co-exist with the Face Reality serums.

[Yvette2]

Hey LionQueen,

Yeah, it was great on Accutane (totally clear and smooth skin) and then for about 6 months off. I started getting a few tiny acne in mid-May (usually at that time of the month). I've read posts/articles on the internet if your intestinal flora is irregular or off, good bacteria hindered, it can trigger yeast like reactions inside and on the outside. This could be what's happening for me, because ever since taking these pro-biotics (which keep good bacteria in) I have less issues, body and skin wise. Definitely worth checking out. Normally, I don't "sell" things, because I'm a skeptic and have tried so many things and have wasted lots of $$ on pricey skin care, but this has been one of the best purchases I've made.

I'm glad your skin is doing a bit better. Have a super day.

Yvette

[LionQueen]

Well, my old friend folliculitis is still hanging around, in a mild way. It isn't nearly as bad as it was last fall; fewer spots, and most of those don't get inflamed. Once again, I've ended up dropping Green Cream from my daily regimen in order to use Spin Trap as often as possible. It's the one topical I've found that does seem to consistently help.

I wonder if there's a seasonal element to this .... as I recall, it first flared up in September of last year as well. Perhaps there are pollens or spores in the air that I'm having a mild reaction to?

My oldest son also has a few small hard red bumps that come and go on one cheekbone. His are more inflamed than mine, but they don't seem to bother him .... so I'm just keeping an eye on them.

I'm still using Face Reality's mandelic serums. My skin seems to be adjusting to the lactic acid, and I'm sure it has helped a lot that I've dropped the GC from my schedule. Peeling has decreased quite a bit and I haven't had any more sensitivity problems. I'm hoping to be able to gradually re-introduce GC once the folliculitis subsides again.

[Benny1280]

Hi Lion Queen-

Just wanted to say a quick thanks for sharing all your wisdom on this site. I've always had pretty mild acne, but when it continued into my mid-20's it just made me so mad! Thanks to you, I've learned a lot about my skin and that my acne is mostly non inflammatory (the dreaded bumps).

I've been using and loving BHAs and I'm currently working my way into green cream which, i can already tell, is moving me in a very nice direction indeed. Best of all, I understand more about how and why I get pimples which makes it less frustrating (a little).

So, thanks for being generous with your knowledge and warm, funny and helpful in your posts!

[LionQueen]

Thanks for your post, Benny! I hope GC is treating you well ...



Damn folliculitis is still with me. I haven't tried the probiotics yet .... I probably should, because this stuff just won't go away. It isn't horrible; I'm not getting the inflammation and red marks that I did last year. But it seems like every day there are two or three itchy bumps on my forehead, cheeks, and/or jawline, and it just bugs me.

I ordered some Hibiclens yesterday. It's supposed to be antifungal as well as antibacterial ... I figure I'll try it for a couple weeks and see if there's any improvement.

[willow569]

Thanks for your post, Benny! I hope GC is treating you well ...



Damn folliculitis is still with me. I haven't tried the probiotics yet .... I probably should, because this stuff just won't go away. It isn't horrible; I'm not getting the inflammation and red marks that I did last year. But it seems like every day there are two or three itchy bumps on my forehead, cheeks, and/or jawline, and it just bugs me.

I ordered some Hibiclens yesterday. It's supposed to be antifungal as well as antibacterial ... I figure I'll try it for a couple weeks and see if there's any improvement.

Have you tried any dietary supplements or changes? That is what helped me the most. I also found that rotating products every few weeks (both topical and oral) really helped me. Lots of things work great for folliculitis, but they only seem to be effective for limited periods of time if you don't switch things up every once and awhile.

I am attaching an article I wrote for the board and for FR, but haven't had a chance to post yet. It might be helpful, who knows?

Attached Files

•  folliculitis_treatment.doc   115.5K   11 downloads

[LionQueen]

Thanks, Kim. I'll read through that tomorrow when I'm a little more alert!

Folliculitis was completely gone for months .... it resurfaced this fall. I am actually wondering if the propylene glycol in the Vivant mandelic products wasn''t keeping it in check, because it popped up again shortly after I switched to Face Reality.

However, I like the FR formulation (the hydrating effect of the lactic acid is great), so I am ordering more .... I may alternate it with the Vivant going forward.



Tonight, in a rash moment, I decided to use copper peptides on my face again. It's been months. So I am now a bright coppery brown color from chin to hairline; I started out green, but I've oxidized. And as usual, every enlarged pore and tiny wrinkle on my face is now bright reddish brown. Very attractive. Luckily my husband is out of town and my kids don't notice these things.

[LionQueen]

How does anyone use CPs on a regular basis??? My skin looks like complete crap this morning.

I washed (gently!) with the Vivant scrub, and that took off the worst of the copper coloring, but it's still embedded in every imperfection on my face. Also, my skin is quite dry and tender.

I slathered on a bunch of moisturizer and am leaving it alone to heal.

[LionQueen]

Thanks for your post, Benny! I hope GC is treating you well ...



Damn folliculitis is still with me. I haven't tried the probiotics yet .... I probably should, because this stuff just won't go away. It isn't horrible; I'm not getting the inflammation and red marks that I did last year. But it seems like every day there are two or three itchy bumps on my forehead, cheeks, and/or jawline, and it just bugs me.

I ordered some Hibiclens yesterday. It's supposed to be antifungal as well as antibacterial ... I figure I'll try it for a couple weeks and see if there's any improvement.

Have you tried any dietary supplements or changes? That is what helped me the most. I also found that rotating products every few weeks (both topical and oral) really helped me. Lots of things work great for folliculitis, but they only seem to be effective for limited periods of time if you don't switch things up every once and awhile.

I am attaching an article I wrote for the board and for FR, but haven't had a chance to post yet. It might be helpful, who knows?

Good article! What has your personal experience been with the dietary supplements?

[LionQueen]

Much better today .... still a little bit of copper visible in the fine lines on the chin, but only with the magnifying mirror.

Washed with Vivant scrub in the AM, used mandelic toner and Spin Trap. No irritation.

Debating whether to use CPs again tonight. Basically: am I okay with looking like crap tomorrow?

[willow569]

Thanks for your post, Benny! I hope GC is treating you well ...



Damn folliculitis is still with me. I haven't tried the probiotics yet .... I probably should, because this stuff just won't go away. It isn't horrible; I'm not getting the inflammation and red marks that I did last year. But it seems like every day there are two or three itchy bumps on my forehead, cheeks, and/or jawline, and it just bugs me.

I ordered some Hibiclens yesterday. It's supposed to be antifungal as well as antibacterial ... I figure I'll try it for a couple weeks and see if there's any improvement.

Have you tried any dietary supplements or changes? That is what helped me the most. I also found that rotating products every few weeks (both topical and oral) really helped me. Lots of things work great for folliculitis, but they only seem to be effective for limited periods of time if you don't switch things up every once and awhile.

I am attaching an article I wrote for the board and for FR, but haven't had a chance to post yet. It might be helpful, who knows?

Good article! What has your personal experience been with the dietary supplements?

Thanks! I did a few dietary changes that I think helped alot (when I stopped doing them, the folliculitis started coming back).

The first was to cut my sugar intake way down. I stopped eating most sweets, white breads, and had minimal alcohol for several months. I think this helps because the fungus feeds off sugar and yeast, so removing those from your diet basically starves the fungus.

I also rotated several supplements. I think the most effective for me is one called UGN (undecylenic acid, grapefruit seed and neem). I get it from an online vitamin company. I take that twice a day and also take a few drops of oil of oregano directly under the tongue. Every few weeks I change supplements to either olive leaf, ACV/garlic pills, or coconut oil.

I do think the key is to rotate products periodically -before they start losing their effectiveness.

[Soapybubbles]

Hey lionqueen,

I just recently got clear by using a retinoid, and have just purchased MaMa Lotion, a malic and mandelic acid based serum, to help get rid of left over red marks (the retinoid is not working as fast as I would like).

I know that people use them in conjunction with each other, and I have perused numerous different logs trying to find out the best way to use them (alternate every other night; the MaMa in the morning with the retinoid at night; spot treat with the acid; etc). Since you have had great results with using similar products (and have by far one of the longest logs of success) I am asking you what you do personally in regards to actual application.

I know it's different for everyone, but I have a lot of red marks around my chin area, and the sooner I see them gone, the better. Some educated advice would be welcomed!

happy holidays!

[LionQueen]

Generally what has worked best for me is to use mandelic in the AMs, Green Cream at night. Many retinoids degrade rapidly in sunlight, so they're generally recommended for nighttime use.

I suggest introducing the MaMa to your regimen quite gradually. Something like this:

Weeks 1 & 2: once every 3 days
Weeks 3 & 4: once every 2 days

You may find that once every 2 days is plenty. The mandelic/retinoid combination tends to cause quite a lot of peeling. But if you want, you could gradually progress to 2 out of 3 days and then to daily usage.

If you start seeing excessive peeling or redness, stop using the MaMa until your skin goes back to normal ... then pick up where you left off.

[LionQueen]

Folliculitis is still persisting, and has been noticeably worse this past week .... probably due to holiday eating & drinking!

Just added Hibiclens to my list of cleansers, so now I'm rotating between that, Head & Shoulders, and the Vivant mandelic cleanser and scrub.

Much as I like the Face Reality mandelic serum, the Vivant products seem much more effective against folliculitis bumps, so I am going back to those for the time being.

Haven't been able to use Green Cream regularly for months now. Grrrr.

[willow569]

Have you tried changing your diet to see if that helps with the folliculitis? I saw a huge difference when I cut out most sugars, alcohol and reduced my white bread/carb consumption. The sugar in your diet provide food for the fungus, so if you take out most of the sugar, the fungus essentially starves to death.

I also highly recommend taking antifungal supplements - one I really like is called UGN. It contains undecylenic acid, grapefruit seed oil and neem. I also like coconut oil and oil of oregano.