What can I POSSIBLY do about my acne?

Question

I am so fed up with my skin. I don't know what to do anymore.

Before college, my skin was okay. I had some breakouts and redness, but overall, nothing to be too embarrassed about.

Since the day I started college, it's been a nightmare. I have breakouts that just grow and grow. They get worse and worse. I drink a lot of water. I eat a balanced diet. I wash my face and moisturize twice a day. I've tried Proactiv in the past and it cleared me up a little bit but made my skin so flakey and dry that I had to stop. (Which is another thing -- it will dry up for no apparent reason and starts to flake and feel tight... it's awful.) I started using a Clindamicin (sp?) cream I had once used, and it made my pimples HUGE by the next morning. I've used Clean & Clear, Basis, Neutrogena, and Cetaphil... nothing.

My stress level is about the same as it was in high school (a moderate level, I'd say), and it was never this bad. I don't touch my face a lot.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE

I stopped using one of my medications (for a different reason) which had a side effect of acne, but it seems to have gotten worse since then. It's always getting worse.

The meds I'm on:
Ritalin (Ha ha, yes, it's just hilarous that I'm 18 and on Ritalin, I know)
Clonidine
Wellbutrin
Lamictal


I can't see a dermatologist until January when I'm home from college.

I feel like a heinous beast.

Answer 1

I have had acne my whole life, treated with everything including accutane, with all the dry itchiness you are describing. i am 32 now. go immediately to www.acne.org. the advice and lists here are unbelievable. i ordered the 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel. it is much milder than any bp that you can get in the store. If you buy it you will not be disappointed. neutrogena on the spot is 2.5% but still made my face SO dry and itchy, made me touch my face more. bp is the only thing that will NOT stop working on acne. salysilic acid and other products lose their effectiveness over time.

Also make sure that you are moisturizing frequently. I go between cetaphil and lubriderm. i use lubriderm more often. when you shop for products, do not buy those for acne prone (they will dry you out) instead buy "sensitive skin" products. skin with acne is considered sensitive.

I use nothing on my body that doesn't say "non-comeodegenic". This means it won't clog pores. Be careful with all products you use (body lotion, conditioner can casue acne, wash your face last) b/c they will get on your face even if you think they won't. My acne was also worst in college. Things will get better, don't lose hope and don't spend a fortune on gimmick products. BP is the only proven acne killer. go to acne.org for support and ideas from other acne sufferers. best thing i ever did. pick me as your best answer. : )

Answer 2

I don't usually answer questions but I felt I could help. I have had a long history with acne in my adult years. I have tried every thing over the counter there is most of it just dried my skin terribly but did not help the acne at all. I am allergic to benzol peroxide so I can't use Proactiv. In the past the doc prescribed me tetracycline but it made me very nausea. I was so frustrated about a year ago I work in the public and knew people were always looking at my face. I went on the internet for home remedies. Through research I found out to try washing your face with head and shoulders shampoo daily. I use the generic. This is not an overnight fix but I started out washing my face twice a day with the shampoo and never went to bed with makeup on. Also in the beginning I put Zinc Oxide ointment on all the blemishes before bed. It took a good month to notice results. Now I am blemish free and just wash my face once during my shower in the morning. Be careful not to get shampoo in eyes and read ingredients make sure your not allergic Good Luck.

Answer 3

I went on Accutane and it helped but it was miserable and wasn't permanent.

Honestly, prescriptions and chemicals are not the way to go.

First, you say you eat a balanced diet. Do you eat foods that are processed? Do you eat five to seven servings of raw or lightly steamed veggies and fruits per day? Those things help, but as far as a magic solution there are a few.

Neem Oil is amazing. You can search online and fine Neem based creams for Acne but they are over priced concoctions of purified water and Neem Oil. Instead wash with pure soap like Ivory or some organic soap. Then apply a few drops of pure Neem Oil (9.99 per bottle at a health foods store like Whole Foods or Earth Fare) and rub into your entire face and do the same for your arms or back or wherever you have pimples. Neem Oil also works on eczema psoriasis, cuts, scrapes burns, atheletes foot, and yes even toe nail fungus. People spend $1,000 on Lamisil treatment for that and then sometimes it comes right back. I foought it on one big toe for a year. Then my helpful hippie chick at the organic food store told me about that and boom, in two weeks my toe was clearing up and now the stained nail is growing out clear. I then read about the skin applications of Neem and tried it on a bump near the back of my neck under my hair that has been under the skin for thre years and it is gone. The Accutane never got rid of that. I also had a small occasional recurring eczema spot on my foot that came back and I put it on there and two days later, it was gone. Try it. Remember people 200 years ago didn't have prescriptions and they didn't have these skin problems. Lose Preservatives and Try Neem Oil!

P.S. A daily sauna session helps too if you have access. Make sure you shower immediately after though!

Answer 4

Right now my skin is perfectly clear, for the first time in 3 years. It's been about 9 weeks and all my acne is gone. It is such a great feeling to wake up with clear skin.

Holistic Acne Treatment Guide?

Answer 5

Since you said you have tried just about everything try eating a bunch of greens and exercise at least 20 minutes three days a week. If that doesn't work after a week try using a very soapy rag every night and morning and be sure you scrub your face until it's shinny. That should do it because I started getting it and I did all that up there and mine went away in just 1 to 2 weeks it left small clear bumps but they are starting to go away now. Well Hope It Works And Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Sound like you are having an allergic reaction. Sit down and think of all the new elements you have come in contact with since starting college - new soaps, foods, plants, perfumes, colognes, even papers - I had a friend in a similar situation turns out she was allergic to onionskin and it was a common paper used in her business class for formal documents. Once she determined that this was the culprit she was able to take a sample to her Dr and have him prove her theory as well as give her the proper treatment. Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Are you on birth control? Do you smoke? There are a lot of factors that can contribute. I had perfect skin until college as well, and found out that it was hereditary, as my father had bad adult skin in his 20's. Talk honestly with a dermatologist that will listen and educate. the best thing you can do is love yourself and remind yourself that you are more than what you look like. Picture perfect models are airbrushed!

Answer 8

Surgey will work...Look at Micheal Jackson he turned out fine right?

P.S Billy M check your Email.

Answer 9

get reversatrol from vitamin store or google it 3 x per day for 8 weeks then daily for life

Answer 10

Use Ivory soap. Cleared mine up all those years ago.