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dieffenbachia

Member Since 18 Dec 2011
Offline Last Active Dec 22 2012 07:28 AM

Posts I've Made

In Topic: The Good List: Non-Comedogenic Ingredients And Products

04 December 2012 - 05:10 PM

Also according to the master comedogenic list, this could be a good and cheap cleanser:

Simple Kind To Skin Pore Minimising Toning Cleanser
Aqua, Butylene Glycol, PEG-20 Glyceryl Laurate, Carbomer, Panthenol,Sodium PCA, Sodium Methylparaben, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate,Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Tocopheryl Acetate,Benzophenone-4, Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate (witch hazel), Dipropylene Glycol,Pantolactone, Methylparaben, Anthemis Nobilis Oil (Roman chamomile), Pelargonium Graveolens Oil (Geranium oil), Citric Acid


And this a cheap and non-comedogenic

Simple Kind To Skin Moisture Boost Hydro Cream

Aqua, Paraffinum Liquidum (mineral oil), Petrolatum, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenoxyethanol,Carbomer, Panthenol, Sucrose Laurate , Tocopheryl Acetate,Methylparaben, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Disodium EDTA,Propylene Glycol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben,Lecithin, Propylparaben, Sodium Citrate, Pantolactone, Sorbic Acid,BHT, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract (lotus flower) , Citric Acid

In Topic: The Good List: Non-Comedogenic Ingredients And Products

04 December 2012 - 04:20 PM

One question.. In the Master comedogenic ingredients list, it states that Sodium chloride (salt) is 5 : 0-3.. and in that initial list some of the products with sodium chloride are highlighted red for bad, and others were not that also contained sodium chloride... and then also, a number of these 100% Non-Comedogenic products have sodium chloride in them. So my question is, why do some products get a pass for having sodium chloride in them and others do not?

Thanks.


Unfortunately, Greengables has retired. I also noticed that the first product contains Cetearyl Alcohol which is mildly comedogenic in the master list (=2) and Dan gives it a 4 in his list (http://www.acne.org/acne-products-guide.html).
The list is pretty comprehensive anyhow so I think just go with your own instincts and avoid if necessary. I want to try and avoid the cetearyl alcohol so I'm not going to use the first product.

Update on ingredients:

Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Sodium Hydroxide

In Topic: Silicones And Acne - Sharing Some Info

04 December 2012 - 01:59 PM

According to Cosmetics Cop by Paula Begoun, there's scientific evidence and reasoning that shows that silicones do not suffocate skin or clog pores:

"... the molecular structure of commonly used silicones makes it impossible for them to suffocate skin. The unique molecular structure of silicones (larger molecules with wider spaces between each molecule) allow them to form a breathable barrier and also explains why silicones rarely feel heavy or occlusive, although they offer protection against moisture loss (Source: The Chemistry and Manufacture of Cosmetics, Volume 3, Book 2, Allured Publishing Corporation, 2002, pages 833-839).

Furthermore, "silicone fillers are sometimes used for improving the appearance of acne scars. That certainly wouldn't be the case if silicone was a pore-clogging ingredient (Source: Dermatology Research and Practice, October 2010, Epublication). Perhaps the most telling reason why silicones do not clog pores and cause acne (or blackheads) is because, from a chemistry standpoint, most silicones are volatile substances. That means their initially viscous (thick) texture evaporates quickly and does not penetrate the pore lining where acne is formed."

Interestingly, on her Facebook page for her line of products Paula's Choice, she responds to a fan who gets cysts shortly after she uses products withsilicones. Here's a really interesting quote from Paula's reply:

"It is a fact that silicone doesn't clog pores because silicone isn't occlusive (just the opposite), and there is no research showing it to cause breakouts, neither mild nor cystic... However, just because there isn't research doesn't mean a problem doesn't exist for some people."


So I'm not sure about Paula's claims that she makes about the chemical properties of silicone, which she references as coming from The Chemistry and Manufacture of Cosmetics, as I can't get access to an online version of this book to check the source. However, when she references the article from Dermatology Research and Practice, October 2010, and claims "silicone fillers are sometimes used for improving the appearance of acne scars. That certainly wouldn't be the case if silicone was a pore-clogging ingredient " this is a non sequitur - of course you could get a treatment that could cause pore-clogging; the actions are mutually exclusive.

I decided that her illogical argument deserved more scrutiny. The article she referenced I believe is this one: Acne Scars: Pathogenesis, classification and Treatment, Accepted 28 September 2010

In the first instance, this article doesn't point to any evidence of silicone not being pore-clogging, only that it may help diminish the appearance of acne scars (she puts the reference at the end of the wrong sentence). However, the article itself is poorly referenced wrt evidence of silicone gel treatment as it doesn't point to any actual original research when it makes its claims about silicone for acne scar treatment (it merely references another review article but claims this is original research).

A more developed review from the Cochrane Review Library suggests that essentially the evidence for silicones in treatment of hypertrophic or keloid scarring is not convincing due to the biases in the trials:

Trials evaluating silicon gel sheeting as a treatment for hypertrophic and keloid scarring are of poor quality and highly susceptible to bias. There is weak evidence of a benefit of silicon gel sheeting as a prevention for abnormal scarring in high risk individuals but the poor quality of research means a great deal of uncertainty prevails. (http://onlinelibrary...6.pub2/abstract)

Again, this all concerns scar treatment not the prevention or aggravation of acne.
So far I haven't been able to find any sufficient evidence to back Paula's claim (or otherwise) that silicones do not have occlusive properties. The point is that silicones act as filling agents, this doesn't necessarily mean that they prevent gas exchange with the skin however, it certainly doesn't prove that they don't clog pores. I will continue researching for evidence either way on the pore-clogging front

In Topic: Gems2889 (Retina A Micro) Log

16 January 2012 - 10:03 AM

Wow Gems such an improvement! Congratulations! You must be very pleased with the progress.
If I may I'd like to make a couple of comments about antibios (you probably know this already but I think it deserves reiteration for others that may be less aware):
  • for women they can play havoc with your vaginal flora. I'm sorry to be blunt but thrush can be AWFUL!
  • Also they can play havoc with gut flora too because all the commensal bacteria ("good" bacteria), that help us digest our food, are killed as well.
  • Third, doxy can increase photosensitivity which means that your skin may be extra sensitive to light and therefore you should remember to use sunscreen! Especially since melanin production is the skin's natural remedy to sunlight and is also the reason for permanent dark patches on skin after acne lesions.

In summary, antibios are great as a short term remedy to cope with immediate problems and if they're working for you, great! Just that they are not a panacea and there are some serious side-effects that people should be aware of.

Your skin looks really healthy (you have a lovely dewy complexion and beautiful colour) and after your pigmentation goes you won't even be aware you ever had acne!

Thanks for keeping this log because it's a real inspiration. :D
Good luck

Oh p.s. a couple of sunscreens that are oil free and have never made me break out:
1) avene face spf 50 oil free (very white)
2) Banana boat sun wear faces oil free spf30 (lovely matt finish)
3) sunsense daily face spf 50 (very oily finish but no breakouts)

Gems, skin is looking amazing - in a few months time you'll hopefully be clear. Question for you, after you wash your face/before you apply your meds, is your skin dry? Did this happen at any point during your treatment. My skin is soooooo dry after i wash and even worse after i add my meds. Moisturizing after still leaves flakes behind. Will these symptoms ever let up (i'm almost 7 weeks in)

Hey Sash
I just saw this comment and wanted to quickly ask you whether you are moisturising only in the morning and evening or whether you moisturise during the day too?
Second, do you make sure you drink at least 2l of water per day?
I found that when my skin is healing that it's worth just moisturising whenever and wherever you need to (even in the office, at my desk! I just purigel my hands to clean them if I can't leave my desk, then wet wipe them. Whip out my little pocket mirror and apply moisturiser. Clean hands on wet wipe. Back to work!). I have been known to moisturise 7-8 times per day. Also if I wake up at night to go to bathroom, I also moisturise! I'm a bit OCD perhaps but I think it helps.
Also I use an emolient such as sudocrem which I've found on the spot it is fantastic for dry skin, and helping to heal acne too. It has the downside that it stays very white and not easily rubbed in so may be just an at home remedy, but can't recommend highly enough.
Cheers

In Topic: Clean And Clear Daily Facial Lotion ( Salicylic Acid )

16 January 2012 - 09:09 AM

ive done alot of research and alot of people say that BP and SA create wrose redmarks for post acne lessions. so i completely DITCHED my soap and spot treatment no lotions or anything im on water only for my face. and so far my face is look so much less aggravated and no more redness the pimples i get heal even quicker then when i used spot treatment and they dont leave bright redmarks any more.

my advice Look into the "Water only logs" on this site. do alot of research on the "Acid Mantle" and PH acid range on facial soaps.
SOAP is not actually our friend.
i know i didnt help much with your question but hopefully this info will help in you gaining your acid mantle back and healthy skin!
Good luck!

So I thought I'd try your method for a couple of days and ditched everything bar water. For the first 2 days there was no change in my skin (currently I suffer from mild acne comedones and the occasional breakout when stressed or when I tried rosehip seed oil...grrr) but third day: BANG! Four early stage bumps...doh!
I'm not refuting the acid mantle theory that your skin is ph 4.5-5.5 for a reason and trying to disturb that may make the situation worse but I think for me using water only as a cleanser has not been beneficial.
Having read a few of the comments made about the theory, it seems that it's ok to use cleansers and toners and moisturisers as long as they are within your skin's natural pH range. I'm going to continue with these recommendations and see how that helps things. I'm so glad for you that just water has helped! It's great to hear some good news stories because it's really painful to have acne, no matter the severity. I hope the good wave continues for you, man.
Good luck!