I WANT FLAWLESS SKIN

alleycat88
alleycat88 Posts: 756 Member
in Chit-Chat
Seriously I'm about to be 24, and some days I wake up and feel like I'm 14 with fullblown acne. I have taken tetracyclin several times. Special soaps, toners, creams, you name it, I've tried it. Short of accutane I have no idea what to do.

Anybody else that struggles with pimples as grown ups? It's become a joke for me that maybe one day, I too will grow up and puberty will be a thing of the past. I laugh and make jokes, but it seriously sucks. Not to mention my bacne :embarassed: :frown:
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Replies

  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    Why are you saying no to accutane?

    Also, have you ever had your hormone levels checked? A major part of my acne was just that I was kinda hairy due to hormones, and getting electrolysis on the hairs blocking my pores had a huge effect on the acne. That said, the process isn't fun, and it takes multiple appointments over a long period of time. But don't do laser because when it goes wrong, it goes wrong in ways that make you wish you had your acne back instead.
  • sho3girl
    sho3girl Posts: 10,799 Member
    Liz Earle Skincare -seriously saved my skin! that and drinking water by the bathful ... no kidding ! :smile:
  • alleycat88
    alleycat88 Posts: 756 Member
    Not saying no to it.. have an appt. november 12th with my dermatologist to possibly take that as the next step.

    Sho - I drink water all day, every day.. but might try the liz earle line. :smile:
  • JamieAlexandraX
    JamieAlexandraX Posts: 58 Member
    I suffer with them also, i never used to them all of a sudden bam there they were.
    Iv seen a lot of commercials about that proactive stuff, i have no idea if its any good but i was looking into buying some to see if it helps.
  • Thinsposa
    Thinsposa Posts: 40 Member
    DON'T use Accutane! I did for nearly a year, while I have fantastic skin now, I feel as though I'm still paying the price for it, with lingering side effects.
    Coconut oil! Consume at least a tablespoon a day and your skin and hair will thank you for it. And I am aware that it may not be diet related, eating well, drinking lots of water, and exercise will all help to clear it up. All the best :)
  • alleycat88
    alleycat88 Posts: 756 Member
    I hope you don't mind me asking, but what side effects have you noticed the most? I had one dermatologist that was very hesitant about putting me on accutane so I have withheld from it because he kinda scared me off it.
  • ashleen7
    ashleen7 Posts: 258 Member
    Have you tried a contraceptive pill? I had terrible hormonal acne after having my daughter so my doc put me on Dianette and I've never looked back.
  • piratesaregrand
    piratesaregrand Posts: 356 Member
    I use a clarasonic and take doxycycline, my skin has never looked better
  • GuineaMother
    GuineaMother Posts: 59 Member
    I so know how you feel. I'm 29, I shouldn't have to look and feel like a teenager anymore!
    I also use Liz Earle, which is great, but at the moment I'm taking Doxycycline, Dianette Contraceptive and Retin-A topical gel (Tretinoin). The Retin-A is especially good as it's designed for adult skin. I used a different antibiotic to start, but eventually my skin just got used to it and so switched to another. The Dianette has been one of the only consistent things that's made a difference. My skin is still far from perfect, but the Dr told me it might never be perfect, and it's just one of those things I have to learn to deal with :noway:
  • GuineaMother
    GuineaMother Posts: 59 Member
    I hope you don't mind me asking, but what side effects have you noticed the most? I had one dermatologist that was very hesitant about putting me on accutane so I have withheld from it because he kinda scared me off it.
    I would strongly suggest trying everything other people have suggested first. Accutane should be a last resort, because of the link with severe depression. A friend of a friend committed suicide while on it and his family and friends still maintain it was because of that, he was a happy guy beforehand. do your research and make your decision carefully.
  • alleycat88
    alleycat88 Posts: 756 Member
    Have you tried a contraceptive pill? I had terrible hormonal acne after having my daughter so my doc put me on Dianette and I've never looked back.

    Yep. Contraceptive was one of the firstthings my doc tried because I used to have horrible cramps as well. It's not horrible all the time, but there is always SOME and then it flares up around my TOM. you know.. hormones. lol


    Guinea, I am running out of things to try honestly. After 10 years of this, I'm getting tired, and am really not wanting to try Accutane. I use retin-A on my back and that has helped, but when I use it on my face I feel it makes some areas dry. damn combination skin. Definitely gonna try Liz Earle since both you and Sho have recommended it :) thank you!
  • LittleNicci
    LittleNicci Posts: 284 Member
    Not only the link with severe depression, DO NOT get pregnant, horrible birth defects, they show pictures on the packaging. Im a pharmacy tech, have been for nearly a decade now, going back to school to become a Pharmacist. Accutane should be the last last absolute last resort. Coconut oil is great. If you have to use a prescription Retin-A or Tretinoin is good (you can spot treat with that too) If Tetracycline hasnt been good have you tried other "cyclines" like Doxycycline?
  • Ninatoots
    Ninatoots Posts: 192 Member
    I'm 67 years old and still have this!
  • flagator11
    flagator11 Posts: 103 Member
    My doctor has told me that I will never get rid of the acne because it's genetic. My grandmother dealt with it all her life. I started with Retin-A to get it under control, and my dermatologist recommended Purpose soap, made by Johnson & Johnson. I still get breakouts every few weeks, but for the most part stay clear now. I asked about Accutane, and the doctor told me it wouldn't make a difference for me, but they prefer using that as a last resort. Is Accutane even available in the US? I thought lawsuits had taken it off the market here.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Best thing I've ever found for Acne is Zapzit. You can buy it at Walmart or Walgreens.

    It's a gel that you apply, and the active ingredient is 10% benzoil peroxide.

    I use it every time I have a flare up and it always gets rid of it quickly.
  • MouseFood
    MouseFood Posts: 169 Member
    I get them now and then still adn I'm 30. Mine have never been super bad but I still hate it.

    General good health and drinking lots of water and exercising helps.

    I'm more concerned about my acne scars tbh :(
  • Michellereducf
    Michellereducf Posts: 168 Member
    Discuss this with a dermatologist.
  • magnolia_ah
    magnolia_ah Posts: 161 Member
    my skin is oily so i have acne too ..i need help ... i want acnefree forever
  • MLgarcia3
    MLgarcia3 Posts: 503
    I had them bad until I was 24.. I found that washing my face too much was the problem. I now only wash it with a gentle cleanser at night to remove makeup and only use water in the morning. I also use an apricot scrub once a day in the shower.
    Water, good diet, and exercise definitely help too!
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    I had 2 rounds of Accutane, each double the normal length of time. 2 years, in total.
    I was also on diane (the contraceptive pill that helps with acne) for 8 years, be careful though. that little pill gave my hypertension, made me very suicidal with anxiety attacks every day.
    It has also been banned in many countries now I have heard because of risk of blood clots and breast cancer.
  • leejayem
    leejayem Posts: 120 Member
    Hi there,

    I am 37 years old & have had acne since I was 10!!!! 27 years of bad skin - no fun. Retin- A was OK for a while but it made my skin very dry so I didn't want to keep using it. I was on Roaccutane (maybe that's the Australian name for it??) when I was about 15 & I ended up with SEVERE depression. All I remember about that time in my life was that it was "black" & morbid. Sure the stuff cleared my skin but only while I was on it!! Once I came off it the acne came back fairly quickly. I have since heard so many reports of Roaccutane causing depression & I would not recommend it to anyone. The only times in my life (since age 10) I have had good skin has been when I've been pregnant - must be all those lovely pregnancy hormones. But no doctor is about to prescribe pregnancy as the cure for poor skin!! These days I accept that this is me because I've yet to find something that works but I'd love to try Pro-Active cos it sure looks appealing...but maybe just great marketing????!!! Good luck with it all & don't forget you have immense beauty regardless of your acne. :flowerforyou:
  • addaline22
    addaline22 Posts: 114
    I have terrible skin, extra sensitive and allergic to about everything. When I was younger there were days I could not go to school cause my acne was so bad my face hurt. some simple changes worked for me. Note, at 36 I still get them, but only once a month and not to bad. :)
    1. 3 day pillow case changes. invest in two good 100% cotton cases and change them religiously.
    2. long hair? braid it back losely while you sleep. it will keep from spreading oil around.
    3. more protien, less processed food, and most importantly, GET YOUR VITAMINS!! make sure you are getting enough, A, D, and zinc, and calcium.
    4. dont pick! I know, its hard. if you squeeze and bleed, get a q-tip and some witch hazel and gently dab the area. for face wash, try olay 7 signs for acne, and a very light moisterizer with sunscreen.

    these changes will make life and your skin much better :) it takes about 2 weeks to kick in. Stay off the meds, they dont work.
  • addaline22
    addaline22 Posts: 114
    These days I accept that this is me because I've yet to find something that works but I'd love to try Pro-Active cos it sure looks appealing...but maybe just great marketing????!!! Good luck with it all & don't forget you have immense beauty regardless of your acne. :flowerforyou:

    my skin sounds like yours, and so do the reactions I had. just so you know, proactiv peeled my skin off.
  • jd5351
    jd5351 Posts: 116 Member
    Accutane is a last resort treatment...Mood changes are common and it also PERMANENTLY thins your skin. It's dangerous to even get your eyebrows waxed after using it, because your skin could actually come off.
  • Karen918
    Karen918 Posts: 47 Member
    I have struggled with this off and on my entire life, I turn 40 later this month. They put me on a low dose birth control about 10 years ago and that cleared most of it up, but in March of this year my doctor decided I was too old and overweight for birthcontrol and took me off of it. My skin went nuts and I had to go to the dermatologist. I am alergic to tetracycline I get itchy all over. I bought Proactive but I was allergic to it as well (my eye lids and around my eyes swelled) it was very scary.

    Dermatologist has me using a soap called "Purpose" which is relatively inexpensive and I use Sea Breeze for sensitive skin also. It is better but I still have some issues.
  • HurricaneElaine
    HurricaneElaine Posts: 984 Member
    I want flawless skin too, but it ain't gonna happen. I've had acne since I was a young teenager, and because of my own fault, now have a face pocked with tiny 'icepick' scars (mostly on my cheeks). Now I'm almost 52, and for some strange reason, my acne has flared up again. Must be the hormones having their final hurrah before going bye-bye.. I'm thinking I should go back to Proactive - it really worked wonders when I used it about ten years ago.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    do you swim in a chlorinated pool? if you have access to a swimming pool, its great exercise and the chlorine dries out your acne
  • nzseries1
    nzseries1 Posts: 4 Member
    Couldn't help but give my two pence.

    I went on accutane at 15, and although I had every single side effect listed in the book, I still feel like in the end it was worth it, it cleared everything up amazingly.

    I did have to go on and off it for a few years to clear everything up, but after the first two years I moved to a much lower dose which reduced the side effects a lot.
  • erinfog
    erinfog Posts: 95 Member
    i've been through the same issues. on different pills and creams/gels/etc. this is what finally started working for me:

    1) clarisonic with a mild soap - i use the tretinx soap (which comes with my prescription cream) but when i run out, cetaphil works also.
    2) cup of hot water with lemon in the morning
    3) tretinx for blackheads and aczone for cystic pimples
    4) wash pillow cases every week

    good luck to you, i know how rough it is.
  • MamaWannaRun
    MamaWannaRun Posts: 273 Member
    Well, the sad news is that I am 47 and still deal with the same issue.

    I have been on Accutane 3 different times in my life and it finally cleared me up. Yes, there are side effects. Each dose gave me about 10 years of clear skin.. then, I had to go back again. Now, I'm on Nicomide..

    I would ask your doctor about Nicomide.. it's not a total cure, but it is helping.

    Bottom line.. YOUR DOCTOR is your best choice here.. Talk to him/her and be persistent. Do not give up until you find something that works for you.. No one else can do more for you.. good luck!

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