954 replies to this topic

[Jofo]

I feel the need to post an update on my mandelic acid experience. I only suffer from moderate acne but it looks awful, and I've been searching for a cure for years. Blackheads, whiteheads, redness, and large pores are what I typically have to deal with on a daily basis. I've been using MA twice a day for two whole months now and have seen absolutely NO change except for badly dried out, wrinkly skin. Trust me, I took pictures of my face every few days to record my progress, so I'm not just going on memory when I say that I look no better today than I did two months ago.

I was really hoping it would be my holy grail solution after the first week when I noticed my skin clearing up slightly, but ever since then it's been a rocky road. I don't doubt that MA works for some people. I just wish it did for me too.

[carrie54]

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Edited by carrie54, 04 June 2011 - 09:54 AM.

[kazza]

I have recently started using a 10% mandelic acid and was just using it every other night, alternating with diacneal. Now I use it every morning and the diacneal at night. It does dry your skin a bit, but to combat this, make sure you moisturise to rehydrate your skin.

What I do is wait maybe 15 mins for the MA to dry and absorb then I moisturise. If you find that your skin is still dry after moisturising, or you don't have time to wait in the mornings, do this at night. I think once a day for MA is adequate. It's good that you're gradually letting your skin get used to it tho.

One of the great things about MA is that it is meant to help with fine lines, so it's good for older people who are still battling spots. I think people who say they are getting lines are either not moisturising or are maybe using the alcohol version. Dunno anything about the spider veins tho.

I would give the MA longer definately, unless you're experiencing a really bad reaction, it needs a decent chance to work. Been on it 2 wks approx so it's too early to say it's working for me, but I hope to notice a difference soon. ; )

[carrie54]

I have recently started using a 10% mandelic acid and was just using it every other night, alternating with diacneal. Now I use it every morning and the diacneal at night. It does dry your skin a bit, but to combat this, make sure you moisturise to rehydrate your skin.

What I do is wait maybe 15 mins for the MA to dry and absorb then I moisturise. If you find that your skin is still dry after moisturising, or you don't have time to wait in the mornings, do this at night. I think once a day for MA is adequate. It's good that you're gradually letting your skin get used to it tho.

One of the great things about MA is that it is meant to help with fine lines, so it's good for older people who are still battling spots. I think people who say they are getting lines are either not moisturising or are maybe using the alcohol version. Dunno anything about the spider veins tho.

I would give the MA longer definately, unless you're experiencing a really bad reaction, it needs a decent chance to work. Been on it 2 wks approx so it's too early to say it's working for me, but I hope to notice a difference soon. ; )

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Edited by carrie54, 02 April 2011 - 08:40 PM.

[v_singh]

I have recently started using a 10% mandelic acid and was just using it every other night, alternating with diacneal. Now I use it every morning and the diacneal at night. It does dry your skin a bit, but to combat this, make sure you moisturise to rehydrate your skin.

What I do is wait maybe 15 mins for the MA to dry and absorb then I moisturise. If you find that your skin is still dry after moisturising, or you don't have time to wait in the mornings, do this at night. I think once a day for MA is adequate. It's good that you're gradually letting your skin get used to it tho.

One of the great things about MA is that it is meant to help with fine lines, so it's good for older people who are still battling spots. I think people who say they are getting lines are either not moisturising or are maybe using the alcohol version. Dunno anything about the spider veins tho.

I would give the MA longer definately, unless you're experiencing a really bad reaction, it needs a decent chance to work. Been on it 2 wks approx so it's too early to say it's working for me, but I hope to notice a difference soon. ; )

Thanks for the response and the tip about the moisturizer Kazza! I am not completely sure what I am going to do long term, but for now I think I will stick to the every third day and monitor my skin for reactions. I am just scared to bump it up because I used Dan's AHA on my chest and developed these ridges. I don't want to develop that on my nose. My derm said he didn't think the ridges on my chest were from the AHA, but he didn't really have an explanation either. Just taking it a day at a time at this point. I hope you notice a difference with the mandelic acid too. It's hard trying a new product because you have to wait so damn long to see if it will even work. Sigh.

im curious as to what these 'ridges' are that you got fromt the AHA. can you explain what they are in a bit more detail plz ? are they raised or sunken, red infamed, itchy etc ?

[carrie54]

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Edited by carrie54, 02 April 2011 - 08:41 PM.

[greg09]

I have been using Mama lotion which contains mandelicacid and I feel that it possibly made th epores on my nose worse. When I used the Mama lotion my skin was unsurprsiginyl dry for a few days afterwards and despite using moisturizer my pores than seemed to become enlarged as though they have scarred! I am gutted!

[carrie54]

.

Edited by carrie54, 02 April 2011 - 08:41 PM.

[greg09]

I am pretty sure that the Mama lotion did make my pores worse. I had those dry skin lines that you talk about, it's kind of like your nose has aged and become wrinkly for a number of days?

I have decided to stop using the Mama lotion as I think that using acid on your pores can dry them out excessively causing them to remain open. I am in no way a specialist and the mandelic acid may not have done this but I am not willing to risk the damage just in case and kind of wish I didn't ever use it. So annoying when you can't be sure what is causing these types of things.

Carrie, have recently noticed your pores looking bigger, even before using mandelic acid? It's just that I am now 31 and much to my frustration my skin, although clear from acne, has begun to look much worse in terms of pore size. Some of this happened before the mandelic and think that as my acne has gone my pores are now just sitting wide open

Edited by greg09, 03 October 2009 - 06:09 AM.

[carrie54]

I am pretty sure that the Mama lotion did make my pores worse. I had those dry skin lines that you talk about, it's kind of like your nose has aged and become wrinkly for a number of days?

I have decided to stop using the Mama lotion as I think that using acid on your pores can dry them out excessively causing them to remain open. I am in no way a specialist and the mandelic acid may not have done this but I am not willing to risk the damage just in case and kind of wish I didn't ever use it. So annoying when you can't be sure what is causing these types of things.

Carrie, have recently noticed your pores looking bigger, even before using mandelic acid? It's just that I am now 31 and much to my frustration my skin, although clear from acne, has begun to look much worse in terms of pore size. Some of this happened before the mandelic and think that as my acne has gone my pores are now just sitting wide open

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Edited by carrie54, 02 April 2011 - 08:42 PM.

[v_singh]

For pores something that increases collagen and elastin would be good ... but from what your saying acids are not really that good becuase of the side effects (wrinkly skin etc). retinol / retin a could be used whcih is kinda like and acid aswell or you could use terporline which works complety differently then acids. check out the 'ok guys' thread in the scar forum is you wanna fin dout about terproline

[greg09]

Terproline is ridiculously expensive and they put the price up again another £20 (£100 for a large bottle!!) after getting a number of people from here buying it. I have used it for 5 months and it has done NOTHING for my pores,scars maybe but pores definitely not in my opinion. I think that like you carrie it is just a case of aging less gracefully than others in this respect. I hate it too but am just trying to accept it, improve it if I can but not let it eat me up.

Edited by greg09, 05 October 2009 - 04:10 AM.

[v_singh]

Terproline is ridiculously expensive and they put the price up again another ?20 (?100 for a large bottle!!) after getting a number of people from here buying it. I have used it for 5 months and it has done NOTHING for my pores,scars maybe but pores definitely not in my opinion. I think that like you carrie it is just a case of aging less gracefully than others in this respect. I hate it too but am just trying to accept it, improve it if I can but not let it eat me up.

hey greg do you know what was or might hasve been the cause of your large pores ? e.g. blackheads/clogged pores ? or just general ageing ? how old are you if you dont mind me askin and do your parents have large pores aswell coz it might just be genetic.

[greg09]

Lol, I keep bumping into you - we obviously have a similar problem.

I just recently turned 32 and my nose pores literally opened up this past year - round about the time that my blackheads started to lessen to a great extent which leads me to think that I am now seeing the pores loose and free of a lot of the dirt. Unfortunately I am now left with the scarred pores.

My dad has large pores but the again he is nearlt 60, no acne or scars and he doesn't have scarred pores on his nose. I could accept large pores but scarred pores especially on my nose is horrible. I know that i would have had large pores regardless but i suspect that the blackheads have caused my scarred pores.

Are you of a similar age, do your parents have large pores? Did you suffer from blackheads for a prolonged period?

[v_singh]

hi, im only 21 and i have alot of large pores on my nose i have had them since i started getting these clogged pores. the pores fill up with the solid white stuff just like blackheads but they easily come to the surface where i can literally just rub/scape them off. It then leaves a hole / scared pore on my skin. My dad has large pores but nowhere near as bad as mine but then again he only gets a few blackheads. my mum has only a few large pores on teh side of her nose but its not noticeble ... she doesnt get blackheads/clogged pores. Im going to try BHA 2% and see what that does after a few months. i know you mentioned that terproline did nothing for you but im still going to try it becuase not everyone gets the same results from topicals.

Also i read here about someone else who had large pores and managed to reduce them grealty by keeping the skin free of blackheads /clogged pores. But it took years for the results to be seen.

Edited by v_singh, 11 October 2009 - 12:30 PM.

[cupcake_lacayo5204]

wOULD MANDELIC ACID BE A GOOD TREATMENT FOR MY SKIN? I have more frequent breakouts before my period as in th photos..horrible, so Im prob estrogen dominant looking into DIM, but I have uneven skin on the sides by my jawline its alot of red spots, and Im hoping is this treatment gentle enough not to irate breakouts but would help even out skin tone? THanks

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[Butch_]

i got a free small size sample after ordering oc 8 it accompanied it. will try and report my results or lack of. the mama lotion mandelic and malic acid product that is.

Edited by Butch_, 16 October 2009 - 10:55 PM.

[willow569]

wOULD MANDELIC ACID BE A GOOD TREATMENT FOR MY SKIN? I have more frequent breakouts before my period as in th photos..horrible, so Im prob estrogen dominant looking into DIM, but I have uneven skin on the sides by my jawline its alot of red spots, and Im hoping is this treatment gentle enough not to irate breakouts but would help even out skin tone? THanks

Mandelic will help clear out your pores and exfoliate your skin, so that should help lessen your monthly breakouts. And it will also help even out the skin tone. As to irritation- I guess that depends on how sensitive your skin is and how strong of a mandelic product you use. If you try it, I would get a lower strength product (10%) and start off using it every other night and see how your skin responds.

You also might consider trying Finacea. It does a lot of the same things mandelic does, but is probably a little bit more effective at reducing inflammation, killing bacteria and reducing redness. It is a prescription medication in the U.S and some other places, but it is an OTC medication in Australia (and can be legally purchased from an online Australian pharmacy).

[JayQ]

wOULD MANDELIC ACID BE A GOOD TREATMENT FOR MY SKIN? I have more frequent breakouts before my period as in th photos..horrible, so Im prob estrogen dominant looking into DIM, but I have uneven skin on the sides by my jawline its alot of red spots, and Im hoping is this treatment gentle enough not to irate breakouts but would help even out skin tone? THanks

Mandelic will help clear out your pores and exfoliate your skin, so that should help lessen your monthly breakouts. And it will also help even out the skin tone. As to irritation- I guess that depends on how sensitive your skin is and how strong of a mandelic product you use. If you try it, I would get a lower strength product (10%) and start off using it every other night and see how your skin responds.

You also might consider trying Finacea. It does a lot of the same things mandelic does, but is probably a little bit more effective at reducing inflammation, killing bacteria and reducing redness. It is a prescription medication in the U.S and some other places, but it is an OTC medication in Australia (and can be legally purchased from an online Australian pharmacy).

So what is the diff between the mandelic acid and the glycolic acid like in the AHA sold here. Do they both serve the same pupose in clearing up acne and red marks? Can the be used the same way as an applicator/mositurizer daily?

[willow569]

wOULD MANDELIC ACID BE A GOOD TREATMENT FOR MY SKIN? I have more frequent breakouts before my period as in th photos..horrible, so Im prob estrogen dominant looking into DIM, but I have uneven skin on the sides by my jawline its alot of red spots, and Im hoping is this treatment gentle enough not to irate breakouts but would help even out skin tone? THanks

Mandelic will help clear out your pores and exfoliate your skin, so that should help lessen your monthly breakouts. And it will also help even out the skin tone. As to irritation- I guess that depends on how sensitive your skin is and how strong of a mandelic product you use. If you try it, I would get a lower strength product (10%) and start off using it every other night and see how your skin responds.

You also might consider trying Finacea. It does a lot of the same things mandelic does, but is probably a little bit more effective at reducing inflammation, killing bacteria and reducing redness. It is a prescription medication in the U.S and some other places, but it is an OTC medication in Australia (and can be legally purchased from an online Australian pharmacy).

So what is the diff between the mandelic acid and the glycolic acid like in the AHA sold here. Do they both serve the same pupose in clearing up acne and red marks? Can the be used the same way as an applicator/mositurizer daily?

No - its not really comparable to Dan's glycolic for a couple of reasons. The two ingredients act somewhat differently on the skin - both exfoliate at the surface of the skin, so that is great for release acne impactions and getting rid of dead skin. Mandelic is better at pentrating the pores (kind of like salicylic acid does), so it is better at clearing and preventing clogged pores. Mandelic also has antibacterial activies, which glycolic does not.

Also, Dan's AHA has a moisturizing/hydrating base -AHAs generally do not come in a moisturizing base (and I don't know of any mandelics that do) - they are usually serums or toners. Acids like glycolic and mandelic are not moisturizing agents - they are exfoliants.