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My question has many different parts so I will begin with a backstory.
My acne started at the age of 12. I have used countless over the counter face washes, gels, & other topical treatment products. I fear that when I was young I made my face worse because of my makeup use & lack of discipline. As I got older & started routines I did notice that my severe acne (cysts, underground large pimples, rash like zits) reduced to moderate acne (zits, "regualar" pimples that would come and go faster). I also suffer from hyperpigmentation (not just my face but all over) & the overall appearance of my face is a battle zone. It's not even the acne that bothers me anymore- it's the years of covering up, the scars & countless dark & pink marks from acne that has "cleared up", the unevenness of my overall skin tone.
At 18 I finally broke down & saw a dermatologist for the first time. He prescribed 5% Benzoyle Peroxide (Aqueous Base), Retin-A cream, & also a hormonal medication.
Looking back obviously that was too high of a dosage- & it reeked havoc on my face. My skin was peeling for months, irritation that made acne worse, & moisturizers did nothing to help. Everyone said this would happen. So I stuck to it! For 3 months I suffered- & then it went away. My face was smoother, marks fading, & less acne. Great. Until I became immune (or in other words my face got use to it & adapted). Just 2 weeks later nothing worked anymore. My acne came back- my face looking & acting just as it did before I starting using these.
I am 19 now. 8 years is a long time. To be honest my acne isn't as bad as it was a couple years ago- & now it's mostly the hyperpigmentation that bums me out. But I don't go a day without a couple pimples & zits marking up my already marked face. Mostly around my lips, smaller zits around my hairline, pimples on my cheeks, & every once and a while my chin and jaw line. I can't work on the hyperpigmentation if more keeps showing up.
I use Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash daily & it does a pretty good job but it's not enough.
I want to try the regimen but the BP is holding me back. I don't know what my face looks like as an adult (without makeup & acne) & I am at my breaking point.
My Q's are these:
Will the regimen work even with the way my face acts to BP?
Will the regimen help with scars/hyperpigmentation?
*More about me:
I don't have pit scars- only dark spots/marks.
I am female- some of my acne is hormonal but I take meds for that & it helps.
I don't wear a lot of makeup anymore & when I do it's never for long.
My face tends to be on the dry side- but a couple years ago it was super oily. Now it's in between.
My skin tone is yellowish & marks easily (I am of African American decent as well as Caucasian)
My skin is not overly sensitive- but I am super careful about how I treat it.
I am not in the sun a lot.
I drink plenty of water but not so much exercise.
PS. I tried to take pictures but the quality is bad.
Topic moved to The Regimen forum
I always thought your skin couldn't become immune to BP... so I'd be interested to hear what other people know about that aspect.
With the regimen, you use 2.5% BP which should mean the initial irritation from it should be less than what you experienced with the 5% (plus retin a). You'll still experience redness and dry/flaky skin when you start off but once you get to the full amount of BP, that should subside. The BP itself won't help with red marks or scarring but if you add in the use of the AHA+, over time that can help face hyperpigmentation. Using SPF is also helpful with preventing hyperpigmentiation from getting worse. And using the AHA+ and jojoba oil can also help with the dryness / flaking from BP.
I second everything Lilly has said above. Give the regimen a go, but expect a bit of redness and dryness in the first 8 weeks or so.
It is impossible for you to become 'immune' to bp, it may have been that you altered your routine in some way so it became less effective.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. 