As a teenager I was very fortunate not to have but the occasional acne bump and most of my 20's I had clear skin but the last few years I have started breaking out bad. I have tried everything I can think of and some things suggested. I have tried Proactiv, My Skin ID, clearasil, clean and clean, natures remedy even that little machine that you press a button it heats up and you put it on the bump. nothing clears my skin or clears it for a few days and then we are back to square one. At one point I event went to a dermatologist but to no avail it is still flaring up. SOOOOO my question to you is has anyone tried "Evening Primrose". I have been told that this supplement not only is essential to our bodies but that it helps with acne. I am 30 years old and am so tired of having to deal with this. Any advice or personal experiences would we helpful.
Marda P...say it isn't so!!! I was really looking forward to my 70's being blemish free. Guess not eh!?!
I find Cetaphil Face Wash to be very good at keeping my face clear. And...I drink a lot of water. Seems like a good combo for me. I believe diet is important also to healthy skin.
Good luck!!
I had clear skin until my late 20's. I'm now 70 and I still have break outs. My cheeks are more rosy than most. I have rosacea. You might look into ways of treating rosacea. After the first few years my skin is mostly clear but more ruddy. My skin was oily and I used products daily that were advertised for oil complexions and they helped. I also used cortisone cream for breakouts and that was the most effective. I've not used evening primrose. There are prescription medications for rosacea.
You sound so frustrated, and I can't blame you. You went through an easy adolescence, and then your skin flares up when you'd think your problems would be over.
It seems pretty clear to me that your problem is internal - there's only so much you can do with topical treatments to lessen the severity of the breakouts, but it's not going to have any impact on the formation of those pimples. So you're treating a problem after it occurs, rather than preventing it. So there's definitely an imbalance going on.
In my experience with supplements, it's not effective to use a single ingredient or vitamin or mineral. It's very very difficult to identify just one item that your body is missing. I realize that, to look at vitamin aisles and "health food" stores, you'd think that's the best route to go -- those vitamin companies make all their money by convincing people to stock up on a whole bunch of individual nutrients and to try to figure out what they need. You stock up, you try one of these and then you add one of those, and it takes years to work it out (if you do at all), and meantime the companies are declaring record profits! Wellness is a huge industry and while it's good for us to be proactive about our health, we aren't food scientists and we don't necessarily do a good job at it.
So, of course, the "Evening Primrose" people are going to tell you that this supplement is essential. That's their job. And it's possible that there are benefits to it, as there are to many plant-based remedies. However, even natural things can have side effects and can make an existing imbalance even worse. People even get themselves in trouble by trying to dose themselves.
In my experience, people do much better with re-establishing balance if they use a comprehensive supplement and good advice & follow-up. There are very few companies that do that but I know of a few, and those people do much better. My own skin has been fantastic and I'm routinely mistaken for being a lot younger than I am, so I speak from experience!
Be very careful using any supplement if you don't know where it's made or under what conditions. You want something made in the US (and not outsourced and just distributed here). You can also look at something manufactured in or approved for sale in a country with even stricter standards than the US (Australia for example - if their TGA approves something and inspects the manufacturing plant, it's likely to be very well made). You can also look for a US government patent (providing it's safe and effective and unique) and the heavy use of clinical data, as well as testing before, during and after manufacture. I know that seems like a lot of work, but in my line of work, I've seen so many people get themselves in trouble medically by self-treating and diagnosing with a miracle treatment.
Right there with you! Mine started just after 30, I'm now 33 and I think ive got it licked, but it hasn't been easy or cheap! Okay here's my routine :
Morning:
Wash with Dial bar soap
Wash with Cetaphil
Wash with Somme Step 1
Follow up with Somme Steps 2-5
I have found Chanel make up agrees with me best
Evening :
Wash with Dial bar soap
Wash with Cetaphil
Wash with Somme Step 1
Follow up with Somme Step 4
Wash face every night, no matter what!
Good luck :)
Try washing your face with a baking soda/water paste every few days.
The fine grittiness seems to gently exfoliate and helps keep pores open so the oil is less prone to clogging up.
It's working better than benzoil peroxide for me and my son.
I started breaking out after having my kids. Drinking at least 10 glasses of water/day and not washing my face works for me. I only use water to rinse my face. A dermatologist told me that acne sometimes comes when your skin is dry and washing your face removes essential oil. It seemed counterintuitive but actually made a huge difference.
I cannot say anything about Evening Primrose supplements but I would go to your local health food store and ask the people there. They can be extremely helpful.
One thing that helped my skin was switching to Bare Escentuals makeup line. Their foundation has only 5 ingredients- zinc oxide, which is a key ingredient in diaper cream (think healing and protecting the skin) and titanium dioxide which is a highly rated natural sunscreen. I've used it for 10+ years now and I won't use anything else. The counterfeit versions available by the other makeup companies just aren't the same. I use Bare Escentuals' original version but they also offer a matte formula.
As we mature, our skin changes. Sometimes, each pregnancy can bring on some differences.
I suggest you visit a dermatologist.
I personally use Kiehl Products. You can order them online.
I have not tried it. Something that helped me was to stop using foundation. I use Cetaphil or similar cleansers, a very gentle moisturizer with SPF 15 and try not to rest my hands on my face or anything like that. I wash my face once a day only. Years ago a friend said she gave up foundation for better skin and I didn't believe her, but it's worked for me. Due to how dry my skin is, I can't use mineral makeup. I even had them do a make over on me and it still didn't look right.
My DH and SS went to a dermatologist for antibiotics for acne. Find out what kind it is and if it will respond to them. Be careful, though. One stupid GP prescribed SS an AB that made him photo sensitive - during a physical for football. Yeah, he was a tomato before we realized why. Not cool.
No, I have not used that. Adult acne can be caused by hormones and poor diet. Do you drink enough water?
I know that when I had acne after my kids were born (like you - didn't have bad acne as a teenager/young adult). I do have breakouts and when I do - I realize I have not been drinking enough water.
When I have a particularly bad pimple? I use a dab of alcohol on the tip of a Q-tip before I go to bed. It's usually gone by the time I wake up.
Go back the basics on facial care. Your skin might be freaking out over all the changes you have put it through. I know my girlfriend uses a baking soda paste - much like you would do for a bee sting and also scrubs her face with it (a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice) - no chemicals. All natural.
If you are determined to use a supplement? Go to your local GNC and ask them for advice.
good luck!!
I have always had a problem with this and really, the best thing I have ever used was Tetracycline it's an antibiotic and I really liked what it did for my face. But, I got tired of the yeast infections I wanted to go more natural. I noticed a huge difference when I went on the Nuvaring, even my husband commented on how great it is. I also have been taking fish oil and vitamin D and it has made a huge difference in the skin feel and overall 'glow'. I don't really know what to tell you, but I say keep playing around until you find something. Just realize that acne is really part of life I think for most everyone. good luck!
I do not have experience with 'evening primrose' but I use 'The Neutrogena Wave'. It's pretty cheap and so are the replacement pads. Use it every morning (Pretty quick and easy to use - Basically you just "rub" it on and wash it right off). It's been a miracle worker for me and I don't even use it every day. I use it every other day in the shower :)
It took me three dermatologists before I found one that actually helped me get rid of my acne. I tried everything I every read about over the counter to no avail....my face started getting worse and worse with big cysts.
I am currently looking for a new dermatologist as my great one left private practice. I was so sad. However, I do know that for me the prescription of antibiotics was what finally cleared up my face along with regulating my hormones.
I am thinking your best bet is to find some one with great looking skin and ask them if they have a referral for a dermatologist. Or ask your primary care physician.
Try a professional again...it was the only help I truly got for my adult onset acne.
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