What kind of acne and skin regenerative method(s)/product(s) actually work? Advice welcome as well.?
Question:
I had severe acne during my early teenage years, which left behind a lot of dark spots and scars (including craters). I still have moderate-severe acne problems.
I've tried almost every commercial acne products & even some Chinese herbal remedies. Products that I've tried include: Clean & Clear, Neutrogena, Clearasil, Oxy, Noxema, Cetaphil, Lancome, Proactiv, St Ives, Biotherm, & even oral & topical antibiotics. None worked!
I mostly get those BIG & PAINFUL acne. It gives me a headache when I get them around my sinuses. I have lots of BLACKHEADS that can't be removed with those "strips." I'd put on gloves and squeeze them out & same with pop-able pimples.
I also have acne on my back and chest. =(
Answers:
My first suggestion is to go see a dermatologist that is willing to put you on accutane. It is the closest thing to a cure there is for acne. I used to have the same problem as you. I had to go on it three times to get it really under control. it is only a 3-6 month treatment. It is a drug that shrinks your pores. Call around different offices and ask if the doctor prescribes it for severe cases to save you time and copays. Using topical stuff just isn't enough for cases like yours. I have experience in this matter-trust me!
Secondly, to keep the acne under control once the accutane treatment is over, go to www.cosmeticscop.com. Paula Begoun's products are really effective and work for me. Her stuff isn't dirt cheap but it's alot less expensive than department store stuff. Her website is informative and easy to navigate. She also has a bunch of books out that are filled with reviews about make-up, skin care, and hair care. I have never met the woman, but I love her. She used to work for Consumer Reports. My mom and sister both use her stuff as well as they have always had problems with acne themselves. In all seriousness, give her stuff a try. You can shop by skin type on the site to make it easy. I can't live without it!! I use her:
1. 2% BHA liquid to exfoliate deep into the pores
2. Extra Strenght Blemish Fighting Lotion. Put this on after the BHA product.
Try getting accutane first though. It will dry out your skin at first, but it's well worth it when you see your skin magically clearing up. Antibiotics did not work for me either-what a waste of time!! You will have to go on birth control pills if you do go on it. That is the only way a doctor will prescribe it because it causes birth defects. You will be given a bunch of stuff to sign, and you will have to get your blood drawn once a month while you are on it, becasue it can cause side effects. On my third time on it, my triglyceride levels went up. When I was off it, those levels were normal, so it was definitely the pills. If you already have high cholesterol or triglyceride numbers, you may not be able to continue them. I hope I helped, and good luck!!
I have always liked proactive, you say youve used it and it doesnt work though. try using it really genorously and every day. Also, I like to put antibiotic ointment (neosporin) on my pimples at night, it helps them heal up much faster.
Try a clay mask from your skin (you can get full body ones) and maybe change your diet, go for less fat in general, but really go for less non animal fats. Products like margarine that body does not recognize as food and wants them gone now.
Try the AcneFree products. They're a generic brand of proactive. You can get them at Target, Walmart, etc. I recommend them to everybody I know, because my skin is CLEAR! Give them a try for a month or two. See if it makes a difference.
I also use the clearasil pads some times instead of the Acne Free toner. This combination is good because the pads really clean out your pores. Good luck!
I'm surprised the Proactive didn't work. You should see a dermatologist. You may need to take oral medication in addition to using a skin care system.
Well I have been usig proactive...its okay, but not the miracle worker i expected it to be. I hear that prescription drugs work well, but they can screw up your reproductive system or even liver, so they are a bit scary. Antioxidant teas and lots of water seem to help me the most.
I don't have bad acne, but I know a lot of people with your same problem and they use Proactive and it works for them.
Well yeah you basically tried it all. But I recomend this home remedy I have been using that actually makes my skin so soft and replenished!
First you wipe your face with a warm wash cloth to open up your pores.
Then you mix honey and dried oatmeal together for a mask you put on your face for 20 minutes.
Then you wash it off with warm water and then rinse with cold to close your poors back up.
You use this once everyday for three days and then once every week after that.
But make sure when you wash your face reguraly you do with warm and close your pores up with cold...same when you take a shower.
Another recomendation I have for clear skin is don't eat any fast food or greasy foods and wash your face after everytime you eat a meal. Also changing your pillow cases every two days helps aswell. And also DON'T touch your face! It really helps!! Also let your skin breathe by leaving the window rolled down in the car and make sure to give your skin 20 minutes of sun exposure a day!!
I hope I helped you and GOOD LUCK!
Maybe you should try some form of surgery...
And when you wash your face.use a soap that doesn't have
any chemicals in it. The Body shop sells them and BAth an Body works for no more than three dollars a bar. It's what we call "clear soap" or glycerin soap. The key ingredient in this soap is glycerin...if not the only thing. It's not harmful to your skin at all. But still, perhaps you should try to change some eating habits? I know drinking 64 oz. of water a day may also contribute to clearer skin. But you have to be dedicated to any regimen before it can work.
Believe it or not, and I sure didn't at first, but get an oil-free moisturizer! My husband was much like you sound in his teen years and his doctor told him to use a mosturizer every day because part of the reason your skin produces so much oil is that it's looking for moisture. I, at 45, still had moderate acne and tried his theory and it worked! It cut down the amount ofr oil my skin produces.
I would definitely go to a dermatologist - you may actually have a medical condition that could be treatable by prescriptions, that may not be acne at all. It could be a bacterial problem.
Good Luck
Sounds like you've some serious pimple problem. I know that you've tried almost everything but maybe you can try this herbal remedy. It really works, just take a look at the testimonials..comes with photos too! Brave ppl, they are.
good luck!
don't touch them. Use a product made for your skin called arbonne if you use the intellegence line it has a wash exfoliater toner and mositurizer for your skin also the re9 (anti-aging) gets rid of your white heads like a vacumn but you need to use a great product line to prevent them from coming back and arbonne will do this it is pure swiss and botanical and made by the top skincare chemist in the world and we use not aditives that don't belong on your skin so click on my profile and it will take you to where you can get these awesome products that are the best in the world for anyones skin type. Check out the fyi line you will love the new looks for young girls they are beautiful products with make up and other body care products that are beautiful and so will you be using arbonne products and our shampoos and conditioners are number 1 also our body washes are important to open your pores so your skin can breath and that is what arbonne is all about besides being the number 1 skincare in the world
Click-
http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ds/acne/tr...
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