Adult Acne - Eureka,CA

What worked for me was ProActive. I started using it when I was pregnant with my second child and have not had a breakout since. This stuff worked wonders for me. I will be 30 this november, and for me, my breakouts happened weather I was on the pill or not. Good luck!

I got a prescription from my dermatologist for Doryx, it is awesome. I feel fantastic that I no longer have break outs! I addition to the daily pill, I also apply a smalll amount of Benzaclyin (spelling) in my problem areas in the morning. LOVE IT!!!

The only side effect of the pill (and most other acne pills) is that you are very photosensative so be careful in the sun. I was really worried about this when I went to Cabo, but my dermatologist suggested I stop taking the pill 3 days before and the effects would wear off, he was right!

Good luck!

Going back on the pill definitely helped my skin. I have polycystic ovary syndrome, which is essentially a hormone imbalance, but going on the pill has been the only thing that seems to help my skin.

Wow R.,
You MUST READ THIS! This topic is very close to my heart. I have just read through all of your responses and must share with you what worked for me...and it isn't a skin product it is an anti-inflammatory diet which is essentially a low-carb (or good carb)diet with some lean meats. After having my first son, I began to get acne and it eventually took over my face and was sore to the touch and dry. Strangers would approach me in public to offer their remedy's. One relative who hadn't seen the progression of it, thought I had poison oak on my face...a little boy in a park politely asked what was wrong w/ my face. It was bad and I had tried everything! I did actually go back on the pill right away after having my boy and it didn't seem to change things. I went to the dermatologist and the antibiotics and solutions took away about 50% of the problem, which was great but not a long term solution!
One day I was watching PBS and they aired a lecture called "The Perricone Prescription" by Nicholas Perricone this guy speaks about how most diseases along w/ adult acne are an inflammatory response in the body. The main cause of this is unbalanced blood sugar. Most American's have serious spikes and dips in their blood sugar because we eat alot of bad carbs and usually eat most of our food 2-3 times a day, vs. snacking throughout the day to maintain a steady blood-sugar rate. He has an awesome diet plan and a book just for this called "The Acne Prescription". Now I hate to even call the program a diet because I am only 5'4" and 98lbs...the last woman on earth who needs to lose weight but this forever changed my life!
So I stopped everything else I was trying (including the dermatologist). My husband got on board and we did his 3-day test diet, which was really hard to do (we don't always realize we are addicted to sugar until we stop eating it) but within 3 days I was sold and we did the 30 day plan. By the time we got through a month of it my acne was gone! What was left was acne scars but with the right care those eventually fade. I just could not believe how easy the solution was (though hard for some). I actually had a couple of people who did not know me back then compliment how great my skin always looks. (Seemed like a joke, if they only knew!)
I believe that I will always struggle with this but I use the redness of my face as a gauge for how to eat! After a few months I did start re-introducing foods back into my diet and when you do your skin will reflect what you ate or how you ate from the day before that didn't work. It has been 4 years and I'm maintaining well, even had another baby.
I think the hormonal changes in my body affected the way it managed sugar. One increases calorie intake when they are pregnant and nursing and the combination of these things took its toll on me. Now I monitor things closely but can eat just about anything. One thing I do consistantly is take a few supplements: Fish Oil, DMAE (from fish), and Alpha Lipoic Acid Anytime I stop it reflects in my skin...they are a must for anyone wanting radiant, smooth skin.
I hope other moms read this very lengthy post. I know how hopeless it can seem.

Since you have sensitive skin i would look at trying "carley's" all natural. it is very gentle and they have an acne line. check it out:

https://samus.securehbs.com/~clearand/store/index.php

When I first got pregnant, I got a little acne on my back and my face was the worst I had ever seen. I have always had sensitive skin. Now that I am done nursing, I am back on the pill and my skin is getting much better but I still have flare-ups. I have gone to dermatologists and their products help a little but I am still thinking of ways to improve my skin. No one I know has had as bad of a problem as I have but a lot of women I know had skin problems during pregnancy. Benzol peroxide has been helping a lot. If I were you, I would go back on the pill as it does help.

I am 32 with adult acne. I am all about doing things as healthy as I can get them. So there are several things that you can do. The first is to up your water intake. Multiply your body weight by .5 and that is how many ounces your body needs to have daily. The next thing is to make sure that you are have regular bowel movements. Any slowness will make your body more toxic. If that is all going well then next step is to detox. If your body can't flush out the toxins, they will come out through your skin. There are many safe detox products. You can get herbal pills. Isogenics has a program to detox. It is a solid product (I am sure that I spelled that wrong. I am not one of there reps.) Arbonne has a great detox and it is very mild. (I am a rep). Whole foods and olivers has very knowledgeable people who can give you great advice and talk you through a program. Talk to your family doctor. There also is a great book called "The Master Cleanse". I can't use the pill because I react too strongly to the hormones. I have a 2 year old and about 3 months ago started breaking out. It got to a point that I could not touch my face with out popping something. So I drink more water-use a detox-and find a skin care product with no fillers to clog your pores. I am loving the difference. If you have questions about Arbonne you can look at my web site ExpectMiracles.myarbonne.com. I would be happy to answer any questions. It helped me. I wish you good luck!

I also have the same problem. Taking the pill definitely clears it up.

I manage a medical spa in Redding, California, and also run an organic farm with my husband. As an offshoot of our farm I produce a line of personal and pet care essential oil products made from all natural ingredients.

Let me suggest two products that will provide rapid improvement and can form the foundation for your lifetime skincare: my essential oil rash relief and NuSkin's Galvanic Spa. My rash relief product has been effective in calming acne pre- and post-eruption as well as a host of other skin problems. (You can read more about my rash relief on my website: www.mccluckfarms.com)

The Galvanic Spa is a product I demonstrate and sell through the spa I manage. Its therapeutic benefits include calming acne at its source by stimulating the skin structure and preparing it to receive healing products post-treatment. My clients (into their 80's) have successfully used it for incredible firming and lifting of soft jawlines, smoothing of deep lines and overall improvement of skin tone and texture. The unit also has heads and NuSkin products are available for improving/restoring hair growth and toning/minimizing fat and cellulite. You can learn more about the spa at www.spabeautyathome.com.

Please let me know if you'd like more information about either of these products. You can reach me by email to ____@____.com or by following the "contact me" link from the McCluck Farms website.

Best of luck!

V. T

R.,

I am 33 years old and had adult acne until about 6 months ago when I tried 2 products that have worked AWESOME and have had my skin looking and feeling better than ever before. The first is an Acne formula called Arbonne Clear Advantage System. Here is the link to it: https://secure.myarbonne.com/arbonne/catherinebell.nsf/p1...

Once my Acne cleared up I now use the Arbonne NutriMinC RE9 Set. Here is the link to this one: https://secure.myarbonne.com/arbonne/catherinebell.nsf/p1...

You will probably have to copy and paste these links into your web browser to see them.

I hope that this helps you as it has helped many, many other people.

Sincerely,
C.

Hi, I heard about this an all natural product called Vilantae that is suppose to be really good. The website is: www.vilantae.com/index.php
Also certain herbs can help (ask your local health food store that sells them).
Good luck,
-M.

Hi R.,
Adult Acne is more common then you can imagine, do not start any new cosmetic line until you go see a dermatologist, I did and they gave me some anitbiotic and some cleanser and it was covered by my insurance.....PLEASE GO SEE SOMEONE, You will feel soooooooo much better!!!!!
Yours Truly,
J.

Hello R.,
I didn't experience acne after going off of the pill but I have been pretty lucky throughout my teens and adult life when it comes to that. I am a consultant with Mary Kay and we have a line of products that help with oily skin and blemishes. The products are great for sensitive skin too. I would recommend a regular skin care program (regardles of the line you go with). With Mary Kay we offer a complimentary appointment where you can try the products and all are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. To view the products go to www.marykay.com/amystatham or contact me with any questions. My kids are young like yours and it's difficult to find the time to take care of yourself.
Good Luck!

Hi R.,

I would like to suggest two things: the first is the product Murad. They have a great line for all kinds of skin types. A bit pricey, but it works and lasts! ( hey, we all know you get what you pay for ;) and second is the herb called vitex. I actually bought it today from my local health food store to help my super heavey flow due to the IUD. Upon my research it helps regulate your cycle and actually help with acne. Check it out! best wishes

So i noticed no one suggested Tea Tree Oil. I had very bad acne for a long time and nothing ever worked, not keeping insanely clean, not the pill, not proactive, not tetracycline, not benzoyl peroxide, not retinol, and i don't recommend any of them, especially if you haven't been to the dermatologist yet. First, you have to do all of the things you can control on your end, like drinking a lot of water, changing pillowcases daily, cleaning your phones, not touching your face, eating a low-inflammatory diet. Definitely go to the dermatologist and see if you can get diagnosed. If the diagnosis is simply "acne" like mine was (I got huge pustules that stayed for a long time), definitely try the tea tree oil. A nice old lady recommended a specific brand to me and she told me to use a fresh q-tip on each affected area, covering the whole face, twice a day. She said it would only work with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Oil (a blend), they also make soap, which should be used twice a day (the flecks should be green, not yellow). I used it for two years and no longer get breakouts, only use it now for spot-treatment. It's super strong and very exfoliating, and will help your skin purge what is already there under the surface, without massive scarring (my acne had to be lanced a few times). I also use Perricone's Vitamin C "face lift" in a bottle (you need to exfoliate to prevent clogging), and his face moisturizers are really good for repairing. Lysine supplements will also help repair your skin. Good luck.

Use Fresh Lemon Juice! I get acne from time to time still and I hate it. My skin was starting to get really bad for some reason and then I looked up on line for natural acne home remedys and lemon juice works wonders. Dab it on your skin with a cotton swab every night. My skin has never looked better. It's natural and saves you money.

It could be rosecea. I would get it checked out by a doctor, or better yet a dermatologit. I am using Azalayic (sp?)Acid and it is really helping. Good luck!

Hey there, Speak to your doctor about a low grade antibiotic called Tetracycline. Its just for this purpose and works very well.
Hope this helps :-)

Hi, my name is T. and i've had a little problem with acne,mine started after I had my son he is 8 now, but I had a hysterectomy after he was born and then I had acne really bad and it was due to hormones. This is going to sound crazy but i've found the best thing to help clear it up is neosporin,just like it helps with cuts it clears up acne, if you think about it acne is like a little infection comming out of the skin, and it's much cheaper than all the acne medecine out there. Hope this helps have a good day.
T.

Hi R. I have the same problem as you and I am 38 I got off the pill and my husband had the vasectomy but I had this before I was even pregnant. I went to a dermatologist and he said if most adults didn't get it when they were young they would get it when they are older. I am taking Tetracycline 2X day and prescribed ointment 2X day and it totally went away as long as I stayed consitent with it. I had another oitment that made my face really dry but there is a new one and it really helped. I tried everything over the counter and most of the time we have alot of bacteria and the only way out is antibotics. I would go see a dermatologist.

Jen

I have had adult acne, too. I also had severe acne when I was a teen. I cleared up the adult acned with ZenMed products within a couple of months. Now all I need to use is the cleanser and moisturizer. The system includes herbal capsules that help with balancing hormones so it sounds like it may help with stopping the birth control pill. Here is more info:
http://www.healthychild.com/natural-acne-treatment.htm

J.

I'm right there with you! I hated being on the pill because it made me a moody, cranky mess, so finally I just stopped taking it... which made my skin go haywire. I have extremely sensitive, very Irish skin.

Accutane works great - I went on it at 22 and my skin was beautiful up until I had my kids. At this point, I'm going to a dermatologist who refuses to prescribe Accutane (so aggravating!) - however she did put me on a combination of meds that is working out GREAT! Differin (which is a retinoid - prevents acne from developing) and Duac (which is a Benzoyl Peroxide/ antibiotic that treats existing breakouts). Having been on this combination for several months now, I must say it is working really well and I've had zero breakouts for several months.

Personally, I think it's most practical to treat acne with the aid of a Dermatologist since you just have to pay your co-pay for any meds (which is cheaper than almost all over the counter items). I hope you find something that works for you!

Dear R.,
I've had acne for many years. I'm in my forties now and my skin, though scarred from the previous breakouts over the years, is relatively clear now. My skin is very sensitive,and I believe it is largely contributed to using so many acne products which dry out the skin. I too, used the pill in my child bearing years but I had't really thought about it contributing to my acne. (?)

My remedy: I only wash my face once a day, usually at night in the shower. In the morning, only if my skin feels oily/slick than I'll rinse it once with luke warm water, but water only.

I use DIAL soap - liquid (shower wash/body wash-whatever it is). If my skin feels dry/tight afterwards,and I usually wait 10-20 minutes to know for sure, I dab Johnsons CREAMY baby oil on the spots that feel dry - but not too much, especially if you have hot flashes or night sweats.

It took about a week for my skin to respond to the process, and after the second week my face had less acne than any other time in my life. Somewhere between 3-4 weeks my friends started to notice. My skin has been consistently clear now for several years since I started the process. I'm afraid to use anything else. I have scarring like I said, but as time has gone by even they have faded.

It's an effective remedy for me. Sometimes the dial feels harsh or my skin doesn't feel like it needs it,so I'll just rinse my face. You'll have to play around with your own frequency, but I'm sure more than once a day is too much.

I also dry my face with a paper towel. I keep a roll near my shower. Pat dry and throw it away. You'll go through paper towels of course, but you won't keep putting the bacteria back on your face like you would by using the same bath towel.

I hope it works for you, but like anything else you've tried, you'll know pretty early on if this is your remedy.

I hope this helps.

The last year I started breaking out and I have never had problems before with breaking out. I changed everything. I changed my face makeup, my moistrizure and cleansere. Ia m now using Mary Kay and really seems to make a difference. The lday I found sat down with me and questioned me on my skin then should me what I should be using. It was a really helpful little session.

If you have sensitive skin with acne, Arbonne has awesome skincare! They have an acne line, but I've seen acne clear up using the Intelligence line and NutriMinC RE9 (anti-aging) line, too.

You can easily go to www.arbonne.com to see what they have. And, if you are interested, I can tell you more and show you how to get products at a discount ( no obligations).

Hope this helps, R.

R.,
It could be due to stopping the pill. I know my dr. told me that once I became pregnant that my skin would be clear. I just couldn't wait for that time I tried everything.
I have used Proactiv for years and liked it. I just recently started using Murad products. You can buy them online or even at Penisula beauty supply.
Proactiv is a little cheapier but I feel Murad is not as drying on my skin and feels smoother on my skin.

I am sure you have seen the informercials on Proactiv they are on all the time...
Something you might want to try. I like both. Proactiv was a little too drying on my skin if used daily. But it sure did clear up my skin problems...
I also suggest lots of water. I recall when I first started getting adult acne I wasn't drinking a lot of water. Once I stopped the soda's and drank only water. My skin started looking better and feeling better...
Water is not the most fun to drink, but you can make it fun. there are all types of items to add to it. Lemon, Lime, Crystal lite......

Good luck.....

Hi,
I have products for sensitive skin (aloe line), and also acne (tea tree). Check out my website: www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/cflesher.
Thanks,
Cynthia

Hi R., I don't have an answer for you but I wanted to share that I am in the same boat as you. I've been dealing with it for 10 long years and I've had it. nothing seems to work . If I ever come across something I'll be sure to post it. In the mean time I'll be reading your reply's and I really hope someone will have something that will provide you with relief.I can't remember what it's like to feel good about my skin. Best of luck.

Hi R. I read your problem and happen to also represent the skin care line of some fabulous medical women doctors. What I have learned is that the skin has to have built up a barrier so it can receive and benefit from the medicine in acne products. When this barrier is broken down (many reasons- hormones, sun damage, smoking etc.) you develop sensitive skin and many products will actually make things worse. The sensitive skin has to be addressed first and then you can clear up the acne. If you want to talk further about this and in more detail you could call me at ###-###-####. L.

I sell skincare products for acne.

If interested, contact me @ ____@____.com

Hi there R.,
I am 34 and have the same thing going on. I would rather deal with acne than deal with taking hormones. I have had this hormonal achne most of my adult life. I have to say when eating right, sleeping good, drinking more water, changing my pillow case more often, exfoliating and moisturizing... I only have the once per month break out with one or two spots. When I am not taking care of myself the best I can...I have major break outs at the time of the month and sometimes don't get it cleared up before my next cycle comes. I feel like my skin became amune to all the things on the market. A spot treatment I find works really fast...the main ingeredient is sulfur. Oh and the other tip I keep forgetting to do is clean my phones regularly. When I am doing all these taking care of myself things...my hormonal swings are so much less. When I remember, durring my cycle I take B-Complex with B-12 sublingual liquid and Pamprin helps with cramping, bloating, AND crabbyness (the blue jar is caffine free, the pink one kept me up all night). Maybe I should take the same advise the other ladies have given and go see a Dr. For now I stay stubborn knowing I can make a big difference with what I already know how to do. When my face starts to look bad...that is a good indication I need to take better care of myself. Good luck to you!
:-)W.

R., your skin issues sound a lot like mine and I sympathize. Why do I still break out at flippin' 28 years old! Arg... but things have improved. My skin is very sensitive and actually prone to dryness, but I also get a lot of clogged pores. After reading "The Skin Type Solution" I got a better sense of what I was doing wrong. You could pick up a used copy cheap. I too eschew tradition acne products in favor a tea-tree oil based ones. Here is the current set I am having pretty good results with: Derma E Anti Aging Moisturizing complex SPF 15 for day, Derma E Clear skin 3 Problem skin moisturizer for night, wash once a day with Dessert Essence Thoroughly clean face wash, exfoliate once a day with Brasivol granular skin cleanser. The creams I buy on Amazon, the soap is at Lassens and Trader Joes, the scrub I buy at Americarx.com, but several websites sell it. I hope this helps.

Hi R.,
I too have adult acne and it started around the age you are now. By the way I didn't have an acne problem in my teens. I feel it is a hormonal thing. I have great success with ProActive but its on the expensive side. I just started using Aveeno acne foam wash and the premoistened scrub pads. They seem to work just fine and the cost is a lot less! Hope this helps!
God Bless,
T.

I had the same problem when I hit my 30's after having perfect skin for most of my life. I tried Proactiv, store facial remedies and nothing helped until I went on Yaz birth control pills to regulate my irregular cycles. I resisted, because I had awful side effects before, but for some reason I have no headaches, no mood swings, no bloating, nothing....and I have great skin again! (Oh, and normal and painless cycles for once!) That's when I knew it was hormonal and not environmental or hygenic. Not sure if it will work for you, but it was the answer for me and for some of my friends who also swear by it. I'm sure it's all about finding the right dose and product for you.

Hi R. - Just wanted to update you that Glimpse Intuitive Skin Care is now available through XanGo distributors, and we are having great results with acne, age spots, melasma and skin discolorations - http://www.my-glimpse.com/ to see results. I am holding Skin Nutrition Classes at my home in San Jose, or at the client's home, so that women (as well as men and children!)can see what Glimpse can do for them! Glimpse is all clean and green, made in the USA, and has no unsafe ingredients. Feel free to contact me and visit my website: www.findgreenhere.com (Safe Cosmetics Page, cosmetic database - check the products/brands/ingredients you are using in personal care products to be sure they are safe/nonhazardous). V. G. :o)