acne problems
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Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:22 pm

What is everyone's best advice for major redness after breakouts?

This is for my teen son - his acne is not exactly mild, but not bad cystic either. He has lots of breakouts though and as each one heals it leaves a mark for weeks. He is now on antibiotics, and I do think the new breakouts are lessening, but his cheeks and forehead are very red and blotchy from old pimples - and one cheek worse than the other on the side he sleeps on.

Currently he does OCM - feels plugs coming out every time (just started doing it with the Burt's Bee's Orange, which I read about here, and he loves that). Usually this is followed by a clay mask - bentonite + ACV + few aspirin. He can use retin-a awhile, then he feels too dry and painful. Any kind of lotion causes breakouts, so he moisturizes with plain jojoba. It's all very time consuming and all of it helps, but he is never really clear - this has been going on for a year, which is why I asked his doc for oral antibiotics. I just made up some of the DIY ACV Toner from here and will start him on that tonight.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Betsy

free skin care · Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:43 pm

I have a few small red marks on my face that I'm trying to get rid of, and I have noticed they are slowly going away. I think it is a combination of aspirin mask, Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel mask, Dr Hauschka Rejuvinating mask (each applied once a week), and Silken Pearl paste. Sorry, I know it's alot but I think they are all contributing to the evening out of my skin tone.

free skin care · Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:24 pm

Hi Betsy,

I would also have him maybe use a sunscreen as UV rays can darken acne marks. Of course if he does start wearing SS, he would have remove it properly or else it can also clog pores and worsen his skin condition. i would recommend an oil cleanser to completely dissolve the SS followed by his regular cleanser.

if the retin-a is too much for him, he can try using a retinol product starting out at lower percentages like .5%. skinceuticals gets many raves here as well as on makeupalley.

i would also watch his diet, that may have an effect on his skin also.

~Kristen

Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:29 am

skincareaddicted wrote:

Hi Betsy,

I would also have him maybe use a sunscreen as UV rays can darken acne marks. Of course if he does start wearing SS, he would have remove it properly or else it can also clog pores and worsen his skin condition. i would recommend an oil cleanser to completely dissolve the SS followed by his regular cleanser.

Yes, definitely....He does wear sunscreen.

Thanks for all of the advice.

Betsy

free skin care · Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:43 am

what food you take inside your body is how the body reacts. I guess, your son must have eaten lots of chips, oily foods... Let him try to eat MORE vegies, natural juices.... no carbonated drinks and all sweetened drinks...

this will help.... also enough sleep will help..... also, do not use soap, but perhaps foaming mild cleanser for his type of oily skin... try and see and let me know how you with my suggestion.... Cheers Smile

charlibet wrote:

What is everyone's best advice for major redness after breakouts?

This is for my teen son - his acne is not exactly mild, but not bad cystic either. He has lots of breakouts though and as each one heals it leaves a mark for weeks. He is now on antibiotics, and I do think the new breakouts are lessening, but his cheeks and forehead are very red and blotchy from old pimples - and one cheek worse than the other on the side he sleeps on.

Currently he does OCM - feels plugs coming out every time (just started doing it with the Burt's Bee's Orange, which I read about here, and he loves that). Usually this is followed by a clay mask - bentonite + ACV + few aspirin. He can use retin-a awhile, then he feels too dry and painful. Any kind of lotion causes breakouts, so he moisturizes with plain jojoba. It's all very time consuming and all of it helps, but he is never really clear - this has been going on for a year, which is why I asked his doc for oral antibiotics. I just made up some of the DIY ACV Toner from here and will start him on that tonight.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Betsy

Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:37 am

I have struggled with acne all my life and here is what I have found helps with the redness:

- Aspirin Mask, this helps with redness and swelling after a breakout and will sometimes stop the small bumps for me. I like to add honey to my aspirin mask which is antibacterial so helps prevent blemishes

- Egg white mask with fresh lemon juice - I just add a squeeze from 1/2 fresh lemon and beat with a fork. Leave the mask on until it drys - this is a great lightener and is good for tightening the pores too

- Niacinamide or any cream with b-complex. I have made a DIY day cream with aloe and 3% niacinamide and 5% white licorice. This cream has really helped with redness, blotchiness and oil control.

To prevent blemishes I have found that 1 - 3X per week glycolic or AHA treatments to unblock the pores is great. And I always use a facial cleanser morning and night with salicylic acid this helps clean deep inside the pores.

I also use oil to remove my makeup and grime at night (this really gets the skin clean) and I moisturize morning and night even though I am very oily. I have found that over drying the skin didn't do anything to stop blemishes and made the healing time so much longer. So make sure the skin is not dehydrated. Benzoperoxide is one of the things that I found really dryed out the skin and just added to redness and healing time.

Also, I have found that not drinking enough water really adds to my acne problems. My theory is that if you don't drink and then evacuate the normal way, you sweat the toxins out and your pores get gunked. I am sure there is a more scientific explanation Smile

Tell your Son that it won't last forever. If it gets really bad, many people have found relief with Tazorac gel, which requires a prescription. Sometimes the harmones are just so strong in the teenage years.

Best of Luck!

Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:42 am

*post deleted/self promotion*

dbagal wrote:

I have struggled with acne all my life and here is what I have found helps with the redness:

- Aspirin Mask, this helps with redness and swelling after a breakout and will sometimes stop the small bumps for me. I like to add honey to my aspirin mask which is antibacterial so helps prevent blemishes

- Egg white mask with fresh lemon juice - I just add a squeeze from 1/2 fresh lemon and beat with a fork. Leave the mask on until it drys - this is a great lightener and is good for tightening the pores too

- Niacinamide or any cream with b-complex. I have made a DIY day cream with aloe and 3% niacinamide and 5% white licorice. This cream has really helped with redness, blotchiness and oil control.

To prevent blemishes I have found that 1 - 3X per week glycolic or AHA treatments to unblock the pores is great. And I always use a facial cleanser morning and night with salicylic acid this helps clean deep inside the pores.

I also use oil to remove my makeup and grime at night (this really gets the skin clean) and I moisturize morning and night even though I am very oily. I have found that over drying the skin didn't do anything to stop blemishes and made the healing time so much longer. So make sure the skin is not dehydrated. Benzoperoxide is one of the things that I found really dryed out the skin and just added to redness and healing time.

Also, I have found that not drinking enough water really adds to my acne problems. My theory is that if you don't drink and then evacuate the normal way, you sweat the toxins out and your pores get gunked. I am sure there is a more scientific explanation Smile

Tell your Son that it won't last forever. If it gets really bad, many people have found relief with Tazorac gel, which requires a prescription. Sometimes the harmones are just so strong in the teenage years.

Best of Luck!

Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:18 pm

jade-1234 wrote:

what food you take inside your body is how the body reacts. I guess, your son must have eaten lots of chips, oily foods... Let him try to eat MORE vegies, natural juices.... no carbonated drinks and all sweetened drinks...

this will help.... also enough sleep will help..... also, do not use soap, but perhaps foaming mild cleanser for his type of oily skin... try and see and let me know how you with my suggestion.... Cheers Smile

His diet is actually very good - no sweetened drinks at all. Lots of fresh fruit - we keep little to no junk food in the house. He is committed to trying very hard at this, but just has very persistent teen acne - he's just lucky that he doesn't have the really bad cystic type. And his face is not really oily either - very difficult combination skin...breakouts plus peeling dry patches.

The anti-biotics are reducing new break outs,but the spots are healing so slowly - honestly part of this problem is that he unconsciously touches his face - I remind him but I am not with him all the time. I also noticed that the worse side is the side he sleeps on. He washes with a 2% salicylic acid wash after OCM, follows that with ACV toner, and sunscreen during the day and retin A at night. If his dry patches are bad he'll use a little jojoba.

I appreciate all of the suggestions.

Betsy

Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:26 pm

dbagal wrote:

I also use oil to remove my makeup and grime at night (this really gets the skin clean) and I moisturize morning and night even though I am very oily. I have found that over drying the skin didn't do anything to stop blemishes and made the healing time so much longer. So make sure the skin is not dehydrated. Benzoperoxide is one of the things that I found really dryed out the skin and just added to redness and healing time.

What do you use to moisturize?

Thanks for all the advice.
Betsy

Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:48 pm

For Day I use a DIY gel that I made. It is very light and has sebum controlling ingredients - because I am very very oily. Here is the recipe:

Aloe Vera Gel 1 oz
Jojoba Cream 1 tsp (I made this - you could substitute any light cream)
Niacinamide .03 oz
WheatPRO Plus .05 oz
White Licorice .05 oz
Clary Sage EO 2 drops
Bergamont EO 1 drop
Polysorbate 20 6 drops (keeps oils from separating)

I found that the niacinamide liquified the mixture right after adding. Just mix well. The mixture will regel after sitting for a while.

For PM I use Avalon Organics CoQ10 serum that I added peptides to. I am over 40 so needed something for wrinkle help, your teenage Son may just want to stick with a light moisturizer like the CoQ10 serum.

Sometimes in the PM I add a very light application of Emu oil by putting 2 drops in my hands then rub my hands together. Then I pres my hands onto my face so only very light application of oil is on my face. I do this only if I think I need an extra boost after doing peels or am in the sun or wind more then usual.

I also always use a toner. I vary it, just because I like variety I guess. ACV toners are good for acne or sometimes I like to just use green tea with ylang ylang EO added. ylang ylang is a great sebum controller. If my skin gets red or irritated, I sometimes use plain chamomile tea or hydrosol.

Hope this helps you.

Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:50 am

The Tanda device will be available on our website soon, everyone, as I've just placed an order with the manufacturer today. Dancing

free skin care · Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:11 am

You can try Remergent DNA repair formula

free skin care · Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:50 am

Change his pillow case every night. This is crucial -- you've mentioned it's worse on the side he sleeps on, and this is easily remedied. I keep a fresh supply of clean pillowcases by my bed and flip or change the pillow every night. It made a huge difference in my skin.

Use a combo AHA and BHA -- I use "I Feel Pretty." Some people love Paula's Choice lotions and gels -- she has $3 shipping all April.

Use the jojoba when ever you wish -- it is very much like human sebum and helps the sebum to "flow" rather than harden and clog. Jojoba works miracles on my skin.

All these are very "guy-friendly" -- low-maintenance, no fragrance, etc.

Have him brush his teeth without toothpaste for a week and see if there is a difference, too. Outbreaks near the mouth can be a toothpaste allergy. I haven't used toothpaste for years -- and I have excellent teeth. And be aware that eating well can mean different things. Dairy or wheat can cause skin problems. The caffe oil in coffee gave me the "at least one spot, every day" skin till someone mentioned to me that coffee broke out her skin. I stopped coffee and was FINALLY spotless!

Hormones are a tough thing to deal with. On many levels. BHA will drill through the waxy sebum, jojoba will help it to flow, and hands off and clean pillows will help with the bacteria. The red marks will fade with AHA -- and you might try MaMa Lotion Although I can't imagine a teen-aged boy thinking THAT's a good idea!

Bad Grin

Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:26 pm

I also like the Juice Apple peel.

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