Help! As predicted, BAD acne came back...

[Delster]

There's a site that AmberGretchen mentioned in Mara's thread, and Vegas Angel mentioned the site owner's products - it's Cosmetics Cop - Product Reviews. It has reviews of lots of different products and battle plans for different skin conditions. I've found it helpful in making decisions, and I use it in conjunction with the trial and error method. For example, she is not a fan of the Dermalogica cleanser for irritated skin but I didn't have any problems with it. It didn't help at all but it also didn't make things any worse. I stopped using it because it was just way too pricey for something that was performing no better on me than a basic drugstore cleanser.

Skippy, I've heard that a facewash containing any kind of exfoliant (salicyclic acid, benzoyl peroxide etc etc) is useless because those products need to stay on the skin in order to penetrate it? I don't know how true that is though. The websites I've read do recommend using a benzoyl peroxide wash with Differin. This skin care stuff is all very confusing!

Anchor, this is what has worked for me...

I use Cetaphil or a similar unperfumed cleanser (even just basic Dove soap if I have to). I follow that with a topical antibacterial exfoliant that I get on prescription from my doctor. It's called Zynerit and the active ingredients are erythromycin and zinc. While I'm using the Zynerit I'm not using any other topical exfoliants (salicyclic acid, benzoyl peroxide etc) as I find the Zynerit to be plenty strong enough for my sensitive skin. The Zynerit costs me about €25 (CAD$37) every three months. Before I started on the Zynerit I was trying out the different AHA and BHA products recommended on Cosmetics Cop but it's hard to find the same ones over here as she is reviewing. I think Olay have much the same product lines and I have used their stuff in the past without any problems so that would have been my next port of call. I also changed my BCPs to Dianette (but I know you prefer not to take those).

At night I moisturise any places that are dry with a very simple moisturiser with antioxidants in it (again, no perfume!). If I feel the need, I take the Zynerit down to once a day on those patches. In daytime I use a sunscreen with at least SPF30 (I need it - I am so pale that when I've been abroad children have gotten their friends to come look at my whiter than white legs!

). I choose ones with titanium dioxide if I can.

What I'm doing I guess is basically the same as Sunnyd's "regimen". I also have a probably completely unscientific way of weeding out products - I choose the ones with no perfume, and the shortest ingredients list.

Since I've adopted this approach, my skin has cleared up fantastically. It's not 100% perfect but the blotchiness and flushing has gone (why oh why did I have to get such IRISH skin?!?), and all the BIG zits are gone too. The only zits I get now are teeeny little tiny things that are easily concealed with make-up. Before, no amount of make-up could hide my blotches and zittiness. Now, I look FLAWLESS with make-up on. Seriously.

Lorelei - I stood in Boots for like five minutes yesterday holding that Protect and Perfect serum going 'will I? won't I?'

In the end I couldn't bring myself to buy something designated anti-ageing - I wanna hold out until my age starts with a 3!!! Then I got home and my Mum produced a sample of it and said I could try it if I like (she can't use it, it sets off her dermatitis). I think the gods are trying to tell me something

ETA - EEK what a long post! Sorry! Just wanted to share what worked for me cos my skin has been SUCH a PITA and if any of it helps I'll be so glad...

 

[VegasAngel]

Delster, I totally follow Paula Begoun. She has given me the tools I need to understand ingredients; what they do, what to look out for good & bad. Paula has saved me a lot of money i''ll tell you that. I wish more people would read her books.

 

[julabean]

Anchor, I use the Philosophy line of products. They''re a bit more expensive, but since starting them, I haven''t had nearly as many breakouts as I used to. I have skin that sounds very similar to yours and I can''t recommend the line enough.

I use Purity Made Simple for washing my face, Hope in a Bottle as a moisturizer, and their eye cream (which doesn''t do anything for acne, but feels good). Another commenter also recommended clindomycin phosophate and I''ve had really good results with that, too. The main thing I''ve found with my face is consistency, consistency, consistency.

I used to be pretty lazy about washing my face and using moisturizer, but once I got on task, my skin has looked (and felt) fabulous.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Okay DKS, you convinced me. I bought some AcneFree at Target yesterday. My hormones have not calmed down so my skin...well...not good. I''ll let you know if it works.

 

[anchor31]

Date: 2/1/2008 6:11:34 PM
Author: julabean
Anchor, I use the Philosophy line of products. They''re a bit more expensive, but since starting them, I haven''t had nearly as many breakouts as I used to. I have skin that sounds very similar to yours and I can''t recommend the line enough.

I use Purity Made Simple for washing my face, Hope in a Bottle as a moisturizer, and their eye cream (which doesn''t do anything for acne, but feels good). Another commenter also recommended clindomycin phosophate and I''ve had really good results with that, too. The main thing I''ve found with my face is consistency, consistency, consistency.

I used to be pretty lazy about washing my face and using moisturizer, but once I got on task, my skin has looked (and felt) fabulous.

You have a good point: I definitely should be more serious and consistent about taking care of my skin! Bad, Bad me...

 

[Independent Gal]

Hey Anchor, just a heads up about the Queen Helene mint julep face stuff. I put it on this morning, and forgot it was there. Then I was being a little, "Well hello there" and a little, uh, koochee-koo with my sweety. And he was just staring at me and I''m all "What? What''s wrong honey?" To which he replied "Sweetheart. I love you. But you''re green."

heehee.

 

[Harleigh]

Too funny, Indy...I need to get me some of that! (Do you actually *drink* a mint julep WHILE you''re wearing the mint julep mask???) Inquiring minds want to know...

Anchor...for some reason (read here: STRESS, I think!) my face is breaking out a lot lately, too, and in a completely different way than it ever has. I have severe combination skin and have used a generic face wash called "Zapzyt" for years that I can no longer find since my local drugstore closed down last year. I bought all I could and I have continued to use it faithfully along with the St. Ives apricot scrub about once a week and I was golden until a few weeks ago when I stopped taking a certain medication I had only been on for about 2 months or so. I only seemed to break out the week before and during my cycle previously, and even that was minimal.

Now I have ugly, painful breakouts all over my cheeks, which is not attractive or comfortable. I am seriously considering calling my doctor for a dermatologist referral, but I figure I have about 5 months before the wedding, so may wait for another cycle to come and go and see what happens.

I have also used AcneFree years ago and think it is absolutely FANTASTIC! I may go back to that and see if I see any improvement before the doctor visit. I was also going to chime in and say that it is available in large quantities at Sam''s Club as well as Costco and for a very reasonable price. I have recommended it to several friends who swear by it now!

Please let us know how everything turns out!