Did anyone totally cure their acne with topicals only?

Domino · 10-17-2009, 08:51 PM

Well my body chemistry doesn't get along well with any kind of BCPs (trust me I've tried) and I've been wondering if anyone managed to cure their PCOS-related acne using only topical treatments.

Anyone?

athenahera31 · 10-19-2009, 10:35 PM

Yeah, I'm wondering too!
I'm using obagi clenziderm for oily skin and it has both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in it. I've been using it for about 2 months and my skin has only marginally improved. It was pricy too, $150 for the 3 pieces, but I think you can get it cheaper if you buy online.
Anyone else's tips would be appreciated!

Domino · 10-21-2009, 05:55 PM

Anyone?

amigagirl · 10-23-2009, 01:30 PM

I went off the pill to conceive, which I did... and decided to try Carley's Clear and Smooth which is a product you can only order online. I think that I've had maybe 2 small zits on my face since I began using it (almost a year) and my back has cleared up enormously, although not totally, but I stopped using it for a little bit when I found out I was pregnant. I really love this product and can't imagine living without it! It works better than the pill I was on (although Diane 35 was the best thing I had ever used) and it's the only topical treatment that has really worked for me.

greenstripedzbra · 10-26-2009, 03:24 AM

before i was diagnosed i had some bad acne problems not really my face which was nice but on my chest and back i didn't know why so i took showers twice a day thinking that would solve it i felt so ashamed and dirty i went to a dermatolagist and they gave me tetrecyclin and detrecyclin and some topical stuff some burned and others didn't none of which worked. It was a pain and still is now that i know why i get this way it makes it easier but i still have this problem i went to a dermatolagist again not that long ago and she put me on doxycyclin i found that it works and helps clear up my face and other ones all over my back and chest. The topical ointments may work for you but every time i tried they dried out my skin and made things worse.

Domino · 10-26-2009, 03:45 PM

I'm at wit's end here...I want to get rid of my clogged pores so badly but everything I try makes my face dry and just worse

greenstripedzbra · 10-26-2009, 04:06 PM

id try the doxycyclin i did and I've loved it. Trust me i know exactly how you feel. once you get pregnant though its not suggested to take but works good. let me know what you think. and what kinds of things you been using and maybe i can help.

greenstripedzbra · 10-26-2009, 04:13 PM

Id try doxycyclin i used it and loved it once you get pregnant though it has to be stopped. but works quite well. trust me i know exactly how you feel and hate it too i break out so often i feel as if everyone is staring at me and judging me. Check it out see if you like it and let me know. If you tell me some of the things you take already i can probably tell you if I've already taken them and possibly be of help.

Domino · 10-26-2009, 08:09 PM

I'm not taking anything :/ I have regular periods, I really don't want to mess them up. Evening primrose oil did that...and apparently I only have too much testosterone, everything else is normal. Currently I'm trying spearmint tea but I suspect it's giving me headaches :/
As for topicals...I use a gentle(r) non-medicated face wash and a salicylic acid treatment with resorcinol. Honestly, I would love to try mandelic or glycolic acids but they're almost impossible to get where I live.
Is doxycyclin an antibiotic? I never have much luck with antibiotics...they give me yeast infections

Happy Wife · 10-26-2009, 10:46 PM

nothing topical ever helped my acne. It just got worse every year. I had more acne at 35 then when I was going through puberty. I was put on metformin in August and my face is clearer than it has been since high school.

RachelAS23 · 10-27-2009, 12:47 AM

The only topical that has ever helped me is Murad Clarifying Mask... anything else I have tried has just made things so much worse (dry, red, itchy). It is sulfur based and really helps with redness and overall complexion... although I have to give Metformin most of the credit for my clear skin. Also, I use a 2% salicylic acid face wash that has helped me, too.

greenstripedzbra · 10-27-2009, 02:03 AM

oh wow i never heard of any of those and i know what you mean about messing up your cycles i'm the same way too and worry and i never saw it hurting them and yea its an antibiotic that sucks they give you yeast infections if that's the case than your right to do that. and it seems like your on the right track with what your doing i learned patience helps even though you don't freaking want to and it to be cleared i feel you sister. lol.

GovtProf · 11-02-2009, 09:41 PM

I found good relief (when not in birth control) using an RX combination of Sodium Sulfacetamide (a topical sulfer gel you use in the morning) along with a salicylic acid cleanser and Differin. However, I have used almost every topical RX possible along with different antibiotics and nothing had totally cleared up my acne except being on the pill and using the RX combination (which I am doing now). My testosterone was at 112... makes it easy to understand why I was dealing with cystic acne, hair growth, and balding!

CGNyki · 11-02-2009, 11:34 PM

I had bad acne for a while, actually since I moved to Texas the humidity is awful and I work outside so I sweat a lot, but I just recently started using tea tree face wash toner and lotion from The Body Shop

Mary237 · 11-05-2009, 01:13 PM

Hi Ladies~

One of the only symptoms of PCOS that I have is the acne and I usually only break out on the lower portion of my face (around my lips and chin area) and also a little on my back lately. I could NOT take the acne anymore and a friend of mine (who also has PCOS) recommended a product - it's Acne Free. It totally works for me. I actually ran out for a few days and was using something else and I started to break out. I find that the Sensitive Skin type doesn't work well for me - I am currently using 24/7 Severe Acne Wash and I love it. I've only seen it at Harmon's and BJ's. Oh,it's also really inexpensive, which is a plus : )

Hope this helps!