Acne is terrible for a young persons confidence. It causes low self esteem, as it is often teased. A lot of people try simple solutions to beat it, but it takes more than "Clean and clear face wash". Most of the shit you buy on shelves is for people who get a 'break out' of one pimple a month. Some people, every day, will wake up with new pimples.

A lot of the shit on the shelves barely work, and are there to just sell false hope to people desperate enough to buy it.

It's shattering to one's self esteem. I had that, and learnt how to beat it. I'm a lazy person and don't have the persistance to keep my skin looking great, but I know I can.

Things I've tried:

Proactive, Minocycline, Clindatech, Clean and clear, clearacil, blah blah blah.

Lots of shit. None of it worked.

Not everything that works for me will work for you, that's why I'll list a heap of things that over time have worked for me:

Extreemly hot showers: It dries out the skin and makes my skin clear up in 1-2 weeks. Oils cause pimples. Dry skin is more easy to cure than pimples, all you need is a..

Oil Free Moisturiser: Easy to get. They work well. You can get them with sunscreen as well (important for Australians, you know, with the whole 'hole in the ozone layer' thing)

A Healthy Diet: It gets said constantly, but it's so fucking true! It doesn't mean "dont eat *insert anything*" it just meants "Dont eat too much of *blah*". A balanced diet is important. This includes...

Cutting Out Sugars: Sugars are a quick source of energy, unless you're using that energy, say good bye to sugars.

Don't Squeeze Pimples For As Long As Possible: Do you know what's under your finger nails? Do you know what's on the surface of your fingers? Germs, a lot of them. Germs are also a cause of pimples. Not to mention that squeezing pimples aggrivates skin and often makes it worse. What's worse, having a zit for a day longer, or having a scar for several weeks?

Try Not To Touch Your Face: Same reasons mentioned above.

Heal Your Scars With Aloe Vera: Where did I find most of my stuff out? From the best plastic surgeon in my area. He works with burn and severe acne patients. He told me that Vitamin E healing scars is true, but hugely overrated. It's actually aloe vera with amazing healing properties. Apply an Aloe Vera gel to acne scars nightly. Watch them disappear.

(If shiva reads this post, tell people about my skin. Sure it's not great, but it was that bad I had to see a plastic surgeon about it.)

Don't Use Scented Washes: Plain and simple, things that are scented are generally bad for sensitive skin.

Gently Exfoliate: Dead skin cells can cause black heads and pimples, this is widely known. What isn't is that scrubbing too hard can also cause acne.

Use A Cleanser: It helps, a lot. A gentle cleanser is best.

Use A Spot Treatment: Anything that you use vary sparingly, that will dry out any soon to be pimples. I own a "Salicylic Acid 2% with a 15.5% AHA complex buffered to pH 3.7" ...what ever that means. It works wonders. It's from ASAP, I got it from a plastic surgeon.

Drink Lots Of Water; I wont lie to you, I have no idea why. All I know is when I do, my skin is clearer.

Stress Less: Ever notice when shit starts going your way, and things start facing up, your skin gets better? Stress has been proven to directly relate to acne. People who overanalyze and worry are prone to break outs. I know saying "stress less" is unrealistically easy, but there is such a thing as a positive outlook. Train your self to have one.

Excersise: We've all heard it a million times. When I work out, skin clears up. Again, I have no idea why. Might have to do with the body's reward chemicals giving some one a 'stress less' attitude, but what ever. I just know it works. Fuck, even if it doesn't work, atleast you'll have a better body.

Get Some Sun: Not too much. But like 20 minutes a day is good for you. It helps dry out the skin a bit (for you oily skinned people). If you want to go out longer, remember to use sunscreen, and if you do, use a OIL FREE sunscreen. After surfing, my skin gets worse if I used an oily sunscreen, and better if I used an oil free.

Ever see surfers? Notice how they have fantastic skin? Sun + salt water. Dries out the skin. Like I said, I'd rather moisturise than have acne.

Change your pillow sheets often: Dead skin and oil builds up on your pillow cases. No matter how much you wash your face before going to bed, it wont do any good if you're sleeping on a dirty surface.

Things to remember:

MOST CHANGES TAKE 1-2 WEEKS so be fucking consitant people! A lot of mistakes we make are like follows:

Some one starts eating healthier for 1 1/2 weeks, sees no difference, so they start eating lots of junkfood again. The change will start taking place two weeks after you started eating healthy. But in the 1/2 week between starting eating junkfood again and your skin clearing up, you try something new. Like a new facewash for example. You think this new improvement in complexion has to do with the facewash. In a week or so when the pimples start coming back, you'll be confused.

That was just an example, I made up all the times in it. What I'm getting at is STICK with things. A lot of what I said is common knowledge. The thing that worked THE best for me is having LONG HOT showers with the nozzle pointed directly at my face. Then everything after that makes it better as well.

I hope this helps some one (except byss, I hope his acne give him cancer).

*edit*

More things I forgot:

Minocycline and Chemical Peels all make your skin more suseptible to UV light. So a sunscreen has to to be worn outside. In Australia, that makes Minocycline a bad idea. Especially if you love the outdoors. Chemical peels only need sunscreen in summer or prolonged exposure in winter.

Chemical Peels: Are fucking painful, but amazing. The truly do work (for me). I started on 20% and worked my way up to 50%. 50% peels hurt a lot. It was the most pain I've been in my whole entire life. It felt like acid (haha, probably because it is acid...).

Ever hear the term "No pain, no gain"? Well if you have $70 a pop (that's how much they were for me, maybe more or less for you), and 15 minutes to spare a week, try them out. They also help immensly with scarring.



[This message has been edited by arquin (edited 01-25-2007).]

Accutane was the only thing that worked for me. I couldn't get laid to save my life with my acne; but 6 months of the most powerful drug for it and I pulled bitches like nothing.

ACCUTANE. IT'S THE SHIT(TM).

I heard a lot about Accutane. I've only heard of it being used by people on 'the juice' to fight the pimples that come as a side effect of roids.

I also heard it has been linked to suicides, but I also heard that it's more likely to be that people taking accutane are already in a demogprahic more prone to suicide. Kind of like schizophreniacs self medicating with weed, being psych tested and diagnosed with schizo and the psych saying "it must have been the weed!".

Can any one correct me on this? I'm interested in it.

Clearasil just gave me more zits when I was younger, haha. I must have used it wrong or something

quote:Originally posted by Pilsu:

Clearasil just gave me more zits when I was younger, haha. I must have used it wrong or something

Nah man, that shit's mostly useless. All it does is cause alergic reactions to scents, or further breakouts.

My sister never had a pimple in her life. But she didn't like the 'texture' of her skin so bought a "Clearasil" exfoliating scrub. It made her break out as long as she used it (she was 22 when this happened). Second she stopped using it, BAM, right back to perfect skin.

quote:Originally posted by arquin:

I heard a lot about Accutane. I've only heard of it being used by people on 'the juice' to fight the pimples that come as a side effect of roids.

I've never heard of it being used for that, and no dermatologist I know of would prescribe it for that. It fucks with your liver hardcore, and to add that in when you're already on steroids that fuck with your liver too(depending on the steroid I guess,) would seem to me to be dangerous.

Accutane's only been used in my experience when every other prescription drug won't work. It's only for the worst and most chronic acne.

quote:I also heard it has been linked to suicides, but I also heard that it's more likely to be that people taking accutane are already in a demogprahic more prone to suicide. Kind of like schizophreniacs self medicating with weed, being psych tested and diagnosed with schizo and the psych saying "it must have been the weed!".

Can any one correct me on this? I'm interested in it.

It's true. I had to sign a waiver saying the company was not liable if I pulled my own trigger while on the drug.

I don't get why that would be. Seeing my acne clear up INCREASED my self-asteem. I felt better than I had in years.

quote:Originally posted by Pilsu:

Clearasil just gave me more zits when I was younger, haha. I must have used it wrong or something

Clearasil is evil. I found the same thing, plus it dries out my skin.

Johnson and Johnson is pretty good though. Try that blue stuff, and apply it with a cotton make up removing pad every few hours = no more acne.

PS. that's a really great article arquin, I think this thread should be archived.

[This message has been edited by Issue313 (edited 01-23-2007).]

"Salicylic Acid 2% with a 15.5% AHA complex buffered to pH 3.7"

Salicylic acid is a BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) which chemically exfoliates your skin. AHA is a Alpha Hydroxy Acid, which also exfoliates your skin, but is composed of larger particles and doesn't exfoliate as deeply, depending on which AHA it is (glycolic, lactic, etc.). buffered to a pH of 3.7 is just the same acidity as your skin. Just so you know, however, washes generally won't treat acne as you rinse them off before they have a noticeable effect, and 15.5% AHA is much too strong anyway, especially when used with BHA, and they're likely doing more damage than good.

You can learn a lot here, and yes, I've used this regimen for a year and I'm now completely clear. http://tinyurl.com/2cl634

EDIT: I forgot to say, most of your other advice was spot-on, and this is coming from someone who's researched acne a TON.



[This message has been edited by I-RapeTards (edited 01-23-2007).]

quote:Originally posted by I-RapeTards:

"Salicylic Acid 2% with a 15.5% AHA complex buffered to pH 3.7"

It's a clearskin gel to be left on over night. I got it from a dermatologist gone plastic surgeon.

It works well, but for all I know it could be doing some serious harm inside. I don't know.

Ah okay. For some reason I thought you described it under the cleanser heading.

quote:Originally posted by I-RapeTards:

AHA is a Alpha Hydroxy Acid, which also exfoliates your skin, but is composed of larger particles and doesn't exfoliate as deeply, depending on which AHA it is (glycolic, lactic, etc.).

Ingredients: Purified Water, Alcohol, Ammonium, Glycolate (and) Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Green Tea Extract, Bilberry Extract.

Any way, just thought I'd let you know, your more indepth knowledge has been helpful, thanks.

This shit is so true, i never had spots like a month ago, and i was drinking 6 pints a day (water) exercisizing excessively, and i had the odd one or two, ive slipped more streesed i currently have threee, and i wash my hands then squeeze them, then use a mousterizer, then i also add some clear-s-cil face cleanser, it gets so much shit off

+1

Accutane is the only thing that has worked for me. And like someone mentioned above, it made me feel so much better because I didn't have to worry about people judging me for having bad skin.

arquin, I used to think OTC stuff was shit too. But recently I decided to give it another try, and it's actually working. I'm also using Olay Definity moisturizer, and I think that's helping too. It's an anti aging moisturizer but I recently read in a magazine that it's a good option for young people as it has niacin in it which is apparently good for fading scars and blotchiness due to acne.

There's a forum for this shit http://tinyurl.com/cfxjp

But yeah Im on accutane right now and have been for a few months and after trying just about everything iminagible it is finally going away after like 4 years of cystic hell.

[This message has been edited by voodoonirvana (edited 01-23-2007).]

Thank you.

I will definetly try some of this out, especially the Aloe Vera. I want to be able to take my shirt off in public again without people having reccuring nightmares about the scars.

[EDIT] I'll agree with the archive. I've just printed this off to pin onto my wall, to keep reminding myself.

[This message has been edited by bringitonhome (edited 01-24-2007).]

You're right, OTC products don't do shit. Most people's acne is a bacterial problem, and no OTC product is allowed to have anti-bacterials in it.

You should talk to your doctor and get a prescription, either a cream or a pill or whatever he suggests. I am using benzoyl peroxide right now which is working ridiculously well.

heh i havnt had any serious problem with acne in a wilemostly because i dont give a shit, everyones got pimples, im not very stressed about that so that might be it. I just wanted to drop a tip that a old girlfriend tought me for big nasty pimples. Insted of using that OTC shit that has all these funky chemicals in it, a nice wad of minty toothpaste will work on a small patch of oily skin(with pimples) or a big ol sucker one(you know the kind). It burns a bit but it drys out the skin real quick. I usaly let it sit for a good minnute or so then wash it off, 1 or 2 days with one wash a day will lower the redness/swelling/oilynastyness. Its worked for me just wanted to pass it on.

quote:Originally posted by Markoni:

You're right, OTC products don't do shit. Most people's acne is a bacterial problem, and no OTC product is allowed to have anti-bacterials in it.

You should talk to your doctor and get a prescription, either a cream or a pill or whatever he suggests. I am using benzoyl peroxide right now which is working ridiculously well.

Point 1. Acne is a hormonal problem. You get it as a result of hormones and genetic susceptibility. What do you think, the level of bacteria on your skin is myseriously higher in teenagers!?

Point 2. In severe, cystic acne this is doubly true: in this case it is an INFLAMMATORY problem and no amount of topical treatment will have any effect whatsoever.

Point 3. OTC products most certainly CAN have antibacterials in them. Last time I checked both rubbing alcohol and benzoyl peroxide (http://tinyurl.com/yspcb3) were OTC (at least where I live).

Point 4. I've never even HEARD of any significant acne problem being successfully treated by benzoyl peroxide. From the fact that it works you can infer that your case is mild.



[This message has been edited by pianoSpleen (edited 01-25-2007).]

I've had success with benzoyl peroxide, as has my brother, although we didn't have extreme acne. However, it does dry the skin out a lot (white flakes aren't nice), and we do live quite healthily (exercise, getting enough water etc.)

I find that what you put on your skin is irrelevant if you don't exercise, drink water and (most importantly) try to relax.

Another tip I just remembered:

Change your pillow sheets often: Dead skin and oil builds up on your pillow cases. No matter how much you wash your face before going to bed, it wont do any good if you're sleeping on a dirty surface.

I have a follow up question to the thread with all the answers: I pick my boyfriends face because it's kind of a weird neurotic compulsion... I said I'd help with his acne and his scarring later in life... if I get him one peel like every six months do you think it's worth it? I mean like his b-day in late July and Christmas...

I'm not sure how much he would appreciate it since it hurts and it's kind of "girly" in his eyes I guess, but I love him and he's really got a very attractive face, he's just self conscious about his acne. would it help on a consistent basis or only for the next week?

quote:Originally posted by The_Rabbi:

Accutane was the only thing that worked for me. I couldn't get laid to save my life with my acne; but 6 months of the most powerful drug for it and I pulled bitches like nothing.

ACCUTANE. IT'S THE SHIT(TM).

church

quote:Originally posted by TehWTF:

I have a follow up question to the thread with all the answers: I pick my boyfriends face because it's kind of a weird neurotic compulsion... I said I'd help with his acne and his scarring later in life... if I get him one peel like every six months do you think it's worth it? I mean like his b-day in late July and Christmas...

I'm not sure how much he would appreciate it since it hurts and it's kind of "girly" in his eyes I guess, but I love him and he's really got a very attractive face, he's just self conscious about his acne. would it help on a consistent basis or only for the next week?

For starters: stop picking his face.

Secondly: One every six months wouldn't do very much, unless you went with a 60-70%. I can't even imagine how much that would hurt since I couldn't keep a 50% on for the recommended time. But yes, it helps enormously with scarring.

Get him one, he'll like the difference he sees in his skin over the following week. This might be incentive for him to keep getting them himself.

Also, because he thinks they're girly, say things like "It's acid, on your face! Girly? My fucking arse. Name one girl you know who is that pain tollerant". He's a dude, you're telling him what he wants to hear, he wont argue.

But put it more delicatly than that.

quote:Originally posted by TehWTF:

I have a follow up question to the thread with all the answers: I pick my boyfriends face because it's kind of a weird neurotic compulsion... I said I'd help with his acne and his scarring later in life... if I get him one peel like every six months do you think it's worth it? I mean like his b-day in late July and Christmas...

I'm not sure how much he would appreciate it since it hurts and it's kind of "girly" in his eyes I guess, but I love him and he's really got a very attractive face, he's just self conscious about his acne. would it help on a consistent basis or only for the next week?

You pick at your boyfriends acne? That's messed up. Think about the mental AND physical devastation that's going to have on him.

Okay, I have a little experience in this field. I used to be to the point of "if my face isn't bleeding, i'm doing good," and now I get told all the time how "sexy" or "fucking hot" I am. However like was said, I don't believe it, because my acne gave me horrible self esteem and I don't trust what they tell me.

I read the original post, and the first few replies (but skipped the rest cause I got the hiccups and am pissed, so I didn't feel like reading), so excuse me if some of this has been said.

Most of the OP is bullshit. Diet has little to do with acne, unless you have a habbit of rubbing your food on your face. Drinking lots of water is good for your system, but doesn't really affect your skin. Exercise is bad/good. If you do it a lot, it will help, you sweat out the harmful bacteria, however if you only occasionally sweat, it just clogs your pores and makes it worse.

The best advice (besides the obvious don't touch/pick at it) was get in the sun. The sun has rays (I think it was the beta rays specifically) that have an effect on inflamatory tissue, such as pimples. Tanning beds are required by law to block those out, because during extended exposure they can cause skin cancer.

That being said, Accutane is the miracle drug. It'll suck while you're on it, but it works wonders.

And you were right arquin, there is a higher then average suicide percent of people on accutane, and you actually have to sign a waiver to take it. It is also expected (no research into it) that the higher suicide rate is due to the demographic; because of the acne they have low self esteem and are more prone to commiting suicide...

Fucking worthless. most of that is bullshit.

water, diet, lots of sugar, et cetera have no effect on acne.

quote:Diet. One old and very poorly designed study suggested that chocolate, french fries, potato chips and sugar, among others, affect acne. Acne researchers tend to discount this study. On the other hand, a high GI (glycemic index) diet that causes sharp rises in blood sugar worsens acne. [1]If this study's conclusions are verified then a low GI diet may help acne, but a recent review of somewhat dated scientific literature cannot affirm either way.[2]



Just because this shit "worked for you" DOES NOT MEAN it works at all, or that it will work with other people.

If I didn't have an organic chem test tomorrow, I'd go on further.

Or you could go to the beach once in a while and let the salt kill it.

Good post.

For guys, I think shaving everyday helps ALOT. Shaving cream dries out your skin and less oil will build up on your facial hair. Make sure to shower at least once a day.

Where can I learn more about these chemical peels?

Also when I started drinking more water I did also notice a change in my skin.

Thank god I never had acre problems. That was a good write up though arquin, I'm sure it will benifit a lot of people. Perhaps you could also post it in reinvent yourself?

Genetics is what makes diet a factor in wheter or not you get acne. Genetics makes you prone to acne, but it doesn't ensure you'll get it. Your life style does that (or in some cases, if you're really fucked, your genetics will determine that for you as well).

Chocolate causing pimples is an myth. Every one knows that. I eat so much fuckig choclate.

Fuck, you fucking hobos, is it that god damn hard to eat healthily? Try it and see.

quote:Originally posted by Sentinel:

Just because this shit "worked for you" DOES NOT MEAN it works at all, or that it will work with other people.

Hey sentinel you stupid fuck, read the god damn OP:

quote:Originally posted by arquin:

Not everything that works for me will work for you, that's why I'll list a heap of things that over time have worked for me:

Fucking idiot.

one thing that works for me is this:

washing my face with regular salt (i put a small quantity of salt in my hand with a few drops of water and rub it to my face - the skin will be smoother due to the abrasion from the salt)

after that, i wash my face again with water and Dove exfoliating soap (if i don't, the skin dries and feels like crap)

ever since i've started washing like this i haven't had 1 zit. That's 2 weeks and counting. No more greasy skin either. Fuck Clearasil and all that bullshit, I'm gonna stick with this.

edit: i've also cut down a lot of sugar from my diet, and started drinking more water.

[This message has been edited by the bamph (edited 02-02-2007).]

^^^Salt, that's interesting.

I've had mild success using baking soda and spectrogel mixed together and used as a scrub.

the drinking plenty of water thing is definitely true. my skin is much clearer during the summer due to my drinking more water and being in the sun more. oil free moisturiser with sunscreen is a must here in australia, you're right.

the water works because it flushes the impurities out of your system through your pee, instead of them coming out through your skin in the form of blackheads etc.

i've come up with a really simple system for myself: cleans and moisturise twice a day, exfoliate every three days or so. and i went on the pill. that helped a huge amount.

now i need to figure out how to even out my skin tone and make my pores smaller.

edit: remembered another tip

keep your hair away from your face

it just add to grease etc on your face, causing pimples. tie it up, don't get a fringe.

[This message has been edited by NoSkills (edited 02-03-2007).]

Masturbating also makes your acne a lot worse. Rubbing lemon, lime, or potatoe juice on your skin helps alot.

also oil of oregeno.(that shit cures fucking everything. no joke. It's fucking amazing)

quote:Originally posted by Dark Angel:

Masturbating also makes your acne a lot worse. Rubbing lemon, lime, or potatoe juice on your skin helps alot.

also oil of oregeno.(that shit cures fucking everything. no joke. It's fucking amazing)

Disreagard the entire quoted post.

#1 on that list should have been:

Don't drink coke & etc. Softdrink fucks your face over.

don't be 14

quote:Originally posted by blinky04:

#1 on that list should have been:

Don't drink coke & etc. Softdrink fucks your face over.

Alcohol moreso. It dehydrates you. If water is good for you, naturally, dehydration wont be. I look my best after a week end on E, because I drink like 6L a day. I never look worse than after a week end on the piss.

Also, as some one said before, wash your hair. Greasy hair = forhead pimples.