what's everyone's acne story ?

I'm allergic to benzoyl peroxide (main ingredient in Proactiv and all the other acne creams that work) so I have had acne problems nonstop for the last ten years. If anyone has a solution, I'd love to hear it.

salicylic acid is the alternative, and if you dont want to spend money testing out, get some CHEAP asprin (non coated), grind it up with a little water into a paste and massage onto a damp face. It acts like a mild exfoliator and contains salicylic acid. I scrub it for a minute then leave it to dry on my face for 10 minutes, then rinse and cleanse with a mild facewash.
Make sure to moisturise after, it can really dry you out.

I'd get the occasional pimple and my sister pushed apricot scrub at me, which made me into pizza face. My brother told me to quit washing my face and since then, I get the VERY occasional pimple. The only soap to hit my face in the last, oh I don't know, 7-8 years has been shampoo suds that ran down onto it.

Clear skin since I quit washing it.

I was told that using the scrubs when you have acne usually just spreads the bacteria which in turn causes more breakouts. The scrubs are not recommended on a daily basis, maybe once a week. I'll use the scrub but maybe a couple of times a month, none currently since I'm all out.

I was told that using the scrubs when you have acne usually just spreads the bacteria which in turn causes more breakouts. The scrubs are not recommended on a daily basis, maybe once a week. I'll use the scrub but maybe a couple of times a month, none currently since I'm all out.

I definitely have to agree with this. I was using a scrub every day and it cause my skin to get so dry I had eczema like patches. I cut back to once a week if that. I just use the neutrogena makeup wipes and wipe my whole face. I also use Bare Minerals makeup, and now I have very little acne, just a few small bumps on my chin.

I had this humongous zit on my back the other day. Like size of a Volkswagen bug huge. At night, I swear it whispered to me. Told me things like, "Get out of bed and eat some cereal." Finally it reared it's ugly head. It made a fatal flaw in being within reach of my left hand.
Summing up all the bravery I could muster, I took on this monster by the head. I squeezed and squeezed. Tears immediately sprang to my eyes. Oh this bad boy would not go quietly. I think I actually whimpered.
Suddenly...release. Guts spewed forth like...well you know being a male, like something else spewing forth. It shot onto the mirror and when I turned around, it appeared to be all over my face, which made me extremely uncomfortable.
It was a tough battle, but I claimed victory.

You painted such a vivid picture in my head. I saw it happening while I was reading.

I've struggled with acne since early puberty, and have seen a dermatologist since I was 12! LOL I've been on tons of antibiotics and topicals, and after many years they tried accutane treatment. The first time i tried accutane, it was a very low dose...so it worked, but only for about 2 years. Then the acne came back. About 2 years ago I went on a second course at a higher dose, and since then my cystic acne issues have pretty much resolved (except for maybe a few big zits a year).

I do believe that cleaning up my diet has helped as well!

I've always struggled with acne but it wasn't ever really that bad. What sucked was the cystic acne I used to get. They would literally keep me in the house for a week because I was too embarrassed to be seen in public. I did see a dermatologist when I was in college, he would basically inject something into my cheek (wherever the cystic acne was) and it would be gone or at least shrink down significantly.

As an adult now, 29 yrs old, I still get them from time to time. Not the cystic but normal acne. I started ProActiv about 6 months ago. LOVE IT! At first I thought it was really expensive but my 3 month supply lasts me longer than 3 months. So it's not nearly as painful as I expected.

Truth is - I'd pay whatever the heck I had to because my self-esteem is worth it!

I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and one of the possible symptoms is severe acne. It started in 4th grade, and starting getting worse every year. By 16, MAN, did I get it bad! I tried everything - proactive, over the counter medicine, prescribed creams and oral medication - NOTHING worked, and I mean NOTHING.

I was on Accutane for 6 months when I was 17 (which is a drug that they don't put people on unless it's really really really bad). Even though I wasn't sexually active, I had to sign a contract saying I would use 2 forms of birth control because if I got pregnant, the baby would be severely deformed and probably wouldn't live. I had to get monthly blood tests to make sure my liver was functioning properly as well. It dried out my skin BAD, and I was constantly putting Aquaphor on as lotion and chap stick, a few times a day. It was a rough 6 months. BUT, my results were AMAZING. Now I am 21, and I maybe only get one pimple every few months.

BEFORE:


AFTER

nutrogena naturals.
turns out im allergic to many many many things
finally found stuff that works

The summer I turned 15 my acne was HORRIBLE, it eventually cleared and then when I was 17 it started to return. So my mom started taking me to a spa to have a facial every couple months and that has helped tremendously! Now my skin is clear most of the time and I only get zits when I'm PMSing. I still have acne scars though. Luckily, they're not that bad and I can just cover them with foundation.