SOS: Help with acne!

Douglas Price5 said:first off,
you don't deal with nearly as many breakouts as I do—or most people in this group—so you don't really have the full picture here.
beyond just looking bad, acne carries a much heavier burden: the psychological toll. we're talking about feeling worthless and losing massive amounts of self-confidence. teenagers and young adults are already going through so much mentally, so dealing with skin issues can be devastating. it can lead to some really dark places, even suicide.

At the end of the day, mental health always takes priority over physical appearance.

so if someone is struggling, they should just take those damn pills and get it over with.

Yeah, and on top of that, it’s totally possible for acne to be caused by your mental state in the first place!

I’ve realized that my skin is just super sensitive, and honestly, all that heavy chemical stuff (the same ingredients everyone else keeps mentioning here) actually makes things worse for me. So, I decided to just let nature take its course, and after two months of doing nothing, my skin was totally clear!
All those products just strip your skin dry because they're trying to suck the moisture right out of the pimples!
And the more you dry out that top layer, the more the layer underneath starts pumping out oil to compensate. Your skin is supposed to be oily enough to protect itself from everything—sun, wind, the cold, whatever!
It produces oil specifically to shield itself from those elements.
Then you sweat, the skin pumps out sebum, and you're stuck dealing with all the pollutants in the air, fungi, bacteria, etc., all day long...
The key is cleaning your face naturally at night: just use water and a really mild soap!
That way, you wash away the excess oil and sweat (which is salty and irritating!) along with all the grime you picked up during the day. It keeps your pores clean and empty so your skin can actually "breathe" again.

And if anyone doesn't believe me, try taking a white cotton pad when you get home tonight and wipe your face—you'll see what I mean!

I used to make my three kids wash their faces every single night—because let's face it, teenagers can be pretty lazy and messy—😉
and not one of them ever broke out!

Look, I feel for you guys, I really do. I know exactly how hard it is. Just try this natural approach for maybe four weeks and let me know how it goes. 😉

👋

gentlepanther10 said:Yeah, and on top of that, it’s totally possible for acne to be caused by your mental state in the first place!

I’ve realized that my skin is just super sensitive, and honestly, all that heavy chemical stuff (the same ingredients everyone else keeps mentioning here) actually makes things worse for me. So, I decided to just let nature take its course, and after two months of doing nothing, my skin was totally clear!
All those products just strip your skin dry because they're trying to suck the moisture right out of the pimples!
And the more you dry out that top layer, the more the layer underneath starts pumping out oil to compensate. Your skin is supposed to be oily enough to protect itself from everything—sun, wind, the cold, whatever!
It produces oil specifically to shield itself from those elements.
Then you sweat, the skin pumps out sebum, and you're stuck dealing with all the pollutants in the air, fungi, bacteria, etc., all day long...
The key is cleaning your face naturally at night: just use water and a really mild soap!
That way, you wash away the excess oil and sweat (which is salty and irritating!) along with all the grime you picked up during the day. It keeps your pores clean and empty so your skin can actually "breathe" again.

And if anyone doesn't believe me, try taking a white cotton pad when you get home tonight and wipe your face—you'll see what I mean!

I used to make my three kids wash their faces every single night—because let's face it, teenagers can be pretty lazy and messy—😉
and not one of them ever broke out!

Look, I feel for you guys, I really do. I know exactly how hard it is. Just try this natural approach for maybe four weeks and let me know how it goes. 😉

👋

Look, in my extended family, my cousin's mom dealt with acne for about ten years, and now all her kids struggle with it... especially one cousin who gets really bad, inflamed breakouts. I don't think washing her face at night would have changed much... it's just genetics and that teenage predisposition. Of course, washing up is a must—basic hygiene is key—but your kids might not even get acne if they didn't wash their faces at all. It’s all about hormones; acne is basically just a sign that androgens are working overtime! You might be able to soothe things a little naturally (like chamomile steam, for instance), but it won't make major acne disappear... not if it's a serious issue. I know people who had to go on antibiotics just to manage. On the flip side, I knew a girl who found acupuncture really helpful! Personally, birth control worked for me... but since we're talking about a guy here, I can tell him that out of all the stuff I tried, Anthony was the only thing that actually helped a bit. It's pretty tough going at first, though... it irritates your skin and burns like crazy until you build up a tolerance. I started with a 5% strength as my doctor suggested, and then moved up to 10% once my skin finally got used to it. Just keep in mind, those are all ways to treat the symptoms, not the actual cause...

Here is some info on Anthony (they don't make it under that name anymore!)
If you're in San Jose, you can head to the Curkovic pharmacy over on 5th Avenue to find the replacement for Anthony, which is called Akneroksid.

http://www.tegobe.com/vademecumi/lek/antopar.htm

It’s helped so many people and dermatologists recommend it all the time... good luck!

Douglas Price5 said:So, would those birth control pills actually help guys if they're dealing with acne issues too?

🤣 Well, maybe, but you might end up with slightly larger breasts (not a ton), and your body hair would definitely slow down... plus your voice might get a little higher. But hey, maybe the acne would clear up, who knows? Just kidding... definitely don't try that!

darksurfer39 said:Look, in my extended family, my cousin's mom dealt with acne for about ten years, and now all her kids struggle with it... especially one cousin who gets really bad, inflamed breakouts. I don't think washing her face at night would have changed much... it's just genetics and that teenage predisposition. Of course, washing up is a must—basic hygiene is key—but your kids might not even get acne if they didn't wash their faces at all. It’s all about hormones; acne is basically just a sign that androgens are working overtime! You might be able to soothe things a little naturally (like chamomile steam, for instance), but it won't make major acne disappear... not if it's a serious issue. I know people who had to go on antibiotics just to manage. On the flip side, I knew a girl who found acupuncture really helpful! Personally, birth control worked for me... but since we're talking about a guy here, I can tell him that out of all the stuff I tried, Anthony was the only thing that actually helped a bit. It's pretty tough going at first, though... it irritates your skin and burns like crazy until you build up a tolerance. I started with a 5% strength as my doctor suggested, and then moved up to 10% once my skin finally got used to it. Just keep in mind, those are all ways to treat the symptoms, not the actual cause...

Here is some info on Anthony (they don't make it under that name anymore!)
If you're in San Jose, you can head to the Curkovic pharmacy over on 5th Avenue to find the replacement for Anthony, which is called Akneroksid.

http://www.tegobe.com/vademecumi/lek/antopar.htm

It’s helped so many people and dermatologists recommend it all the time... good luck!

Hmm.. maybe.. could be. My mom had it and both of my sisters did too, but somehow, I don't know how, I managed to dodge it altogether.

darksurfer39 said:Look, in my extended family, my cousin's mom dealt with acne for about ten years, and now all her kids struggle with it... especially one cousin who gets really bad, inflamed breakouts. I don't think washing her face at night would have changed much... it's just genetics and that teenage predisposition. Of course, washing up is a must—basic hygiene is key—but your kids might not even get acne if they didn't wash their faces at all. It’s all about hormones; acne is basically just a sign that androgens are working overtime! You might be able to soothe things a little naturally (like chamomile steam, for instance), but it won't make major acne disappear... not if it's a serious issue. I know people who had to go on antibiotics just to manage. On the flip side, I knew a girl who found acupuncture really helpful! Personally, birth control worked for me... but since we're talking about a guy here, I can tell him that out of all the stuff I tried, Anthony was the only thing that actually helped a bit. It's pretty tough going at first, though... it irritates your skin and burns like crazy until you build up a tolerance. I started with a 5% strength as my doctor suggested, and then moved up to 10% once my skin finally got used to it. Just keep in mind, those are all ways to treat the symptoms, not the actual cause...

Here is some info on Anthony (they don't make it under that name anymore!)
If you're in San Jose, you can head to the Curkovic pharmacy over on 5th Avenue to find the replacement for Anthony, which is called Akneroksid.

http://www.tegobe.com/vademecumi/lek/antopar.htm

It’s helped so many people and dermatologists recommend it all the time... good luck!

It's definitely a genetic thing.
I mean, why does one person struggle with breakouts for years,
while someone else doesn't get even three pimples throughout their entire adolescence?
Is it because that person isn't hygienic?
Is it their diet or the climate they grew up in?
Nope. We can only blame our parents (in my case, my mom).
Though, they always told me (even lately) that I'm good-looking, just like her.
Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess, but I'd really love for this "cloud" to pass as quickly as possible. (I've been fighting this for four whole years—tried facials, every cream imaginable, and all sorts of pills except Accutane. I mean, if someone suggested men take birth control, they wouldn't even listen for two seconds.)
The only real fix seems to be a trip to the coast; things always improve after a beach vacation. Maybe I'll just pack a truckload of sea salt and bring it home with me and see what happens.

gentlepanther10 said:Yeah, and on top of that, it’s totally possible for acne to be caused by your mental state in the first place!

I’ve realized that my skin is just super sensitive, and honestly, all that heavy chemical stuff (the same ingredients everyone else keeps mentioning here) actually makes things worse for me. So, I decided to just let nature take its course, and after two months of doing nothing, my skin was totally clear!
All those products just strip your skin dry because they're trying to suck the moisture right out of the pimples!
And the more you dry out that top layer, the more the layer underneath starts pumping out oil to compensate. Your skin is supposed to be oily enough to protect itself from everything—sun, wind, the cold, whatever!
It produces oil specifically to shield itself from those elements.
Then you sweat, the skin pumps out sebum, and you're stuck dealing with all the pollutants in the air, fungi, bacteria, etc., all day long...
The key is cleaning your face naturally at night: just use water and a really mild soap!
That way, you wash away the excess oil and sweat (which is salty and irritating!) along with all the grime you picked up during the day. It keeps your pores clean and empty so your skin can actually "breathe" again.

And if anyone doesn't believe me, try taking a white cotton pad when you get home tonight and wipe your face—you'll see what I mean!

I used to make my three kids wash their faces every single night—because let's face it, teenagers can be pretty lazy and messy—😉
and not one of them ever broke out!

Look, I feel for you guys, I really do. I know exactly how hard it is. Just try this natural approach for maybe four weeks and let me know how it goes. 😉

👋

Not much to report from my end, other than the fact that it didn't work for me. Guess I'll just blame Mother Nature!
(I tried that too)

I honestly don't know how to comfort you, and if I'm being totally real, I'm not even sure if a high-quality acne cream actually exists? My sister is an esthetician and she just told me to go get professional facials here and there, but when it comes to creams... most of them don't do squat. It’s because, unfortunately, you have to tackle the root cause of the breakouts, and a cream just can't do that! I have to admit, my skin stays clear whenever I'm on birth control, but hey... that won't help you! Oh, and one more thing: stay far away from dermatologists—my mom's doctor did way more damage to her face than any product ever could!

Douglas Price5 said:So, let’s talk about creams and skincare products for a second.
If you want stuff that actually works, stick to these:
-La Roche-Posay Effaclar cleanser
-PanOxyl 5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Both are from Dr. Wolff.
Everything else you find sitting on the shelves at Walmart is basically just overpriced, colored water—it won't do a single thing for your skin.

On a side note, I've been trying to track down some Accutane through unofficial channels lately. If anyone knows a lead, please let me know.

Is that Benzoyl Peroxide stuff still available in stores around here? I haven't spotted it yet.

Since my last post, I’ve actually stopped applying anything to my face. I just wash once before bed and once before school (using some Dove soap with a mild exfoliating effect and some moisturizer mixed in). Since then, no new inflamed breakouts have popped up—just maybe two or three basic whiteheads—though I do have one massive angry one on my chin that’s been sitting there for a week now, seemingly refusing to explode. 🙄

But I assume things will probably take a turn for the worse soon, so I'll try to track down that Benzoyl Peroxide stuff I was thinking about. I used La Roche-Posay Effaclar, but I just realized I might have been using it wrong. I was leaving it on—anywhere from one to several hours—as www.acne.org suggests, which is why my skin was constantly irritated and red. Now I see it's only meant to stay on for a few minutes to an hour at most, acting as a cleanser rather than a leave-on treatment... bravo me. 🤣
And apparently, you leave the Benzoyl Peroxide on longer (?)... I need to get it. Maybe combining it with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar for cleansing might work... hmmm.

vividmaker532 said:Is that Benzoyl Peroxide stuff still available in stores around here? I haven't spotted it yet.

Since my last post, I’ve actually stopped applying anything to my face. I just wash once before bed and once before school (using some Dove soap with a mild exfoliating effect and some moisturizer mixed in). Since then, no new inflamed breakouts have popped up—just maybe two or three basic whiteheads—though I do have one massive angry one on my chin that’s been sitting there for a week now, seemingly refusing to explode. 🙄

But I assume things will probably take a turn for the worse soon, so I'll try to track down that Benzoyl Peroxide stuff I was thinking about. I used La Roche-Posay Effaclar, but I just realized I might have been using it wrong. I was leaving it on—anywhere from one to several hours—as www.acne.org suggests, which is why my skin was constantly irritated and red. Now I see it's only meant to stay on for a few minutes to an hour at most, acting as a cleanser rather than a leave-on treatment... bravo me. 🤣
And apparently, you leave the Benzoyl Peroxide on longer (?)... I need to get it. Maybe combining it with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar for cleansing might work... hmmm.

The dermatologist prescribed those creams to me during my last visit—they were the only ones that actually worked.

Here’s the deal:
You can find Aknefug-oxid mild 5% (that's what it says on the tube) at most pharmacies, just look for it. (Are you currently in the US?)
La Roche-Posay Effaclar is a WASH, so you apply it to damp skin, rub it in gently, let it sit for 3 minutes (or 5 minutes if you're doing your chest or back), and then rinse it off.
After that (wait about 10 mins), apply the Aknefug to your DRY face. Leave it on until it starts stinging a bit; you can even leave it on overnight.
Just a heads-up—after you rinse the Aknefug off, your face will stay red for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. (Maybe don't plan on going out in public right after!)
Actually, a few days ago I started using the Aknefug again (since my main issue used to be leaving cream on for hours), and I also started taking huge amounts of Pit Natural Wealth beer yeast tablets. I can tell you that my skin
has definitely improved; it stays oily for much less time.

Nathan Doyle8 said:I honestly don't know how to comfort you, and if I'm being totally real, I'm not even sure if a high-quality acne cream actually exists? My sister is an esthetician and she just told me to go get professional facials here and there, but when it comes to creams... most of them don't do squat. It’s because, unfortunately, you have to tackle the root cause of the breakouts, and a cream just can't do that! I have to admit, my skin stays clear whenever I'm on birth control, but hey... that won't help you! Oh, and one more thing: stay far away from dermatologists—my mom's doctor did way more damage to her face than any product ever could!

I think there are exceptions to every rule,
In my experience, I once saw a doctor (who’s been in the game for years) do an absolutely phenomenal job.
But another time, she was tied up, so she handed me off to her junior nurse, who honestly did a terrible job.

Greetings from a veteran of this struggle. I’m 24 now, and I’ve been battling these little monsters since I was 16... let's just say my "bloom" arrived a bit later than most...

I’ve tried everything under the sun, and I’ve finally reached the conclusion that external factors have absolutely zero impact on my condition. Maybe it works differently for others, but for me, it’s a closed case. My skin fluctuates from catastrophic to almost decent regardless of what I do...

The only truly successful period I’ve ever had was while I was on Accutane. I know people love to harp on about how dangerous the medication is, but then again, every medicine is essentially a poison, and ninety percent of the junk we consume daily has the same effect...

But my cases are particularly stubborn; I was on Accutane for a stretch of 9 to 12 months, sometimes even hitting 60 mg a day. I finished my course right at the 12-month mark, and yet, here they are again. Since this was actually my second time using Accutane (during the first round, some doctor at a public clinic prescribed a dose meant for children rather than a grown man like myself...), and having spent about three months riding that Accutane high, I find myself wondering what comes next. Nothing, I suppose... I'll head to my private dermatologist for advice and to see if she can help ease the sting on my wallet...

PS. Don't take all this advice to heart, because everyone is different. A cream might work wonders for one person and feel like nothing more than water to another. So, keep researching; I know I certainly will... Fight the power.

Kyle Sanchez6 said:Greetings from a veteran of this struggle. I’m 24 now, and I’ve been battling these little monsters since I was 16... let's just say my "bloom" arrived a bit later than most...

I’ve tried everything under the sun, and I’ve finally reached the conclusion that external factors have absolutely zero impact on my condition. Maybe it works differently for others, but for me, it’s a closed case. My skin fluctuates from catastrophic to almost decent regardless of what I do...

The only truly successful period I’ve ever had was while I was on Accutane. I know people love to harp on about how dangerous the medication is, but then again, every medicine is essentially a poison, and ninety percent of the junk we consume daily has the same effect...

But my cases are particularly stubborn; I was on Accutane for a stretch of 9 to 12 months, sometimes even hitting 60 mg a day. I finished my course right at the 12-month mark, and yet, here they are again. Since this was actually my second time using Accutane (during the first round, some doctor at a public clinic prescribed a dose meant for children rather than a grown man like myself...), and having spent about three months riding that Accutane high, I find myself wondering what comes next. Nothing, I suppose... I'll head to my private dermatologist for advice and to see if she can help ease the sting on my wallet...

PS. Don't take all this advice to heart, because everyone is different. A cream might work wonders for one person and feel like nothing more than water to another. So, keep researching; I know I certainly will... Fight the power.

Man, hearing your age really puts things into perspective (and you're still dealing with this).
Have you been going to your follow-up appointments?

What kind of checkups are you referring to?

You know how these things can drag on until the end of the month, but I’m not losing hope—I’m still fighting the good fight. Right now, it’s just localized to the back of my scalp (folliculitis), so it isn't the worst thing in the world... though the next step involves it spreading to my face... 😲

Kyle Sanchez6 said:What kind of checkups are you referring to?

You know how these things can drag on until the end of the month, but I’m not losing hope—I’m still fighting the good fight. Right now, it’s just localized to the back of my scalp (folliculitis), so it isn't the worst thing in the world... though the next step involves it spreading to my face... 😲

blood and urine tests

Yes, I always make sure to do that right before heading into my appointment with the dermatologist.

Kyle Sanchez6 said:Yes, I always make sure to do that right before heading into my appointment with the dermatologist.

Did you deal with any side effects? Also, how often did you have to get those tests done, and did you have to really push your doctor to let you go on the pills?

Side effects... Well, aside from some minor skin dryness and quite intense lip dryness, everything seems fine. And honestly, fixing the lips is easy enough with a little ointment. I didn't even have to convince her to try it. It’s really just one of those things you deal with when you're in a situation like mine, where no amount of external skincare actually makes a dent...

The first time I saw a dermatologist—one who wasn't in private practice—she prescribed such a low dosage that it was inevitable the issue would resurface after a while. But now, it's only been about a month since starting this second round of therapy, which has mostly been around 60mg daily, though that's a standard dose given my body weight. So, I suppose we'll just have to see what the next move is...

Lately, though, the breakouts have been manifesting as folliculitis on the back of my scalp, which then slowly migrates toward the sides of my face—specifically my forehead and the lateral parts of my face. In previous years, it used to be much more concentrated right in the center of my face...

Douglas Price5 said:blood and urine tests

Do I have to pay extra for those—or does a private dermatologist just refer you to a public hospital?

I wonder what the total damage would be for an Accutane regimen, including all the lab work and everything else...

Look, here’s the deal. I’ve tried absolutely everything under the sun to fight this acne, and honestly, nothing worked. I was right on the verge of just giving up entirely when my doctor finally suggested I try La Roche-Posay Effaclar. Now, the routine is simple: you wash your face with it once a day—which doesn't leave your skin feeling all tight and parched like other stuff does—and then you follow up with a prescription Beloderm ointment. After just two weeks, things are looking way better, and I’m expecting even more progress within the 4 to 12-week mark. I’m telling everyone this because I’ve been through the ringer with endless washes and even heavy-duty antibiotics, and none of it did squat, whereas this is actually making a difference. If you decide to give it a shot, just make sure you wash your face at night and apply a thin layer of the Beloderm so it can really hydrate your skin overnight. 🙂

I’ve dealt with this issue across my entire body—chest, upper back, face—and now, after seeing my doctor in San Jose to get some medication prescribed (can't recall the name), I've gone through everything from Accutane to La Roche-Posay Effaclar, plus Klimicin and Safeguard soap. The trick with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar is that you have to apply it while your face is still damp. Honestly, it works—because acne is tied to hormones, not because of eating mayonnaise. 😁