something has gone wrong with my FACE!

moyer566 wrote: »

wizzybeth wrote: »

macgurlnet wrote: »

If you're washing your face too often, that can make your skin worse. I typically wash mine once each day now and just use toner water if I'm feeling a little greasy in between. I occasionally get breakouts, but my skin is a lot better now.

Oh! And make sure you get plenty of fluids. If I'm dehydrated, I tend to break out more.

~Lyssa

What is toner water?

Simple has a great one or just rose water is great toner. Witch hazel and cucumber as well

Thank you - never heard of toner water before.

I recommend not making too many changes at once. From personal experience, it's not difficult to simultaneously make one change that helps and one (or more) changes that make things worse, making you no better off than before.

I'd recommend trying removing your makeup and washing your face before and after your workout first. It won't cost you anything, and you won't be adding anything new to your face. You should see an improvement in a couple of days to a week if that is a contributing factor (probably it is).

If that doesn't completely clear things up, or your face starts to feel dry or irritated, that's when I'd look into changing cleansers. It can be hard to find one that suits your skin and you may need to experiment quite a bit - that's why I'd leave this to the 2nd step.

Finally, I'd look into a hormone imbalance (I'd do it sooner if you have a doctor's appointment scheduled already). Problem is, even if this does contribute, there's often not a whole lot that can be done about it beyond some fairly significant measures (accutane, changing BC, spironolactone, constant low dose antibiotics). So, if there's a simpler way to get things under control that's what I'd look for first.

FWIW - I have a similar situation. Once I got close to where I want to be, my hormones went a little nutbar, started with minor monthly breakouts and other symptoms. Plus, my sweat is very salty so I've got a double whammy now that I'm running longer distances. Salt is comedogenic and irritating. My skin is very sensitive, so the longer time with a sweaty face has made those minor breakouts much worse.

wizzybeth wrote: »

SLLRunner wrote: »

This is very odd. If you are having painful spots and scaring on your face, you need to get to the doctor asap.

I also think you need to speak with your doctor about a referral to a therapist because you believe this condition is due to "all that crap" being pushed out of your skin. Realistically, that would never happen.

I wish you the best of luck.

Seriously? A therapist?

Yep. Thinking "all that crap" is being pushed out of your skin is disordered.

Woohoo this got heated fast.... OP, I have terrible adult acne and always have. Here's a helpful list. Read 1... then if that doesn't work...2.... then if that doesn't work.... etc

1. Do the very basic washing your face and not touching it thing and give it a FULL month of your cycle to determine results.

2. F*** foundation. I'm not kidding. Non-comedogenic (lacking ingredients known to clog pores) or not, I am convinced (as a sufferer of severe adult acne for years now) that foundation is the devil for acne-prone skin no matter how much the company (lookin at YOU bare minerals) tries to convince you it's fine. You know who needs foundation? People with acne who need to hide it. You know who doesn't? People with clear skin because they didn't wear foundation (feel free to keep your freak-outs to yourselves people, we're all aware this does not apply to everyone, the generalization is for emphasis only).

3. Benzoyl Peroxide, once daily. It oxidizes. Hence the name. P. acne virus, the cause of acne, flat-out dies when exposed to oxygen. BP oxygenates your pores and murders the virus that causes acne. It won't do a dam thing for blackheads, but sore painful whiteheads it's perfect for. I use it daily and have for years, and every dam time I stop, BOOM worst breakout ever. I'm a severe case though. I prefer the target off-brand one, it's got 10% BP in the cream, which is the absolute highest you can get without a prescription.

4. I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and suggest blowing off hormonal birth control. I despise it. Screws my face up like crazy. For some people, the pill is actually their saving grace acne-wise, and for others it can be terrible. I'm one of those apparently rare individuals whose hormones are completely perfect until poked by outside forces, and then they become the devil instantly. So I got an IUD when I realized how godawful the pill was making my face (and chest, and back and thighs, and shoulders, and everywhere I shave omfg) look. Did WONDERS. Again, you may be totally opposite, you'd have to test it out

5. Accutane is the devil. Don't do it. It's not worth it.

6. If none of the above work, bearing in mind you have to give them time to work, you're gonna have to suck it up and find the copay to see a dermatologist. Maybe you wait til the end of the year so you've already met your deductible and then the insurance will usually cover it. December is a hot month for doctor-seeing.



I know how miserable this is (do I ever...) but the likely case is that for you, since you don't have a history of moderate/severe cystic acne, is that it'll go away with some minor skin care changes. I just wanted this here for the people like me, and so you have a backup plan just to make you feel better. Best of luck;)

Any change you make can cause a change in body chemistry, which can result in skin problems until your body adjusts.

Sweet!

justrollme wrote: »

SLLRunner wrote: »

wizzybeth wrote: »

SLLRunner wrote: »

This is very odd. If you are having painful spots and scaring on your face, you need to get to the doctor asap.

I also think you need to speak with your doctor about a referral to a therapist because you believe this condition is due to "all that crap" being pushed out of your skin. Realistically, that would never happen.

I wish you the best of luck.

Seriously? A therapist?

Yep. Thinking "all that crap" is being pushed out of your skin is disordered.

So, misinformation is disordered? Do you really believe that? Because, if so, you have been misinformed. In which case...