You Asked: My Skin Won’t Clear Up!
Dear Sugar–
I am 23 years old and have suffered from moderate acne since the age of about 20. I have tried everything from Proactiv to homeopathic remedies, been on and off the pill, nothing seems to work. I feel like every day I wake up and there are more blemishes. It's really starting to lower my self-esteem. Next year I'll be done with school and will start my career as a teacher — I'll be mortified if I have more acne than my students!!
I'm slowly cutting unhealthy foods out of my diet and I'm also attempting to quit
smoking for the umpteenth time, basically trying to detoxify my body and my skin.
What can I do about this acne? Is is hormonal or what? –Zitty Zara
To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more
Dear Zitty Zara–
Having adult onset acne can be very frustrating so I understand how you must be feeling right now. Have you given the remedies you have tried adequate time to work? Clearing up your skin won't happen overnight, so be patient. Have you spoken to a dermatologist about possible medications or face washes to help minimize your blemishes? Retin A and Tetracycline are often prescribed to help kill the bacteria that causes acne. They also have been known to help regulate sebaceous glands so that might be a great option for you.
Since you are about to graduate from college, are you under a lot of stress? Stress, poor eating habits and smoking will wreak havoc on your skin. Be sure to drink a lot of water and never sleep in your make up. Air quality can also play a big role in your skin's condition, so I would suggest getting a humidifier for your room.
You should aim to use products with salicylic or glycolic acids in them. These acids gets rid of dead cells on your face and are known to combat mild acne and oily skin. Exfoliation is key as well, as it is imperative to get the bacteria off your skin, but don't over-exfoliate, aim for once every other day.
Getting rid of acne takes time, up to 8 weeks depending on your skin, so once you feel comfortable with a cleaning routine, stick to it. If you choose to take the medication route, be prepared for your face to get worse before it gets better; annoying I know, but hopefully worth it in the long run.
I hope these tips help. Although you may feel like there is no end in sight to clear up your acne, rest assured that there are methods out there that do work; it just might take some time to find the right method for you. Good luck.
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47 Responses to “You Asked: My Skin Won’t Clear Up!”
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i didn't do it long-term, which is recommended, so my face is
kinda iffy again (two years later). i'm actually considering doing
it again…
Also, be careful about what shampoos and cleansers you're using.
Many people have an acne like reaction to formaldehyde releasing
preservatives like polyquarternium. If you've changed products, you
might want to take a look at the ingredients.
With all that stuff, every now and then, especially during cold
weather of course, my skin DOES get kinda dry, so my dermatologist
recommended Johnson & Johnson's Purpose cleanser and
moisturizer. It's very mild and gentle, but it does the job.
You MUST see a dermatologist. I always had crystal clear skin,
and then one day my chin broke out like crazy. It was insane, and
nothing worked. I went to see the Dermatologist, and he gave me
antibiotics and MetroGel, which is basically a topical antibiotic.
My skin was perfect again in less than a week, and I only had to
take the antibiotics for 3 weeks.
You've gotten some awesome advice! Something else I would tell
you to do, aside from the dermatologist, is to switch cosmetics. I
used Clinique and Prescriptives for years, and was on Accutane 3
times, as well as birth control (tried every form), and Retin-A,
etc. You name it, I did it. And nothing helped.
I finally went to see a dermatologist who put me on a simple
antibiotic, as well as a hormone-balancing drug (am no longer on
that), and a topical lotion and pad. He also recommended trying
either Lancome or Estee Lauder. I use Lancome for foundation,
powder and makeup remover (which also helps A LOT), and I hardly
ever have anything.
I also had several friends who were either performers, or who did
pageants, where your makeup can get beyond cakey, and until they
switched to Lancome, they were constantly breaking out.
I hope you find the help you need-I completely understand your
pain-I started breaking out when I was in 3rd grade, and it didn't
end until I was 24!
Well, I got lucky again – I stumbled upon a book called “Don't
Go to The Cosmetics Counter Withou Me” which has some information
about how to deal with acne, but also points you to another book
from this author which deals specifically with skin issues – I
can't remember the name of the second book because I never bought
it I just went to Barnes and Nobles and spent a couple of weekends
there reading it. Anyways, the books tought me alot about makeup
and skin care and what product are worth buying and which products
are just a lie. I also learned that in order for some active
ingredients to work they must be at there optimal pH, which is
something most products lack which is why there active ingredients
don't work.
Finally, I went to a dermatologist and I eventually tried
accutane. It is the only thing that really worked for me and other
than dry skin I didn't have any side effects (other than clear
skin!).
I have a good washing routine because my skin has been pretty
balanced and healthy looking for a while now, except when I get
those random pimples. They ARE very frustrating as an adult and I
feel the same way about work too! (although I'm not a
middle/highschool/college teacher, I'm a facilitator for a school,
and I'm already viewed upon as young because of my age– acne
doesn't helpmuch either!!!)
I know what you mean. Mine started at 17 and when i was 20 i
went on accutane. It totally works. I still have a few occasional
break outs though which is very annoying so I might go on it again
because it does clear up your skin and I've never had it bad again.
Going on accutane is an annoying process, but it works and my
dermatologist said using it once more for a few months should
completely clear everything. Talk to you dermatologist asap.
It does cost a bit.. but seriously.. its worth it… it boosts
your confidence SO much! It completley clears away and blemishes,
prevents blemishes and like exofliates from the inside-out so it
gets rid of scars.. its really amazing stuff.. i would suggest it..
ACUTANE!
I saw a great Dermatologist in LA and he actually prescribed me
some oral antibiotics to “detoxify” me internally and a topical
antibiotic, clindamycin, to use twice a day. Retina A or Tazorac
also helps to keep your skin from becoming so oily and trapping
dirt that will inflame your pores.
I had such bad acne in high school that I had to take oral
medication and use retin-a. Since high school it has not been as
bad, but I find that using the Proactiv skin care and Stila make up
keep my skin fairly clear.
But, really, if it makes you that uncomfortable and whatnot, go
see a doctor and get it taken care of.
Waren mentioned going on Acutane.. well i went on something
similar called Roacutane.. Now i saw some people complain that
pills can cause problems like vomiting etc.. well i was on this for
6 months and i drank, and felt fine.. It does say NOT to drink..
but i drank anyway.. and i felt fine.. The pills didnt make me feel
sick or ANYTHING.. and my skin cleared up for good.. Never had
problems again!
something that really worked for me: microdermabrasion. it
cleared my skin up after just two or three treatments (and I think
I only did five total), but you could totally see the difference
after just one (even other people noticed after just one). it not
only cleared my skin up, but evened out my skintone (i'm a redhead,
so every little flaw is apparent on my super pale, super thin
skin).
I agree with what everyone has said, but would also like to add
that you have to be really really really careful to not dry out
your skin!!! That can definitely make it worse…. I use Proactiv
and it works really well for me, but I also kind of grew out of it.
It was REALLY bad in high school, now I just have a few spots here
and there around PMS time. I also use Neutrogena's foundation with
salicylic acid and SPF 15. It works really really well.
facin8me – AWESOME Information!!! That was a really great
comment! As someone who gets a urinary tract infection everytime I
look at an antibiotic, and also has EXTENSIVE pharmaceutical
allergies, I could NOT agree more with your statement!!!
If you tell your dermatologist that you don't really like the
idea of taking medication, there are tons of topical prescriptions
that may work, like Retin-A. Keep in mind, all this stuff makes
your skin MUCH more sensitive to sunlight, so stock up on
sunblock!
use Arbonnne Acne Treatment.. I know how you feel.. This will
bring up everything from the inside out.. it will get worse before
it gets better, but trust me on this. Use this.. It will work..
This was the only thing that worked for me.. The ONLY thing..
If it's something that makes you that uncomfortable and
embarrassed, I would go see the dermatologist immediately. I know
exactly what you're going through and I feel like at the age of 25,
I should be done with acne.
I was really hesitant to go, because I don't have health
insurance, but I just was upfront with him about it, and said that
while this was important to me and I was going to find a way to
cover the costs, anything he could do to help would be really
great. Well, he GAVE me all the drugs. Doctors get tons of samples
in their offices. The only thing he charged me for was the office
visit (which was very reasonable actually). Anyway, GO GO GO!! They
will really help you. You should start your professional career
with confidence and security. Teaching is scary enough without
being worried that the kids wont respect your authority because of
bad skin!! Good luck. Love, VSugar
Luckily birth control worked for me (I take Yasmin) and I use
Neutrogena oil-free face wash (I only wash my face with it at night
to remove make-up and just water in the morning) and Aveeno face
lotion (the clear complextion one). I also regulary change the
covers on my pillows and ALWAYS remove my make-up at night.
And totally don't give up on being on the pill- even though all
BCPs help skin, some are drastically better than others. One good
one to ask your doctor about is Yasmin, which contains a different
kind of progesterone related to a compound called spironolactone,
which is antiandrogenic and can help control hormone related
flareups better than your typical BCP.
Zitty Zara – It is time for you to choose a new name becuae I
think I have the answer to your acne problems. I have battled with
acne since high school. I went on Acutane when I was 20 and it
cleared up my skin perfectly with little to no side affects.
However, I started breaking out again in my late 20's and did not
want to risk Acutane again.
you should suggest this treatment to a dermatologist and see
what he/she thinks. I used it after Proactive stopped working for
me, and it helped me out a lot!
I hope something might help. If you need anything send me a
message!
i agree that you should go to a dermatologist. it might be that
you are allergic to something that is aggravating your skin. could
be topical or what you are eating.
My dermatologist also had me go through acid facial peels. He
said I was lucky because women pay hundreds of dollars for them to
get rid of wrinkles, but my insurance covered it for acne.
I'm with you hon! I'm almost 22 and although I don't have as
much acne as I did when I was a teenager, I still get a some here
and there that turn out to be those long lasting, annoyingly
frustrating ones when I do get them! (esp around the time my period
is going to start..pms phase I guess you could say?)
Even though this was from days ago I feel compelled to respond!
I struggled for years with my cystic acne and tried everything but
Accutane(to scary for me). Finally a friend who used to have acne
told her mom to talk to my mom about the treatment she used. I was
mortified at the time but now am soooo glad she said something.
It's called LumiPlexion and it works! They have a great line but
they also educate you on all the myths about acne and the things
that cause it; chocolate won't give you acne but stress, hormones,
genetics and poor sleeping habits will. Their clinic is located in
Walnut Creek, CA. but they have a website with all their products.
Hope you find something that works for you, just remember that in
order to keep your acne in control you have to be strict with
yourself about staying on your program!
I also use Pro-Activ during the day, which has benzoyl peroxide
in it. Sometimes during that-time-of-the-month, I will use a larger
dosage of benzoyl peroxide with Stridex's benzoyl peroxide pads,
which are hard to find -they've recently been out on the market for
the first time as the first over the counter benzoyl peroxide pads.
Sometimes though when I use that I will skip a night or so of the
Retin-A so my skin doesn't get overdried and red.
I went through the same thing and tried so many different
products, routines, etc, etc.
I know how you feel- I've been through all the treatments as
well, and nothing OTC will work- you have to go to a dermatologist.
Products with salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide will most likely
dry out your skin and make the blemishes worse.
Lately, I've found some products that seem to be working, but
watching your diet can help and DEFINITELY give up smoking! Not
just for your skin either.
I use retin-A and it does wonders for my skin and even erased
scars I had from before. Though it does take about 4 weeks for your
skin to get used to it and begin to do it's wonders and makes your
skin a little more sensitive than usual – being that it thins out
your skin a bit, it's well worth the results.
I was in the same shoes last year- getting ready to start my
first year teaching, petrified that I would look younger than my
fourteen year old students… I know it's been said, but go to a
derm! I was put on antibiotics and several prescription creams. It
took some time, but I'm completely clear now, and actually look
like I can teach, rather than be sitting at one of the desks!!
One of my friends suffers from bad acne and she and her sister
both have chemical peels. She figured out that in the long run
they're cheaper than all the medicine she was on (antibiotics,
birth control, and topical ointments) and had been taking since she
was 14. She's now 25 and her skin has never looked better. Oh, and
her face gets pretty red after the treatment (think Samantha on Sex
and the City) so she has them done on a Friday so she's fine by
Monday.
Another thing I learned and that changed my life is people with
acne prone skin probably don't need a daily mosturizer, this is
just something that is the media has ingraned in our heads, but it
makes sense because the reason we break out is becasue our skin is
producing too much of its own natural oils “moisturizer”. I also
learned about not washing your face with warm water and then
splashing it with cold because both temperatures shock the skin and
irritate it. So, once I cut my moisturizer out of my routine and
started washing my face “only” with “tepid” water and not hot or
cold my face started looking better and breaking out less – seeing
these good results just off her advice alone lead me to try her
product and I couldn't be happier! The author has her own line of
skin care products called Paula's Choice that you can find at
. Now I never breakout and if I do feel a zit
coming on I use Paula's Choice 5% benzoyl peroxide solution and the
zit never comes. I also use her 2% Beta Hydrozy Acid liquid every
other day and I use her skin balancing toner every day. I use
Cetaphil to wash my face but a friend at work with Rosacea uses her
daily cleanser and says he likes it better than Cetaphil. All her
products are free of any irritants and are at their optimal pH.
Good luck to you!
I'll keep those tips in mind too. I know when i'm under stress I
get some pimples and stuff but they come and go and I shouldn't
complain i guess…
A good dermatologist will work with you to find the right
combination of medications for your skin. Topical sulfur, topical
clindamycin, retin A, and maybe even Accutane are all options that
your dermatologist can discuss with you, as well as pointing you in
the right direction with moisturizers and cleansers. However, I
noticed a lot of people here talking about using tetracycline,
doxycycline, and other oral antibiotics and this is bad, bad, bad.
It screws with your stomach, wipes out your natural flora and
replaces it with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
Additionally, the bacteria that are causing problems on your face
will eventually become resistant as well and then you've really
screwed yourself over.
So, I definitely recommend seeing a dermatologist. You may not
have to go the extreme route that I did with accutane, but a
dermatologist will help.
I have had acne forever. I am now 26 years old and still suffer.
People with acne can tell you that no matter what you eat or what
you use for products nothing works. The only thing that has worked
for me is an intense treatment from my dermatologist. I have been
seeing the same derm since I was 16 and it has taken a lot of trial
and error to find the right meds to work for my skin. Currently I
take doxycycline (an oral antibiotic) and use a moisturizer with
clyndomycin in it and also Retin A at night. As Dearsugar said,
nothing works overnight. This has been an ongoing battle and a lot
of trial and error and took about 4 years to get under control.
Good Luck!
I also have trouble with my skin. I found a website:
I ordered Topix Gly Sal 10-2 cleanser for $16.00. this website is
awesome. You dont need to use much because a little goes a long
way. I have been using it for 4 weeks and have noticed a lot of
improvement.
Hope you get the help you need.
I'm with leenie. Acutane worked, but the side-effect FAR
OUTWEIGH the results. I posted something a while back to deter
people from using Acutane.
I say DEFINITELY see a dermatologist for your problem~ I
wouldn't keep trying different things at home because your skin has
a deeper issue (maybe allergies or sensitivities to certain
products or something?) and you don't want to harm yourself or get
marks or scars or anything….they can definately help with
treatments and routines for you! Good luck!
I'm just throwing out my ritual to give you some ideas, but I
would definitely recommend seeing a dermatologist. Good luck!
I had this problem when I was just about to turn 21 (I am
turning 23 in a week) and I 100% understand your frustration. What
I did was I saw a dermotologist and he prescribed some topical
ointments and a medication I was supposed to ingest. My
advice…try the topical creams but give a lot of thought and
consideration to any medication you would have to ingest because it
made me very sick (I know it doesn't happen to everyone but I feel
a need to tell anyone who might consider taking pills to cure
acne). I couldn't even have a glass of anything alcoholic because I
would vomit (even when I didn't finish the glass) and I also
developed C-Diff which is a not so pretty thing to deal with,
especially when you want to go out and have fun on your last
semester of school like I did. I was sick for a while but
thankfully I am OK now. I am just telling you this to be safe and
to tell you to give everything a lot of consideration before making
any decisions. In no way am I writing this to scare you.