***ACNE--If you are 25 OR OVER and start developing ACNE, PLEASE answer this pool ****

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Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
81
I used Accutane back when I was around 16-17 years old. I couldn't finish the last couple of months because when I went for my monthly blood check the results weren't good. It did have a good effect on my skin overall however. About a year afterwards, it started to come back. Basically at that point I would just use a facial wash in the morning and at night, and let nature take its course. I still get breakouts, but nothing like I used to. It's something I've learned to live with.


However, I must say that Vitamin B5 did wonders on my skin, effectively clearing the majority of it up. I used Twinlabs Vitamin B5.
 

Booster

Diamond Member
May 4, 2002
4,380
0
0
Strange to see you have problems similar to mine. I do have acne, but I was always sure I was somewhat unique in this department. I mean, look at people in the streets. You'd have to look hard for hours to find a girl with bad acne, let alone a boy. But I do have it even though nobody else seems to have it. This is so very strange.

I started getting this crap on my face when I was about 13. Now I've hit the big 25 and still have it. My skin is somewhat problematic. Some people say this is because I have blond hair.

If you look at my pictures though, you'd hardly see any pimples or anything. But my skin just isn't as ideal and clean as it should be if you look at it closely. I know how my pimples get formed - because of excessive fat produced by skin pores. If I have deep skin cleaning on time, there won't be any break-out.

I do also know this is diet-related. Unfortunately, I'm addicted to fatty foods, like meats, and I can't stand not eating cheese. I'm also a dedicated coffee drinker and sometimes eat crappy foods.

Needless to say, I need to go on a diet. One doctor told me so - acne gets formed not because of hormones alone, rather liver disfunction. Treat your liver with diets and it should go away.

Of course, first you should check whether it's infection-related. Then, of course, it must be treated with antibiotics.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,483
20,007
146
Originally posted by: Booster


Needless to say, I need to go on a diet. One doctor told me so - acne gets formed not because of hormones alone, rather liver disfunction. Treat your liver with diets and it should go away.

You need to fire that doctor.
 

mrrman

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2004
8,497
3
0
Have you tried the UV booths....when I was younger I had it on my shoulder area and used to go to the doc every month and step into the UV booth for a few minutes...that helped me with the use of Acutane and of course the sun helped to.
 

asm0deus

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2003
1,181
0
76
im 25, about a week ago i bought some stuff called acnefree. It's supposed to be a cheap alternative to proactiv. I got home read the reviews and started using it, they guarantee results in three days. well i wasnt really having a breakout at the time and had been getting alot of sun around then so i couldn't really tell at first, but now that i'm a week in, i'm pretty sure it's working good for me. acne.org has a tutorial on a cleansing routine and he says to go overboard on the benzoyl peroxide, I always used a little here and there, but alot more really does seem to help out. i used to use a pea size amount now im using string bean size and has made a big difference.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,483
20,007
146
Originally posted by: asm0deus
im 25, about a week ago i bought some stuff called acnefree. It's supposed to be a cheap alternative to proactiv. I got home read the reviews and started using it, they guarantee results in three days. well i wasnt really having a breakout at the time and had been getting alot of sun around then so i couldn't really tell at first, but now that i'm a week in, i'm pretty sure it's working good for me. acne.org has a tutorial on a cleansing routine and he says to go overboard on the benzoyl peroxide, I always used a little here and there, but alot more really does seem to help out. i used to use a pea size amount now im using string bean size and has made a big difference.

Yep. With benzoyl peroxide (BP) you cannot chase pimples. BP is a preventive treatment, and must be somewhat liberally applied to the entire area you normally have breakouts.

The big bummer, though, is excessive drying which can lead to bad rash breakouts.

This is why it's best used in combination with an exfoliant, and grease-less moisturizer.

Which, by the way, is EXACTLY what the "Proactiv" system is. Only you pay 3-4 times as much for them to package these things together, name it, and market it.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: Amused
Acne is NOT caused by:

*Poor hygiene. In fact, excessive washing can make it worse
*Foods (unless you have a specific allergy, and then it's a rash, not acne)
*Workout habits
*Sun exposure does NOT cure acne. It only evens out color so the red spots don't stand out.
*You cannot catch acne from someone else.

Acne is caused by an uneven exfoliation of the skin, which in turn, blocks pores. It is genetic and hormonal.
A couple of those points I would argue...
- Workout habits = sweating... if you don't wash that off right away - it will lead to clogged pores. So basically if you don't workout as much, you will have less of a problem, theoretically speaking. Minor detail.

- Sun exposure = I always thought it was the heat and humidity that made my face so smooth and clear when I was in Cancun and the Caribbean. I was at each location for 2 weeks so it was plenty of time to see the effects. But after reading everyone's comments about it being the sun, it all makes sense now. Not only was it smoother, it was definitely clearer. It wasn't just cosmetic. I have a darker complexion to start with so I was able to tell. Again, I thought it was the humidity that my skin loved, but apparently it was the UV rays...
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,483
20,007
146
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: Amused
Acne is NOT caused by:

*Poor hygiene. In fact, excessive washing can make it worse
*Foods (unless you have a specific allergy, and then it's a rash, not acne)
*Workout habits
*Sun exposure does NOT cure acne. It only evens out color so the red spots don't stand out.
*You cannot catch acne from someone else.

Acne is caused by an uneven exfoliation of the skin, which in turn, blocks pores. It is genetic and hormonal.
A couple of those points I would argue...
- Workout habits = sweating... if you don't wash that off right away - it will lead to clogged pores. So basically if you don't workout as much, you will have less of a problem, theoretically speaking. Minor detail.

- Sun exposure = I always thought it was the heat and humidity that made my face so smooth and clear when I was in Cancun and the Caribbean. I was at each location for 2 weeks so it was plenty of time to see the effects. But after reading everyone's comments about it being the sun, it all makes sense now. Not only was it smoother, it was definitely clearer. It wasn't just cosmetic. I have a darker complexion to start with so I was able to tell. Again, I thought it was the humidity that my skin loved, but apparently it was the UV rays...

That should have read: Excessive sun exposure. Sorry. :eek:

Moderate sun exposure is good for everything and everyone. It's when people are trying for a tan that problems occur.

Sweat does not clog pores. Again, acne is not a hygiene problem. It is caused by uneven exfolation of the skin and pores that are clogged internally, not externally.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: Amused
Sweat does not clog pores. Again, acne is not a hygiene problem. It is caused by uneven exfolation of the skin and pores that are clogged internally, not externally.
The common explanation of acne is the following:
Sweat combines with skin oils to trap dirt and bacteria in your pores
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,483
20,007
146
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: Amused
Sweat does not clog pores. Again, acne is not a hygiene problem. It is caused by uneven exfolation of the skin and pores that are clogged internally, not externally.
The common explanation of acne is the following:
Sweat combines with skin oils to trap dirt and bacteria in your pores

http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/myths.html

Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. If you believe this myth, and wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your acne worse. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. Although excess oils, dead skin and a day's accumulation of dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by hand scrubbing. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make acne worse. The best approach to hygiene and acne: Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry--and use an appropriate acne treatment for the acne.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,483
20,007
146
Straight from the source:

(American Academy of Dermatology)

http://www.aad.org/public/News/NewsReleases/stubborn.htm

Myth: Poor Hygiene Worsens Acne
The relationship between face washing and acne has always been greatly misunderstood, with most individuals believing that dirt and poor hygiene contribute to acne. In fact, a recent survey conducted at Stanford University asked participants about what they thought made acne worsen, and the majority, 91 percent, mentioned poor hygiene. ?If a patient believes that dirty skin causes acne, they logically conclude that washing their face more often will improve their acne,? said Dr. Boer Kimball. ?But dermatologists caution patients against washing too often, as the resulting irritation can exacerbate their acne.?

To determine the scientific validity of this myth, the effects of face washing on acne were recently studied at Stanford University. A group of twenty-four males washed their faces twice a day for two weeks using a mild over-the-counter facial cleanser. Then the participants were randomly selected to wash their faces either once, twice or four times a day for another six weeks. The study found that washing the face either once, twice or four times daily did not significantly change the appearance or condition of acne, and determined that the positive effects of increased facial cleansing are minimal at best. Dermatologists continue to recommend washing the face twice daily to maintain good overall skin health.

Myths: Exercise Can Clear Acne or Exercise Can Worsen Acne
The relationship between acne and exercise continues to show high levels of individual variability. Some believe that exercise and sweating can help clean out the pores, especially on the chest and back; while others note that their skin worsens when they exercise, especially those who use special equipment that rubs against their skin.

In another study conducted at Stanford University of patients with acne, it was determined that exercise-induced sweat does not have a significant positive or negative influence on acne of the chest and back. Twenty-three male participants were assigned to three groups: no exercise, regular exercise
followed by immediate showering and regular exercise followed by delayed showering. The number of acne lesions on the chest and back were counted over a two week period and no difference was noted between the three groups. ?Based on the finding of this study, regular exercise can be encouraged for patients with acne,? stated Dr. Boer Kimball. ?But they should avoid tight-fitting clothing and equipment. If tight-fitting equipment is required, it should be cleaned on a regular basis.?

Other Acne Myths
While misconceptions about facial hygiene and exercise are still the most commonly recognized acne beliefs, the Stanford survey also found that respondents believed that poor diet and decreased sleep can negatively affect acne. In addition, more than 80 percent of participants believed that increased stress, touching the face and popping pimples exacerbated the condition. Among male and female participants, the only differences noted were that more females believed that increased stress could worsen acne and that drinking more water would improve the quality of their skin. The study also found that some beliefs that were previously popular about acne were no longer viewed as true, including the idea that tanning improves the appearance of acne.

 

Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
81
Now that I'm off Vitamin B5, the whiteheads and acne are popping up in the chin area and also on my upper lip. It seems like itching occurs where the whitehead pops up the next day. Once they go away, they come back in a few days. Anyone else have this problem?
 

EatSpam

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
6,423
0
0
My wife has had bad acne since she was a young teen until earlier this year.

She was pregnant from Nov '03 to Aug '03 and her acne seemed to clear up, then after the baby was born, it came back. We initially attributed it to hormones, but after some trial and error, it seems that she is allergic to milk. She had stopped drinking milk when she was pregnant because it made her sick, and then resumed when the baby was born. She then quit drinking it again because it gave the baby horrible smelling gas. That's when we noticed the correllation.

She can tell when she's had too much dairy because she'll break out again.

My wife was a heavy milk drinker for most of her life. Cut the milk for a couple months and see what happens. With her, so far, so good.
 

TipsyMcStagger

Senior member
Sep 19, 2003
661
0
0
Might have already tried this, but get an astringent and some cotton pads, and rub over the affected areas with that about twice a day for a couple weeks see if it helps.