21 replies to this topic

[Need Solutions]

Why is all the advice on the internet so contradictory?

Some articles say to wash face whenever it gets oily to prevent pore clogging and others say the more you wash your face it will just make it produce more sebum because its dry..

some articles say to moisturise twice a day but every single moisturzer seems to contain some ingredient thats meant to be terrible for your skin.

Some articles tell you to exfoliate every day where as others just say it is destroying the outer layer of your face.

Why in this day and age cant they have figured out the answer to these questions definitively?

and why are all the products with the best reviews discontinued?

My face seems to be getting worse everyday and I havent got a clue what to do anymore.

[LewisS]

I agree completely. I read something, try it and then read somewhere else that it's not good for my skin at all!

I've given up on listening to others and now I'm just trying to cleanse, tone and moisturise and if it doesn't help, what more can I do? :/

[lightersUP]

What are you using as a regimen? The important thing is to find effective products that don't irritate YOUR skin, and stick to them. If they're helpful then you can usually tell within a few weeks.

I know all about playing product roulette and switching to something different every other day. This is not the way to go. Stick to something simple yet effective, not too plain where it doesn't fight acne at all, and not too aggressive where it's tearing up your face.

Make sure you have an exfoliating component in your regimen. This is what helped me the most over the years. Antibiotics can kill acne bacteria, but it's exfoliation that will freshen up your skin and make it look healthier. Like layers of tree bark, you need to gently exfoliate the damaged, clogged, blemished surface skin to get to the clear skin underneath. This is a process that takes a few months but it does work.

When you don't exfoliate enough, dead skin cells and other cellular debris will accumulate on the face and keep clogging up pores again and again.

[Need Solutions]

Basically I used to just use a normal clean and clear face wash and clean and clear moisturizer. Then I started getting more spots than usual so I decided to look into it more. After reading that these products in the shop can dry out skin too much and contain bad chemicals I decided to take a different route and try something a bit more natural.

I bought some manuka honey after reading good reviews on here about it and hundreds of good reviews about honey masks in general. I washed my face with it for 3/4 days, leaving it on for 10/15 minutes a few times. I then realized it had caused me numerous blackheads and whiteheads dotted all around my face. The worst part of all though is it seems to have left tiny black dots which I now know are sebacious fillaments all over my face making it look so uneven and dirty and just basically a horrible complexion. It seems once these occur there is very little you can do about it and knowing I caused it by something that I did to my face makes me feel even worse and extremely stupid.

I now am just washing with a cleanser called witch hazel and my skin always feels dry after it but I just dont know what to do anymore. Ive ordered a cleanser called aquanil which is meant to be gentle and none drying and contains very few ingredients. Ive also bought some paulas choice bha 2% exfoliator and am going to use this every few days.

this apparently exfoliates your face and inside the pores and pushes stuff to the surface but will not actually remove anything and if anything I think it will make blackheads and sebbacous fillaments look more clear because they have been drawn to the surface. The blackheads on my nose and cheeks stick out a mile and I have squeezed 1 or 2 out and they literally leave a massive hole in my nose which is even more noticable. I feel so helpless as the main problem seems to be very blocked pores which from what ive read seems to be so much harder to treat than actual spots because it is ingrained in your skin and requires them to be extracted, and they just fill back up anyway because the pore is so stretched from the blackhead/sebaccous fillament been in a long time.

It has really affected the look of my skin, the way I feel, my confidence and everything in my life. I just wish I could turn back the clock and not have used manuka honey as this seems to be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.

Also my skin gets quite dry and flaky (which further clogs pores) but im so paranoid about putting any kind of moisturizer on after this because im scared it will clog my pores even more.

I dont know what to use too be honest as im worried certain products may make it worse but also what im doing now is certainly not helping.....

=/

[Callum.]

Everyone's skin is different. Sometimes people write advice based on what was good for THEIR skin.

[snsdgirl14]

Like you, I was paranoid about using moisturizer when I had my acne outbreak. I had never used moisturizer before because I simply didn't need it (my skin is combination-oily). My derm told me I definitely should and recommended CeraVe. I have been using CeraVe AM and PM for six months and have really liked those moisturizers. They did not clog my pores or make me extra oily, and they moisturized my skin when it flaked from my acne medication. I would definitely recommend that for you--it is a gentle moisturizer.

Exfoliating is also very important. I don't think one should do it everyday--could be too harsh--but every 2 or 3 days, or even once a week just to be careful, can do the trick. Then you are sloughing off dead skin cells, unclogging pores, revealing fresher skin underneath. The skin replenishes itself every month or so, but with exfoliation, the process is sped up a little bit.

DON'T hate yourself for the manuka honey. It does get positive reviews almost everywhere. I have made mistakes too with my skin by buying products that got rave reviews. There's no way you could've known. This is reversible; with time, your skin will return to normal. You did not permanently damage your skin. It's not like scarring or anything, so don't worry so much. I guarantee that within a month your skin will improve.

[Ripon10]

Need Solutions -

Are you dealing with acne as well or just the clogged pores (blackheads)? You made a good choice with the BHA (salcylic acid). It's a slow process, but it will help keep the pores from over clogging. Try using Arm and Hammer and gently scrub your face with it a couple times a week. This will more aggressively exfoliate and may help to remove a lot of those blackheads. You will need to exfoliate daily and use sal acid and even glycolic acid in a daily routine. Both work a little differently but are effective. I use sal acid in the morning and glycolic at night. Dan's AHA is a good product. I use Lumiplexion because it's a lighter weight gel and has the option for 10, 12 & 15% strength versus only 10% with Dan's.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Julie

[lightersUP]

Need Solutions,

I hate to suggest a regimen to someone, but try a regular gentle cleanser, followed by your BHA toner, followed by an AHA moisturizer like Dan's. Both will help shed away your dry, blemished skin.

If you stay consistent over 1-2 months, your face should drastically improve. Exfoliating takes time so you can't expect to see immediate results but stick with it and it's bound to help out. In time, all the crap currently sitting in your pores will be flushed out and leave smooth clear skin behind.

[Need Solutions]

Like you, I was paranoid about using moisturizer when I had my acne outbreak. I had never used moisturizer before because I simply didn't need it (my skin is combination-oily). My derm told me I definitely should and recommended CeraVe. I have been using CeraVe AM and PM for six months and have really liked those moisturizers. They did not clog my pores or make me extra oily, and they moisturized my skin when it flaked from my acne medication. I would definitely recommend that for you--it is a gentle moisturizer.

Exfoliating is also very important. I don't think one should do it everyday--could be too harsh--but every 2 or 3 days, or even once a week just to be careful, can do the trick. Then you are sloughing off dead skin cells, unclogging pores, revealing fresher skin underneath. The skin replenishes itself every month or so, but with exfoliation, the process is sped up a little bit.

DON'T hate yourself for the manuka honey. It does get positive reviews almost everywhere. I have made mistakes too with my skin by buying products that got rave reviews. There's no way you could've known. This is reversible; with time, your skin will return to normal. You did not permanently damage your skin. It's not like scarring or anything, so don't worry so much. I guarantee that within a month your skin will improve.

Thank you for the support , i'm going to start exfoliating every 2 days and see if that helps to improve my complexion over time. I Live in the UK and the cerave you suggest isnt available, I could order it off the internet possibly but ive seen reviews saying it contains 2 very comedogenic ingredients and can clog alot of peoples skin, and this is what im most scared of. Anyone else got any advice on a light moisturizing lotion or spray that has very little change of blocking pores?

Need Solutions -

Are you dealing with acne as well or just the clogged pores (blackheads)? You made a good choice with the BHA (salcylic acid). It's a slow process, but it will help keep the pores from over clogging. Try using Arm and Hammer and gently scrub your face with it a couple times a week. This will more aggressively exfoliate and may help to remove a lot of those blackheads. You will need to exfoliate daily and use sal acid and even glycolic acid in a daily routine. Both work a little differently but are effective. I use sal acid in the morning and glycolic at night. Dan's AHA is a good product. I use Lumiplexion because it's a lighter weight gel and has the option for 10, 12 & 15% strength versus only 10% with Dan's.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Julie

Thank you, I mainly just seem to get them small whiteheads and a few smaller spots, but quite a few, not really massive acne. I feel like alot of the spots ive got are alot to do with my pores been really clogged. Also im worried about scrubbing my face with anything in fear of making it worse, damaging face or spreading acne =/ I know the BHA is very recommended and im going to start exfoliating with it but the blackheads or sebaccous filaments on my nose seem to have gotten so big that when one comes loose it leaves a massive red hole in my nose that is even more noticable than if I would have left it in =/ This seems to be a lose lose situation as I dont want a mixture of massive blackheads and red holes all over my nose =/ any suggestions for this?

Need Solutions,

I hate to suggest a regimen to someone, but try a regular gentle cleanser, followed by your BHA toner, followed by an AHA moisturizer like Dan's. Both will help shed away your dry, blemished skin.

If you stay consistent over 1-2 months, your face should drastically improve. Exfoliating takes time so you can't expect to see immediate results but stick with it and it's bound to help out. In time, all the crap currently sitting in your pores will be flushed out and leave smooth clear skin behind.

Thankyou, Im trying to find a gentle cleanser in the UK but im struggling with one, any suggestions on a gentle cleanser anyone?

Ive ordered aquanil containing -

Water (Purified), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Xanthan Gum.

Its suppose to be gentle but contains some very questionable ingredients so I just dont know any more =(

Im going to start using the BHA every 1/2 days but im very worried about the holes that will be left in my nose/cheeks/forehead/chin if they are loosened up and removed =/

I Dont think im going to try and AHA for now as I dont want to keep introducing so many different products, just going to strat slowly and see how it goes for now, thanks for the advice though =)

Can you or anyone else suggest a light, simple moisturiser that has very few possible comedogenic ingredients? The way my face seems at the moment im EXTREMELY paranoid about comedogenic ingredients but really need something to use occasionally to stop my skin been so dry all the time. Im from the uk by the way but can order a moisturiser online if it seems to be a good one.

Any suggestions anyone?

[Ripon10]

I would try the baking soda. It's not a rough exfoliation. You need to get the blackheads out regardless of what they leave behind at this point. Leaving them in is just going to make it worse. You may want to go to an esthetician and have them remove them professionally.

[Murph89]

Like you, I was paranoid about using moisturizer when I had my acne outbreak. I had never used moisturizer before because I simply didn't need it (my skin is combination-oily). My derm told me I definitely should and recommended CeraVe. I have been using CeraVe AM and PM for six months and have really liked those moisturizers. They did not clog my pores or make me extra oily, and they moisturized my skin when it flaked from my acne medication. I would definitely recommend that for you--it is a gentle moisturizer.

Exfoliating is also very important. I don't think one should do it everyday--could be too harsh--but every 2 or 3 days, or even once a week just to be careful, can do the trick. Then you are sloughing off dead skin cells, unclogging pores, revealing fresher skin underneath. The skin replenishes itself every month or so, but with exfoliation, the process is sped up a little bit.

DON'T hate yourself for the manuka honey. It does get positive reviews almost everywhere. I have made mistakes too with my skin by buying products that got rave reviews. There's no way you could've known. This is reversible; with time, your skin will return to normal. You did not permanently damage your skin. It's not like scarring or anything, so don't worry so much. I guarantee that within a month your skin will improve.

Hi! I could write a fucking book on my skin in the past 4 years so when it comes to acne advice, I know what works for me and might not for others, but I've used 10 plus products and been to 4 derms in the last 6 months, and I think I've finally found what's working.

I'm taking doxycyline twice a day. Started at 350 mgs and now I'm at 200mg each day. It's working to prevent bacteria and I haven't had a pimple on my cheek in a week, nor my chin which has always been an issue.
I found my skin has to be exfoliated and deep cleaned every day. Twice a day I wash with a new product ivebeen using for a week called African black soap. It comes in a bar form. I use Nubian heritages african black soap with Shea butter, aloe, vitamin E, and other natural ingredients. It's 100% natural and I love it!!!
I moisturize on my cheeks where I have red marks with emu oil which I've used for the past 3 years with success. It taks away any flakiness and redness. It's amazing. And it won't clog your pores. I sometimes smother it literally all over my face, and I have never had a pimple.

The black soap is amazing. Check out the reviews on here and online. It MAY make you dry, but nothing series. I would much rather my skin a tad dry them oily like it always is. It's really helped my skin out a lot, and I can't say that about many othe products.


And don't touch your face!!!! Make a conscious effort to make that the most important thing you do.

Edited by Murph89, 26 July 2012 - 05:05 PM.

[IcyMyth]

2 reasons:

Everyone's skin is different and it's so hard to find a solution that will work for everyone.

And secondly, it's a money grab.

[Sum1killme]

Illuminati at work.

[Need Solutions]

I would try the baking soda. It's not a rough exfoliation. You need to get the blackheads out regardless of what they leave behind at this point. Leaving them in is just going to make it worse. You may want to go to an esthetician and have them remove them professionally.

Thankyou for the advice.

Too be honest it seems like its just too late. The ones on my nose have been there for YEARS but have only got bigger recently. I think they are more "sebaccous filaments" than blackheads because there is HUNDREDS of them and they are all the same size, but they are very big and actually stick out my face. Very noticable in sunlight =( ive used the paulas choice 2% bha liquid a few times and it seems to have loosened them up/ bought them a tiny bit to the surface but I still dont know what to do about them. little areas of sebaccous filaments seem to have come up all over my face very small but It makes my skin look rough and I dont want them to get any worse so I need to somehow get these out (hundreds of them so would be impossible to get them extracted) also I had blackheads/whiteheads/small red spots dotted around variously all over.

My skin is dry and flaky which Is only making things worse but I no longer have a clue which moisturizer to use as I feel it could lead to more blocked pores. =/ I just seem to be in an impossible situation, Im getting an appointment to see a skin specialist but after reading about dermatologists on here dont hold much hope of them helping much.

Even if I did get the hundreds of blackheads/sebaccous fillaments out my nose/cheeks I feel the holes will look even worse than the actual blackheads because of how deep they probably go.

I seem to be in an impossible situation, It looks as if I should of payed more attention to my skin earlier on and used proper products but the last few months it has sort of crept up on me, In all seriouseness I would rather be dealing with loads of big red spots because it seems there is things to treat these and they go away on their own eventually, whereas if left blackheads and sebaccous filaments will just stay their forever.

Really need some help here =/

I actually look alright in some lights really haha, but when its bright/sunlight and I see my reflection my skin just kind of looks horrible..

[Ripon10]

When you say you tried the BHA "several times," do you mean for several periods of time or do you mean just several applications? Salcylic acid takes months to start working. Nothing works overnight, just to be clear.

Here is an article I just read. It seems to fit your description.

http://voices.yahoo....426.html?cat=69

Edited by Ripon10, 27 July 2012 - 04:18 PM.

[Murph89]

Try emu oil for your dry flaky skin

[Need Solutions]

When you say you tried the BHA "several times," do you mean for several periods of time or do you mean just several applications? Salcylic acid takes months to start working. Nothing works overnight, just to be clear.

Here is an article I just read. It seems to fit your description.

http://voices.yahoo....426.html?cat=69

Thanks for your information, I appreciate help from people that have used simular products and know how they work.

Yes, Ive only used the bha 3 times so far every 2 days, I understand it will take months to start making a significant difference, in your experience how exactly would it work, would it gradually make things look smaller or bring them to the surface for easier extraction or possibly make them so loose they can be washed off?

and thanks for the article, Ive already seen that, Ive read almost everything on the internet about it to the point of obsession too be honest hahaaa. I understand I may not be able to get rid of them but it just seems more and more areas of them seem to be gradually popping up and I need to stop this at least or gradually take them away or at least make them smaller, less visible, anything. I know 90% of people have these on their nose area but mine really do seem to be massive, and some seem to be developing into actual blackheads. I really dont think many people have areas of these on their chin, cheeks, forehead and I am keen to learn how to do something to reverse/prevent it getting worse. Any information/tips you have would be greatly appreciated =)

Try emu oil for your dry flaky skin

Thanks, ill take a look into it =)

[Ripon10]

You will need to use the salcylic acid daily (at least 1x per day) to start to see a difference in your clogged pores within a month or so. You should start off with .5%, move up to 1% and then 2%. This is how Lumiplexion advises you. It is a daily product though and not something you just use when you feel like it.

If you read the article and ones like it, you would know that sebaceous filaments are common and almost everyone has them. Some people's are smaller than others. I'm sure not exfoliating properly is leading to them being more pronounced. It also says the pore size is hereditary. I think you may want to read the article I linked again.

[Need Solutions]

You will need to use the salcylic acid daily (at least 1x per day) to start to see a difference in your clogged pores within a month or so. You should start off with .5%, move up to 1% and then 2%. This is how Lumiplexion advises you. It is a daily product though and not something you just use when you feel like it.

If you read the article and ones like it, you would know that sebaceous filaments are common and almost everyone has them. Some people's are smaller than others. I'm sure not exfoliating properly is leading to them being more pronounced. It also says the pore size is hereditary. I think you may want to read the article I linked again.

I have the 2% bha from paula's choice so it wont be possible to start with .5% etc.. Im going to start using it every day but am starting with every 2 days for now and could do with sorting out a good moisturizer before starting using it every day.

They look more pronounced because they are filled in as appose to them being empty/ totally invisible and unnoticable 3/4 weeks ago (apart from the nose area, been there for years) I understand pore size is hereditary but I also understand that blackheads/sebbacous filaments will stretch them and they wont go back once cleared? so if they had never been blocked in the first place they would be virtually invisible, but now been as they are stretched, if they were to clear again they would be noticable?

[Exister]

Leave your face alone like your ancestors did. We haven't evolved since then, so why should we be loading ourselves with chemicals? Even mild face washes are an entirely new thing, our skin isn't ready for it.