15 replies to this topic

[tommy_boi]

Hey


Just wondering if any of you guys/girls here use just water alone to wash your faces with and what sort of success have you had with it?.

[AriadnaLoli]

You know what, tommy boi? That sounds like a good idea. This crappy Proactiv seemed to be working awhile back (for 3 days), but it's not doing a thing. I've been using Proactiv for around 2 and a half months now, and it's not helping a bit. I'm going to try bottled water only and see what that does. I'll start tomorrow.

[AriadnaLoli]

Today's my first day. My skin's oily in my T-zone, and I'm a bit worried. I used Sam's Choice bottled water from Wal-Mart. I counted, and I have 14 zits on my forehead. I have one beside my nose. I have little whiteheads around my chin. I'm going to stick to this method and see what happens. I feel like the redness has reduced a bit.

CoverGirl pressed powder gives me a glow The zits still show through, but I expect that. I'm very convinced this water only thing will work. My back and chest get very mild acne, but I don't use cleansers for it. They clear up well. I hope my face does the same. I also drink plenty of bottled water (I hate tap) and take fish oil and chewy vitamins. This better help.

[OilyOneCanobe]

Water alone to wash your face wont be better than a decent face wash for helping your acne, if you do find that your skin is improving whilst using only water then it means that the face wash you were previously using was to harsh and you should look for one intended for sensitive skin.

Water alone wont fight bacteria or effectively unclog pores. Which you def need if you have acne. If you have dry skin then water alone has been found to be just fine.
GL

[Blazemore]

I agree with Canobe. It's very important for people with acne (and therefore sensitive skin) to wash their face with some kind of soap-like product (but not actually soap).

These products incite a chemical process to physically remove dirt, bacteria and skin cells from the surface of the skin.

While this isn't as important as the adverts want you to believe, it is important, even if only so your medication can penetrate more deeply.

Personally, I tried washing with water for a months, and it actually made things worse, and my skin was very greasy.

I would recommend washing in the morning and evening with a very mild (possibly antibacterial) facial wash, followed by moisturising (never underestimate the importance of moisturising).

[AriadnaLoli]

I agree with Canobe. It's very important for people with acne (and therefore sensitive skin) to wash their face with some kind of soap-like product (but not actually soap).

These products incite a chemical process to physically remove dirt, bacteria and skin cells from the surface of the skin.

While this isn't as important as the adverts want you to believe, it is important, even if only so your medication can penetrate more deeply.

Personally, I tried washing with water for a months, and it actually made things worse, and my skin was very greasy.

I would recommend washing in the morning and evening with a very mild (possibly antibacterial) facial wash, followed by moisturising (never underestimate the importance of moisturising).

Crap, I am scared now. I've seen mixed reviews on water only, but I still want to do it. Maybe I should try Noxzema. I'll wash with it tonight...

[MasterCheif]

Eucerin all the way baby, their moisturizers and facial cleansers are the best! I use both and neither dry my face out one bit a big difference from doves sensitive soap which left me tight and dry.

Eucerin FTW!

[AriadnaLoli]

Tonight, I completed my sixth day doing this. I've got a breakout on my forehead which is fading. I decided to not use Noxzema and do this for awile, just to see what happens. My period should be here tomorrow, so I expected the breakout. I seem to have more whiteheads, though.
Not to be mean, but I'm trying to stay off of this site. It's a bit weird for me; all I think about are my zits on here. It's not healthy.

My face is no longer the oil puddle it was. It's just normal.

[AriadnaLoli]

13 days later... This sucks so damn bad! I got Mupirocin to help my zits. The lower part of my face is getting zits. Ugh... Now, I'm back at square one.

[temp123]

People with acne usually do a lot better with antibacterial stuff. Bacteria isn't the ultimate cause of acne, but the presence of bacteria makes it at least 4-5x worse.

Also look for provitamin A in the ingredients, tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia in ingredients) of face creams and stuff, these help.

Also, look to your diet. You need lots of anti-inflammatory foods. Green leafy vegetables, high magnesium foods, high zinc, drink plenty of water, minimise tea and coffee, chocolate, anything that makes you flush; low/moderate carbohydrates diet, cold pressed olive oil (has a natural anti-inflammatory similar to aspirin that gives it the nutty taste that grabs the back of your throat) is good.

Anti-inflammatories seem to directly prevent acne forming. It's not completely clear why.

[breath.easy]

I've used almost every brand you can think of out there, i swear. Neutrogena, Spectro, Clean&Clear, Oxy, Noxema, Biore..you get the idea i think..I dno if its because i didn't use them for long enough to achieve the results that they claim to give, but they definitely did not work. I started to research a lot about more natural things i can use, that won't harm my skin.. I decided i would try just using water, but the thing is i have always worn makeup (coverup, foundation, etc) since i was 14 (im 16, gunna be 17 soon) so im really, really uncomfortable going out without makeup, BUT, i figured i have nothing to lose because going without makeup is far more favourable than destroying my skin.
This is getting long..ok, straight to the point
I didnt wear coverup yesterday and only washed my face with water, results? well nothing amazingly fantastic, but my skin is not as red and blotchy as it usually is when i use cleansers, and as for oilyness, far less. I picked up cetaphil lastnight too just because its a really mild cleanser that has gotten a ton of great reviews, and i just wanted something for when i want to feel a little cleaner i guess. I also started taking vitamin A and D, there is a tablet you can buy and it has both of these vit's in one capsule. I'm also going to start on 50mg of zinc a day because my skin gets really oily throughout the day.
Wish me luck
..I am supposed to be writing an essay atm...how is it i can write 2 paragraphs on here, but i can't write an essay..oh dear

[Jessasaurusrex]

@Canobe- explain to me how slewing chemicals all over your face could possible make anything better? Also last time I checked your body can certainly fight off bacteria on it's own. Have you read the back of a bottle of face wash? Some include things like sodium sodium laureth sulfate (http://www.healthy-c...usirritant.html), menthol (http://ajpcell.physi...full/295/2/C293), benzoyl peroxide (http://www.cosmetics...NZOYL_PEROXIDE/), salicylic acid (http://www.cosmetics...SALICYLIC_ACID/), and etc.

[rubalina]

<div align='center'><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Tahoma--><span style="font-family:Tahoma"><!--/fonto-->@Canobe- explain to me how slewing chemicals all over your face could possible make anything better? Also last time I checked your body can certainly fight off bacteria on it's own. Have you read the back of a bottle of face wash? Some include things like sodium sodium laureth sulfate (http://www.healthy-c...usirritant.html), menthol (http://ajpcell.physi...full/295/2/C293), benzoyl peroxide (http://www.cosmetics...NZOYL_PEROXIDE/), salicylic acid (http://www.cosmetics...SALICYLIC_ACID/), and etc. <!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></div>

So true. Ive never met anyone whos cleared their skin with chemicals. Def. Trying watdr method

[steven m jacobson]

@Canobe- explain to me how slewing chemicals all over your face could possible make anything better? Also last time I checked your body can certainly fight off bacteria on it's own. Have you read the back of a bottle of face wash? Some include things like sodium sodium laureth sulfate (http://www.healthy-c...usirritant.html), menthol (http://ajpcell.physi...full/295/2/C293), benzoyl peroxide (http://www.cosmetics...NZOYL_PEROXIDE/), salicylic acid (http://www.cosmetics...SALICYLIC_ACID/), and etc.

<div align='center'><!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><!--fonto:Tahoma--><span style="font-family:Tahoma"><!--/fonto-->@Canobe- explain to me how slewing chemicals all over your face could possible make anything better? Also last time I checked your body can certainly fight off bacteria on it's own. Have you read the back of a bottle of face wash? Some include things like sodium sodium laureth sulfate (http://www.healthy-c...usirritant.html), menthol (http://ajpcell.physi...full/295/2/C293), benzoyl peroxide (http://www.cosmetics...NZOYL_PEROXIDE/), salicylic acid (http://www.cosmetics...SALICYLIC_ACID/), and etc. <!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--></div>

So true. Ive never met anyone whos cleared their skin with chemicals. Def. Trying watdr method

I figure both of you ladies should have a read:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php/topic/308838-the-acid-mantle/

[XXYY]

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Edited by XXYY, 02 January 2013 - 07:11 AM.

[Walking City]

Please please don't give up on cleanser. 4 months ago, I made the same decision. After all, i was 23, my face was clear, so I thought maybe I could afford to go full on Caveman. At this time I was already off BP (having weaned myself off it slowly) so I was only washing twice daily and using a little AHA. So I started washing with water only.

At first, my skin looked beautiful. For about a week. Then, loads of tiny whiteheads appeared. People will tell you this is normal. I still did nothing. My skin kept getting worse and worse, and I doggedly kept to washing with water only, convinced my skin would improve like others said theirs had.

Then at around month 2, massive cysts began appearing. By the beginning of month 3, my face was a train wreck. I have only just started back on a simple regimen of gentle cleansing and apple cider vinegar, but my face is absolutely ruined. It will take a good month to recover, and I might end up going back to BP.

I would suggest you start using a really gentle cleanser and nothing else before you give up cleansing completely.

Throughout this whole caveman experiment I ate nothing but whole foods, fruit and veg, avoiding sugar, gluten and soy, and it made no bit of difference either.

I wish you the best!!! I hope you don't end up like me. I have lost all my confidence again, all because I gave up cleansing!

Walking City