5 replies to this topic

[kevb92]

Hey guys, so i'm kind of new to posting, but i've been reading acne.org for years. I first started getting acne when i was 14. I had bad acne for a while until i was about 16, when i started using Proactiv. By the time i was 17 my face wasn't so bad, only the occasional breakouts. My acne calmed down a bit and it's gotten to the point where i only get a few pimples once in a while.

Thing is, lately, scars have been appearing on my face, even from small zits. I don't touch them, either. I never scarred when my acne was at my worst, but i got my first scar when i was 18 (i'm 20 now). Now i have a few small scars on my cheeks. They aren't bad, only look like enlarged pores, but they are starting to get bigger. I'm trying to figure out why i'm scarring, for no reason. Here's some ideas:

-I started swimming as a regular sport, joining in college when i was 18, when i got my first scar. So i'm thinking constantly being in the pool is causing the chlorine to damage my skin. I still swim about twice weekly, and still compete (swim season starts soon).

-Proactiv maybe is too harsh for me now? I have heard that Proactiv causes scarring, although i thought not for me since i never got a scar even from the worst of breakouts, until now. I thought maybe it was the benzoyl peroxide being too harsh for my skin, so i switched to the salicylic acid version for a bit last winter, but i don't think it did anything to stop scarring, and it didn't really keep my acne under control (in fact i think my skin is a little sensitive to it). So i think maybe it's the fact that Proactiv exfoliates my skin too much and might be enlarging my pores when a pimple is drying.

-It could just be me getting older and my skin changing?

What i've been doing lately is using Aveeno face wash in the morning, and Proactiv face wash at night, as i'm worried it might continue to damage my skin. Although i still use the toner and repairing lotion daily/nightly. I also started using Mederma (the 1x a day version), went through a whole tube, but not sure if it actually did anything.

Anyways, i'm definitely going to see a dermatologist soon (my first time, actually), but i just wanted to get some feedback on what people thought? Thanks so much.

[Murph89]

I've noticed with my life, as I age, my skin doesn't heal as well as It did a few years back. It really sucks.

[austra]

What I'd like to know is, what is your diet and overall health like? What are your sources of protein? Are you stressed? Do you get vitamin C from your diet? Is your health in any way different (apart from age) from what it was like when you weren't scarring despite acne?

I don't know why sometimes you scar and sometimes you don't, but it would be very interesting to get to the bottom of it (if possible). I would think it has something to do with one's health, nutritional status and hormonal levels etc. Anything that affects skin's recovering capabilities.

[fistno]

benzoyl peroxide is to control the acne breakout, it doesn't stop scarring for occuring. acne scar take place due to skin aging. Like you say, the scar suddenly appear. That is because the skin aged and the collagen production in our body depleted over the ages. As the collagen fail to fill up the depleted area, acne scars are formed. That is no way to stop this process. However, there are cure for this.

I personally test out tca cross. It is very effective. My acne scar is not that deep. I tried out tca complex initially and my scar got worst but after I changed over to tca cross after 2 application of tca complex, my acne scar improved. When I say improved, it really is a great improvement. (My scar is still visible, will need to perform a few more times)

When dealing with acne scar, there is no such thing as immediate treatment for immediate effect. It take times for the collagen to produce. And that is why the dermaroller- collagen induction therpy is now so popular.

A piece of advice, do a extensive research before going to any dermaologist. Some Dr. may not really that keen to help you. One good example is Dr. Khan, there is a post on his misconduct in this forum, go search for it.

For enlarged pores, they are the same as acne scar, appear due to skin aging. The only way to fight against it is to use anti aging cream.

[Green Gables]

Hey guys, so i'm kind of new to posting, but i've been reading acne.org for years. I first started getting acne when i was 14. I had bad acne for a while until i was about 16, when i started using Proactiv. By the time i was 17 my face wasn't so bad, only the occasional breakouts. My acne calmed down a bit and it's gotten to the point where i only get a few pimples once in a while.

Thing is, lately, scars have been appearing on my face, even from small zits. I don't touch them, either. I never scarred when my acne was at my worst, but i got my first scar when i was 18 (i'm 20 now). Now i have a few small scars on my cheeks. They aren't bad, only look like enlarged pores, but they are starting to get bigger. I'm trying to figure out why i'm scarring, for no reason. Here's some ideas:

-I started swimming as a regular sport, joining in college when i was 18, when i got my first scar. So i'm thinking constantly being in the pool is causing the chlorine to damage my skin. I still swim about twice weekly, and still compete (swim season starts soon).

-Proactiv maybe is too harsh for me now? I have heard that Proactiv causes scarring, although i thought not for me since i never got a scar even from the worst of breakouts, until now. I thought maybe it was the benzoyl peroxide being too harsh for my skin, so i switched to the salicylic acid version for a bit last winter, but i don't think it did anything to stop scarring, and it didn't really keep my acne under control (in fact i think my skin is a little sensitive to it). So i think maybe it's the fact that Proactiv exfoliates my skin too much and might be enlarging my pores when a pimple is drying.

-It could just be me getting older and my skin changing?

What i've been doing lately is using Aveeno face wash in the morning, and Proactiv face wash at night, as i'm worried it might continue to damage my skin. Although i still use the toner and repairing lotion daily/nightly. I also started using Mederma (the 1x a day version), went through a whole tube, but not sure if it actually did anything.

Anyways, i'm definitely going to see a dermatologist soon (my first time, actually), but i just wanted to get some feedback on what people thought? Thanks so much.

- ProActive/Benzoyl peroxide is effective at killing bacteria. However, BP has been shown to cause free radical damage which SLOWS the healing of the skin and can lead to scarring with long-term use.
- Chlorine is very damaging and drying to the skin. Without adequate moisture your skin cannot heal properly. I would make sure to moisturize every day with a good simple moisturizer like CeraVe.
- Yes, as you age you do lose elasticity and collagen. But I'm older than you and find that moisture has made a big difference in my skin. I never really used to take moisturizer seriously. Now that my acne is gone and I'm just trying to fade scars, I see how important moisturizer is for the healing process.
- You don't need to wash twice a day. You really don't. By washing twice a day and swimming regularly you are basically stripping your skin's acid mantle and never giving it time to heal.

Edited by Green Gables, 31 August 2012 - 09:18 AM.

[kevb92]

What I'd like to know is, what is your diet and overall health like? What are your sources of protein? Are you stressed? Do you get vitamin C from your diet? Is your health in any way different (apart from age) from what it was like when you weren't scarring despite acne?

I don't know why sometimes you scar and sometimes you don't, but it would be very interesting to get to the bottom of it (if possible). I would think it has something to do with one's health, nutritional status and hormonal levels etc. Anything that affects skin's recovering capabilities.

I'm actually healthier than i was when i had acne. I wasn't too athletic, but now i exercise often (like i said, i'm on swim team). I eat healthier, more protein now, more fiber. I take vitamins A, E, C, D, along with probiotics. I eat less sugars now, although i don't think i drink as much water as i used to. I guess you could say i'm more stressed now, college gets to me sometimes, not sleeping a lot, worrying, etc.