Acne,So depressed... Please Help!
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

free skin care · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:31 am

Yes, it is NOT fun Smile

I will keep you posted and will keep my fingers the acne will go away completely.

I am going to call that terrible office again and at least tell them how I feel.
I always had a nice skin and now its a mess. Not only I have acne but I also have tiny red spots all over my cheeks- the pores are all red, like stabbed with a needle from poking at them at the facial...
I really think THEY should help me fix that since they caused it...without charging me again...

Aga

Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:16 pm

Aga - not that I want to add to your product collection but I was looking through reviews of Ahava products on MUA earlier today and came across great reviews for the Ahava mud soap (which is used on the face). It's cheap and apparently very good for treating acne. Just thought I'd let you know.

free skin care · Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:19 am

OOOHHH!
Thank you Mabsy! I appreciate it!
I am actually looking for something to cleanse my face with that would work on acne Smile

Thats perfect timing!
Thanks again! Smile

Aga

free skin care · Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:12 am

Another update Wink

I still havent found anything that would actually help with the acne...

I got new insurance where I need a referal to see a specialist, so to see a dermatologist I need a referal from a GP...

I went to the GP and she didnt give me the referal, she said that the dermatologists dont have time to take care of such "minor" problems Sad

I am so shocked and depressed...

I dont know how to help my skin when theres obviously someything wrong with it Sad

PB and AZELEX are only drying my skin out and not helping with anything, might be even making things worse...

I dont know what else to try....

Aga

Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:30 am

Looks like your condition could be due to a few reasons,
- hormones
- diet (a lot of oily or fried foods)
- natural skin issue (oily)
- type of makeup used

Not too much you can do about the hormones, but for the diet, I'd eat a bit healthier. Lots to fruits and water will help Wink

.

If your skin is oily, use a good cleaner and mask. I've been using a Deep Sea Mud mask and a facial oil blended with essential oils. The mud mask will clean deep Very Happy

and absorb everything while the facial oil helps keep in the good moisture Very Happy

and kills any bacteria in the pores as the essential oils are slightly acidic.

As for the makeip, talc will clog your pores and cause acne / blackheads. Try to find lines that use corn starch in place of talc Idea

.

I've been trying The Organic Make-up Company's products and they've been working well overall.

Its also been a bonus after one of the gals here posted the Shock

20% discount code and I am loading up on product now since its dirt cheap at the price they want.

free skin care · Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:36 am

I have to say again, Aga, Paula's Choice beta hydroxy products are helping me a lot. Here is what I am using and have been for at least the last couple of weeks and have seen a huge improvement, I was breaking out, I think, from using tretinoin cream for a month.

morning:
- Cetaphil gentle cream cleanser
- Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Liquid
- homemade vitamin c at about 7 % strength
- Diana Yvonne 100 % Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
then my mineral makeup, BE and JI concealer

night:
- Paula's Choice One Step cleanser to remove my makeup
- Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Liquid
- Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Lotion
- Diana Yvonne 100 % Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum under eyes only

I'm not using bp gel at all anymore, I'm tired of worrying about bleaching my clothes and pretty red duvet cover and pillow cases mostly. Laughing

I still get little blemishes once in awhile but the big, deep ones I started getting a couple weeks ago are all cleared up now and quickly after I started using PC beta hydroxy products.

free skin care · Sat Apr 30, 2005 7:17 pm

Also, I wanted to add I use Dr H's Day Oil on irritated areas before my makeup instead or the hyaluronic acid serum if I'm feeling oily and now that my spots are clearing I use the Cleansing Cream in the morning if I feel my pores look large, maybe three times a week right now. I'm focusing on killing the bacteria that seems to have run rampant in my skin right now so I'm using mostly beta hydroxy products.

free skin care · Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:33 pm

Thanks for the advice girls.
I am going to try changin the cleanser and paulas choice...

Aga

free skin care · Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:34 pm

Do you guys know og anything to work on the exisiting spots that are still in progress?
Anything to help reduce the redness and also make the blemish go away?

Aga

Sun May 01, 2005 12:51 am

Aga wrote:

Do you guys know og anything to work on the exisiting spots that are still in progress?
Anything to help reduce the redness and also make the blemish go away?

I've in the past had great results with the Dermalogica Medicated Clearing Gel. The first time I used it was on a wanna-be huge zit that basically was this big red painful buldge at that stage. I used it overnight and it was flatter, definitely much less red, and also almost not there anymore Smile

I've since also got really good results with the MDF Clearing Complex and Yonka Juvenil.

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 7:55 am

Thanks Mabsy!!!
I didnt know Dermalogica had acne products Embarassed

I have a box of Dermalogicas samples, I might have the Medicated get there somewhere!

Aga

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 8:33 am

I just read the ingredients in the Dermalogica Medicated Clearing Gel and it sounds so great! Salicylic acid and other acne clearing agents. I just can't get over the price! $45 CA for 2 oz. Ugh. It would be great for whatever cost if it works though. Smile

Good luck! I sure hope you find something to help you out.

I remember you asked about the red marks left behind, I hate those too and am looking for something to help.

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 9:53 am

Hi Aga

I just remembered something. My daughter had an aweful problem with breakouts when she was younger. There is a little gaget called the DermaWand. It is a hand held device that you can use on your whole face. My daughter would use it on blemishes as she saw them blooming. It worked very well! The DermaWand is a small High Frequency Device that rushes oxygen to the site of the blemish. Many salons have larger high frequency machines that they use for clients with acne.

I am going to give you a link to read about it. If interested search the web for the best deal. Ebay also is known to have them. Be sure to check sellers feedback on Ebay if interested.

http://home.earthlink.net/~sbdarnell/

Winnie

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 2:10 pm

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!

Thanks Winnie!
I have never heard about DermaWand before! But it sounds like a great product! I only wish I knew that if I spend $99 on it, that it would help my skin Smile

I am going to look for some reviews!

Thanks again, this little device is very intreaging!

Aga

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 6:15 pm

Aga,

Here is something else you might want to try and it is dirt cheap Very Happy

Queen Helen Mint Julep Mask. Check out the reviews on Makeup Alley. If you try it I would say spot treatment would be the way to go....at first anyway.

http://makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemID=1786/Mint_Julep_Masque/Queen_Helene/Masks/

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 7:27 pm

Thanks for the tip Winnie!!!! Smile

Im going to try to get a hold of this!

Aga

free skin care · Sun May 01, 2005 8:03 pm

Your welcome Aga. Please let me know how you are doing. The day will come when all these breakouts will pass. Sending you good wishes.

Winnie

free skin care · Mon May 02, 2005 7:19 am

Hi Aga! I use a bunch of stuff on my face, but when I have one of my rare break-outs I simplify the stuff I use and just use the Cetaphil antibacterial cleansing bar (cheap, gentle, not at all drying (it's not a soap) and helps clear up acne) and the Dermalogica Microfoliant, but the latter can be excluded depending on sensitivity.

As for an inexpensive clearing gel, I use the Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (or Remover, whatever it's called!!.) It works really really well, and it's only $13. It uses a low percentage of salicylic acid, cinnamin bark, and some other stuff rather than then benzoyl peroxide a la the Clean & Clear Persagel (which burned the bejeezus out of my skin my freshman year of college.)

I don't know anything about Kiehl's other products, but I'd highly recommend the spot treatment. The only other thing I'd recommend is if you have access to a compounding dermatologist and can have them formulate you a spot treatment using clindamyacin. But the Kiehl's will still win over that for ease of use. HTH!!

free skin care · Mon May 02, 2005 7:48 am

Aga,
Just wanted to 2nd Winnie's suggestion for trying the dermawand - it's a home version of the High Frequency Machines used by Beauty Therapists/Aestheticians. I used to use one in the salon and its great for healing and calming acne. It produces Ozone (aka enriched oxygen)which is anti - bacterial on the skin. It also increases the circulation which aids healing and the elimination of toxins in the skin by stimulating the lymphatic system. I have a Dermawand (snapped one up when I saw them as they are good for general skin health).
You can 'zap'an active individual spot by turning it up to high and touching it briefly several times to the spot. It clears and dries them faster.
Just something to note - it can feel a bit wierd to begin with (like mild pins and needles) especially over open skin - so start off low power and only for a few minutes. You will be a bit pink straight after but this will fade quickly. You can gradually increase the power as your skin gets used to it. The instructions that come with it are good and also show you how to apply it to aid lymph drainage etc best.(It also aids exfoliation).
Another tip is to put the tip of your finger on the glass tip before you switch it on then keeping your finger on apply the wand to your face, then remove your finger - re-apply your finger before lifting it form your skin - this reduces the 'zap' that can be a bit uncomfortable when your not used to it and is so beneficial on a spot!! (Don't be put off by my term 'zap'it's not as scary as it sounds!!!) Laughing

You should start to see good results within a month probably sooner.

Hope that helps

Very Happy

free skin care · Mon May 02, 2005 9:13 am

Hey hey!

Thank you sooo much for your advice!
It makes sucha a difference to know that there are still things to try out there that might help! Smile

Winnie, I picked up the QH mask, and it helped reduce a spot Smile

It worked kind of like PB I have been using! Thanks for the tip!!

Winnie & Lucia,
I found the dermawand on ebay Smile

I am kind of scared of the "zap" idea, but desperate at the same time to try something that might help!
Lucia, from your experience, would you say that it worked on most of your clients?

Rusalka,
Thanks for your suggestions!
I just switched to Cetaphil cleanser, was pleasantly surprised how nice my skin felt after using it Smile

Will see if it helps with the acne though Wink

I am going to order some clindamyacin online since I dont have an access to a derm.

Thankies to all! Smile

Aga

free skin care · Mon May 02, 2005 1:01 pm

Aga,
The 'zap'thing isn't painful - just weird feeling!! It also lessens as your skin adjusts! Its a kind of 'buzzing'sensation, very hard to explain! Check outwww.dermawands.com (which explains the principles, is the new updated version and also http://home.earthlink.net/~sbdarnell/before-and-after.htm for some piccies.
I would say we had very good results with the majority of clients using HF - in fact I had it myself as I suffered from acne when I was training (late teens) and it was the one thing that helped clear it, which is why I got the dermawand as I can still get the occasional breakout, though less now I'm in my early 30's and using MD Forte!

Very Happy

Mon May 02, 2005 2:04 pm

I say simple is best. Whenever I've used expensive cream and cleansers i've always ended up with clogged pores or a rash. I stick to using an acne bar called PanOxyl, from your local drug store and a light oil free, fragrance free moisurizer or a combination of Cetaphil and HC 2%. It's a good way to shrink pores - which is where the bacteria, oil and dirt get caught. That's why a pimple forms - if the pore gets clogged. So it makes sense.. the smaller the pore the less stuff get's trapped in them.
After about a month i noticed that the pores on my nose, cheeks and forehead had shrunk quite a bit... and over the last 6 months i've had maybe 5 zits total.
The PanOxyl kills the bacteria and cuts down the oil but isn't overly drying. I had really bad adult acne and nothing i used helped till i started using the soap. I tried other acne soaps but this one worked the best for me.
Just my two bits:)
Toots.

free skin care · Mon May 02, 2005 5:00 pm

tootsie wrote:

I say simple is best. Whenever I've used expensive cream and cleansers i've always ended up with clogged pores or a rash. I stick to using an acne bar called PanOxyl, from your local drug store and a light oil free, fragrance free moisurizer or a combination of Cetaphil and HC 2%. It's a good way to shrink pores - which is where the bacteria, oil and dirt get caught. That's why a pimple forms - if the pore gets clogged. So it makes sense.. the smaller the pore the less stuff get's trapped in them.
After about a month i noticed that the pores on my nose, cheeks and forehead had shrunk quite a bit... and over the last 6 months i've had maybe 5 zits total.
The PanOxyl kills the bacteria and cuts down the oil but isn't overly drying. I had really bad adult acne and nothing i used helped till i started using the soap. I tried other acne soaps but this one worked the best for me.
Just my two bits:)
Toots.

I was under the impression that it was impossible to "shrink" pores. I thought we could use things that helped them seem invisible, and we can obviously keep them clean...Can we actually shrink them?

Mon May 02, 2005 6:25 pm

I was under the impression that it was impossible to "shrink" pores. I thought we could use things that helped them seem invisible, and we can obviously keep them clean...Can we actually shrink them?[/quote]

I used to have large dark blackheads scattered on almost every area of my face. Since cleansing with the soap after a month or so they were gone and the pore looks like a pin prick instead of a large black spot on the verge of a nasty pimple. I just figured it was the pore that had shrunk since it looked so much smaller than before.... i assume it's smaller becasue there's less oil and dirt in them..

free skin care · Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:32 am

omg, i completely feel your pain!! I went to get a facial at a spa and it completely aggravated my skin and made it gross and bumpy and oily Sad

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.