Someone save me!! PLEASE!

[ehazy]

Hi everyone! I'm 18 and I've got severe acne-prone skin. I've tried everything for it, from Neutrogena to Clean and Clear to Oxy to ProActiv to the more high-end ones; Kiehl's, Dermalogica, Origins, Murad etc. I usually get no more than 3 zits at a time but recently I had a major outbreak. My whole face is congested with acne. It didn't come to me as a shock though as I have been going through a rough and stressful patch. To top it off, I've been spending my time under the sun alot which I guess has triggered my "oil-generating glands"(lack of a better scientific word here =/). I am currently using Karin Herzog in the past month or so and have not seen any improvement, but instead there are even more raised bumps on my face. It's also quite depressing to see that the bumps have also left scars/red marks. I feel like the turn of events in my life and my appearance have made me lose my self-esteem, which always results in my unhealthy food-binging sessions that may have caused my skin problem to worsen as well. I'm tired of feeling like crap and am determined to do something about it every other day. So could you please please please help me? What can I do about my acne problem and the scars? =/ And what makeup would you recommend for my skin? Looking at the mirror makes me feel so insecure all the time. I also realised I have developed some back-acne as well and I wonder if there's anything I can do about that too. Thanks in advance!

[Rose]

hiya, welcome to the forums. I completely sympathise with you at the moment, my skin is absolutely TERRIBLE, and I know what you mean about the confidence issues.
I really recommend you see your doctor about it, it could be a symptom of another problem, such as PCOS or another hormonal condition. You might be referred to a dermatologist who could prescribe a cream or some tablets to help you get your skin under control.
As for the scars, try using a cleanser or toner with vitamin E in it (look for Tocopherals in the ingredients). If you're based in the UK, then Boots does a v cheap range of vitamin e skin care products, I bought the toner for about 79p! have a look here and here for some ideas. Vitamin e is really good for scars and aids the healing process, so if you are prescribed some kind of medication, a vit e product should complement it quite well.
hope that's some help, let me know if I missed anything out!

[Siv408]

Eat lots and lots of raw vegetables and fruits
dont put any harmful creams on your skin!!!
Use aloe vera moisturizers and tea tree oil cleansers
be kind to your skin and drink lots of water!
Try drinking wheatgrass each morning too..you can purchase it at whole foods
acne is a disease from within..your body is trying to tell you you're not eating right..

[kittyell]

I can feel your pain about the outbreaks of acne; you mentioned the things you have tried, but .......have you tried Retin-A??? It is supposed to be the # 1 treatment for acne, and in the process it gets rid of wrinkles but since you are only 18 it would not apply to you.. There is some peeling involved but it should help you, it is only available by a prescription from a Dr.............. kittyell.

[sjkazlow]

Stay out of the sun. That does more damage than good to your skin!! Also, I would recommend talking with your OB/Gyn doctor about it. They may put you on a birth control pill to help with the acne. Some acne is helped with BC pills. I also have clients who have used the progesterone cream (Prolief) from Arbonne & it has helped with their skin tremendously. At your age, your hormones are overactive anyway, so getting that under control can only help with your acne. Several of my clients also use the Clear Advantage system for acne from Arbonne and see HUGE benefits to their skin in just a couple days. I've seen this personally! It works really well.

I know it is very tough to deal with acne, but whatever products you choose, be sure they have salicylic acid in them to help dry up the oil. Also, don't overscrub your skin when you exfoliate, it only further damages your skin. Last, don't put your hands on your face, they carry a lot of oils on them and will transfer to your skin. Stress is a huge reason people get acne, so maybe even try to lower your stress level some.

Hope this is helpful. Hang in there! It is temporary!

[Rose]

^^ v good advice!
Yes, as you're a teenager etc. it's also likely to be down to hormones, so (unless you're put on the contraceptive pill) you could try taking the herbal supplement evening primrose oil or starflower oil, as both of these help to balance out your hormones (they also help with pms symptoms such as mood swings). all round a pretty helpful supplement!!

[Siv408]

acne has nothing to do with the creams you use!!
I've been on a raw food diet for the past 2 weeks..
I had HORRIBLE acne..new pimple every morning and I'm finally CLEAN!!!!

look into it! I promise you won't regret it
..and spread the word!
ACNE IS EVIL!!!!!!! I'm so glad I can finally socialize again!<3

[BlissBubble]

Some people in this forum may stone me for saying this, but maybe just go absolutely SIMPLE for a while. Use cleansers and moisturisers with no active ingredients and a simple base.

Then if you wish to use any topical treatments there is a good chance your skin will respond better.

And of course you must also look at the inside happenings- are you drinking enough water to cleanse your system, is your diet balanced etc?
Multivitamins and mineral supplments are a good way to do this easily because in order to get the adequate amount of what we really need, we'd have to eat things like spinach and lentils in ridiculous quantities.

Hope this has helped...

[EricaCD]

If your acne is severe enough to leave scars or marks that do not go away in a few days after the outburst, you need to see a cosmetic dermatologist. Unfortunately, severe acne is all too common in adolescence. Time will cure it, but in the near term most over-the-counter remedies won't help (and a few will hurt).

I'll probably sound like someone's mother here... (Though I am old enough to be yours, it would be quite an interesting genetic trick.) I'm a lot more concerned about your comment about low self-esteem leading to food binging. That's a vicious cycle that can have much more serious health and psychological consequences than acne. Is there someone you can talk to about that? School counselors, clergy, or even a trusted relative can sometimes be a useful resource.

[averysagenotion]

Tea Tree oil in a applicator works well for break outs that you already have or get some soap that has it in it.

Propolis is an antibactierial substance that you can put on your face or take in a pill form.

You may have a food allergy if the breakouts are around your mouth. I had that for 5 years and then started developing other food-intolerance issues and found out I have Celiac Disease (Gluten intolerance) My test for the intolerance actually came back negative but all I know is my acne is gone, as well as all my other symptoms since I stopped eating wheat, barley, oats and rye.

New Research had determined that certain foods do in fact cause break outs for some people so if you think it is a food, don't eat it.