1 Goal: Getting rid of ACNE

[ladyblondie]

I have have acne for years, since 13, and now Im 28. I posted something maybe a month to 2 months ago on acne. But Im looking for some more help. Im taking BIOTIN which helps skin, hair and nails. Anyone familiar with this pill, or know if it works. I also take FISH OIL, I heard that its also good for treating acne. Im a clean person and just want clear skin. Is there any vitamins/pills other then the 2 mentioned that help acne and can cure it. Thank you.

[dazzle22]

Acne has nothing to do with dirty skin. Your skin is not dirty, the hormones that kick in at puberty reve up the sebaceous glands, and pores become plugged and acne bacteria start to multiply in the pores. Genetics is also a factor. I am a dermatologist. You may need some prescription meds at this point, likely, if OTCs have not made a difference...

[sugar_and_spice]

See a dermatologist. I used to have a lot of acne and was put on some medicines, and have fairly clear skin now.

[randall]

I'm not sure why you are taking Biotin as that promotes the production of fatty acids and, for some people, exacerbates the problem of acne.

 

I had bad acne for years and, as the previous poster said, it's not really about clean skin. A couple of years ago I visisted a doctor for an unrelated problem. He saw my acne and prescribed a combination of antibiotics for long-term cure and and Clindatech (mix of clindamycin hydochloride) for any immediate acne. After taking the antibiotics for about three weeks my acne was almost all gone.

 

The antibiotics route doesn't help everyone but if you've had persistent acne for years it's likely they will be much more effective than intermediate fixes like fish oil or pimple ointments.

[ladyblondie]

I don't have a job or health insurance, so going to a dermatologist would be nice, but can't happen. Biotin, I started taking acouple days ago, but it say it helps with healthy skin, hair, nails. So, not sure what the deal is there. Thanks for the advice.

[gypsy_nicky]

how much biotin are you taking? If you take a very dose you risk getting acne (the cystic ones).

 

Wait you dont have a job? Are you a student?

 

A dermatologist is best for acne. The best treatment is accutane.

[dazzle22]

Internists are usually good at treating acne also if you can't afford a derm doc. I don't usually give too much specific advice, but you should use a benzoil peroxide product- it is directly toxic to acne bacteria. Then you should get a combination glycolic acid 10% also with salycylic acid which helps clean out the pores and makes the keratin less "sticky" in the pores. These you can get usually at medispas-Obaji has a great skin care line. If you acne involves cysts, and many pustules, you need antibiotics and maybe accutaine. Hope that helps you.

[randall]

You don't need a dermatologist, just any GP who can prescribe antibiotics. Just visit a GP and ask them to approve some antibiotics for acne. They shouldn't have any objections to prescribing them on the spot.

 

You have to follow the directions properly though and not skip any pills (if you get pill form) for the period they are prescribed for. It only took me about two weeks to start clearing up and three weeks for them to be almost gone. Even after the acne initially goes away you should stil keep taking the pills until you've run the full course.

 

Other than that I don't know of much else that will help if your acne is a permanent ongoing thing. Other products are more for treating immediate acne rather than preventing it from recurring at a later date.

[ladyblondie]

Really appreciate the great advice. I have been out of a job for several months unfortunitly, lost my place of business, tried to collect unemployment but they don't help out people who used to own their own business. So, I just got a job, I start Saturday. No benifits and part time. Im definitly going to take some of the advice you guys gave to help out with my acne problem. Thank you again. S

[stillafool]

I have have acne for years, since 13, and now Im 28. I posted something maybe a month to 2 months ago on acne. But Im looking for some more help. Im taking BIOTIN which helps skin, hair and nails. Anyone familiar with this pill, or know if it works. I also take FISH OIL, I heard that its also good for treating acne. Im a clean person and just want clear skin. Is there any vitamins/pills other then the 2 mentioned that help acne and can cure it. Thank you.

 

 

Have you tried professional facials? I had a friend who had horrible acne and nothing started to work until she actually had her face professionally cleaned once a month. They get rid of all the old stuff (it hurts) and it gives your meds and products a chance to work.

[stillafool]

Oh drink nothing but water. Don't eat red meat, chocolate, any dairy at all.

[ann09]

The one thing that has kept my skin clear is leaving it alone. I wash it in the morning and use Olay face wipes every night. The more I pick at it or fuss about it, the worse it gets.

[pleasedontbreakme]

Everyone's skin is different, the differences are also in your genetics. Sometimes washing your face too much dries out your skin more causing your skin to produce even more oil to compensate for the dryness.

 

I would suggest going to Sephora or a local beauty store and see if you can just get samples of different skin products, they usually give/make some for free if you ask.

 

I found that one of the best things for me was to use natural stuff, I personally use face stuff from LUSH, it's more expensive than the stuff you'd get in a drug store, but cheaper than stuff you'd get in a department store (i.e. Clinique). It's all hand-made, organic and some of it is even Vegan.

 

Or I'd also give Aveeno a shot, it's available in most drugstores. I also found that when I went on Yaz (the pill), my skin cleared up immensely, but I had bad side-effects, so I had to stop. You could try a low-dose hormone pill (birth control).

 

I read that you don't have health insurance, so this might not be an option for you.

 

Good luck!

[badboyjd]

Hi, I just read your post and you remind me of my wife when I first met her.

She also suffered from bad acne around her chin and had done so from the age of 15, many blood tests later and still no answer from her doctor and this remained the case untill she changed to my doctor who prescribed....Dalcin Topical... (spelling may be wrong)..within days ALL her acne had gone!

 

Please remmember though, everyones skin is different, I have recomended this to friends and the results were not as good, in any event if you do go for it..I hope it works...

[nes9]

If your acne is truly affecting your life and ability to socialize, meet the opposite sex, use accutane. I've been on it 3 times and now have almost no acne (small superficial stuff is all that exists now). It is a serious drug with serious side effects. Do much research on sites like acne.org that have entire forums dedicated to accutane. The worst thing you can do is take that drug without knowing its effects. Don't get freaked out by what I'm saying about the drug or what people on the forums will say about it, but instead just educate yourself and make your own decision about wheter or not to use it. It can do wonders for your acne and your life. Best of luck.

[Lizzie60]

My son had a bad case of acne.... about a year and a half ago.. I took him to a dermatologist... she prescribed Acutane.. This is a very strong medicine that has to be monitored very closely... he had to have a blood test every month... to check his kidneys..

 

The result was amazing... it almost all disappeared... his confidence went up a lot... It is a little costly... but worth every penny IMO.

[apearlfromgrit]

Wow. Do I ever feel your pain. I had what I thought was normally troublesome skin through high school and college but when I hit about 23, my acne went utterly haywire. I had issues so bad that at one point I couldn't turn my head to either side without screaming in pain.

 

I have tried pretty much everything: topicals, injections, antibiotics, birth control, aldactone, all the infomercial skincare lines, lazers, homeopathy, salt therapy (OMFG, don't ever do that), dietary changes... point being that nothing worked. Some things would keep the worst of it at bay for a few months at a time but then the problems would rage back worse than before.

 

I never wanted to try Accutane because it was so severe and I was terrified of the psychological side effects after a friend committed suicide while taking it in college. But I finally had to admit that I had to try it as a last resort. I've been on the lowest possible dose since September and I have to admit that is the absolute savior of my skin. Yes, the side effects are difficult; I'm handcuffed to my lotion, my eyes are always dry and bloodshot, I can't even look at booze and there is sometimes pretty bad joint pain. But the results are AMAZING.

 

Now, I have to say that I never wanted to admit that clear skin was as important to me as I now know it is. Frankly, I always thought I was being shallow by being so concerned about my skin. There are people with severe malformations and diseases and I'm worried about pimples? But looking back I can see how truly crippling it was to my self-esteem, my social life and even my professional life. I avoided Accutane for years. No way am I going on, essentially, chemo for my acne, I thought. But now that I've done it, I've wondered why I waited so long.

 

It will involve major life changes to take Accutane. And I've found almost all of those changes to be really positive. I have a very healthy diet, I don't drink any alcohol, I exercise and sauna regularly and I keep out of the sun. I can't recommend Accutane enough if you are dealing with severe acne that doesn't respond to anything else. It is a very serious decision to take this drug and you should have a very long, detailed conversation with your doctor before you take it. But it changed my life. Oh, and because while I'm on it, my skin doesn't produce much oil, my hair looks FANTASTIC. Best side-effect ever.

 

Edit: If money is tight, I suggest calling the manufacturer of an Accutane generic if you're considering going on it. There have been recent changes by the FDA about which generics of this drug are allowed in the states and many generic producers are looking for free advertising. Perhaps you could work out a deal with them. If not or if something this drastic isn't for you, I would recommend doing everything that is suggested that is non-prescription. Try a gleuten-free or dairy-free diet. Try vegetarian or low sodium. Change your lotion, your soap, your detergent. Try an herbal supplement with corticosteroids or an estrogen booster. Keep track of what works for you in what combinations. Then, when you can speak to a dermotologist or a GP, you'll be coming in with a lot of information and you can cut right to the chase with what works for you. Good Luck!!

Edited February 10, 2010 by apearlfromgrit

[Satisfaction]

Try tea tree oil from the chemist.

Also check your diet. You could be intolerant or allergic to something you are eating. For me it was milk. once i cut that out all the minor little sicknesses and complaints disappeared.

Also watch your fruit consumption. Fruit has lots of good stuff in it but also lots of sugar.

[cashew]

I'm 23. Until recently, I've had acne most of my life.

 

Last year, I found Acne.org. It's an excellent resource. After countless visits to the dermatologist, I've learned that treating acne is really a trial and error process. Acne.org saved me time. There, I was able to read about most of the prescription and over-the-counter acne medications. The user reviews of the medications were very helpful. I chose a prescription acne medication, asked my dermatologist about it, and now I have clear skin.

 

Visit the site. Read Dan's story. Try the Acne.org regimen. After you get health insurance again, you may also want to look into the prescription medications and ask a dermatologist about them. Really, see a dermatologist. Internists aren't trained to the same extent dermatologists are to treat acne. Also, acne medication "drug reps" don't drop by their offices to educate them about the latest products out there. Again, dermatologists are more informed and more up-to-date than internists are about acne. Think you have swine flu? See an internist not a dermatologist!

 

Also, speak to an informed pharmacist about the medications you're interested in. Are you dark skinned? Do you know that some oral antibiotics used to treat acne can permanently leave a dark cast your skin after sun exposure? Benzoyl peroxide darkens acne scars in the same way. I'm black. Any type of scarring I have is already hyperpigmented. Benzoyl peroxide worsens this effect. I didn't sign up to replace pimples with dark spots that take months to fade!

 

One more thing, avoid comedogenic ingredients!!! You shouldn't be using concealer, foundation, blush, etc. that has any comedogenic ingredients in it. You can find an excellent list of these horrible ingredients here: http://www.dermaxime.com/acne-comedogenic-ingredients.htm

 

GOOD LUCK!!!

Edited February 10, 2010 by cashew

[cashew]

Now, I have to say that I never wanted to admit that clear skin was as important to me as I now know it is. Frankly, I always thought I was being shallow by being so concerned about my skin. There are people with severe malformations and diseases and I'm worried about pimples? But looking back I can see how truly crippling it was to my self-esteem, my social life and even my professional life. I avoided Accutane for years. No way am I going on, essentially, chemo for my acne, I thought. But now that I've done it, I've wondered why I waited so long.

 

Clear skin is more important than I realized too. With clear skin, I find myself walking with my head up, looking into peoples' eyes, and smiling more.

 

Accutane is the closest thing to a cure for acne. I've seen some amazing results.

[SuburbanOblivion]

It doesn't work for everyone, but using the oil cleansing method completely cured my skin issues.

 

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

 

The more 'products' I used to fight acne the worse it got for me. A combination of castor oil and safflower oil is keeping me clear and not dry or flaky

[Disillusioned]

Accutane is dangerous stuff to be playing around with, but it's the last resort for some people. Don't listen to people's mothers, who will tell you all sorts of superstitious BS just to keep you from eating the foods you love.

 

I don't know how well it works, but there's a laser treatment which gives the sebaceous glands a kick in the pants and makes them slow down oil production. I've used one of those facial peels, but it only works if you swab all the oil off your face first... even then, it only works on blackheads, not on red welts or whiteheads. Also, the really effective facial peels contain alcohol which will make your face feel like you've been tear gassed.

 

As for me... I just use a good old beading needle which I keep in a bottle of alcohol. I can usually locate the tiny pore, lance it, then squeeze it until nothing but pure blood comes out. DO NOT do this if you're a klutz, or if you have a weak immune system.

[Tim Bernee]

I suffered with moderate acne for about a year and now I use Differin and my face is almost clear except a few little pimples and like one or two scabs. Any recommendations so I can clear up my face in about a week before I return home?

[Spark1111]

Acne is unrelated to cleanliness, foods consumed. It is genetic and based on your body's ability to self-exfoliate its skin.

 

Flawless skin exfoliates the top dead layer of skin cells quickly. Slow-exfoliation leaves dead-skin cells on the top layer which clogs pores and creates acne.

 

Many topical treatments can work, deprending on the severity of the acne.

 

Only a 5 month treatment of ACCUTANE, under a doctor's supervison, CURES acne for life.

 

If there is a history of cystic acne, you may be a candidate. Some products like retin-A, make it worse before it is better. It is crucial to stay out of the sun or alwaYS BE SUN-SCREENED while topically applying Retin-A.

 

Salycylic products are drying, but may not speed up exfoliation.

 

I've know many people who have gone on months of topical treatments under a doctor's care only to beg for Accutane. Acne is gone for life.

[xxxheartbrokenxxx]

I have had awful skin since I was 11 years old, now at the age of 28 I am starting to wonder if it will ever be clear and look nice without make up. I have tried EVERYTHING (over the counter spot cream, tea tree oil, topical antibiotics, oral antibitics, many types of contraceptive pill, vitamin pills, homeopathy, sunbeds, changing diet, exercising etc) - even Accutane a few years back when the acne got cystic and very aggressive, I took this for about 7 months and it did help at the time and everything felt much less greasy but when I came off it things slowly returned although not quite as bad as before but my skin still feels very oily and inflammed from spots a most of the time. So I think this would only cure acne 'for life' for certain people only. The only thing I can think of that I havent tried is laser treatment, but this is only due to lack of opportunity - I would love to try it sometime.

 

Its really difficult applying make up as it is not just the spots I have to cover but the overall apearance of my skin is just so red, scarred and uneven, I wish my skin could just look ok without having to put so much **** on my face. Oh and before anyone says anything, makeup is not the cause of mine whatsoever - I have suffered severe depression in the past which occasionally involved not leaving the house for weeks, therefore no make up applied during that time - and acne remined the same regardless.

 

I also hate that people blame chocolate and other junk food - it is not the cause, PERIOD! It is just so ignorant of people, and there have been times where I have been very upset by peoples 'helpful' comments when occasionally indulging in these foods! It got to the point where I would feel uncomfortable eating chocolate in public in case someone said something. I remember when I was at school most of the kids would eat crap and there was me eating virtually nothing but fruit and other healthy stuff yet I was the one with the acne and I just didnt understand it!

 

I find that I feel much more confident when I am deeply tanned as well, when I go on vacation I really make the most of the sunshine.