Acne problems Help!

Hello everyone! I am 18 years old and just graduated from high school and throughout my life I haven't had hardly any zit problems... and now I have so many... Does anyone have advice to give? Or going through the same thing? Thanks.

All I know is that a breakout can be pretty damaging to the self-esteem unless you are really strong to begin with.  My advice is to use make up made from minerals--nothing else. (Mineral spirits).  Don't pick--it leaves scars....and finally, go to a dermatologist to get some medication or prescription wash.  Take your skin seriously and care for it.  Good luck.

Please provide more information.  I barely ever made an effort to wash my face during high school.  Since then it's been moisturizers, toners, cleansers, etc,  What do you use?  What type of make-up do you use? etc.  I'm now 32 and I've never had problems until recently.

Accutane is pretty good at clearing things up (numerous side-effects tho)

Your best bet is to get a dermatologist, they are amazing!!

Unless you have severe acne, acutane is not for you. It has great risks to an fetus if you happen to become pregnant and, it effects your organs --blood work is required before you go on the prescription as well as every 6 weeks.

You dermatologist would probably give you a wash.  One with sacylic acid in it is best.  You could also try an over the counter wash first.  I always follow up my wash with those good old fashioned clearasil pads.  They leave a 'clean burn' feeling!

As far as make-up, I strongly advise you to check out Mineral Spirits.  (google it)...then order it.  It is so worth the $$.  I am not a makeup wearer, but I do like my skin to look 'finished'.  This powder leaves you natural looking but covers up blemishes--even helps to fight them. 

Good luck

Water, water, water, so important.
 

i have been having the same problem lately!! i'm 19 and never in my life have i had acne and this past month it looks like my chin has exploded!! i think it might be from the dark chocolate i've been eating... i'm not a chocolate fiend, but i have been hearing such good things about the health benefits of dark chocolate so i've been incorporating it into  my diet and now my skin hates me...

Also, breakouts can be a sign of a weakened immune system. They are actually little infections. When either of my boys looks like they might start breaking out - I give them a Zinc losenge or vitamins - in addtion to telling them to wash with antibacterial soap twice a day. Clears up fairly quick.

I really dont wash my face or use any makeup except for mascara... I eat junk food, and I just got a horrible haircut! So alot of things aren't going right but thankyou all 4 ur information! It is very helpful for me to know that others out there are going through the same thing. Thanks again!

could be from stress, also, or hormone changes. 

Purple Flame-

We are cheering for you.   I bet your hair looks cute.  Try not to be so hard on yourself....

--gina

whoever suggested accutane...


if you are already any bit of depressed, accutane can cause it to severely worsen. quite a few people have killed themselves while taking that.

A lot of my friends swear by proactive. I just use an oil free face wash and use a light moisturizer during the day. I wear makeup daily but keep anything on my face limited to a sheer powder.

I've heard proactive works amazingly. I know a few people who have used it.

Go to the drug store & get facial cream stuff.. or ask for something with 'benzoyl peroxide' in it.

Tea tree oil is also very good, you can get natural facial washes in the body shop. Your diet is also important, dont eat greasy or really fatty foods, keep your hair up and out of your face whenever possible (if its long) Don't wear any foundations or anything on your acne, it doesn't help.

I am a big fan of proactiv and also Cetaphil which is a very mild face cleanser. I noticed that my face was starting to become dependant on all the medicated acne face washes and noticed a big improement when I switched to Cetaphil. I also noticed a huge improvement when I  cut dairy out of my diet and started eating healthier. Dairy is known to cause acne, along with a lot of other health problems.  You probably will not like the idea of cutting out dairy completely but I would try cutting down and see if your skin doesnt improve.  Good luck! I know how it is to get acne and it is very frustrating.

I used to get horrible under the skin zits that were the diameter of a nickel.. I got them from my birthcontrol and it took me almost 2 years to figure out what it was.. I now have scars all over my face thanks to it.. Could be hormones from a changing body.. I also noticed that I have started to get more little surface zits and I think it may have something to do with going to the gym.. Even though you are supposed to wipe the equipment down every time some people don't so I wipe it before I even touch it now and they have gone away.. I cant say for sure that is what they are from but if you think how many people touch those in one day and if one person doesnt wipe it down and they go to the next set that hasnt been washed and so on and so on..Thats alot of germs that have been spread to you...

purpleflame,

I feel for you.  I had TERRIBLE skin through junior high, high school, college, and all my adult life until I finally bit the bullet and tried Proactiv in 2002.

Within two or three weeks, all the insidious bumps under my skin went away, as did all the obvious zits on top.  The blackheads on my nose became few and far between.

Bottom line:  It gave me so much self-confidence, within nine months I was married!  (I hadn't dated for 12 years.)

When I don't use it, I break out.  That's how I know I still need it and it's working.

I don't know whether it'll work for everyone, and I really don't understand why Proactiv worked for me while other benzoil peroxide products didn't, but they didn't and it did.

Good luck!

I have used pro active before to get rid of my under the skin zits but it didint work for them, it worked great on the surface one though.. It really does work!

What is the web site for Mineral Spirits?  I can't find it.

I'd suggest going to your dermatologists...don't feel bad I am 30 and still get break outs once a month.  I currently use Nuetrogena oil free acne wash and a prescription from the derm for clindagel (a topical gel)  Good Luck!  Oh yeah and oil of olay for sensitive skin every a.m.

Try taking an asprine pill (thats spelled so wrong) and cutting it...it has to be the one that is hard on the inside...like a condensed powder one....have a small amount of hot water, and dip it in just quick like.  then rub it on ur face, all over...its an exfoliant.  I leart it from my dermatologist.  But just do it when u get up as ur getting ready, and then when ur going to bed, dont use make up as much as possible, if ur sitting in ur house, no plans...take it off...and when u go to bed at night, take it alllll off, and when u wake up was up again.  Pores are just hair folicals...that fill up with dirt..hey...which makes u have a pimple...dont dont dont pick.  Its hard, of course! Just dont!  I love the asprin trick, works like awesome, takes the red right out and makes it go away in days.  Works for me anyway...good luck!!!!!  oh before u put make up on, close ur pores with a splash of cold water!

Have you seen a dermatologist?  It can make all the difference in the world to get the right treatment!