Acne, treatments Cysters have tried!! - Page 3

hunnybee · 04-06-2005, 07:12 AM

I use Lush herbalism face wash, http://www.lush.com/ it caused me to break out initially as it was drawing the inpurities out of my skin, but my skin looks great now. I follow up with Clinique dramatically different moisturising lotion - nice and light and doesn't block pores.

When I do get spots I use Clinique clear blemish gel which dries them out in no time. I also get spots on my body - under my arms etc, and for this I use Clinique back and chest spray. I know that clinique is pricey, but it really is money well spent.

mystik817 · 04-06-2005, 08:47 AM

I have been on Accutane twice in my life, each for 6 months... at ages 16 and 21! Proactiv works for me for a while, then stops. Hince why I did it twice. Thanks for all the info though! Ill have to try a few out!

crystalkenobi · 04-25-2005, 02:13 PM

I've used clinque for several years. It has helped. I noticed a drastic difference back10 years ago when I started it. I used the soap bar, the claifiy lotion, the dram. lotion. I beleive now they have an acne line up of products that i have not tried yet.

I have tried Borie also. I found out that its like hair products they work till your skin gets used to it then you need to try something else. so I rotate between Borie and clinque..

mandi78 · 05-21-2005, 12:51 AM

Yasmin BCP is what has worked best for me, well, its really the only thing that has worked for me. I went to the dermatologist from age 11-22 and tried EVERYTHING....accutane, retin-a, erythromycin, tetracycline, prescription face washes just to name a few and nothing ever worked. The only other thing that ever even helped was the Differin Solution (the cream and gel did not help). Luckily they did the light treatments and the CO2 spray treatments on my face so I do not have any scarring. Anyway, I was diagnosed w/ PCOS at age 22 and immediately put on Yasmin and within a few months, my acne was gone and did not come back until I went off the Yasmin in April of this year to try NPC for the next 6 months until we start TTC. Well, my acne and oily skin came back w/ a vengence in only 1 month and so I have gone back on the Yasmin until we are actually ready to start TTC. Then, I don't know what I will do. Hopefully, my dr will let me take some type of androgen blocker while TTC (because obviously testosterone is what is causing the acne). I don't know how I dealt with this for 10 years because it has only been back 1 month and it is making me nuts. I put every kind of cream, astringent, etc I know of on it to dry it out (even though I know nothing will help). ARGH!

purpleviolet · 06-08-2005, 02:14 PM

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is the best product I have ever used for cystic acne on my chin. Whenever I feel a spot coming on I use this overnight and it definitely helps it go away. Before I used this the acne would form into a really painful spot and go bright red and then scar, but using the Drying Lotion prevents it from that bad, which means no scars! If you haven't tried this product and you've got cystic acne, you really should!

moonchiald · 08-14-2005, 11:35 PM

Newtons Homeopathics Acne Treatment take 2 x's a day comes in liquid or pellets 6 a day

ChloeM · 08-24-2005, 09:16 PM

I have a question,because I am so confused right now.Anyone noticed that there acne flarred up since losing weight?I've lost 50 lbs,and my acne has flarred up like never before.Of course I feel 100% better since dropping so much weight and keeping it off for years.My menses were restored,I have them every 30-40 days and have for 3 years now.I went to see an endo last week and all my labs came back great.I actually wan't dx w/pcos thru blood test,but thru Ultrasound,but it was a blessing to hear that my hormones are acting right!!! So as you can tell,I have alot to be thankful for.But this acne on my face is killing me.I have even spent 700.00 in these last 2 months on this laser that is suppose to be specifically for acne,and have seen minimal results.Well I'm less oily,but I still have breakouts.I'm currently using 6% Benzoyl Peroxide wash,1% clindamycin,and 1% tazarac(which I thought was contributing to my breakouts),but I went back to my derm today,and she saud that I need to really give Tazarac a chance because it's excellent for acne.Now I know I'm inpatient,but have you ever felt you tried everything under the sun,and nothings happening?I really wanted to stay away from oral meds,just because I've had alot of sucess doing things"naturally",but she gave me a script for amoxicillin pills today and she said to give it a shot.She really wants to do the accutane thing,but I'm not feeling that @ all.Really all the risks and side effects,is what makes me afraid of it..So I guess I needed to vent,but also back to my orginal question,has anyone experienced increased acne from weight loss?

*tinks* · 09-09-2005, 08:34 AM

I found cidal(antibacterial) soap about £1.09 from Boots pharmacy (not sure if u cant get it in the US but thought i'd post anyway.) also seaweed masks really helped - go to www.aalgo.com
I used almost every possible antibiotic and cream and none of them worked - so yes i know how u feel - it is so so frustrating when it seems like nothing is working! at 16 i finally went on roaccutane which i suffered really bad side effects on (i wudn't recommend it to any1!) and altho my skin was clear when i had finished as i hadnt treated the underlying hormonal problem (i only found out i had pcos 2yrs after using the roaccutane) it came back (not as bad but still bad enough) the cidal soap followed by a toner from neil's yard remedies for sensitive skin and a Simple moisturiser, and the seaweed masks have helped sooooooooo much!

Shoshi · 10-12-2005, 04:46 AM

I started getting very bad acne at age 10 or even a bit earlier.
I tried everything - over the counter stuff, Dr. prescribed antibiotics, etc.
Finally, when I was 19 I was prescribed Accutane. It cleared my acne up amazingly well in one summer (and it hasn't come back to the same degree at all and I am now 37).
HOWEVER, I would not recommend Accutane for the fact that it causes a lot of side effects: birth defects if you get pregnant on it, joint pain, etc.
For me, it caused a lot of stomach problems, nausea, loss of appetite and I lost a lot of weight. This was not unwelcome - I wanted to lose about 20 pounds anyway - however, it was unpleasant to say the least to walk around naseous for several months.
More significantly, I would not recommend Accutane to anyone with a history of depression, a history of depression in the immediate or extended family, or to anyone who is concerned about depression.
They now know that Accutane can cause depression (they didn't know when I took it, supposedly), and there are now some law suits because some people even committed suicide when they were on Accutane.
What happened to me is that I developed a pretty serious case of depression which lasted during the time I was on the medication and seemed to wane after I stopped taking it.
However, as with all clinical depression, any incident of depression makes you more susceptible to depression in the future, and since that first Accutane-induced depression at age 19, I have experience serious clinical depression again at various times in my life, at age 22, 28, 31. Currently after going through depression too many times (always accompanied by loss of appetite and drastic weight loss/nausea) I take an anti-depressant (an SSRI, which also causes weight gain, which leads to IR and PCOS, by the way).
I am convinced that that regimen of Accutane sparked my first depression and led to my having problems with depression ever since then.
There is no depression in my immediate family, but both my maternal and paternal aunt had depression.
Knowing this now and what I know about Accutane, I would not take it today, even though it did cure my acne.
Having experienced both, depression is simply far worse and more debilitating than acne (and I had moderate to severe acne for 10 years).
Depression can truly destroy your life (it is potentially fatal), and can make it hard for you to reach your dreams in life.
Since the Accutane, after a few years I began to get the occasional pimple, and I still have oily skin and large pores - I have a tendency toward acne although now my skin is usually relatively clear.
What works for me now is any product with 2% salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide doesn't work as well for me.
Phisoderm and Clean and Clear make some salicylic acid products. Neutrogena does too but for some reason they don't work as well for me and also irritate my skin.
I use the Phisoderm salicylic acid facial and body wash and I dab on a 2% salicylic acid gel on any zits I might have at night.
Clinique Turnaround Cream also has BHA, which is the same thing as salicylic acid, and it works for me too, but it's more expensive.
Phisoderm makes a facial masque with salicylic acid that I also like.
When I can't find it I use a MUDD mask - leave it on for 15 minutes or so and then wash it off, just to soak up excess oil and close the pores.

sweetbean · 10-17-2005, 04:52 PM

Well, for about 2 years before I got married last year, I had finally found a skincare regimen that actually worked for me. I was using perscription meds: Rosanil facewash (which was for people with rosacea, which I don't have, but it had sulfur in it and that worked really well for me). I also used Duac gel twice a day. I was using Nuetrogena Skin Clearing liquid foundation, and Neutrogena oil-free moisturizer for Sensitive Skni. I also was on bcp, which tends to keep my skin in better appearance too. So, we got married, and in January I went off the bcp because we decided to ttc. Then I went to the dermatologist, and she told be that the meds I was using could be harmful to a fetus, so I stopped. The facewash had sulfur and the duac had benzoyl peroxide. Both are carcinogens, so I stopped using them. My skin slowly started to get bad again and now it's a disaster! I'm still ttc, so I'm still trying to stay away from the stuff that I know will help. I started using tea tree oil and it seems to help a bit, but I just read that that also is dangerous to use during pregnancy, so I'm worried about continuing to use it. I've spent so much money over the past 6 months trying to find something to help. Now I've been getting cystic acne around my jawline, on my chin and some on my cheeks now too. Sooo embarassing and frustrating. I hate to even leave house! I've been using mineral makeup, and I like it ok. I just feel like it looks good when I first put it on, but a few hours later I feel like it's faded off. So, I'm still on a search for something to use while ttc that actually works! I'm considering going back to the dermatologist, but I'm embarassed that she'll yell at me because she knows I'm a picker, and even though my skin is bad, I definitley make it worse by picking at it. I just don't know what she can give me that's safe to use while ttc. She said salycilic acid is safe, but it really doesn't work for me. If anything, I feel like it makes my acne worse.

joey's baby · 10-18-2005, 04:22 AM

i do not know if somebody has already said this, and i have never been in this room before so...drink lots of water!! a gallon a day!!!!! that really really helps clear up your skin!!

MelodyGrace · 10-20-2005, 04:11 AM

I just discovered the BEST over the counter topical treatment for acne -- I use proactive and it helps control the acne tremedously, but I still get these HUGE cyst-like pimples that are seriously mountainous. My friend told me about "BYE BYE BLEMISH" -- it TOTALLY cleared it up. I seriously think it is a miracle. It is around $10 at Walgreens. Get it and keep it in your medicine cabinet --

ABumpyGal · 11-02-2005, 10:52 AM

I've had acne since I was 11 and it turned into severe cystic acne at age 12. I went through round after round of oral antibiotics (mainly tetracyclines) and topical antibiotics. This was way back in the mid 80's, so that was about it as far as treatments went and I then went through my first round of Accutane at 15. I was on the highest safe dosage for my weight and my skin didn't even dry up at all! It was as oily as ever. It of course didn't touch my acne. My derm was puzzled, but after a four month break he put me on another six month course of Accutane...

And that about killed me. Literally! I permanently lost half of my hair volume (luckily it was thick to start with), my 16 year old body was so wracked with pain I could barely move, my triglycerides skyrocketed despite a very healthy diet, my eyes ended up permanently damaged (I still have little night vision 16 years later), and the worst thing IMHO... my first episode of clinical depression w/panic attacks. I knew little about clinical depression and ended up trying to commit suicide before my parents finally took me to a psychologist for help. I was a great student and had been planning on pre-med, med school, and a career as either a psychiatrist (how ironic!) or a pathologist.

I had to quit highschool in my junior year due to my poor mental and physical health. I did get my GED, but there went med school for sure! I never did even make it to undergrad.

The depression then came back every fall and winter hence. Then came the anti-depressants, which brought hypomania and a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type II. I will never know if the Accutane caused this to manifest or if it was just coincidence. It happened so suddenly, however, that I certainly have my suspicions.

And to add insult to injury, my acne never did clear up. My skin never even dried up in the least. It had NO positive effects for me. In fact, it caused my acne to suddenly start scarring and I also ended up with some bad scars from a car accident that occured during my second course. Normally I rarely scar, even from surgery or severe injuries.

If Accutane works for you... great! I do understand that everyone has different experiences with drugs and that mine was probably extreme. Just please be careful ladies! Get your monthly blood tests and keep an eye out for depressive symptoms. It can sneak up on you and lay you low before you realize it. Baby your skin while you are on it and for about a year afterwards as it is now acknowledged that it is more likely to scar or injure easily during this time.

On a more pleasant note, I have finally at age 32 cleared my acne to the point that I only get one tiny zit each month before AF. I actually had one month with no zits at all. Even my scars and post inflammatory pigmentation are improving wonderfully. I have to be very strict in my regimen to maintain this level, but at least it's working!

1)Wash morning and late afternoon (to remove sunscreen) with Olay Total Effects cleansing cloths
2)Tone with my homemade 50/50 apple cider vinegar and distilled water toner
3)Every third night do an aspirin mask made with uncoated aspirin and aloe vera
4)On the nights I don't do an aspirin mask, I wash before bed with Olay Thermal Skin Polisher. On mask nights I just use another cleansing cloth to avoid irritation. If I've worn makeup that day, it is removed with Shiseido's Cleansing Oil and then I follow that up with the Olay Polisher.
5)Once a week, or as needed, I use a clay mask to sop up the oil. I like both Queen Helene Mint Julep mask and Olay's blue clay mask.
6)Shiseido SPF 55 lotion every morning
7)Olay Regenerist Serum after my afternoon wash
8)Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle, Anti-Blemish cream before bed

**Spot treat any zits with Clean & Clear Persagel 10% daily and a blob of the Mint Julep mask left on overnight. I can often keep a zit from fully forming with this method.
**If the zit pops, keep Polysporin antibiotic ointment on it as much as possible (helps avoid red spots!)
**DON'T PICK! If you must pick at a blackhead, clogged pore, or zit get a tool called an "extractor" (Tweezerman makes a great one) and use that. Less chance of scarring or accidentally popping something downwards instead of out, thus creating a bigger problem, with this tool

I've tried high end and drugstore products by the barrel and this is what my picky skin likes. At least it's cheap! For me the key seems to be an insane amount of daily exfoliation. Back when I was getting facials, my aesthetician explained that very oily skin tends to "glue" dead skin cells to the surface of your face, thus clogging pores. I'm not sure about that, but it works in practice for me when all else failed. It's helping me look younger as well, as people cannot seem to believe I'm a day over 22 at best.

Internally, I feel these supplements help with my hormones and thus acne:
-Saw Palmetto (2250 mgs. whole berry daily)
-One A Day "Weight Smart" multi-vitamin (with 200 mcgs. chromium piconolate)
-An additional 200mcgs. Chromium Piconolate with breakfast
-2000mgs. Vitamin C
-B Complex Vitamin
-Lots and lots of soy in my diet. I have Hidradenitis Suppurativa and I've definitely noticed that this, and the acne, behave more when I eat/drink lots of soy products
-High-ish protein, low-ish carbohydrate diet (Zone type) also helps greatly

My hair and nails have been growing like nobody's business since I have been taking these supplements as well. Not sure which one is responsible or if it's a synergistic effect of them all. My hair has reached my upper thighs (after being stuck at butt length for about a year) and I have to touch up my manicure every other day as my nails "outgrow" the polish. It's crazy! I've also finally broken my weight loss plateau

Sadly, my BCP Seasonale makes my skin worse. Especially the oil and the HS. This is no surprise as it is very high in androgens. I'm having this changed ASAP! In the past, Demulen was the best BCP for my skin and I hope to try Yasmin soon.

Hope all this mess helps someone out there! Keep your chin up ladies and don't ever lose hope or give up. Just a year ago I would have never dreamed my skin could look this good. And for this little money! TTC cysters may want to try the apple cider vinegar toner as I found that very helpful at getting the acne under control when it was still bad and I would think it pretty safe. Always check with your OB/GYN on these matters though, of course.

Best of luck to you all!

tracylyn · 12-21-2005, 06:12 PM

haven't been online for about a year,due to motem problems..but glad i am back, bc let me tell you, i am suffering agony from this pcos crap..and acne!!!!OMG..not on my face--worse..my back..its horrible!!i have cried so much over this..its painful,ugly,embarrassing..thank god i haven't had a lover in the past 2 yrs,cause..well lets just say im one of those girls that will never uncover her back!I lost my job(that i hadfor 8 yrs)at the hospital due to backsurgery..i have a bone disease..cannot work anymore:therefore i have applied for disability..cannot afford proactive or anything expensive...doc put me on effexors for depression..plus i have underactive thyroid..36,and my body is now my enemy!!can someone please help me with some advice???I'm swimming in depair..

mandi78 · 12-21-2005, 07:22 PM

Are you on state paid insurance (medicaid or something similar) where you get your prescriptions free or really cheap? If so, you could have your doc prescribe differin for your acne....it always helped me. The solution helped better than the cream for me. I know how you feel. The proactiv helped me but I cannot afford it any more, nor can I afford to go to the dermatologist or get prescription face treatment. I am having some other health problems right now and I am having to pay for testing so since the acne is not life threatening, I am just having to deal with it. Good luck and I am sorry you are having to go through all this. God Bless.