Adult Acne Suggestions

I have had awful problems with adult acne. I finally went to a dematologist and she was able to help w/ perscription topical creams. I really like the perscription b/c it didn't dry my skin and didn't stain or bleach my fabrics. I had to stop using the meds when I started trying to get pregnant, but amgoing to try and get back on them when I am done breastfeeding.

I just wanted to share with you what I use and LOVE... Aveda's Outere Peace Line. I have been using it for about 4 months now! It is a little pricey but I am willing to spend alittle more if it works and makes my feel better. Good Luck!

I have a similar problem and very sensitive skin. I never had a problem with acne until I was pregnant and its been the same ever since. I have tried several products, and have found 2 washes that really help.
mint face wash and checks and balances face wash from origins. you only need the tiniest bit, otherwise you will have suds forever. I use both and switch regularly. they are both wonderful and have really helped. but it does take a few times to notice it working.

then to help in getting rid of the blemishes. Burts bees blemich stick and boscia willow bark breakout treatment are amazing.

I also switched to bare minerals makeup. it really helps too. good luck and try not to stress over it. it only makes it worse.

acne can be a result of the pregnancy. i have adult acne rosacea. make sure to go to the dermatologist if it is that bad. there are so many different things out there on the market. you may be better off and spending the money at the doctors office. good luck.

Have you tried Proactiv's new Gentle Formula? I had been using Proactiv's regular formula for about five years and was happy with it. After trying many other products and having them not work, Proactiv immediately made my skin clear. But this winter, my skin became much drier and the regular formula was irritating my skin. After seeing they had a new sensitive skin formula, I started using that. It works quite well for me and does not dry out my skin.

Hi A.,
I feel your pain! It's been a struggle of mine before kids, now not so bad but yes around pregnancies it flares up again. For the past 5 years I have used Clarins products. (department store) My skin has never looked better. I used to get oily and flakey skin at the same time. The Clarins Bright Plus line really does over time of course get rid of splotchy skin. And the daily exfoliator takes care of flakey skin without drying out the skin. My skin is extremely sensitive so I use some of the sensitive products from Clarins as well. They have very gentle cleansers as well. It's a bit pricey but the products last a long time and they are packaged in a way that you don't contaminate so you can stretch the shelf life. Not to mention the Bright plus daily moisturizer has a spf in it that I can barely notice texture wise that it is in there. Great products... give it time though! They have a product for EVERYTHING it's very customizable - great results and I get compliments often and people will even ask what products I use. (p.s. I don't work for Clarins if your wondering!) :)

Arbonne makes a sensational product. They are pricey but if you become a rep it's a lot cheaper and there is no pressure to sell. YOu can just buy what you need as you need it. I would also look into the Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Because if this is what is causing your adult acne, much of it can be treated by diet
V.

A., I experience adult acne as a result from polycystic ovarian syndrome. I have found the best results by using witch hazel and either a cosmetic pad or cotton ball before bedtime. Natural and inexpensive! Also, it is clear so it won't stain anything. Every other product helped for a while and then I'd see side effects such as drier skin, red blotchy areas, worsening acne and uneven skin tone. I am well into my 40's and others take me for 30's. Let me know if you try it and if it works for you.

I have very oily sensative skin and eczema. I occationally get cycstic acne around my chin. It seems the more I do to my skin the worse it gets. Drinking lots of water and going to bed with clean skin helps me the most. I wash my face twice a day. Once at night before bed with a very mild soap from Neutrogena that is a foaming face wash in a light blue bottle. I follow up with the corresponding toner. I moisturize with Neutrogena oil free moisturizer with spf 15. In the morning before make-up I wash with Neutrogena's deep cleaning wash (clear bottle with orange soap) and follow up with the corresponding toner. I moisturize with the same oil free lotion I use at night. I use a wash cloth on my face in the evenings to be sure my skin is free from make-up and just use my hands to wash my face in the AM. My skin also responds to over the counter women's multivitamin. Bayer's One A Day is most agreeable to my guts.

Good luck!

Hi A.,

I have been teaching skin care and make up artistry with Mary Kay Cosmetics for 25 years. I am sure I can help with the issues that you are having. The best thing you can do for your skin is to drink water. Water will hydrate your skin. The next thing you need to do is cleanse it properly using a gentle exfoliant to remove dry, dead, skin cells that make our skin appear dull. Moisturizing with a fragrance free product is best. Also eye products are not the same as skin care products and must be specifically made and approved for the eye area.

There are three places on the face where acne shows up and they have corresponding reasons for that.

Does your skin have white bumps under the skin?

Please feel free to contact me for a complimentary consultation. I am sure I can help you with your skin care needs.

My web page is www.marykay.com/LKinslow

Looking forward to guiding you to the skin care system that will be the best for you.

Lorriane K
Mary Kay Cosmetics

I can relate to your problem! I've had cne problems with my face ever since my first daughter was born 3.5 years ago. I finally saw a dermatologist several months ago, and was prescribed a topical cream called Azelex (sp?) for acne & slight rosacea. It took a few weeks for me to see the results, but it worked and my skin has never looked better (and it looked horrid!). I'd also recommend a mild cleanser, like Cetaphil and use a good quality moisturizer every day & night. I think sometimes people with acne tend to under-moisturize, thinking their skin is oily, but often the opposite is true - it's dry, and lack of moisture makes you break out. Drink LOTS of water every day - the very BEST thing for your skin!
Good luck!

I don't sell this, but have bought it for my son. I use a different system for myself (but may switch to the acne system since I'm having issues now... at 40!).

http://www.arbonne.com/products/beyond_basics/set.asp

It is a little pricey, but it contains NO chemicals. Everything in their products is natural. This acne system really seems to work well for the people I know who have used it. I know how hard it is to deal with this as an adult. I had no acne at all as a teenager, but at 30 I developed cystic acne and had to go on Acutane to clear it up. Now I am starting to have some issues again, but nothing like when I was 30. I remember how embarrassed I was when it was at it's worst. I wish I had known about the Arbonne then, because I think it may have helped where nothing the dermatologist recommended did.

Good luck!

I used proactive for five years and it worked great, worth the extra money. I just recently stopped using it because my face was getting very dry from it and someone told me about Evening Primrose which I have been using for about 3 or 4 motnhs now and that seems to calm down my acne, especially around that time of the month. It also helps my eczema if anyone is having a problem with that.

Good luck!

I trust any book by Paula Begoun ("The Beauty Bible: Everything from Acne to Wrinkles" is GREAT). She also has a line of her own ..you can find it a www.cosmeticcop.com.
I read one of her books when I was 12 and have been a huge fan ever since. She blows the lid off the cosmetic industry...sort of the "Ralph Nader" or "whistleblower" of the beauty industry.
One of her best suggestions I've used is to use Cetaphil cleanser (GREAT and under $10) and mix it once a week with baking soda..it's better than any exfoliater on the market, and helps with acne.

You could probably get her books on www.Paperbackswap.com.
:)

Hi A., Don't you just love hormones? Have you tried the Alveno Positively Radiant line yet? I use the wash (the facial pad thingys) and the moisterizers. I think they work well together to keep my face clear & soft. Best wishes.

Hi A..
I always had bad skin and broke out well into my 40's.I am 49.Around 5-6 years ago I read this book on herbs and there was a section on skin care. When you have break outs it is very often a hormonal inbalance.The extra hormones or excess hormones as well as all toxins get filtered thru the liver. So you need to keep the liver in good condition.They recommend Burdock root. It comes in a capsule .I take 2-2-3x a day. My skin has been looking great.Alsso evening primrose oil. You can take it also as a suplement or just put it on your face. It actually heals scares when joined with vitamine.
Also you need to stay away from certain foods that can case oily skin.(fried, etc)
Herbal remedies can take longer.But you should do some research. Good luck!
L.

Hi A., it is not uncommon for a woman's skin and hair type to change during and after pregnancy. Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy that can sometimes alter your bodies matabolism. What I would suggest is that you get yourself a good creme based facial cleanser. Most doctor's would recommend that you stay with brands like Neutragena that have a proven track record first. If that doesn't work than they often recommend pro-active as the next best thing. If niether one of those things work for you than I would suggest going to a dermatologist. Acne is not something that you want to let get out of hand.

Hi A.,
You could try a chemical peel. I had my done by an esthetician at my dermatologist office. It was very expensive I think about $80 + 20% tip but that should clear up your skin. I'm not sure for how long however.
To cover blotchy, red skin etc... try Bare Essentials powder foundation. It won't clog your pores and the coverage is remarkable. I also like Neutrogeena liquid foundation and loose powder.
Good Luck!

My youngest is 4 yrs and i swear my skin is the worst it has been in my life. I used a gift cert last weekend to get a facial thinking they would suggest something or at least give me the chance to start fresh. I have had more break outs this week after the facial than i had before. I have no advice, unless you want to invest in seeing a dermatologist. I"m going to try drinking more water and see if that does anything, I"ll also be interested in what advice people give to you.

Hi,
I'm 41 and still suffer from occasional cystic acne, the lumps under the skin. I started using Karavita a year or so ago and I really like their balancing line of products. They also have a purifying line as well as a line for acne. I have a great rep. out of Florida and she has been so kind to me and will send you samples to see if you like it, etc.

I'm sure my breakouts are hormonal and related to my cycle but the Karavita is really great.

Email Kelly, tell her your story and see what she suggests. She has even called me at home to discuss my skin and different products, etc. Not a pushy sales person at all, which I like.

Tell her L. from Phoenixville, PA recommended her.

____@____.com

Let me know how you make out.

L.

Hi, you should definitely try drinking more water as it helps the skin to stay hydrated so that when you do use a product it won't dry your skin out as bad.

Also, I still suffer from occasional bouts with acne particularly from my cycle and my son is 9 yrs old. I use a few products that my husband sells and they are very gentle on my skin. My favorite is the Global Care FACE Pads. They work really well on the acne. They are gentle skin cleansing pads. I'm pretty sure they are better for the environment too because they use natural enzymes rather than chemicals. My skin never gets dried out from them. They also have other skin care products that help with acne on the website. Oh, and I use their moisturizer everyday also and that helps keep my skin from drying out. www.shopyed.com

I hope you find something that works for you. I had the same problem with products drying out my skin and I know how frustrating that can be.

I know exactly how you feel! My son is 20 months old and I am in my mid-30s. In December I went to a dermetologist. He ended up putting me on 3 months of an antibodic... To reduce inflammation (I stopped after the first month because I saw results and within ten days I began to break out again). He also gave me two topicals. I will admit that the did burn and cause irritation , redness, and dryness (so I began to use less frequently). By the second month I stopped breaking out and the scarring had began to diminish. I've been off the antibodic now for two weeks and so far so good. The scarring is fading more each day and can pretty much be covered with my regular makeup routine. I would highly suggest going to the dermetologist. Good luck!