- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Eco-Friendly Family
I think I'm going to cry.
As a teenager, I had horrible acne. Nothing I ever tried for it cleared it. I saw two different dermatologists and had several different prescriptions but nothing really helped long term. I couldn't use Accutane because I already had a history of depression.
Once I was in college and on hormonal birth control, my face cleared up DRAMATICALLY. It wasn't totally gone but it was 80% or so clearer than it had been.
When I went off of BC in Jan 2008, my face broke out again... but not QUITE as bad as HS... Once I got pregnant, my face TOTALLY cleared up. For the first time in over 10 years, I would go weeks, sometimes a month or two without a single blemish. When I did get one or two zits, they cleared quickly. Once DS was born, I got a few blemishes back.... they've crept back a little at a time... but now that we're almost totally done BFing, my face is really just terrible. I hate looking in the mirror. I hate going out in public. Make up doesn't even begin to cover it. At this moment in time, I have THREE cysts on my freakin' face... plus several "normal" zits of varying size/degree. I noticed a marked change in my face about two weeks before AF last visited, so I just thought it was period related, but it's been more that 3 weeks since she showed up and my face has only gotten worse. Seriously. I'm choking back tears. Isn't 27 too old for this kind of ridiculous acne?
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I think I'm going to cry.
Just know you're not alone!!!
I know everyone is different and different things work fordifferent people but my cousin and BF has had acne challenges her entire life. She is 30 now. She tried everything. Salicylic acid and benzoyl cleanser and all theother OTC potions, creams and toners. Mail order skins cleansers (includingProactive), expensive skin care regimens from her dermatologist, accutane,antibiotics, Retin A.....the list goes on and on and on.
After reading about the OCM https://www.acne.org/messageboard/OIL-CLEANSING-METHOD-Hi-t141871.html shedecided to give it a try. She had nothing to lose and nothing that was working. She was really at her wits end!
Her face got worse for about a week as her skin detoxed (and boydid it detox!!), a month later though she could not believe the difference. Nowafter 6 months of using this method she rarely has a break out. OCM and usingbare minerals powder have been the only think that has worked. It seems counterproductive to use the OCM for acne, but it seem to be just the thing for her.
I happen to use the OCM and I just mixed small batches of oilcombinations and essential oil until I found the right mix for my skin. I also use a different mix in the winter vs.the summer.
Whatever you decide, I hope that you find something that works foryou. GL!
How long did it take for your skin to clear up? I'm willing to try anything... even if I do have a huge love for ice cream... and chocolate milk was my most bestest friend while I was pregnant.
I might try the OCM too... I'll just have to find a natural foods store around here... I have heard/read that thieves can clear up cystic acne when used a spot treatment, so I was going to be headed out for some of that soon anyway.
The year I was off of BCPs before we conceived DS... and now, within the last month, DH and I scoff at acne product commercials with before and after photos. 90% of the people they show with "problem acne" don't compare to mine.
Oh... and here's a little bit of a funny...
I purchased the Clinique face cleansing system before I got pregnant and used it for a while. During that time, I went to the counter to buy a new bottle of foundation and they asked me if I was interested trying their cleaning system to which I replied, "I'm already using it, but thanks so much for reminding me that it doesn't work." THAT day inspired me to stop using their products. :-) I decided that it was all justone horrible cycle: wear this make up so that you have to use our cleaner. Use this harsh cleanser so that you need our moisturizer. Use the moisturizer so that you need our make up... Hmmmm... NO!
Aw
. This post is sort of long but I swear it's worth it 
.
I had horrible, horrible, horrible cystic acne for years when I was a teenager. I swear I tried every med out there. Eventually My mom took me to a dermatologist where the nurse would go over your face (or wherever the acne was) with a tool that pushed the gunk out of the cyst or zit or even a blackhead. (I googled just now and I guess it's called a blemish extractor https://www.amazon.com/SEPHORA-COLLECTION-Double-Ended-Blemish-Extractor/dp/B00021E6AW ). You could probably buy the tool and do it yourself, but the nurses were really fast, and they hit every square inch of my face & neck, and even got the buggers that were on their way to the surface (not to mention that the nose & lip area hurts like hell if they're thorough).The combination of that treatment every 2 weeks and some mild antibiotics cleared up my acne in a matter of a couple of months. It was freakin' amazing. This doctor was nearly impossible to get into, so apparently that treatment worked for a lot of people, including my older brother. I haven't had much in terms of breakouts since then, and that was 12 years ago, and I only have a few acne scars to speak of where I thought I would have horrible skin now.
If you can find a dermatologist who does that type of treatment, I would highly recommend seeing them. It might mean a ton of phone calls to different offices, but it is ABSOLUTELY worth every minute and penny spent.
I'm 30 1/2 and I'm in the same boat. I tried an antibiotic (doxycycline or dicyline...something like that) when I was a teen and too young for birth control. It worked like a charm. When I went on BC pills I could stop the antibiotic because that took care of it.
I hate bc pills because it kills my sex drive so I just deal with the breakouts, though I don't have cystic issues. I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone. It's frustrating to be an adult with a "teen" problem.
Getting back to it- my diet and exercise blog
Losing it...Without Losing it
Where do you buy it? I've only found Dr. B's at Target and I've never seen the TTO soap.
It was a solid two weeks before I realized my skin was actually clearing up. The diet change was unrelated to the acne, so I wasn't expecting any results in that area. I will say though that now I can have dairy products occasionally without any outbreaks, but if I have a glass of milk my face is toast for a few days. I feel like it is mostly related to milk but I'm not willing to risk the outbreaks to find out so I try to avoid all dairy as much as possible.
Not sure where you live but Kroger has a good Dr. B's selection (and cheaper than target) in their organic section.
I can commiserate! My skin was relatively clear as a teenager and got worse after I got older and went off of BC after getting married. Dealing with acne as an adult is so embarassing.
For me, I use the Acne Bar from Best Bath Store online. My skin is always great when pregnant and nursing but gets gradually worse when not. That soap has been keeping it inline though to where it's manageable, and I don't have bad acne just some pimples here and there that I can deal with.
I am interested in trying out the Dr B TTO soap though. Once I come across it locally, I'll give that a try.
GL! I hope you find something that works.
Oh, and unfortunately the OCM didn't work for me. Didn't make things worse, but didn't make them better either.
Big E (6) & Little E (2.5)
Another route you could try to take is homeopathy. If you find a good homeopath (I could recommend one), I'm pretty sure you could resolve your problem - much more effectively (and less intrusively) than with antibiotics and such. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with this! If you would like the recommendation for a homeopath, PM me and I will definitely pass along her information!
Good luck with whichever method you choose!
I've gotten it at Target or Wegmans (our grocery store back home). I think you can get it at GNC or any of those places too? Probably order online somewhere if you can't get it local. Not sure what you have around there. I just looked at Meijer and they didn't have it there
It's an orange lable.
Getting back to it- my diet and exercise blog
Losing it...Without Losing it
I totally understand your pain! I'm 35 and my acne just seems to get worse with age! It was never this bad when I was a teenager. Mine is totally hormonal. I can completely judge my cycle by it. I realized this when I was charting ttc and could actually see the correlation between my cycle and my acne. Mine was actually much worse during pregnancy and bfing! So, of course, it's horrible now - so much for that glowing skin of pregnancy!
I seem to find things that work okay for awhile, then stop and I have to switch. One thing that I've consistently loved, but is hard for me to come by b/c there is not a store near me, is a mask from LUSH. If you have a store near you, their masks and other skincare are great! You can order their regular skincare online, but not their fresh masks.
Good luck - I know it sucks!!!
SWB--at least go to a dermatologist to get the cysts injected with cortizone. They'll go away almost immediately. Accutane isn't the only option. I think it's worth talking it through with a good doc.
I too have adult, hormonal, cystic acne. The best mine has ever looked was with spironolactone (not okay w/ bfing) and a cream called Differin. And trying not to pick or use anything too harsh. And moisturizing.
The oil moisturizing or cleansing route just makes mine hella worse.
GL!
Try taking fish oil. It is know to calm down inflammation, and there is a bunch of other benefits (heart healthy, etc) It's in capsule form, easy and cheap to try. I have been taking it for several years now and my skin definitely looks better.
I used to take 6 a day. Nowadays I take 2 a day
I would start out with 4 a day and wait a couple weeks, then adjust up or down.
I like the NatureMade or Costco brand (coated caps) some other brands give me burps that taste like fish.Also try a serum - I've used a C Serum and said good results and will continue using it. Right now I'm using a combination serum (Ferulic +c)
Yes this! I have a nutritionist friend who went vegan and her acne/cysts cleared up (among other health issues that went away)