Decent skin but can't quite get rid of cysts
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Fri May 17, 2013 8:48 pm

Help! I have a volcano on my forehead and I am wayyy too old for this.

My skin is pretty clear, but I still have a) clogged pores, esp. on my chin, and b) the occasional doozy of a cyst, either on my forehead or chin (or, less often, beside my nose).

This is my current routine, how can I tweak it to better prevent cysts and clogged pores?

AM:
Nippon Kodo Detanseki soap
2.5% BP + Clindamycin gel
Skin 79 BB cream w/SPF 15

PM:
Nippon Kodo Detanseki soap
Derma-e glycolic acid toner
Retin-A 0.1%, taking off every second or third night (and moisturizing with St. Ives collagen moisturizer instead)
Proactiv sulfur mask as a spot treatment

A couple of notes:

I'm willing to jettison almost anything, but I can't get really spendy with products.

I've had mixed success with antibiotics (minocycline was great, doxycycline was a hellish nightmare). In any case, I'd like to stick to topicals because I'm thinking about TTC later this year, and I want to have a routine that will keep working for me. (So a new birth control pill is out of the question.)

I see a derm, and he is pretty good and open to suggestions about changing my prescriptions. I'm not using the latest and greatest in prescription skincare, but my insurance is also kind of stingy about newer products (Aczone, for example).

Thu May 23, 2013 12:24 am

AN ultrasound treatment could be very beneficial for you - as the currents emitted by it provide a deep exfoliation in the lower layers of skin.

This is particularly successful for deep acne cysts, which are nearly impossible to treat from the surface of the skin using products.

Topical products like salicylic acid can make a difference to the surface of the skin by keeping small pimples and blockages away. But because it doesn't go any deeper, it can't reach the inflammation and blockage that causes cysts.

This is why someone can have clear looking skin on the surface (without blemishes) but on closer look there is a lot of underlying clogging or blockages (I worked as a skin care therapist for years so saw this a lot!)

An ultrasound/galvanic treatment loosens up the deep tissue which releases blockages, while at the same time increase circulation to take away toxins and bring essential nutrients to the tissue.

You could talk to your dermatologist about these treatments as they should perform them, or look at a home device such as the Fyola Lite, which is a much more economical option for you as you can use it often (and not pay a couple of hundred for a 6week course...)

Glycolic acid and Retin A might be a bit much to be using on your skin every day? It seems the best way to unclog skin is to keep it clear by doing as many things as possible to exfoliate it, but this can have the opposite effect and cause it to produce more oil which will contribute greatly to the blockages.

Don't under estimate diet when it comes to skin care too, perhaps try experimenting with eliminating certain foods from your diet and see how your skin reacts. Dairy, gluten and sugar can often be the most significant causes of people's skin troubles.

So a few things you could try:

1) Stop using the soap in the morning, a simple wash cloth is enough and will ensure your skin isn't overcompensating with oil production during the day.

2) Look at a course of ultrasound from your dermatologist or a home device like Fyola Lite to deeply exfoliate the skin and strengthen it from within

3) Look at your diet and see where you could experiment with eliminating certain groups (or even just adding supplements) that might make a difference to your skin.

Hope this helps!!

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.