Acne, etc

[Anyway]

Shave your head.
I never had much acne really, but I got those pad things they sell. Think Noxema or something makes them and you just lather them and wash your face twice a day. I rarely have any breakouts now and if I do they're small.

I do not recommend going on any sort of pills. My cousin went on something, I don't know which one, but she went into a deep depression because of it. Side effects on those things are bad.

[Palin]

Fast foods and sugar don't cause acne, thats an old wives tale, don't believe the myths. Dairy producs such as Milk and foods high in Iodine have a CORRELATION to acne, but not a causation. Eating pizza dosen't make your skin oily lol. However, not eating fast food and lots of sugar is good for your general health.

I used a lot of things when I was younger as I had pretty bad acne too. My dermatologist perscribed me Benzomclyn(sp) face wash, which helped, but didn't get rid of it completely. Honestly the only full cure for acne is time, as you get older you'll break out less and less and your skin will be much less oily. I got acne very early amongst my peers, around 12 years old or so, and all my clean faced friends made fun of it, only to have full breakouts on their Senior pictures while my face had cleared up. I still get a decent amount of body acne but my face has pretty much cleared up to one pimple a week or so.

Another thing that works well is exfoliating your face with witch hazel or other such products. By removing the dead skin cells, you reduce the chance they'll clog your pores.

I know that doesn't help you, but its really the only thing you can rely on. Perscription facewash helped me, but every person is different. What works for me may not for you, what totally clears up one person's face may make yours worse, best thing to do is experiment and see if anything helps. Otherwise not much you can do but wait.

Oh yea, and try to avoid popping your pimples. Aside from the Cystic pimples(the big oily ones that hurt a lot when you touch them), popping your whiteheads has the most chance of scarring you. If you had acne like I did you'll get enough scars from the Cystic ones enough, let alone adding more by popping them.

Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne_vulgaris has a ton of good info, check it out.

[Demosthenes]

Ahh the wonders of puberty.

[Ghost_Wheel22]

http://themot.org/gallery/d/8594-1/GiantZit.jpg

[Axil]

I still kind of have acne too, its gay. read the wikipedia thing on acne and youll know all you need

[finale23]

My dermatologist perscribed me Benzomclyn(sp) face wash, which helped, but didn't get rid of it completely.

i used Doxycyline for 2 years, it helped to a degree, but there was always some remnants, namely faded red marks, on my skin. then i switched dermatologist, who perscribed me Benzomclyn as well. i rarely have outbreaks now but i was told it would still take a couple months for my skin to clean up. one thing with Benzomclyn though, it leaves your skin incredibly dry, i have to couple it with skin moisturizer.

[dietvanillapepsi]

I went through puberty with relatively clear skin. I owe it all to constant washing of my face. My skin (and hair) can get pretty oily. I made a habit of washing my face every time I washed my hands in the bathroom. That's like 3-4 times (or more with soda) per day. I also might throw in an extra wash if my face was starting to feel oily.

I still do it to this day in my adult life. It doesn't prevent it 100% but it does keep it down. It's rare when I have more than one or two pimples at a time.

[Exoduso]

You'll be amazed what kind of trash is in people's foods. Generally eating healthy will cause less breakouts.

I'm 19.5, and I've pretty much stopped breaking out after all the things I listed in my previous posts. It only started at around 16, so I think I got it in and out of my system pretty quickly. Sure, I still have small ones show up on my nose once a week or so, and my forehead has 2-3 little tiny bumps once in a while, that sometimes turn into pimples and sometimes just go way, but it's not nearly as bad as it used to be.

As far as scarring, in time it will pass, but it will leave some nasty marks if you pop big ones. A few years back when it was pretty bad I popped a couple and I had 2 scars that stayed for about a year... they eventually faded away, and now you can't even tell there was anything there, but it's still not the most comportable thing to have on your face.

All in all, it can be treated... and I still won't suggest you going for the pills just yet, unless your breakouts are insane and your entire face is covered with them. I would say the biggest problem is just blackheads that eventually turn into pimples... if you take care of the blackhead issue (mostly on your nose and forehead) you will eliminate most of them (which is what the wheatgrass seems to be doing since I started drinking it ... it had practically stopped all my blackheads, and therefore they don't even turn into pimples and stop the whole breakout thing...sure, I still breakout once in a while, but this is already something I can live with, and as you get older it will eventually either cease or become much slower.)

But yeah, my acne was never bad, I think self consciousness probably has everything to do with it. If you're not as bad as those pictures on the wiki page, you don't need pills.

[Epical]

Just some random things I'm going to add in from experience... whether you take them to heart or not is your choice, but I advise you do:

- If you need to get rid of a zit/pimple/pus thing very quickly and make it look like it was never there do not use your fingerrrrssss. Using your fingers to pop something is a great way to scream out to everyone "hey, look at this huge massive thing on my face!" If you need to get rid of something, run the specific part of your facing under warm/hot water, take a sewing needle and PRICK it, and then use the side of the needle to direct the flow out of the ________ (whatever you have).

- The absolute worst self-esteem killer is when you're talking to someone, they have their eyes on your eyes, then they slowly trail off all around your face. Everyone knows what I'm talking about, and feels worse than dying, especially if you're talking to someone you want to "get to know". I know it feels like shit and you are so embarassed or whatever, but you'll just have to look past it. I'm sure said person is just curious (especially if they're clear-skinned), so please, don't think much of it. If you just cannot stand it, change your stance, and look off into the distance or something, forcing them to concentrate on something else. They're obviously talking to you for a reason, right? And no, it's not to see what your face looks like.

- As for Accutane, when you're listening to heresay, which at times may be helpful, is mostly just situational cases and whatnot, so don't take it as a general rule. Accutane dries out your skin, which can lead to rashes (especially in the winter), itching, sensitive skin (sun-related, or general cuts can have more noticable scars than NORMAL), bleeding noses (if agitated), etc. In very rare cases it can lead to depression and abnormal heart beat, etc, but again, this is very rare, and does NOT happen to many, many people. The purpose of the pill is to dry out all your pores and stop mass oil production, which in turn reduces any growths. Sure, you don't look pretty while you're under treatment (Glaxal Base is a *great* moisturizer, for any part of your body, including your face), but knowing it'll be gone in six months is better than not knowing when.

- Don't sacrifice social events because you think you're ugly or no one will want to see you or whatever. People understand that this happens to many people, and will think nothing of it. Hell, when you're in the middle of a good time, some shit on your face THAT YOU CANNOT HELP shouldn't be the ruining factor or anything. Just go out and have fun, ESPECIALLY if you're in junior high/high school. Locking yourself indoors is detrimental to your growth as a human being, and you get to miss out on meeting a lot of great people and spending time with them.

- Just to reiterate, eating a lot of chocolates/sugars/fats has no direct correlation to acne production, it's just a myth. Like someone stated before, it's not good for your overall health, but again, there's nothing to "quit" over. I found drinking water is one of the better things you can do for yourself, especially if you're on Accutane... hydrating yourself from the inside out is better than from the outside in.

- Your daily hygiene routine should be something along the lines of: wake up -> shower (wash your face with a cleanser that includes Salicylic Acid... bars of soap are a HUGE NO-NO) -> eat -> work/school -> get home and wash your face -> eat -> wash face/do nightly thing -> sleep -> repeat. People who go more than one day without showering during times of intense acne seriously doing themselves harm, no matter if "you look fine". Showering in the morning not only wakes you the hell up, but rids your skin of all that shit it collected on your pillow during the night.

- Remember, TIME is the best medicine. During my life, I've taken everything topical and consumable science has to throw my way (I wasn't dangerously bad, it just lasted a long, long time), and quite honestly, it's nothing science can do. Your body is doing stuff that you can't, and probably shouldn't control unless you want to screw things up. Just let it happen, and enjoy yourself. Don't sit in the bathroom looking at yourself in the mirror wondering what you'd look like with clear skin, it'll come. Sure, you hate the people who progress through life without so much as one pimple, sure, you'd give ANYTHING to have clear skin, but like I said earlier, people who truly appreciate YOU, and not what YOU LOOK LIKE won't give this a second thought, and neither should you.

- Everyone needs some sort of third-party opinion on what's in-store for them, so I do recommend you go consult your family physician or dermatologist. Usually they can diagnose things that will give you a rough ballpark estimate as to what you're faced with (no pun intended)... regardless, things like Accutane are unattainable unless you see them in the first place.

This is my ending line that has no meaning.

[SephYuyX]

Deal with it, I had acne from 6th grade till the end of highschool, and no product ever worked, including whatever my dermatologist gave me. Acne and Stress go hand in hand, if youre stressed youll get it no matter what. I rarely get stressed anymore, but if something crazy is going on and im being racked for a day, I might see one small one pop back up for a day then dissapear.

[Lbelle]

Even if it's just a little bit of acne, GO TO THE DERMATOLOGIST. Anything they give you will be better than what's on the market, because it will be a perscription, and they'll know exactly what to give to you because they're a specialist. I went before break and had been using Tazorac, and she put me on this other cream called Duvac or something, and a new cleanser and it's working great.

I asked her about proactiv because it looks too good ot be true on the commercials, and she said what she was giving me was better than proactiv, because they can't make proactiv that strong, because since it's not a perscription they need to make it so it doesn't irritate people's skin or something.

But yeah it shouldn't cost that much to see one, and if you have a good health plan the meds don't cost that much, and they work.

[Jujubie]

I never had acne when I was a teenager, maybe just one pimple every once in a while. When I was 27, my doctor changed the birth control pill I was on and the change in hormones cause me to start to get bad acne. I tried everything from proactive (didn't do anything for me) to tetracycling, which worked but after 6 weeks caused me to break out in hives from head to toe, so i had to stop taking it and the acne came right back!!.

After trying everything, I went on Accutane. I used it for 6 months. You have to get a liver function test every 30 days before the refill due to the high level of vitamin A can cause liver problems and if you are a girl and get pregnant on it, severe birth defects.

After being on Accutane for 6 months, I was acne free. I have been acne free now for almost 4 years.

Definately, go to a dermatologist and discuss your options.

[Azkarin]

Accutane will do the trick. But as stated before it does have some side effects. Dry mouth, upset stomach, hair thinning, and many others are all possible (also deformed babies for the ladies). But the only two effects I and my friends I know on it had was dry mouth (not that bad) and dry skin. The dry skin sucked because as my acne cleared up I had a problem with flaky skin. I had to bring moisterizer to classes so I wouldnt flake everywhere. But within 2-3 months it was a huge change.

First though see a dermatologist to see what they recommend. If you think you want to go through the constant monthly checkups with a doctor (required by those that take Accutane to check on your physical and mental health due to suicides by those taking Accutane) and the side effects then bring it up to him. I had to go through a year of trying other medicines that never worked before the suggested Accutane (tetrycycline, Benzo... something, etc).

And don't listen to the people telling you to stop eating chocolate, pizza, etc. It is good to eat a healthy diet but there is no correlation between the food and the acne. True you see a lot of unhealthy people with acne but its not due to their diet. It's due to other factors such as people that don't eat healthy are less likely to exercise and use proper hygeine, etc. It's an old-wives tale that isn't true anymore

[MisterBob]

One piece of advice that I can offer is to avoid touching your face so much. Usually I don't have many issues with Acne, but during the summer/winter breaks from college where I work at a desk all day, I often find myself leaning with my right hand pressed up against the area around my mouth. I'll always end up with a zit or two before the break is over, very annoying.
The oil (and other junk) that is on your hands can cause acne apparently.

And to reiterate what everyone has said, food does not cause acne (unless you rub it all over your face and dont wash, I guess lol). My dermatologist have confirmed this, as have many others.

[Ohemgee]

Tamanu oil

It's an anti-inflammatory oil.

Worked for me.

[Intense]

When I was a teen I used a cream called retin-a. Which at first makes your face more oily than usual, then after a week or so it goes to work. Its also good with healing the scars left by acne also.

Now I just use an apricot scrub made by St Ives. Its medicated so when you use it you feel the tingleys. It works like a champ!
http://www.minimus.biz/images/C02-0120502-8100bg.jpg

[ach]

Also, make sure you leave any facial application on for at least 1-2minutes before you wash it off. It may be obvious to some, but if you wash it off too quickly using even the best type of application would be rendered useless.

[Lbelle]

Also, make sure you leave any facial application on for at least 1-2minutes before you wash it off. It may be obvious to some, but if you wash it off too quickly using even the best type of application would be rendered useless.

Yep! I didn't know about this until very recently when I read it in a magazine. It's best when you're using a facial cleanser to rub it on your face for about 30 seconds, let it sit for 1-2 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water. The commercials they put it on for 2 seconds and wash it off...but if you do that it won't work, because the stuff inside the cleanser doesn't have proper time to work.

I generally put the stuff on, and then use my mouthwash for a minute, then get all that shit out of my mouth and the wash my cleanser off, that way I know I've had it on for atleast a minute+

[mikazuki]

definitely don't touch your face unless you're washing it, everytime you're about to scratch or rub at it, stop yourself until you've broken the habit. if you're a guy then shaving so you don't get an itchy beard will probably help. (remember wet shave, electric razors don't work very well).
keep your hair out of your face with umm... well i used to use hairclips >.>; fringes are never in fashion anyway.

drink a litre of water everyday, if you can't get mineral water than tap water is ok~ you can flavor it if you need to, if you are drinking a lot of juice then you don't need as much straight water. tea is also good, but not coffee.

look at your pillow, is it dirty? replace it, you can replace it every 6 months if you want to, pillows are cheap, cotton fibre ones are probably best because a lot of people are allergic to feathers and the polyester ones don't breath well. wash the case every week (or more).

don't use facial cleansers that are marketed for teenagers, they are nearly always trash. the ones with gritty particles are usually good if you need to clean out your pores, sweating also helps so do some bloody exercise.

a lot of soap and hair products will obviously cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate for what you are washing away, when you have time to hide away, stop washing your hair with shampoo for a few weeks, then only wash it once a week with shampoo after that - once the oil production has slowed down you won't need all those hair products. wash it with just water as much as you like, it helps if you don't use gel/hairspray because it's hard to wash those out with water.

it would be extremely rare that anyone would actually need the pills you've all been talking about, most skin problems can be cleared up just with correct diet/exercise/care habits.

incidentally i used to get a little acne from 14-17, it went away when i started doing the things i've listed above.

[Lbelle]

I always touch my face...it's the hardest habit to break. Any suggestions?