I thought I'd post about my experiences with AHA since I couldn't find all too much about it. Maybe this will help someone one day

My background: mod-severe acne since I was 13 and I'm 20 now. Birth control took care of most breakouts while a few weeks of clindatech (a topical antibiotic) put a stop to the couple of big nasty ones i was still getting each week. Problem is that I still had redness, scarring, blackheads and whiteheads. So while I guess I',m clear, its doesnt really look like it

I started 'NeoStrata Ultra Smoothing Lotion' two weeks ago which has 8% glycolic acid and 2% citric acid. After 4 days of using it, my nose (which has blackheads but never pimples) and forehead had about a trillion really tiny pimples and the rest of my face was really bumpy also.

Now its been two weeks and the breakout has definitely gone down; now when i run my hands over my face when i cleanse its mostly smooth instead of pebbly.

My forehead now looks like it did before i started, still covered in a number whiteheads My nose still has blackheads too,although i'm pretty sure they sllloooowllly are diminishing in number. However the redness from my older marks have faded considerably but not completely

I haven't experienced any stinging, just a bit ichy in some places, also my skin gets dry but my moisturizer takes care of that. THe box says I can use it twice a day after two weeks and thats tomorrow - I'm just hoping wearing it under my makeup doesnt do anything crazy. I know it takes up to 3 months to see full effects so I have my fingers crossed

What I've been using till now:

Morning:

Spot treat with Thursday Plantation Tree Tea ANti Blemish stick
Neutrogena Moisture Oil Free Formula, SPF 15
Brenda 35ed
Make up

Evening:
Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Neostrata Ultra Smoothing Lotion

Has anyone used AHA long term and seen great effects?

I definately agree with you guys on greasy foods...
I avoid fast food completely, and try to eat good foods, but I dont get too anal about what I eat..
once and a while i'll have pizza or a brownie. But it is your omega ratio I watch, I usually try to keep it at 2:1 or 1:1 omega 3 to omega 6,9....means taking fish or flax oil 2 to 3 tablepoons each day. It keeps your body non-inflammatory....also drinking a glass of water with a lemon slice squeezed will alkalize your body if you eat a lot of gluten or meats.

A supplement called mega-h is good too, it keeps your body hydrated, and balanced.
Detox 7 is at walmart it is for cleansing..works good once a month.

I drink pure water regularly, along with a few glasses of green tea, I like it iced...my job is very physical so thats my regular excersize, and I lift weights to beat stress.

And i make my own toner, and lotions but i use acnetix as my face wash in the morning. At night i just take a shower and tone, then lotion. Green tea and apple cider vinegar, and little bit of tea tree and lavender oil is the toner. Lotion is aveeno oat flour lotion mixed with a little bit of apple cider vinegar, jojoba, tea tree and lavender oils. Pretty simple once you have all the stuff...and the average cost is about $20 bucks a month. Make small batches and use every 5 days so it dont spoil. Mega-h is an extra $15

The diet keeps you clean, and non-inflammatory, and the skin regimen keeps your face
ph balanced and really helps with scars too. Meaning little to no acne depending on your skin type.

Also dont scrub your face to harshly.. I only wash with scrub once in the morning, and be gentle, it helps. After 8 years of acne this has really helped me be healthy and happy. You will notice with the detox products your skin clears magically, and is improving quickly (weeks not months). Hope this helps you as it did me.

After trying and failing for 6 months on DKR, I've decided to give long distance treatment at Face Reality Skincare a try, so here we are - a new year, a new log!

I've completed the online questionnaire, sent pics, and received my serum testing kit. I reported back my findings. I have been told I have mainly non-inflamed acne, and am waiting for the following products to arrive:

Acne Scrub
Salicylic Toner
Mandelic 8%
SPF for acne prone skin
Acne Med 5%
Cranberry Cream

I'm going to spare you the details of how fed up / miserable / depressed I am with my skin at the moment. Let's just say I'm desperate and leave it there.

Any advice / tips / comments from other FRSCC (especially long distance) users would be very welcome and appreciated! Hopefully my products will arrive next week...

Here are a few things I've been doing so far (based on the clinic's handouts):

Taking 100mg zinc picolinate (as of Jan 10th)
Using fragrance-free washing liquid
Watching iodine intake
Trying to get enough sleep / destress (ha! kind of hard when ur miserable)
Switched from Clinique's superfit foundation to Lily Lolo minerals
Stop switching cleansers / moisturisers / make-up.

My aims for the next 3 months are:

Not to freak out when I break out.
Stick with the regimen.
Give it 3 months to work.

I've never had bad acne, but I started doing a weight-loss program about 2 1/2 weeks ago and have lost about 13 lbs, I'm not sure exactly because I only weigh myself on mondays. Anyways, I do an intence work-out on a stationary bike basically until I cant go on, and my face will end very red and my whole body covered in sweat. I'm pretty sure this is the cause of the increased amount of whiteheads...

It's mainly across my shoulders/shoulder blades and a little down my back, a little across my chest too. I'm going to do the back acne regimine, but I also want to know if you guys have any tips, storys you'd like to share, or just comments. I'm all ears.

Oh and I've always had a few ( 2-3 ) on my chest, and a few once in a while on my face. I have a large chest area so I figured that was why they were on my chest. And for my face, and actually this is asset to the other areas too, I live in Florida, it's humid.... allllllll the timeeee. Moist heat during the day, and moist air at night, even in winter! Plus I live in central Florida, so Florida is surrounded by 3 parts of water, hence it's a peninsula, and I live on a peninsula... ON the peninsula. So yeah, a lot of water, a lot of humidity. :] 83% average. haha.

I figured the tips might be easier with that little bit of extra information. :] Thanks guys!!!

so.. I have had acne since I was 11 and I am now 19...

Back then I didn't think anything of it, I was maturing much faster than the other girls around me so I just thought it was normal. But.. after a few years, all the girls were done maturing and their acne was subsiding while it seemed like mine was staying for the long haul..

I tried several off the counter products like clean and clear, noxema.. etc, nothing has worked. So I finally got in to see a dermatologist who put me through several different methods. The last one he's given me was a minocycline pill and differin gel.. Well, ever since I first used the retin-a he gave me in the very beginning I have been stuck with closed comedones that just wont go away, and it seems they just keep coming in numbers...

soo.. for the past two months or so, I started really using my proactiv treatment, day and night... and also using my differin every other night, hoping, praying that maybe something will make these bumps go away. Well, I don't know if its my acne finally coming to surface but my skin has broken out AGAIN, so I've started using a 10% BP spot treatment on the current inflamed pimples.. Seems to help, but it takes a few days for it to chill out..


soo.. if anyone is from Washington, I am currently looking for a new dermatologist... preferrably within the seattle/bellingham area because I seriously need to find someone who knows what they are doing... so suggestion would be GREAT..

Also.. any other advice we be very appreciated.. thanks..

Michelle

I've been doing the regimen for almost 7 weeks now, im using cetaphil gentle cleanser, panoxyl 2.5 BP, and cetaphil moisturizing lotion. As it turned out, my face turned red and it so dry and flaky, ive been following dan's regimen but it worries me a lot, i feel like my face is already burned and stretched. Is this still normal? Please let me know. Do i need to continue or stop the procedure at once?

Hi everyone, my name is Jessica and I have Acne Vulgaris and unfortunately i cannot afford a dermatologist so I have come up with my own regimen that seems to work well for me. My skin is very finicky, so much so that every other product that I used made my skin SOOOOO much worse.

It is an inexpensive and unexpected product,

"LIQUID DIAL ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP" the gold stuff. I wash my face with nothing but this stuff, in the morning and in the evening. I then use witch hazel to soothe my skin and make it soft. At night I then use Aloe Vera with lidocaine in it to soothe the pain a little and makes my skin nice and soft.

I have been using this routine for about 5 years and it works great for me, when I started something new just to see if it would work better is when I really screwed my skin up, so I always come back to what i know works.

My acne is so bad that when I stretch my skin, you can see the nodues below my skin where I will soon have another breakout and it is so painful and embarassing that I wear makeup to th gym sometimes. UUUGGGGHHHHHH.

I have not tried the regimen here before, but I would like to, its just a little pricey to buy all the products for me right now. Good luck to everyone here, i truly sympathize and understand.

Jess[/i][/color]

First of all before i rewind... i bought some OXY MAXIMUM strength pads which have 2% SA which i thought would open up my pores and stop the blackheads/cloggeed pores.. withein 3-4 days i had pimples and usually i have a clear face just like clogged pores and stuff like that... so i returned the product and my regimen is basically..... as it has been for the past 5 months



sun-thur ( retin a at night and i wash my face with olay foaming face wash regular) <--- usually i miss a day or two of the retin a..

then on fri n saturday i give ma face a break and i dont apply anything just use the olay face wash mornings and nite of course.

so yeah in the mornings i tried that OXY maximum strength after washing my face and used it in the mornings but that didnt help my regimen so im only using retin -A which has kept my skin lookin alright .. it does help shed the skin normally so i'd say its a good product.

somtimes for problem zits i use dans bp and it works amazingly so i figured since im very good with bp , i decided to buy those stridex power pads with BP and today was my frist day using them and i just used it a little on my forehead and temples and nose not the entire face just on the new pimples i got from using that stupid oxy maximum pads..oh and i read good reviews on the stridex power pads so hopefully it will be good.

i've ben on accutane a few years ago so i dont have like painful acne and stuff like that but i just have annoying consistent acne...
i was also wondering maybe lack of sleep and staying up late is a factor to all this cuz i noticed i been sleepin really late and stuff and i read a guys regimen that talks about sleep and meditations and all that good stuff..

if anyone has any ideas and thinks the retin a and the powerpads is a good idea or a bad idea please provide your opinion ... even if there is nothing wrong with it .. a little reassurance wouldnt hurt.
Thank You.

1.NO GREASY FOOD!!! dude, i had a baby face and always got compliments on my smile, lips, eyes and clear skin. then i got hired as an assistant mang at carlsjr and it all changed. no more compliments, just people scanning my face, connecting the dots. the work at my job is stressful, im pretty much there all the time, and i was always catching myself eating french fries and hamburgers in between paperwork, lunch rush, and getting loads of work done in limited time lines. Then after starting a war against my acne, ive changed everything in my daily routine. As far as food goes, if you want a good meal, but not tons of zits later there is things you can do about it. Most important, incorporate fruit in your diet. Your body treats you better for it. If you normally skip breakfast to open the store at six a.m. like me, just eat a banana or a yogurt. Pack a couple nutri grain bars in your pocket for a quick snack, its better than a quick fry or onion ring believe me. And if you have time, put together a salad for lunch. You dont have to sacrifice good fatty american food neither, chicken strip salad is a favorite of mine. Also, pasta is a quick, easy food that will fill you up for the day and supply you a sufficient amount of energy to get by. Angel hair pasta, bread sticks, and a salad for me is better than greasy ass french fries, a hamburger with processed condiments, and a gallon of soda.

2.DONT PICK AT YOUR FACE!!! alright, this is a little harder than it sounds. though it can be hard, it is extremely worth it. if you pick at your face, all you are doing is spreading the bacteria it carries, essentially causing more pimples. along with that in mind, it leaves scars, pimples are pimples but it is still your skin regardless. take pride in your skin, it can be as beautiful as you would like it. if it is a big pimple, you might feel like it must be popped because its so embarrassing. dont think like that, only god can judge you. there is a way to keep it off your mind though, its a psychological trick. if people stare at your face and you feel uncomfortable, just think of it as a tattoo. i think of my 'tattoo' as a big raiders logo printed on my face and when people stare i just hold my head up and shine with pride. for girls, you might think of it as a butterfly tattoo. whatever it is, just be prideful that you have more strength and poise to leave it alone.

3.RELIEVE YOUR STRESS!!! Thinking about your pimples all day isnt going to help the issue. all your going to end up doing thinking about your zits is end up in the mirror destroying your face. play a game of chess, watch sportscenter, listen to your favorite music. whatever you're into, do it. if you dont have much to do, find an open space and do a couple push ups. do a couple sit ups. and even if you can only do like five sit ups and your done. just sit there and say "damn i just did like five sit ups! im a sex machine"

4.DRINK WATER!!! Thats simple. Soda is loaded, loaded with sugars and all kinds of syrup that contributes to pimples. Drink water instead. If water isnt flavorful enough for you and you cant stop drinking soda. Find other ways to contribute to a clearer, more golden skin tone. Gatorade, orange juice, apple juice, vitamin water. Those are all great ways to cut the bad habits but not sacrifice the tast.

5.TREAT YOUR SKIN RIGHT!!! Most people get pissed and say fuck it, ima pop every pimple on my face! Im gonna do this! Im gonna do that! Hey, just take it easy killuh. Put the nitro-glycerin away, put the scalp down, and take a minute to breathe. Acne is not that bad. Seventeen million people have acne, thats just in the U.s. alone. So take it easy on yourself and your skin. If you are washing your face and it hurts, stings, and irritates, you are doing too much. An easy way to wash your face while being sensitive with it at the same time is the use of oxy clean pads. I know, you're thinking "what the fuck is this guy on?" Nothing. The conventional use of oxy clean is to wipe these alcohol drenched pads on your face and irritate the phuck out of your skin. This is not what i am asking you to do. If oxy clean pads are too much, I do have a solution you could use. I have sensitive skin so I use a 'sensitive-skin cleanser'. So, I take an oxy clean pad, soak it in water to dilute all the alcohol. Squeeze my cleanser on the pad, about the size of a nickel, rub it into the pad, and you have your own custom oxy clean 'sensitive-skin' cleanser. The pad is good for deep cleaning(ever seen the dirt the pad picks up?) and its still sensitive enough to satisfy your skin type.

I have used a honey as a simple mask. I believed it really did nothing like other websites said. It didn't sooth my skin, at all. But, it might work for others. Has anyone tried it? Thanks.

-Aaron[size="1"][/size]

So, I've been battling with blackheads since last summer, I tried a number of regimens including clean and clear, proactiv.

But for the last 2 months I have been using a skin care called Dr. Earls. I live in chicago and you can find this stuff in almost any walgreens.

Dr. Earls is very similar to Dan's regimen, only except for the BP after every wash, the cleanser was BP and something else I'm not sure of. I was very doubting of this cleanser because it doesn't make your face feel squeaky clean. It also doesn't feel like it does anything. But, after two months I have been washing with it every morning and night and not only have my blackheads disappeared my scars are too. The next thing that you put on your face after every wash is a salyic(sp?) acid, mixed with hydro(you know the stuff to face scars.), and alcohol. The moisturizer is brown and it smells very bad, like charcoal, but it keeps it nice and smooth. I don't use it everyday because it makes it feel too shiny.

I wear lancome make-up concealer almost everyday to hide scars, and I also don't have a balanced diet and through all of this Dr. Earls is clearing up my skin and so is the BP I put on after the acid.

I've been on this new regimen for about a week now, and it seems to be working for me, so I thought I'd stick my neck out and start a new log.

Quick background: I'm 41 and have had mild/moderate acne since I was 11. I've tried many, many Rx and OTC remedies; a lot of things have helped, but nothing has ever cleared me up entirely. Up until last spring, I had things pretty much under control; some mild cyclical breakouts but nothing I couldn't live with. Then I went to Spain for 2 months and came back with seriously bumpy skin. It looked like I had pebbles under my skin all along my jaw and in patches on my neck, cheeks, and forehead. It wasn't inflamed (unless I picked at it) but it looked and felt horrible.

I don't get cysts or badly inflamed breakouts; for the most part, I only get real pimples during the week before my period. What I have are seriously clogged pores with a whole lot of waxy white gunk backed up underneath. I still don't know why my pores got so much worse while I was traveling, but they are definitely the root of my skin troubles.

I found out about jessfoliation, green cream, and topical vitamin A while lurking around this board. The green cream interested me because it's a high retinol OTC product. (Retin A helped me a lot before, but I just couldn't deal with going back to the derm all the time, and I let my prescription lapse out of sheer laziness.) Anyway, I figured that the purging effects of the retinol would help my bumps ... and I read that the green cream is specially formulated to minimize redness and irritation, which are common side effects of retinoids.

The topical vitamin A interested me because of its purging effects as well. It's fat soluble, so it comes in an oil-based formulation; everyone who used it commented on how soft it made their skin feel. I figured it might offset some of the drying effects of the retinol while increasing the purging power.

3/11 UPDATE: I'm no longer using the topical vitamin A, and don't particularly recommend it to anyone else. The Green Cream is a far superior product.

Jessfoliation works for me, up to a point. I started it right away when I first got on the board, and for awhile it seemed like it might solve everything. At first, the bumps got smaller very quickly -- but then I just stopped making progress. Now I use it very cautiously, because of the retinol, but it is wonderful for sloughing off dead skin.

Anyway, this first week has gone really well. I've been using the products every evening except one, when it seemed like my skin was getting irritated and I took a 24 hour break to let things cool off. A lot of the bumps have purged, but in a fairly painless way -- I haven't gotten any huge pimples or cysts, just some small pustules. Some bumps dried up and flaked off. Others opened up into loose comedones that were easy to squeeze out and didn't leave red marks.

For some reason, the left side of my face has purged more than the right; when I pull the skin tight, I can see that there's very little gunk left under the skin on the left side. The right doesn't look horrible, but it's definitely bumpier.

Ive been on the regimen for 3 days now and almost all of my flesh-colored, under-the-skin bumps are gone!!! I'm sooooooooo excited!!!

After lurking around the board for some time, I have finally decided to try Face Reality Skin Care. I live about an hour away, and figured that is close enough to give it a shot. Heck, how many of us women would drive 2 hours for the perfect pair of shoes...hmmm?

I am 48 and have non-inflamed acne. However, I did have horrible, inflamed acne from the time I was 13 through my 20s. The past fews years I have had bumps under the skin and just minor cysts once in a while. The past year, I've noticed the bumps were increasing in their numbers; enough to just bug the dickens out of me!

Of course my husband doesn't think it looks bad, but I'm not going to trust his opinion. I mean, the man doesn't even see the underpants on the floor, how the heck is he going to see the zits that are driving me insane!!

The Face Reality office was lovely, calming and everyone was so kind. Gabby helped me and spent quality time analyzing and cleaning my skin. I had a peel and some extractions.

What I loved the most was that they don't force their products on you. We agreed that I would use up some of my products that don't break me out. So I will use my current cleanser, serum and SPF then switch to theirs if I so choose. I purchased the Exfol A and Cranberry Cream. We decided at this point to wait and see if I needed the BP. PTL!

I grew up in NJ and had a fabulous derm out there who did extractions, gave peels, etc. He transformed my skin. I have not been able to find one out in the Napa Valley that takes the time to do this. Face Reality gave me the EXACT same service that my NJ Derm offered. They are meticulous in what they do, make sure to answer all your questions, and honestly seem to genuinely care about clients.

I am SOOOO grateful to Willow and all the bloggers who took the time to talk about this place. I am confident that I will soon have great skin.

If any of you are 45 or older and use their products, can you please advise if you included anti-aging? Gabby mentioned that the Exfol A and Forte products will help and that we can address these issues as well down the road.

I do, also, have some calcium deposits on my skin that I would love to get removed. But, I want to get my skin under control first and maybe try to find a doctor that can do this as well.

Have a great day everyone. And thank you for the board Dan!

Today is going to start day #1 of a 30 day challenge to no skin picking. For 8 years I have suffered from a disorder known as self injurious skin picking. I found out that I am not the only person suffering from this disorder when i visited the website www.selfinjuriousskinpicking.com.I decided to post a log here to see if there was anyone from acne.org that has skin picking issues. I began skin picking when i started getting break outs the summer before my sophmore year of high school in 2000. I would pick at my pimples and cause them to scab and then scar. I have suffered with this for 8 years and made my skin much worse than it actually is. I dont really have acne anymore, just an occasional pimple and some blackheads. but i pick at anything i can on my face making scabs everywhere. There are times that i get to busy and dont pick and my skin will clear up, but that doesnt last long i always find a way to pick again. I have tried everything and I am determined that i can fight this disorder. I am going to keep a log of my progress each day for 30 days and try the very hardest possible to keep my hands off my face. here is my plan-

1. In the am I will touch my face only to apply makeup after my shower
2. throughout the day i can only touch my face to reapply makeup
3. in the pm i will wash face with cetaphil cleanser and apply BP to any active spots/ I cannot pick at any active acne or blackheads.
4. I will log my progress each day

So heres to ending this battle and having the good skin that is underneath this crazy disorder.

Hey all!

I'm 23, and I've suffered from acne since I was about 15 or 16. It has been a long and one-sided battle, consisting of a dermatologist's care, internal and external prescription meds, and all the products a drugstore has to offer. I've finally found success in the following:


MORNING:
Baking Soda face scrub (just water and BS, it is a similar exfoliant to ones that are used in spas. My skin cleared up DRAMATICALLY once I was able to get rid of excess dead skin and allowing the BP to seep into my pores)

Basis bar soap

Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Lotion



EVENING:
Baking Soda face scrub

Purpose bar soap (a little harsher and more drying than the Basis bar)

Acne.org Benzoyl Peroxide

Spot treat scars with Vitamin E oil (purchased at Target)




After trying the regimen, I thought I had clear skin. And then I experimented with baking soda.... and WOAH! AMAZING difference. It helped get rid of pitted scars, as well as red scars, and my skin is so much smoother with a much more even and vibrant complexion.


PS I must note that I am on birth control, ortho-tricyclen generic "Sprintec". When I am off of my pills for the week during my period, I notice that I start to begin chest or back acne, which means that the pill is definitely giving my face an advantage and a leg up over not being on the pill and just using BP.

Hi, I'm new to these forums, and thought id tell everyone how my experience goes. Have had moderate acne for 5 years (im 19) on and off. Sometimes seems to randomly get better then flare up again at the drop of a hat.
Finally decided to see my GP about it; in the past have tried just about everything over the counter: clearasil, neutrogena, hit the spot, oxy for men, freederm, BP, clean & clear... list goes on, probably to almost no use as most people will have had to come to realise.
Have an appointment next week so I will let everybody know what advice I am given and if any prescriptions work. Wish me luck!

Soooo ive been battling my blackheads, uneven skin tone, redness, and hormonal breakouts now for awhile. I have been trying different products for a couple of years now and I now have a regime which i am pretty happy with.

Morning:

1.Cleanse: Clinique Liquid Facial Soap- mild- This is so good, its gentle, yet it also removes me makeup.
i used to use Cetaphil but it made my skin really oily, i felt it wasn't cleaning my skin enough so then i tried Neutrogena Skin clearing facial cleanser and this just aggravated me skin made it red and dry because it had alcohol in it. and alcohol is a big NO NO for my skin. I also tried the St Ives scrubs but they are all too aggravating for my skin, then i read your meant to be gentle to your skin and not scrub it, if you want to exfoliate it use a AHA or a BHA product instead.


2. Exfoliate: Clinique Clarifying lotion- mild. This is really good. Its an exfoliant and it has 0.5% BHA in it which yes is a small amount buuuuuuut just wait.....
I tried some other Clinique clarifying lotions which were aimed at people with acne and i used them and BAM my skin broke out like crazy overnight and then i realized the damn things had alcohol in them and all these irritating ingredients. Damn things.

3. Moisturize
Clinique Turnaround Concentrate...YAY! This has 1% BHA in it and glucosamine which are two exfoliants but it also moisturizes at the same time. With my skin i tried many other moisturizers for the day-time and they would all go on nicely but by lunch time i felt my skin was oily again which i hated!!! So this works well all day.

4. Prime- Napoleon Primer- This is good is provides some moisture and lets my makeup go on really well. If i feel my skin is oily i use Clinique Instant Pore Perfecter which basically mattifys that area you put it on. I put it on my t-zones.

5. Makeup
Either Bobbi Brown oil-free compact makeup
or Cliniqu Superbalanced or Superfit both oil free .
maybeliene Dream matte powder makeup.

Then at night i take off my make-up with
Night


1. Cleanse
Clinique liquid facial soap

2. Tone
Estee Lauder- Re-Nutriv Intense softening Lotion.
Then i tone my skin, i always thought this step was a sham. I didn't think i needed it but since using a toner at night my skin is smoother and it has evened out my skin tone!! hence the name Toner. It has stopped my skin from flaking as well. (if the weather is windy and dry i use the toner in the day-time as well)

3. Exfoliate
2% BHA Paula's Choice Liquid
I put this on to eliminate my blackheads i have been using it for 3 weeks now and it has worked. Most have gone I used to have them badly on my nose and cheeks and now i cant see them! And I own one of those magnifying mirrors.

4. Moisturise
Clinique anti-Blemish moisturizing cream (2.5% benzoyl peroxide)
I love love love this stuff. Its great. I used to use just a basic 2.5% BP product and it make my skin red. This doesn't make my skin red and it makes my skin feel really really soft and smooth and it prevents me from getting breakouts.

I'm really happy with this routine at the moment. I tried other products from Galderma, Neostrata, Clarins, neutrogena, Clearasil, Clean and Clear, Aveeno, Dr Lewinns, Biotherm, so I've tried and tried and tried and i hope I'm done!!!!!

yes, i effin want perfect skin! i wanna have hard-boiled egg, porcelain-like skin!! lol, and this is my journey......

main problems that i'm addressing are stubborn blackheads, uneven skin tone, large pores, and imperfect skin texture.

right now, am on salicylic acid. it's not doing enough. so i'm gonna try different things. stuff i'm considering are AHA to replace BHA, taking evening primrose oil for hormonal breakouts, and polysporin. suggestions are welcome. i'm gonna go to the mall this weekend and buy new products and get this log started, yay!!!

4/17/2008 skin situation:
hormonal breakout just ended. no pimples. just some redmarks.

Current routine:

AM:
cleanse with lukewarm water
moisturize/sun protection with olay complete spf 15 sensitive (changing soon)

PM:
cleanse with cetaphil gentle cleanser
moisturize with jojoba oil when still damp
treatment with PC 2% BHA liquid (replacing soon with AHA)
wait at least 30min, then moisturize again with jojoba oil, if necessary

if i go into a picking frenzy, i apply tto to prevent infections (replacing soon with polysporin)

this routine keeps me clear, except when the effin hormones of the cycle kick in, then my skin deteriorates literally overnight. i still wanna be a women in the next life, but hopefully by then science is so advanced that there's no such thing as hormonal breakouts.

So I decided to go off my Oxy 10 BP facewash since it was drying my face completely. Until I see my dermatologist in November I am doing something new.

Cleansing:
-Washing face with Dove sensitive skin bar
-After drying, applying Proactive repair lotion (2.5% BP)
-Washing back/chest/shoulders ONLY with Dove bar

Dietary:
-Improving my horrible diet (lived off carbs most of my life and I'm wicked thin?!), trying to get into more fruits/veggies/meats
-Trying to make and drink green smoothies 3 times daily

Suppliments
-Daily vitamin and Omega 3 capsuls

Exercise:
-Cardio etc...whatever I feel will help me and make me feel good

And most importantly...ENJOYING my life and not focusing on my flaws.

I hope this works!

Hello members and guests of Acne.org,

My name is Maia*, and I've just been officially diagnosed with non-inflamed acne. Sounds like I just told you that I have cancer and three months to live instead of a zit infestation. Even if I'm not likely to die from a pimple, I didn't even know what non-inflamed acne even was and I've been trying to evict them with little or no avail since they first moved in at age 13 (note: if you can't differentiate whether you have inflamed or non-flamed acne read the bottom of this log or go to Facerealityskincare.com and take a look at their before/after photos). It's easy for other people to scoff and tell you that it's just a rush of teenage hormones which will most likely disappear as you get older. Maybe true for some. A LOAD OF HORSE SHIT for those like me. Pardon my French.

So yesterday afternoon, I made my first visit to Face Reality, and thank whatever god you wish that they were easy to find, I've been proven to be annoyingly terrible at reading directions, but I made it here on the dot (they charge your card if you miss an appointment without 24 hour notice people,so don't waste their time!) I first took note of this clinic about a month ago from Yelp because they happened to have raving reviews, which I took as a good sign, but luck has it that a college student like me does not have a bottomless wallet to fund pricey treatments (not to mention products) at her disposal. But someone thought I should celebrate an early Christmas when my boyfriend, Juan Casanova, found this great opportunity to do some pro bono work for Face Reality and I just happen to fit their requirements.

Upon my entry into the building, I was warmly greeted by Patrick, whom I recognized as the voice I talked to over the phone. He told me to take a seat, kindly offering water and tea and when I sat down who else but Laura (the proud owner of Face Reality) was finishing up a client in front of me (who was notably in the further stages of acne treatment because her skin looked so healthy) testing mineral makeup which I found out later they have their own special blend (oooh..) I was moved shortly into a cozy room equipped with the familiar massage-like chair and the bonus of a fountain (brownie points for a serene setting). It wasn't until I was laying down that I heard the music playing from the speakers, which brings me to my next point, BRING AN IPOD TO YOUR SESSION. Especially if you need extractions. This is the part no one (especially estheticians) want you to hear because it's not pretty but it's almost always completely necessary for those who suffer from non-inflamed acne. Don't like pain? Ask yourself how much you'd like to see the skin you were born with instead of the skin you're stuck with right now. Trust me, it's not a day at the beach but it's no root canal. And if you can tough it out, you'll be worshiping the ground Laura walks on when she puts the soothing serum on your face. She explained in detail (without any humiliation on my part) what ingredients in food, fabrics, and makeup often irritate the skin and why to avoid them. An example (that even I had no idea about): seaweed (like in sushi, which I CRAVE all the damn time) contains a crazy amount of iodide content known to aggravate skin. As much as I wanted to despair at cutting back on sushi rolls, it was a giant relief for me to really understand what my skin reacts to and how I can actively prevent future breakouts instead of waking up to see my face in the mirror and feeling like I have no control over the pimples I have now and the gazillion more I know are coming.

Needless to say, I went home with a red face, however, in what I believe was a smart move on my part, I curled my hair so I felt a little less dumpy. My appointment was in the middle of the day so if I'm going to see people which I did, I can distract them with some spring-loaded hair and maybe some shiny reflective jewelry. You can't expect miracles to happen with your acne overnight, that's why it's called Face REALITY. What can I tell you, life sucks that way. Bring your pimple-pocked mug to Laura and deal with it. She does long distance too.

I was given a nicely typed regimen and a large baggie of products to follow for the next two weeks and if you'd like to see how it goes for me and decide for yourself whether this is what you are looking for, I'll be updating every 3-4 days on my progression towards clear skin.


Maia





*Some names have been changed because this is the Interweb where freaks and geeks reside and also I just liked test driving other people's names as my own. (I didn't confirm that I wasn't a freak (or geek) myself. >=)



ACNE TYPES:

Inflamed Acne: Visibly red, extremely sensitive and prone to oily skin. Looks like you've been dumped in a vat of hot Canola Oil and are suffering from it to this day. It runs in my family in two separate generations. If not treated properly, your face may look like my Uncle Freddy, who has as many craters in his cheeks as Utah has Mormons.


Non-Inflamed Acne: Bumpy dull skin, some acne but not as widespread as inflamed acne, dark spots, oily skin, and not sensitive or hot to the touch. My skin, I've noticed, adapts to cleansers very easily which disillusions me to think that new products are working and then I realize 2-3 weeks later that I break out once more. If you've got these symptoms or more, you may be like me and have a classic case of non-inflamed acne.

been moved

hey everyone

i am going to use the acne free 3 step program with the blackhead terminator to see if it clears up my minor acne and blackheads.

the program has a purifying cleanser (step 1), renewing toner (step 2), and a 24 hour time released benzoyl peroxide cream (step 3), after using these i will apply the terminator to my nose area as that is where i get most blackheads.

day 1- i have a red bump on both cheeks, minor acne near the sideburn area, and mild acne around my nose. i have blackheads on my nose also. i started the regimen today (january 24)
my mother said my acne was looking better(but she is my mom so she probably is just saying that.)

day 2- skin is a little dry around my mouth corners, looks a little flaky but i am putting clinique moisturizer on it.

Okeedoke...

So I'm sure some of you have seen my posts proclaiming the wonders of The Oil Cleansing Method.

Well after doing that method for a month, my skin started having a reaction to something. It might have been the avocado I tried one night or something else..IDK.

At any rate, I decided to stop the method and try something new. I just bought some Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash and Complex 15 Face Cream. I bought it after seeing a post suggesting to use the two products together.

Having already used Purpose, I am fine with using it again. I don't really remember what made me stop using it. I think it might have been because it was a little drying eventually.

But now I am only washing my face with a cleanser at night instead of morning and night. I think that will be better. In the morning I just wash my face gently with water and moisturize with the Complex 15. It just soaks right into my skin. I like it. The smell is a little funny though.

I think the OCM made my skin a little dry so I think the Complex 15 is going to be good for me. Thankfully, the local CVS store had it.
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So yea, this is my log as of now.

Today my skin is doing okay. I have a few pimples on my forehead and some on my cheeks and chin. Nothing major...

A problem I have is picking at my skin. I really need to stop. Sometimes it's an unconscious thing... :/

I know it will only make things worse but...*sigh*

I will try my best to leave my skin alone and with God's help, I know I can break the habit.

I had my first consult/treatment with FRSCC last Thursday. I live on the East Coast but was in CA for a business/pleasure trip with my husband and decided to make an appointment for a consult with FRSCC and then continue as a long-distance client after reading great reviews on this site.

I was very nervous going in as I had never had a facial before, nevermind extractions, and am OCD about people touching my face. Laura is such a warm soul and soon put me at ease and I began to relax. She told me I had non-inflammed acne, congested, dry skin, and tested some products and my skin was not sensitive at all to the higher concentrations of glycolic. The extractions did hurt some, but were more of a pinching. I thought it would be a lot worse.

Laura did what felt like about two dozen extractions, a few of them being milia. Of course I freaked out when I looked in the mirror afterwards at how red my face was and bumpy where the extractions were, although I did expect it somewhat. Laura said it would probably take the rest of the day for the redness to go down, which after a few hours the bumpiness was much, much better.

We experimented after with their mineral makeup line. I liked their line very much. I thought it went on a little heavy, but it wore great the rest of the day. I'll probably end up purchasing!

So Laura wants to wean me off of the BP I have been using because of the dryness of my skin and put me on the following regimen for the next few weeks:

PM: (every other night)
wash with FR silica scrub
tone with FR salicylic toner
2.5 BP all over

PM: (every other night)
wash with FR silica scrub
tone with FR salicylic toner
apply Vivant Derm-A-Gel
wait 15 minutes
apply FR Hydrating Emulsion
apply FR Cranberry Cream

AM:
wash with FR silica scrub
tone with FR salicylic toner
Paula's Choice 2% liquid BHA (since I still have a bit leftover)
(spot treat BP if I wish)
apply FR Hydrating Emulsion
apply FR Micro-TZ SPF 17

Laura is planning on eventually replacing the BHA with a 5% glycolic and I'll also start using the Derm-A-Gel every night in a few weeks and no more BP.

I'm liking the regimen so far. The extraction sites are flat, but still a little red. I'm sure it will take a couple months for all the current non-imflammed sites to disappear, but the goal is to keep them from forming in the first place. I have a couple micro zits on my chin, but the good news is I have had zero flakies on my skin since starting, which is a feat in itself! I love love love the Hydrating Emulsion so much. It goes on completely matte and totally hydrates my skin. The jury is still out on the cranberry cream. I love the smell in the jar, but I think it's a little overpowering for me since I'm not much of a fragrance person. (I never use perfume and use fragrance-free shampoo and conditioner). I'll give the cranberry cream a few weeks and see if I get use to the smell; if not I'll see if I can take it out of my regimen.

I'll continue to post my progress with FRSCC.

I am 36 years old and have survived 23 years of Acne with the help of every prescription and over the counter concoction known to man. As well as heavy makeup. God bless Dermablend I have oiy skin that is dry on top, so it feels somewhat leathery. I have no wrinkles. When I started the Obagi program, I had several cysts along my jawline and above my lip. I also have quite a bit of hyperpigmentation both from acne scars (all over but predominantly on my cheeks and forhead). I had 3 very dark areas of Melasma around the top of each eyebrow. I am fortunate in that, alhthough I had cystic acne (3 course of Accutane, which didn't help by the way), I somehow managed to avoid pitted scars. I have no idea how but I thank God a lot for that. My scars are either red or very dark brown spots.

I entering my 4th week on the Obagi Nu Derm System. My cysts are gone except for one. I am experiencing tiny whiteheads or clogged pores I guess, along my lipline but it's nothing I can't handle and they clear up quickly (although crop up in another spot the next day it seems). I only have 2 red acne scars left and I can't believe it. My melasma has faded but is not gone yet. I am however, as red as a tomato allll the time. I've seen "during" photos of other people and I am far redder than they were lol. Anyway, I thought I'd post here and be brutally honest about my progress. If the Obagi continues to work, great, if not, I intend to post that also.

My Obagi routine is as follows:

AM
Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
Let skin dry for 15 minutes and applye Obagi Clear
Obagi Exfoderm Forte
Obagi Sunfader sunscreen

PM
Olay daily facial cloths (the kind you have to wet)
Differin Gel 1% on any areas that need it
Obagi Clear
Obagi Blender mixed with Tretinoin .25%

I just completed a Makeupartistschoice.com 18% TCA peel on my chest and back but it hasn't peeled much yet. The few scars I treated on my back are very brown and crinkly looking. One spot on the top of my shoulder did peel and is a lot lighter, probably 80%. I'm curious to see if it will get lighter as my skin continues to heal.

I will be performing a stronger TCA peel on my face tomorrow and will be taking time off to heal from that. I am hoping it will remove most of the remaining melasma and the 2 remaining acne scar/spots.

The Obagi has made my pores appear much smaller and my skin is not as oily. I used ot have to blot every hour or so but now I can go 4-5 hours without blotting. It reminds me of when I was on Accutane. less oily skin was the only benefit Accutane gave me actually. Anyway, I realize it is simply the treatment but it's still really nice and I hope it lasts. I intend to use Obagi maintenance for as long as it works for me.