Acne.org Products
I originally posted this on the [removed] and got some responses, but nothing of concrete help. I am hoping this community can share their knowledge and really help me finally get my skin back to normal.
Pictures Below \/
GGGRRrrrrr. PLEASE! I seriously beg of you.
Instead of rambling for paragraphs about how depressed my skin has made me and my terrible life so far, I'll just list out my current skin issues and very specifically what I'm using and have used. I do not want to take the cowards way out. I want to get my skin and confidence back and get the hell out of my room.
Current skin issues:
* Apparently some overgrowth of yeast (?) / candida (?) on my forehead with a mix of inflamed acne. Has a gritty feeling.
* Enlarged and Clogged Pores (GRRRRR) with sebaceous filaments (?) all over nose, cheeks, beard and now spreading to lower forehead.
* Seborreheic dermatitis in the eyebrow and beard area. Eyebrows have subdued for now due to consistent use of Desonate steroid gel. Skin under beard is constantly peeling despite pictures because I just scrubbed a lot of skin off. Eyebrows and mustache get really red, itchy, and this moist skin peels constantly if I was not using the steroid gel.
* Scalp constantly has dandruff or something of the like and hair follicles easily come out. Every shampoo and conditioner, medicated or not, makes my scalp peek afterwards.
* Very Oily T-zone * Redness
* Discoloration and redness from chronic skin picking and abuse of medication over the years.
* Gritty feeling (yeast apparently?) on upper back. No red acne.
* Also, eyebrow hair loss in excess, contrary to the pictures.
(I am a chronic skin picker, but I am trying SO damn hard to resist the urges. A couple weeks now I've managed to hold off. Otherwise, my pictures would look a lot more red and nasty.)
Lifestyle:
-Sedentary most of the time. No exercise.
-Stress levels are there due to many reasons, whether true or just perceived.
-I do eat fairly healthy. Dairy free predominately minus the Lacatid milk with cereal once a week. Gluten consumption is at a medium on some consumption scale (hah). Sugar - low. Fried foods - low to mediumish. Only drink water, and a few beers a month.
-I've been trying to get some more sun on my skin everyday.
Despite what the pictures show, I've been losing eyebrow hairs in excess daily since September 2013. Around that same time is when my scalp started having dandruff or skin peeling and about a year later my the skin under my beard now constantly peels. So much stressed piled on at that time, thanks ex-girlfriend and ex-best friend.
Nutrients and Supplements:
Biotin 5000mg, Magnesium, Zinc, B-12, Flaxseed Oil, MSM 1000mg, Primal Defense Ultra Probiotic, and around 4000 IUs of D-3. Foods I normally consume are chicken, beef, deli meats, eggs, kale, spinach, carrots, potatoes, rice, whole grain oats, all sorts of berries, asparagus, just to name several. The subtraction of dairy is due to lactose intolerance.
Products currently using:
* Almost nothing. Trying this "caveman" regimen of barely nothing at all which is so daunting.
* Fluconazole 200MG new one for 2 weeks as prescribed by my dermatologist for the fungal fun.
* Desonate Gel .05% every couple days on eyebrows on mustache area for seborrehic dermatitis which seems to containing it, though I'm sick a steroid use on my skin
* I used Traders Joes Tea Tree conditioner for scalp while showering and Cerave Lotion for face after a couple days ago at night after showering.
* I have stopped using all facial products including all other medications at the moment.
Products I was using recently:
* Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Cleanser, Gel Moisturizer, and 2% BHA liquid for a few weeks with consistent everyday use. The BHA solution started making my skin worse and more oily so I stopped the system completely.
* Cerave Hydrating Cleanser at night
* Cerave PM lotion at night * Tretinoin 1% at night and/or morning with/without cleansing almost everyday.
* 10% Sodium Sulfacetemide and 5% Sulfur facial cleanser once or twice a week for seb derm
* Manuka Health MGO 400+ Honey as an overnight and/or hourly mask. I've done this a handful of times but no improvement.
* Jojoba Oil here and there for beard area and scalp
* Clay Mask with Apple Cider Vinegar
Products I've used in the past:
* Cetaphil Gentle and Liquid Cleansers, Lotion and Cream (tub). AM (sunscreen) Lotion
* Cerave Hydrating and Foaming Cleansers. Lotion and Cream(tub). AM, PM and SA (rough skin variant) lotion
* Proactive System
* Green Cream
* Neutrogena Scrubs, cleansers, bars, lotions
* Tretinoin from 0.025% up to 1% and was still using it up until recently
* Ketoconazole cream 2% and shampoo for seb derm
* Ciclopirox cream .77% and shampoo 1% for seb derm
* St. Ives Scrubs
* Salicylic Acid Shampoo 6% for seb derm for * T Gel regular strength Shampoo a few times a week for about a month/two
* Head & Shoulders Shampoo a few times
* Cocunt Oil for skin here and there
* Clean and Clear cleansers and astringents
* Clinque cleanser, toner, and gel moisturizer * And I'm sure a multitude of other products over the years that I can't recollect.
I am so envious of those who have perfect skin and don't do a damn thing to it. I screwed up my flawless skin over years of heavy product use thinking I had to use them. In reality, I should have never started.
So what do I do? How do I get back to normal? Should I continue this regimen of nothing for some time? Is my skin too far gone that I have to use products and a regimen consistently despite feeling like I've used everything? What products do I use? How do I clear up this scalp dandruff or whatever skin issue it is? How do I get rid of my seborrheic dermatitis? Do I just need more sun? I can ask questions for days but I've tried all it seems. I've been to the dermatologist WAY TOO MANY times and always end up with some new prescription and less money. And that is partly why I am trying to caveman regimen, because I have very little money left from being a hermit with no income. So please, please, help me. I'll conclude it here for now in hopes that people will read this. Thanks everyone, desperately hope to hear from you.
From the looks ofit, it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as what you're describing 
Maybe you're seeing it a lot worse than the reality. I suffer from acne/sebderm/redness (possible permanant rosacea) and am currently on my 4th month of Roaccutane...it's diminished all of my oil, and I currently have no actives on my face. I had seborrhic dermatitis and it has gotten rid of that -- although I am still red where it was.
Perhaps see a dermatologist and go through the options? Mayhaps Accutane would be a good option in hopefully trying to 'reset' your skin so you can start again.
As for the caveman routine -- good luck! I tried it but could only go a couple of days before I felt the urge to wash my face, not because it felt dirty but just because I was SO used to using this scrub or that scrub.
The white stuff is dried oil in the pore. I know cause I've had the exact same thing and my dermatologist told me so. Only way to get rid of it is to get rid of oily skin bro.
Yes, sebacceous filaments. If you've got any tips on how to combat oiliness do let me know. I've read the caveman regimen can help balance you skin but with all my skin coniditons, I think not treating the skin is making it worse.
From the looks ofit, it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as what you're describing
Perhaps see a dermatologist and go through the options? Mayhaps Accutane would be a good option in hopefully trying to 'reset' your skin so you can start again.
As for the caveman routine -- good luck! I tried it but could only go a couple of days before I felt the urge to wash my face, not because it felt dirty but just because I was SO used to using this scrub or that scrub.
Appreciate it, but the camera does my face some justice given the bright lighting of the room I was in. In person and normal lighting you can see the my problems more visibly. I've inquired about Accutane a couple of times but the dermatologist never said I need it as they prescribe it for severe acne cases. However, there has been not one thing they've prescribed that has helped reduce oil production and improve my skin, minus this Desonate steroid gel.
Yes, this caveman regimen is very daunting and seems to only be making my face work. I think this method only works for those who have no skin issues. I don't know. I'm at a such loss on how to fix my skin. What do you recommend besides Accutane? What regimen do you follow?
For oil control- I take zinc picolinate, and I apply Milk of Magnesia on days where I want that extra upmf! Also, I apply caudalie polyphenol c15 overnight detox oil at night- it's full of amazing oils for your skin. I know, fighting oil with oil but you always need to keep your skin hydrated and remember to moisturize, this way your skin won't feel the need to have to produce excess amounts of oil to compensate for all the drying products
The white stuff is dried oil in the pore. I know cause I've had the exact same thing and my dermatologist told me so. Only way to get rid of it is to get rid of oily skin bro.
Yes, sebacceous filaments. If you've got any tips on how to combat oiliness do let me know. I've read the caveman regimen can help balance you skin but with all my skin coniditons, I think not treating the skin is making it worse.
>From the looks ofit, it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as what you're describing
Perhaps see a dermatologist and go through the options? Mayhaps Accutane would be a good option in hopefully trying to 'reset' your skin so you can start again.
As for the caveman routine -- good luck! I tried it but could only go a couple of days before I felt the urge to wash my face, not because it felt dirty but just because I was SO used to using this scrub or that scrub.
Appreciate it, but the camera does my face some justice given the bright lighting of the room I was in. In person and normal lighting you can see the my problems more visibly. I've inquired about Accutane a couple of times but the dermatologist never said I need it as they prescribe it for severe acne cases. However, there has been not one thing they've prescribed that has helped reduce oil production and improve my skin, minus this Desonate steroid gel.
Yes, this caveman regimen is very daunting and seems to only be making my face work. I think this method only works for those who have no skin issues. I don't know. I'm at a such loss on how to fix my skin. What do you recommend besides Accutane? What regimen do you follow?
Don't caveman dude! Its not meant for us oily skinned people. When I tried it, my sebaceous fillaments increased by a billion fold. Do you exfoliate?
I think that your skin is reacting to too much things that you have used, one is biotin , which sometimes can cause too much oil production, it happened to my daughter.
What I have learned with acne is that if nothing can control your acne with topicals anymore , then it is time to look at the internal cause .
I did , and if I hadn't done that ,I don't know if I still had a face.
I'm taking evening primrose oil, I don't know if men can take that.
DeLovely mentions hemp seed oil, I looked into and it seems that ,hemp oil is only not advisable for men who have prostate problems or severe chron's or really bad stomach problems,note that the articles that I read were referring to hemp oil,not hemp seed oil.
I don't think that there is hemp oil in a capsule form or topical, I have looked and I couldn't find any.
The reviews on Amazon tell of people who are using it after their chemotherapy treatments.
So I think that is time for you to look internally .
Take care
Oh my gosh, I don't think I explained my point well. I'm really sorry.
I know that you are trying internal supplements too ,but what i meant is that sometimes we mix so many that we don't know if any or which one is working .
Maybe some blood work would help to know if there is an imbalance in your body.
Ask your dermatologist about demodex mite ,too.
These are just suggestions.
Hi!
Seems like you're being hard on yourself! Try to take some time off from excessive mirror usage and viewing if you're doing so. That always helps me!
With that said, my main suggestion would to be to stop ALL supplements and reintroduce them one by one (isolate variables) over a long period of time. Supplements take 3 months to reveal changes or results and can heavily impact the body! I made the mistake of casually utilizing supplements for approximately 8 months without isolating variables and recording data/results, and my skin became worse because of it! I finally stopped taking hyaluronic acid and green tea supplelments, and my skin is already improving drastically! (Supplements caused facial hair growth, enlarged pores and vaginal bleeding!) I had to go to the doctor because I was experiencing hormonal changes and issues from (allegedly) the green tea extract so don't discount the potential impact of the supplements! Please, heed caution!
Best of luck!!!
I have very similar issues but mine occurred LITERALLY overnight from using a retinoid called tazorac.
My skin was also flawless besides a few pimples and the tazorac was an old sample, not something I was prescribed or sought out.
I also dont think you are being hard on yourself at all.
I completely disagree with those saying so and even mentioning mirror checking...
Your issues are obvious from the pictures, and if they're worse in person, then that just adds salt to the wound I guess.
Im very sorry this happened to you.
I have had my issues going on for about 4 months now and have been to 3 different derm's multiple times with no luck.
I also get gut punched EVerytime I see someone withnice skin, as I used to BE one of those people.
i would have strangers come up to me on a regular basis and compliment my skin, ask me what I did for it, etc.
even my dentist literally leanedback in his chair and was like "wow..your skin...it's beautiful...and it looks so..clear and hydrated ..looks as if you infused it with dew drops!!.." he even brought his assistant In just to remark at my skin.
at the time I was embarrassed because I'm very shy and can't take compliments but they were right..and my skin really was great.
i don't smoke, drink, do drugs, I eat healthy, exercise, have avoided sun completely for 7 years and took the necessary vitamins (esp d3 because no sun) and drank copious amounts of water.
and according to another derm, irritant contact dermatitis,
and NOW I'm having derm's tell me that it is aging and to get procedures like microdermabrasion!!
HA!!
I almost had a heart attack when that was suggested to me.
I was like are you INSANE.
my skin can barely even take a splashing with water right now, God knows what somethinglike microdermabrasion would do!
And aging!!
Aging my ASS.
I'm only 23 and have always been mistaken for at least 5 years younger.
These issues came overnight, not in the course of years. (And evenif they had,the aging thing is bull in most cases of young people)
A harsh product is what me got me intothis mess, yet suddenly I'm being suggested more harsh avenues.
unbelievable, I swear if I ever get my skin back to normal, I will march into every derm office I went to and show them, maybe that will make them think twicebefore sending some poor soul to have damage upon damage upon more damage...I think that's what happens to most...fighting fire with fire...it becomes an endless cycle.
(Currently I am only using water or cerave hydrating cleanseronce every third day for this reason..skin is too sensitive and lax)
looks very similar to my situation. Is that forum still active?
On 5/2/2015 at 9:19 PM, PleaseHelpmySkin said:Thanks everyone, desperately hope to hear from you.
you are not looking at acne
I had to google to get all my answers to help my skin
I had the same white dry/oily/waxy white visible things coming out of my pores
and went to the hospital 5x times beacuse I have Fibromyalgia and they felt to me like they were crawlingThe doctors knew nothing and did nothing.
I am sensitive to it being even 2 degrees to Cold or too hot around me.
My husband had turned the heat off in June and I shivered all night... When he left for work in the morning, I turned the heat up to 24 degrees. I had been Fighting a Nasal infection and gone through 4 diff antibiotics which hadn't helped. My nasal congestion, had been so bad that 1 night.
After I turned the heat up those few degrees, I had sort of a hot flash, which caused a bad sweat.
My own body fluids acted weird, they burned my face, When I looked in the Mirror I had lines of oil running down from my nose to lips
My face was sore swollen and red.My doc had given me Metro gel to use, She felt I had rosacea
But that answer didn't feel right to me.So I started googling
what I felt and saw on my own face while trying to treat it drove me insane But I am still fighting the battle and hope to win.
the white stuff... I started paying attention to the little white things,
I had noticed I felt like things were crawling on my skin some days.
So as I was cleaning my face dayly anyways
I started collecting sampleswhat I found is they are Mites...
Human Demodex Mite
Found NORMAL on the human bodybut not in the numbers on my face, and it was spreading inner nose, inner ears, Neck, Shoulder, chest....
I needed more answers.
THIS IS WHAT I FOUND
The Demodex folliculorum mite is a type of parasite that lives on humans. Most of the time, these mites are harmless and will go unnoticed. However, larger numbers of D. folliculorum mites can cause unwanted symptoms and skin problems.
They are harmless they say
but as for me they are driving me insane was fighting them for 6 months before I found some of my own answers and cures
They don't like Tea tree oil
but use carefully,It takes a few weeks of 3x a day cleaning your face and other infested areas, But over use will redden and burn your skin, This will still heal.
I found using Cetaphil cleanser helps sooth your face. I cover the damaged areas of my skin with a clear bandage like those the use in the hospital to cover over the intravenous line... I am allergic to any other. also I found it totally seals the skin helping it to stay wet, any infection will drain under the bandage. I only wear it over night,and remove and cleanse my face again in the morningI hope althouh the photo 1a of myself does not show the white stuff as in your photos, I have explained myself with other photos.
My skin reactions are Different then some peoples, one main is With Fibromyalgia besides always being in a lot of pain, I am hyper sensitive...
I can feel the little critters crawling
This drove me to goggle for weeks
Doctors just were not helping
if it wasn't life threatening, or Dangerous, they just send you home.
