17 replies to this topic

[mikeh26]

Hello everyone, I am 26 year old male European descent....looking for some advice on my long battle with acne/oily skin/ redness.

Background:
-breakouts started in junior high
-pimples all over chin, nose, forehead, back
-nose extremely oily with redness
-age 24 pimples on chin, back and nose start disappearing

Current regimen
Daily:
-cethaphil gentle skin cleanser
-cethaphil moisturizing lotion
-neutrogena SPF45 when going outside
2-3 times a week
-exfoliate with baking soda and blackhead extractor


As you can see from the pictures (taken right after exfoliating nose) large pores mainly on nose, leading to yellowish dirt/blackheads to come out daily. Without using 4-5 oil absorbing sheets everyday nose and forehead are drenched in oil. This cycle repeats every single day. Around scalp/forehead when I move hair to side there are small bumps and occasional pimples.
I have tried hundreds of products; creams, vitamins, home remedies, prescriptions (retin A, tetracycline, benzoyl peroxide) without any success.

Sorry for long post but now my questions:

Is this rosacea or adult acne? (The two different dermatologists that prescribed retain A, tetracycline told me it wasn’t rosacea.)

What regimen would you recommend?

Would low dose of accutane help?

Any opinions or advice appreciated.

Thanks.

(sry for high res pictures, makes me puke looking at them as well)


(created same thread in Adult acne forum don't know how to delete it)

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Edited by mikeh26, 17 April 2012 - 05:07 PM.

[Chestercool]

Its adult acne, definitly not rosacea

in my opinion:
I'd recommend using natural acne products, for the nose blackheads, apply a honey mask for example, then steam your face and extract those comedones.
Changing your diet and general lifestyle is the most important, check the nutrition forum, but shortly its no dairy, grains, junk food. Exercise 3 or more times per week and sleep 8 hours.


Yes, accutane would help, theres a research which shows that 75% of total accutane dosage can cure mild acne.

ps: nice camera, it has a good resolution

[mikeh26]

Thanks for advice.

Will try diet change pretty much paleo diet. I am getting plenty of sleep and excersice already.

Is there anything to help with bumps on scalp?

[KelsOrKp]

Hi

I'm not a doctor, but it's quite obvious to me that you do have mild acne. I am not sure what the success rates are for antibiotics, but the cyline family did absolutely naff all for me.

I had oily skin once, but I am on my second month of roaccutane, and after the first week on a low dose 30mg I noticed a dramatic reduction in oil production. I have seen people being given roaccutane for milder than yours, so it might be worth asking about a low dosage

Wish you luck !!

[mikeh26]

Thanks for reply.

I have tried bunches of antibiotics but to no avail, by tmmrw pores will be full and puss/blackheads start coming out.

Your accutane progress sounds great and reading accutane logs on this forum for long time sounds like its true miracle for oil control.

[amrendugan]

Can we buy accutane without prescription??and what is the lowest dosage we can get....I consider using accutane once and for all because Im soo tired of dealing acne from time to time...we are like playing hide and seek..I am just though afraid of the side effects, one of it is the hair loss....

[JohnMsh]

The hell with the side effects.... I rather take my chances with a product that has a high chance of cureing acne then having red bleeding bumps on my face
Just to be covered in scars forever.... You cant live life knowning that you are not proud of what you look like.. People have died ! for such a thing..
I cant live my life knowning that my acne will alwas be a negative-effect in my social life... Hell even in my Love life .

[phillipsbrowncl]

I agree with the other posters. It looks like inflamed acne. Rosacea is typically followed by a burning sensation and there are many triggers such as heat, spicy foods and emotions. If you continue to use the prescription topical steroids, they might help your oiliness. I suffer from rosacea and acne - and I notice that products containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid gave me flare ups and caused a lot of redness. After using a topical steroid I noticed a reduction my oiliness considerably because of the way they help control the amount of sebum that generates on the face. Right now I use Aczone topical, which does wonders for my rosacea and can also be used for acne. At night, I use Clindagel that contains the antibiotic clindamycin and doesn't contain benzoyl peroxide like Acanya etc... I also take an oral vitamin Nicotinamide which has been clinically show to improve facial acne and rosacea. I wash with Cerave facial cleanser which is very mild and conditions my face. Without insurance, prescription medications for acne can be expensive, but you have to decide if its worth it. It's trial and error. What works for my face may not work for you.

Edited by phillipsbrowncl, 28 April 2012 - 07:56 PM.

[mikeh26]

thanks for response

what dosage of B3 are you taking?
from the vitamins section here everyone that is having success with B3 seems to be taking extremly high amounts



btw currently 2 weeks into no suger low wheat diet and so far it seems to be working somewhat

will post pictures later today

[someonefromabove]

mikeh26, what's going on in your skin is some typical acne/rosacea-like condition caused by demodex. Research it. You can cure it up revealing your natural skin condition within 2-3 months. "demodex dermatitis" can have quite various appearances.

Edited by someonefromabove, 01 May 2012 - 12:22 PM.

[mikeh26]

mixed results so far

tbh hard to tell any change two weeks into paleo diet

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[someonefromabove]

diet will not be able to clear this up, believe me.

[Elvin83]

mikeh26, what's going on in your skin is some typical acne/rosacea-like condition caused by demodex. Research it. You can cure it up revealing your natural skin condition within 2-3 months. "demodex dermatitis" can have quite various appearances.

I have the same problem. What products did you use to clear up your condition, and where did you buy them?
And if you have the time, maybe you can tell us all what procedure you followed. That would be a big help.

Elvin

[allrighty]

diet will not be able to clear this up, believe me.

I agree, I eat so ooooo healthly and still get blackheads.... All those scrubs n cleansers dont work either.

[mikeh26]

just small update

I have ordered some Zhongzhou Zinc cream for demodex. Not sure if "demodexsolutions" is legitamete website but will see if product arrives.

[vincevega]

How did it go?

[abfab6126]

What you are missing from your regimen is a toner/astringent. These bring the skin's pH back into balance. Skin has a pH of 5.5. After you cleanse (two times) you need to tone before moisturizer. Toner closes your pores back up after the cleanse. I would also recommend seeing an esthetician for a thorough cleansing and exfoliation with professional products and ask for the high frequency machine to dry up excess sebum and bring oxygen to your face. Hope this helps!

[mikeh26]

How did it go?

Havent even recieved it yet.

Not sure why its taking so long, maybe it got lost in shipping but I have no tracking number.

Will report when it comes in.

What you are missing from your regimen is a toner/astringent. These bring the skin's pH back into balance. Skin has a pH of 5.5. After you cleanse (two times) you need to tone before moisturizer. Toner closes your pores back up after the cleanse. I would also recommend seeing an esthetician for a thorough cleansing and exfoliation with professional products and ask for the high frequency machine to dry up excess sebum and bring oxygen to your face. Hope this helps!

can you recommend good toner to add to my regimen.

thanks.