Bad Breakouts

I"ve suffered from acne since I was 11. The only thing that really makes a difference for me is if I use a regular facial soap for sensitive skin like Dove before I go to bed at night, not more, and if I shampoo my hair at least every other day and change my pillow case every few days. I've tried all of the over the counter stuff, many different perscriptions, and also herbal/homeopathic things and none of them have helped out much. Good luck and let me know if something else works well for you.

A good skincare professional may be able to help you. If you are near Thousand Oaks try Josie Skin Care ###-###-####.

Hi V.,

Ask your self, where does acne come from? It comes from the inside. So why do so many people put stuff on the outside to treat it?

My husband used to suffer from acne...his entire life. He did everything. He bought thousands of dollars of meds and creams and the like. Nothing worked. He resigned to the fact that he would always have it.

About 4 years ago we started a nutritonal program...feed the body so that it will cleanse naturally. www.ShakeAndCleanse.net. He gets maybe 5 or 6 pimples A YEAR... that's it.

Take care of the inside of your body and your skin will be naturally radiant.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

Hi V.!
I have horrible skin problems, though with extremely dry skin. I have tried everything under the sun and have educated myself well on product ingredients for all types of skin, including acne-prone. I have purchased everything from the cheapest drug store skin care products to some of the most expensive department store brands. What I have found that works best is a line called "Paula's Choice". She is actually a beauty products reviewer and in spite of having her own line, gives a fair shake and evaluation of other brands' products. You can read her reviews on thousands of products at her site, where you can also purchase trial sizes of her products, all fairly reasonably priced.

I have a sister who has problems with horrible acne and had also tried many things. I bought her the Paula's Choice line of products and with regular use, her problems cleared in around 10-14 days.

Checkout www.paulaschoice.com

Hello,
Try the Murad Products. Acne complex is the best, believe me, is the only product that worked for me. Visit the web at murad.com

Good luck

C.

i suffered from adult acne from about 24-36. i was on different medications and used proactive daily, and still would break out. i read a book that told me that artificial sweeteners could cause adult acne in some people. i gave up all my diet cokes and all forms of artificial sweetener and within days my acne was gone. it has been 2 years- no medication and no proactive needed and not one breakout! good luck

Hi V.,

I'm right there with you. Or I used to be. Have you heard of Shaklee? It's the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S. and they have helped me so much. Their products are safe, they work, and they are earth-friendly. First drink lots of Best Water and get on Vita-Lea multivitamins. Shaklee vitamins are different because they they are never heated above room temperature during processing so the enzymes are still living, they are food-based, and they have a patented delivery system so they abosorb in your body extremely quick. Along with a healthy diet, you'll want to add alfala, zinc, fiber, and probiotics. Doing a detox before you start is an excellent idea. Shaklee has a skincare line called Enfuselle that is the best. It doesn't irritate my skin when I have breakouts, it feels good on my skin, and it has helped to repair my skin and control my breakouts. The Acne Clarifying Complex, the Calming Complex, and the C+E PM Repair work great for acne. Let me know and I can email you a before and after pic of how Enfuselle corrects skin damage. The foundation of Enfuselle is patented Vital Repair+ which is full of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. It does not contain parabens, mineral oil, or any toxic chemicals. You can check out the products at www.greennutrition.info and register to win $200 of free products at www.freegreenproducts.info.

I'm 34, never had acne when I was young, but have it now. I've tried perscriptions, over the counter... I started using Sensitive Acne Free (Walmart $17) several months ago and it works well. I also had luck with $$$ MUrad tv infomercial.

I don't know what kind of acne you have, but I started to get a lot of cyctic pimples and I discovered that it was from too much caffeine. I got pregnant, stopped drinking coffee and my skin cleared up. Good luck.

Oh, I feel your pain! Hello, 40 years old and still experiencing acne!! Started when I was 20 and I've had it off and on (mostly on) since then. And not just small pimples, the cystic acne that is big, deep and stays for months, then remains discolored for months. When I was younger, I was willing to go the oral medication prescription route. Now, I truly watch everything that goes into my body and I'm just not willing to pop pills any more.

Anyway, I've done the over-the-counter and the more expensive stuff formulated by doctors. Three months ago, at my wits end, I did some research online and discovered the NeoStrata line. It's rated very, very highly by average people with acne. There are lots of formulations, but the one that I chose was NeoStrata Gel Plus. It's a glycolic formulation w/ 15 AHA (I have oily skin and this formulation is recommended for that type of skin). I actually purchased it on Ebay to cut down on some costs and OH MY GOSH it has done wonders for my skin!!! (I think I paid $20 for 3.4 ounces) I haven't had a breakout since, now 3 months into it. AND -- it's diminished my fine lines and lightened my couple of sun spots on my face, too! I'm very, very happy with it and a little goes a long way. After 3 months, I've probably used 1/2 of the 3.4 ounces.

I guess I sound like an infomercial, but I have nothing to gain by promoting this line. I can tell you that I'll be using it for a long, long time and will probably step it up to the next glycolic level when this bottle runs out because I like what it's done to my sun damage.

Anyway, for what it's worth, from one acne-sufferer to another :]

Hi V.. I am 51 and began breaking out about 9 years ago. I did not experience acne as a teenager, other than the once a month hormone zit on my face, so was quite surprised when this "adult acne" began to appear. After some time I made an appointment with a Dermatologist and found I had Rosaeca (sp?). I was given a prescription for MetroGel and use it faithfully morning and night, worked wonderfully! Not everyone with Rosaeca gets the "pimple"/pustule, some experience a redness or flushing of the skin that does not go away over time. Hope this is of some help.

I have had a lot of success with Proactive. My sister and brother also use it. I don't buy all their products, just the wash and the toner. It has been the only thing that has worked. When I run out of it, I notice a huge difference. I hope this helps.

my dermatologist perscribed me with "sprionolactone" (a hormone blocker) it blocks the hormones that produce acne. It totally worked for me - took a month or so to see the results ; but once I did - it got better and better. Go see a derm. and ask about it!
I am an esthetician and work @ Avila Bay club and i use "Epicuren" products which are amazing and work great for acne as well. If you'd like to see me make an apt. i'd love to try to help also!!
Good luck!
S.

Hi V.,
I too had horrible adult acne, I had the best skin durring high school but then I graduated and it all went down hill from there. My dr prescribed me Yaz, it's a birth control, I'm sure you've heard of it, it took the acne completely away. I now have the skin I had in high school. It also helped with the mood swings and irregular periods too, but it cleared up my face wonderfully. Talk to your doctor, that could be an option. =)
Hope this was helpful,
take care,
H.

Go see a dermatologist! I had a tough time in my 20's w/ acne. There are a lot of topical products you can try out before doing Accutane. Accutane might be your solution but they usually try topicals first. I found success once I got a skin washing regime I liked and stuck with it - twice a day - if I go to bed w/out washing I'll def get one of those big zits! Everyone skin's is different but I wash w/ Neutrogena Acne wash and Aveda tourmaline exfoliator both at the same time. Then I spray on Aveda's replenishing toner. Then I use a very light lotion. Right now I use La Roche Posay that I get at CVS but it's pricey. I've also used Clean & Clear's lotion for acne. Then I apply clean & clear's acne gel. For make up make sure you use oil free stuff. I use bare essentials mineral stuff. But I think the concept is an acne wash, exfoliator, toner and oil free moisturizer and some kind of leave on acne gel.
As far as Milk Thistle...I don't believe that stuff that something is wrong internally. They've studied acne long enough...it's not diet, chocolate, etc. Some people just have oily skin and get acne!
It's very frustrating - esp as an adult. I feel for you. My advice is don't waste time and money on finding a cure on your own - go see a dermo. Get it under control first and they'll help you find a long term solution.
Agree w/ another post - if you get a really big one you can go in for a cortizone shot. I did that - it makes them go away fast.
Good luck!

Hi V.,

My company has a 4 part system for acne. My son now 30 still uses it. He claims his skin gets all gunky without it. He expects it on his July birthday and December Christmas present. You get a cleaner, astringent, plus a lotion, but his favorite is this little roller ball bottle you carry with you so if you feel like one is surfacing, you just zaps it with the roller. I have one about every time I ovulate. It stops them in their tracks. This system comes with a 60 day empty bottle for exchange or credit. You can give me a jingle and I explain it all to you. It retails for $24.50 but you could get it for $16.96 if you join our buying membership club.

Of course you'll be needing a good vitamin/mineral combo and a whole food diet to go along with this anti-acne system. My company has that set up too. We have the most natural nutrients ever that actually get dissolved and absorbed by our bodies. You would have to take 30 Centrims or 15 One-A-Days each day to get the equivalent absorption. You can try them for 90 days and if you don't feel the difference return the empty bottles for exchange or credit.

Carpe Diem, F. ###-###-####

I use some awesome antioxidant formulas and have had great results with my skin as well as with clients. I can get you more info if you are interested.:)

have u gone to a skin doc? i see Dr. Seltzer in Pasadena..u can get a cortizone shot...i don't have bad acne but honestly when i do break out clearasil works for me. If u go see Dr. Seltzer tell him Debbie D. sent u and that i said to give u 10% off your visit..i told him that if i send any friends in he has to give them a deal :)

Acne is our bodies way of telling us that there is something wrong internally. Milk thistle is a liver cleanser, also known as silymarin. We have 3 systems of excretion: Liver, kidneys and skin. By the time our skin flares up... we're in trouble. I'd say check your diet, consult a holistic practitioner, especially if you are thinking of taking something to cleanse your liver. If you are going to go it alone, make sure you do your research on each herb you are interested in taking, make sure they don't conflict with any of your medications if you are taking some and make sure they don't interact with each other! Oh! And lots of water and a great multi-vitamin/mineral are both great places to start.

www.HolisticWellnessAndNutrition.webs.com

J.

I'm not sure the severity of the acne but I've had good results with some washes, herbal serums from www.katuri.com. And, they are reasonably priced too!

I would suggest going and getting some facial treatments, you would be surprised how well that will work. I am not sure where you live but I can recommend someone that works in Simi Valley. If that works for you email me and I will give you all the info. ____@____.com