Acne Advice Thread

Sugarlumps

Really enjoyed that doc, some harrowing stories brought on by the drug. Thanks for the heads up.

uberalles

I had v bad acne and cured it after 5+ years

Sun beds - once every two weeks or so

Sauna - opens the pores - cold shower to finish.

Facial - deep tissue every 6 months. Treat yourself.

Sebamed face wash

Topical antibiotic - this is a local liquid watery clear antibiotic delivered by a small sponge on top of a applicator. Amazing stuff. Didn't smell / sting. Worked v fast. A doc needs to prescribe it. Was years ago I don't remember the name of it.

Things that didn't work - sulphur based creams, oh the pain. Diet change, once you don't live On fry food you are ok IMO. Expensive specialists charging extort rates.

Good luck people I hope what worked for me works for you.

Sugarlumps

uberalles wrote: »

I had v bad acne and cured it after 5+ years

Sun beds - once every two weeks or so

Sauna - opens the pores - cold shower to finish.

Facial - deep tissue every 6 months. Treat yourself.

Sebamed face wash

Topical antibiotic - this is a local liquid watery clear antibiotic delivered by a small sponge on top of a applicator. Amazing stuff. Didn't smell / sting. Worked v fast. A doc needs to prescribe it. Was years ago I don't remember the name of it.

Things that didn't work - sulphur based creams, oh the pain. Diet change, once you don't live On fry food you are ok IMO. Expensive specialists charging extort rates.

Good luck people I hope what worked for me works for you.

Uberalles I just ordered some Sebamed facial wash and deep cleasing facial toner, I only have mild acne but I’m 37. Had it as a teen, feels like an eternity at this stage.

DATABOY

Recently started taking roaccutane 40mgs to start with,have only been on dem a week now and my face has become extremely tight.
lips are okay though but have had some abdominal pain,
anyway jus liikn 4 sum advice on the face tightness?
i tried sum e45 moisturiser but it stung alot,any suggestions

Cheers

yer man!

DATABOY wrote: »

Recently started taking roaccutane 40mgs to start with,have only been on dem a week now and my face has become extremely tight.
lips are okay though but have had some abdominal pain,
anyway jus liikn 4 sum advice on the face tightness?
i tried sum e45 moisturiser but it stung alot,any suggestions

Cheers

I used cetaphil moisturising lotion from boots, the one tub has lasted a year so far and I use it everyday. It was fantastic when on roaccutane, there's no oil in it so you don't have to worry about it causing any further acne.

Davyhal

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before (too many pages to read through) but I have been a long time sufferer of very bad acne (14 years!). I have taken every drug under the sun, every diet, every cream, every face wash from pure tea tree oil to clearasil to plain dove soap. However, finally, at 25 years old I have found a method that works for me...

Morning and night I wash my face with Boots Botanics Men's Oil Control Face Scrub (It's says to use 2-3 times a week, but I must use it twice a day).
At night, I then apply Quinoderm 10 directly to all visible spots.
In the morning after I wash my face, I use Boots Botanics Men's Oil Control Moisturiser SPF 15 all over my face.

When washing my face, I always have a seperate clean towel that I use just for my face. I wash this towel every week.

When shaving, I use Gilette's sensitive skin shaving gel and try to change my blade as often as possible.

Of course diet is still important, but these steps have helped me when I was at a stage that I thought it would be something I would suffer with all my life (my mother and my uncle are in their 60s and still get acne) but trial and error has brought me to this solution.

Of course, it is not foolproof for me. I still get a flare up after serious sessions on the beer (ie. I got a flare up there after the Christmas/New Years period) but never as bad as I used to be and following the above steps, it clears up in about 3 days.

Of course, I also recommend drinking lots of water (personally I drink 2.5 - 3 litres a day) and every so often eat something other than sweets, chocolate or McDonalds!

But as I have said, I did anti-biotics for 6 years, and every face mask, seaweed treatment, every face wash etc, and I was still chronic, but this works for me now. New friends I meet now are shocked when they see pictures of me aged 18/19 (I am now 25)

Petey89

Im 23 iv had acne for about 10 years, i had severe acne on my back chest and neck, I was put on all the anti-biotics out there, finally went to a dermatoligist about a year and a half ago who put me on roaccutane for 6 months, it made a huge difference my acne was almost completely gone. But sadly it has started to come back again gettin bad on my chest and between my shoulders im on anti-biotics for it for the last month but it has made no difference. I think they just dont work on me anymore.
Acne really has ruined my self-confidence, Things like going to the beach or the swimming pool I wont do because i would have to take my top off I havent even learned how to swim yet because of it. Im afraid people will see the scars and stare at me. Its pretty depressing really. Im using a Witch Blemisd Stick at the min it keeps the acne down better than the anti-biotic but like mentioned in other replys after a night out with friends i just get more breakouts. Could someone suggest a good body wash or face wash that really works?
Iv tried most of them they either make it worse like that clearasil sh**e or they dont do anything. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Sugarlumps

Petey89 I've been using Sebamed facial wash for the past month. Worth a try, by far the best product I've ever used.

yer man!

Derm recommended Elave facial wash for me, it's very good. There's no soap in it and is used by people suffering from extreme eczema too. They have it in boots and most pharmacies.

blops

Thanks for the suggestion yerman,i bought the lotion and it seems to be doing the job. Any other tips for being on roaccutane mainly avoiding scars,can i go drinking and exercising?

Cheers

jamo2oo9

Survivor of serious acne. Now 18 and I get one or two occasional spots a week that are manageable.

How did I do it?
I drank a lot more water and tea. Tea seems to do the job quite well as it cleanses out rich oils in your body.
When I was 13, I never did much exercise other than P.E. in school once a week. Now I go to the gym three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I would take the dog for a quick jog in the mornings on Saturday and Sunday before setting in for studying.
I didn't have to change my diet other than drinking more fluids and I did increase my fruit intake from 2 to 5. Try to have lots of oranges or orange juice. Orange contains vitamins that are very healthy for your skin.

The past two years, I've used a cream that may help some. It's called Duac and you rub the cream on the affected spots before you go to bed and the next morning it would be nearly invisible. It's prescription product so you would have to go to your doctor for it.

Hope this helps!

Corkfeen

blops wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion yerman,i bought the lotion and it seems to be doing the job. Any other tips for being on roaccutane mainly avoiding scars,can i go drinking and exercising?

Cheers

Exercise is fine, if you plan on drinking. Ask your dermatologist, Accutane puts your liver under a fair bit of pressure. If your skin seems to be getting worse, I wouldn't be too worried about it. Accutane can bring on some awful initial outbreaks.

Start moisturising now, get lip balm or vaseline for your lips as your skin will get excessively dry and your lips will be heavily chapped. Have to be honest, t'is gonna get horrible with the stress your body may be under. It varies from person to person but dryness happens for everyone. If you're worried about any side effects consult with your dermatologist.

Trader1991

Hey, could anyone recommend a good moisturizer for dry sensitive skin. Ive tried Nivea and a couple others but havent had great results.

Thanks..

PurpleSt4in

I've thankfully never had serious acne.... I'm just curious about something. I often hear that diet has no bearing on spots coming up. In my experience, diet was one of the main reasons I would get spots. If I used to eat chocolate/crisps/sweets I would notice almost the next day a spot or spots appearing. Anyone else feel this way?

My diet is at the healthiest its ever been at the moment and I can definitely notice a difference. I get at most one spot a week really. I never eat crisps/sweets. Rarely eat chocolate. Drink lots of water and eat as many apples/oranges/strawberries/avocados as possible.

PurpleSt4in

The best thing ever for spots IMO is the beach... that is in a sunny country. Skin gets so clear & generally healthier looking.

yer man!

PurpleSt4in wrote: »

I've thankfully never had serious acne.... I'm just curious about something. I often hear that diet has no bearing on spots coming up. In my experience, diet was one of the main reasons I would get spots. If I used to eat chocolate/crisps/sweets I would notice almost the next day a spot or spots appearing. Anyone else feel this way?

My diet is at the healthiest its ever been at the moment and I can definitely notice a difference. I get at most one spot a week really. I never eat crisps/sweets. Rarely eat chocolate. Drink lots of water and eat as many apples/oranges/strawberries/avocados as possible.

It was explained to me by my derm, eating healthily will make you healthier and ergo you will feel and look healthy, this can be reflected as perfect skin for many people but for a lot, the physical P.Acnes bacteria in the skin will not stop causing such a hassle. So basically what I'm trying to say is that it can depend on the person, doctors certainly advocate eating healthier anyway as it's all round good for you and could perhaps help acne not appear as bad for a lot of people.

JEmily

Boo27 wrote: »

Hi all,

I just been reading a couple of the replys there, and thinking to myself, yep tried that, that and that, and didnt work...

I never suffered from spots until I was 24 then wham, my face just completely broke out... I just look back on some of the old pictures and I just cringe... I tired everything and money was never an issue... Ro accutane is not one on my list because there is adult acne in my family and my brothers were put on it... really really bad side effects!!!!!!! I have been to many dermtologists and doctors and the only thing they perscibed was ro accuntane.. I would not suggest this at all if you are in any way sexually active and dont like needles.!!!!!

I found a couple of derma places on line and the derma laser clinic jumped out at me... I booked a free consultation...

The day I went that started telling me the same stuff that all the doctors told me.. but Jan Marini was not a name I have heard of before.. The treatment involved over 6 months 6 chemical skin peels with the jan marini products and home care kit of a facial wash and bioclear c ream.. both costing approx 180 eueu.. and the skin peels were 125 each I think.. but they do offer soecial deals and stuff and the staff were amazing.. the peels started off very uncomfirtable and burned a bit and you had to make sure that you had the car parked right outside and give up 6 whole saturdays cause you skin was bright red...

But guys, I will put both hands up and say yes it was very expensive and I said that It was the last time I was going spend that kind of money on my skin but IT HAS WORKED... I had really bad breakoutsa all over my jawline and cheeks and I am now completly clear, well I have gotten one or two around the time of the month, but thats it.. and they are gone within 2 days no lie... I used to pile on concealer every morning before going to work but I havent used concealer in about 4 months now!!!!!!

This treatment has really worked for me and I would recommend to anyone... Dermalaser.com... Based in tallaght or blackrock.

Feel free to come back to me with any questions!!!

Dermaclinic Blackrock are amazing, got rid of my acne and also my scarring after, would highly recommend Patricia.

Siog-Alainn

Trader1991 wrote: »

Hey, could anyone recommend a good moisturizer for dry sensitive skin. Ive tried Nivea and a couple others but havent had great results.

Thanks..

I used one called Oilatum Natural Face Repair while I was on roaccutane and found it great. It's about €12 in Boots http://www.boots.com/en/Oilatum-Natural-Repair-Face-Cream_9627/

Paramite Pie

Anyone else here trying saw palmetto for acne?

It's basically a plant extract that helps your body control it's testosterone levels. When the body makes too much testosterone is get's rid of it by flushing it out the pores, and since it's a growth hormone it ain't good for keep your spots small.

I still get the occasional pimple but it's usually tiny and doesn't worry me. My skin looks good at the moment and I'm also drinking organic wheat-grass every day...

kaji

I have a very oily T zone, and all my pores are clogged even if I wash my face an hour before. It's obvious that my glands produce too much oil. I'm just wondering if people take roaccutane for this, as it's not acne in the traditional sense- i.e no red spots, etc.

JEmily

kaji wrote: »

I have a very oily T zone, and all my pores are clogged even if I wash my face an hour before. It's obvious that my glands produce too much oil. I'm just wondering if people take roaccutane for this, as it's not acne in the traditional sense- i.e no red spots, etc.

I got great reviews on here for the Dermaclinic Blackrock. They got rid of my severe acne. One of my main problems was open pores and oily t zone. Under their recommendation i used their suggested products Jan Marini. There is a face wash which closes and clears clogged pores and then the moisturisor is fab with spf but lovely and soft and matt. If go back to using another moisturisor my skin breaks out straight away. Cannot recommend these products enough. I buy on amazon as cheaper than at the clinic.

LoonyLovegood

You could be washing your face too much, though. I used to have blackheads - no acne - and I reckon it was because I washed every few hours. If you use a tissue to blot away excess oil every so often, it means that you stop producing so much, because your skin gets to learn "Look, we still have oil!"