Acne anyone?

[srk1103]

So does anybody have a good soluion for acne? I used to have a mild case of acne in my high school days. Since College I haven't worried about the occasional pimple on my face. I don't use any acne treatment, I don't even wash my face everyday. But now that I've been shaving more, I notice that the few I get are always in the way, and I sometimes cut them while shaving. Then I shave the next day and cut them again so they don't heal, which causes more problems when I got to shave the next day. Again I don't get many, just wondering if there where any tips out there on how to get rid of the few that I do it, or how to shave in that area with out cutting them up?

[19george]

Wash your face daily silly!:nono:

Seriously though, I would suggest getting a good olive oil soap, or a glycerin soap to clean your face (as well as the rest of you!). Also pick up some French Green Clay and hydrosol from qed (I think this about the 2 millionth time I've recemmended the clay). I use it about once a week and since I started, the occasional acne that I used to get is completely gone. Great stuff.

[SALTYDOG]

In order to diagnose your 'blemishes' as "acne" one would need a bit more information however, you mentioned that you don't wash your face on a daily basis. How about bathing on a daily basis? How often are you shaving? Do you wash your face prior to shaving? How many 'blemishes' are there? How big are they? What do they look like? Are they simply red or do they come to a 'white' head/eruption? The answers to these pertinent questions are all necessary in order to provide a more accurate and educated 'guess' (a true diagnosis can and should only be made by a personal visit to your dermatologist) as to the cause of your suspected "acne".
In the event that you are not washing your face prior to shaving, the cause of your acne could very well be bacteria. As you shave, you are essentially removing the outer most layer(s) of skin cells otherwise known as the epidermis. By removing this layer, you are essentially exposing 'new' skin cells as well as opening up your pores. It is ultimately this process of exposing new skin cells as well as the 'opening' of pores that provides an unimpeded 'pathway' by which bacteria can enter, fester, and eventually expose itself in the form of a 'blemish' or an 'eruption'. This is why good hygiene practices are so important both before and after each shave.
The other possible cause for your "acne" could simply be your skin adjusting to your new shaving and hygiene regiment. If your skin is not accustomed to being washed on a daily basis then it would make sense that it is now adjusting itself by producing more oils with which to protect and moisturize the skin than usual because of the natural cleansing/removal of oils that takes place during a proper shave. You said that you have not had any "acne" issues since college, given this information is accurate, I would venture to 'guess' (not diagnose) that it is for this reason that you are experiencing 'blemishes'.
In any case, the standard treatment (for mild cases anyway) for this rather unsightly condition is quite simple. First, you need to maintain a good and consistent hygine regiment. Second, get yourself a facial cleanser that contains 'salicylic acid' with which to cleanse your face with. The salicylic acid will act as both a cleanser as well as an anti-inflammatory for the blemishes that your skin already has. Third, try not to 're-open' the blemishes when you shave. The more you expose these blemishes to bacteria, unavoidable environmental pollutants and the like, the longer it will take them to heal. If you can, give your skin/face a rest. Try not shaving for a day or two. In addition to washing your face more regularly while you are experiencing these 'new' blemishes, you might want to try simply cleansing your face with hydrogen peroxide before going to bed at night. This will certainly remove any additional surface bacteria from your skin without 'stripping' it of all essential oils.
As for the information provided to you previously (here), I would recommend against the 'olive oil' soap. As for the glycerin, it certainly would do you no harm as a regular soap but, while you are experiencing 'blemishes', I would stick with the 'salicylic acid' based cleansers with which to wash your face. Finally, since I do not know what the specific contents of the other suggested cleansers (hydrosol, French green clay, etc.) are, I cannot make a recommendation either way.
Obviously, if the condition persists or worsens, I recommend that you schedule an appointment with your friendly neighborhood dermatologist (IDIOT CLAUSE). They will be able to properly diagnose your condition as well as, prescribe stronger cleansers and/or any topical treatments that they believe might help.
Please feel free to 'pm' me if you have any further questions or concerns. I hope that this information proves to be of some help and use.

SALTY--

[Cool Calm Sean]

It seems the more I read about Acne, the less I know but Cetaphil used as a daily cleanser has worked for me. It's very affordable as well.


sometimes cut them while shaving. Then I shave the next day and cut them again so they don't heal,

I'd try to stay away from doing that. Shaving over my acne caused me to have Folliculitis aka Barber's Itch (don't google that after eating) which took forever to get rid of.

[rtaylor61]

I don't know your age, but if you are still afflicted with acne, I would recommend seeing a good dermatologist.

Randy

[Kyle Stoner]

http://www.dermnetnz.org/acne/img/folliculitis3.jpg





looks a lot like something i have experienced in the same relative area, only not quite as bad. I think it's probably important to recognize this as being distinctly different from acne et al.

[Edcculus]

I can deal with the occasional pimple on my face. If you find a cure for backne, let me know. I dont get it too often, but man its got to be one of the most painful experiences.

[srk1103]

Thanks for the advice guys. I shower at least once a day, if I got the the gym then I shower twice a day. I always figured that my face got cleaned in the shower process somehow, however I never focus on my face. When I shave I always rinse my face with water, but don't use any type of soap.

[srk1103]

does anyone know of a good soap containing 'salicylic acid'?

[mpisarcik]

does anyone know of a good soap containing 'salicylic acid'?
that stuff caused more acne for me than anything I ever put on my face.



From what I have tried over the years:

the best face wash is:
http://www.sublit.com/jcreport/update/02.11.04/img/sharps_logo.jpg
Sharps Barber Brigade from Target (rebellious skin for me)

Best Deep Cleanser 1-2 times per week:
http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/16512/100.jpg
benzoyl peroxide 2.5-10% see what works for you (be careful it will stain pillowcases)

Best Shaving Cream:
http://www.sesto-senso.com/frtproraso.jpg+http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/geek/gars/images/6/7/5/sotd_923.jpg
Proraso + Trader Joe's

Best Razor:
http://www.qedusa.com/photo/Merkur/Mk23c.jpg
Merkur long handle

Best Blades:
http://www.cottonblossomcrafts.com/feather_razor_blades_2.jpg
Feather Razor Blades

Best After Shave:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00023EREU.01-A6VOUD3UOVR5T._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Alum Block

Other Notables:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000A3WWIK.01-A1JZL1L8ARSOYB._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Proraso Pre Post Shave Cream


After years of shaving, I have been getting the best results from this process:

1.) Rinse with warm water for a few minutes.
2.) Combine Proraso Cream + Trader Joe's and lather up
3.) Shave with the Merkur LHC and Feather Blades
4.) Rinse with warm water, then cold for 5min total
5.) Apply alum block to entire beard area
6.) Take a nice warm shower
7.) Mildly wash with Sharps Barber Brigade
8.) After the shower, apply Proraso Pre/Post Shave Cream


For months I tried product after product to make my shaves/skin look better.
this is what I have done for the past week and my skin (especially problem areas) have never looked better. I can't explain why, but it took throwing everything out the door of what I thought was good for my skin to try this.
YMMV.

[SALTYDOG]

Kyle,
The photograph you posted appears to be of a different condition entirely. The infection on the individual's face looks to be one of a viral nature (more than likely, herpes simplex virus). Why post this here?

SALTY--

[SALTYDOG]

SRK1103,
As far as a recommendation on a soap containing 'salicylic acid', just go up to your local pharmacy or drug store and ask the Pharmacist what he/she recommends? Your Pharmacist knows his/her 'stock' better than anyone else. As a group, Pharmacists are more than happy to answer any questions that their customers might have. It provides them a break from their usual 'assembly line' (filling of prescriptions) work.
If they have it, I have found 'SalAc' to be one of the best cleansers for this purpose. It comes in liquid form and in a white and blue bottle. I hope this helps.

SALTY--

[huxley_knew]

So, I've dealt with since the age of 12 (I'm 24 now), and I can tell you that I only recently (in the last 6 months) figured out a way to keep in under control. For me, the difference came down to a couple things:

1.) Being as gentle as possible through the washing/prep process. I know it sounds a little strange to be talking 'gentle' whilst dragging a super-sharp blade across your skin, but you'd be surprised at how much a difference this can make. Someone above mentioned Cetaphil's daily cleanser. That stuff has worked wonders for me. All I need is a good 10-20 seconds of light massaging and it does its magic.
2.) I don't know if this is an option you're willing to consider, but adding a healthy amount of benzoyl peroxide gel (whatever percentage you want) would probably help a great deal. Being consistent with this 'regimen' as it's sometimes called has really cleared me up (though little things can cause flare-ups, such as changing to a DE razor a few weeks ago).

Something to think about, too...are you getting eruptions in spots that have nicks or razor burn from shaving? A lot of the time for me, it seems that ingrown hairs and infections from small cuts can lead to acne-like blemishes. If that's the case, I would try to be extra careful during your passes to make sure you're not going over the same spots over and over again.

Hope this helps!


--Joe

[srk1103]

I've been wetshaving full time for a month and a half. I can say I've noticed the blemishes have increasesed slightly over the last week or two as I've been trying to get closer shaves. I can't get a BBS shave yet, some spots are close and others still have a long way to go. I've noticed that the spots where I get some blemishes are at the spots where I get the closest, most smoth shave. I'm not talking about much here, just a blesmish or two pop up. Its not server, and doesn't hurt or anything, just kind of gets in the way for when I shave again. I don't think its in grown hairs, I've never had many of those. I don't think its anything I need to see a doctor about. I think being more carefull while shaving, and trying to figure out some soap/cleaning schedual should fix it.

The help and advise is great, I'll be tying out some of these suggestions over the next few weeks. And hopefuly with a little luck, I'll have healthier, happier, smoother skin.

Again, thanks, and keep the ideas coming!

[Nick75]

Use a facewash twice daily. And whenever you skip shaving, this has to be adhered to without fail. Otherwise, oils will build up on your face extremely quickly when the stubble starts coming through, giving rise to blackheads and spots. So perfectly exemplified by the picture above.

But I guess it's up to you in the end - give the blackheads and spots a chance, or don't.

[bordeaaj]

I have never had a problem with acne or shaving bumps in the past but I started having similar shaving problems a while back after turning 40 and tried several of the regimens listed here for the last year or so without success. I even tried Proactiv, antibiotics, etc. Finally, I heard one of my friends talking about someone he knows who is a Hollywood makeup artist and who works with many celebrities. He said that the Zihr line is pretty much standard issue in Hollywood to fix and prevent these kind of things. It is a little expensive, but no more so than some of the products discussed here, and I had a hard time justifying the expense to myself...but after trying the Zihr shaving products I had such success that I went and bought more of their facial stuff. The basics I would recommend are the Clean, Prepare shave oil, Shave Cream (works better than the gel for me), & Soothe after shave, Fix, Erase, Correct, & Protect (but they have a webpage that makes recommendations for oily or dry skin, etc). After joining this group I recently tried the C&E and Proraso pre-shave, cream, and post-shave trios and went back to Zihr very quickly. I get just as smooth a shave with less irritation and no overwhelming after scents. Some people criticize the shaving cream for its lack of lather (apparently intentional...I still use a brush to apply it over the oil) and others seem to dislike shave oils in general...but if the Zihr line interests you at all don't let that deter you. Hollywood guys use this stuff for a reason. You can find it at some Macys, some Nordstroms, Sephora stores, etc (along with other brands with similar regimens) but the best place to get it is online at their website as they offer discounted online-only kits that will save you quite a bit of money. Hope this helps a little.

P.S. - After posting I noticed there seem to be many negative reviews of individual Zihr products on this forum and some of the comments are very valid. Zihr packaging is not fancy or user friendly, they don't have floral fragrances, are not meant to lather, and can be very drying as any fruit acid or salycylic acid product can be. The cleaners are definitely meant to be followed by moisturizing agents. But if you go to their website and choose products that suit your type of skin (oily or dry) and use them together as directed these products really, really work. At least they did for me...I tried and could not go back to the mix and match, trial and error methods I have used before. For those stuck on whipping up exploding fragrant clouds of foam or who like to try a "little of this" with a "little of that" today and do something different tomorrow the Zihr products are definitely lacking.

[soulshine]

this is the only face wash that has helped me. i might also mention that i have never consulted a dermatologist.

http://www.acnefree.com/node/40

you can pick it up at your local target store for around $6. i have tried a few washes containing salicylic acid but that made things worse. i will also put in a good word for the french green clay from QED - the stuff is great!

s~s

[Kyle Stoner]

That is a picture of folliculitis, as mentioned above:

"I'd try to stay away from doing that. Shaving over my acne caused me to have Folliculitis aka Barber's Itch (don't google that after eating) which took forever to get rid of."

[srk1103]

That is a picture of folliculitis, as mentioned above:

"I'd try to stay away from doing that. Shaving over my acne caused me to have Folliculitis aka Barber's Itch (don't google that after eating) which took forever to get rid of."

I've never seen anything that bad on my face, and I hope I never do. I've been going easier on my shaving, and have noticed it healing good. I think I ran into problems when i tried to shave too close. So, I think trying some cleaners will be good to.

Thanks for all the help, I'm going to be buying some stuff soon. I'll post when I find things that work... or don't.

[catatonic]

Good thread...I had a lesser version of that picture, and it always seemed to be on that area of my chin, which happens to get a small amount of razor burn when I try to go for BBS.

It was 4-5 of those per day, seemingly random places. Pretty annoying since they would form somewhere in the middle of the day...so suddenly at work I have whiteheads all over my chin. Makes for a rather paranoid person at times.

[berzerkeleyan]

I too have been struggling with this for almost 25 years. I get them just above my chin, but just one or two. I get them seemingly every other shave, and no amount of prep prevents them. I've tried a variety of acne medications, but to no avail. I thought switching over to a DE would help, but it hasn't.

In some ways, I'm glad I'm not alone. On the other hand, I wish there were a clear cut solution, other than not shaving that area -- a love patch is just not "me."

[Kyle Stoner]

Yes, for me as well, it is much less severe - although it looks very similar. I think it's just about shaving off too much skin. I am going to try and get some Osea Ocean Cleanser (non soap) as I hear such shining reviews of it. Hopefully Nicole will pop into this thread sometime, and maybe some other relative experts.

[Jack Bauer]

I have never had a problem with acne or shaving bumps in the past but I started having similar shaving problems a while back after turning 40 and tried several of the regimens listed here for the last year or so without success. I even tried Proactiv, antibiotics, etc. Finally, I heard one of my friends talking about someone he knows who is a Hollywood makeup artist and who works with many celebrities. He said that the Zihr line is pretty much standard issue in Hollywood to fix and prevent these kind of things. It is a little expensive, but no more so than some of the products discussed here, and I had a hard time justifying the expense to myself...but after trying the Zihr shaving products I had such success that I went and bought more of their facial stuff. The basics I would recommend are the Clean, Prepare shave oil, Shave Cream (works better than the gel for me), & Soothe after shave, Fix, Erase, Correct, & Protect (but they have a webpage that makes recommendations for oily or dry skin, etc). After joining this group I recently tried the C&E and Proraso pre-shave, cream, and post-shave trios and went back to Zihr very quickly. I get just as smooth a shave with less irritation and no overwhelming after scents. Some people criticize the shaving cream for its lack of lather (apparently intentional...I still use a brush to apply it over the oil) and others seem to dislike shave oils in general...but if the Zihr line interests you at all don't let that deter you. Hollywood guys use this stuff for a reason. You can find it at some Macys, some Nordstroms, Sephora stores, etc (along with other brands with similar regimens) but the best place to get it is online at their website as they offer discounted online-only kits that will save you quite a bit of money. Hope this helps a little.

P.S. - After posting I noticed there seem to be many negative reviews of individual Zihr products on this forum and some of the comments are very valid. Zihr packaging is not fancy or user friendly, they don't have floral fragrances, are not meant to lather, and can be very drying as any fruit acid or salycylic acid product can be. The cleaners are definitely meant to be followed by moisturizing agents. But if you go to their website and choose products that suit your type of skin (oily or dry) and use them together as directed these products really, really work. At least they did for me...I tried and could not go back to the mix and match, trial and error methods I have used before. For those stuck on whipping up exploding fragrant clouds of foam or who like to try a "little of this" with a "little of that" today and do something different tomorrow the Zihr products are definitely lacking.

First it is Zirh and not Zihr. I have also tried three of the Zirh products (Cleanse, Shave gel, Soothe) I found these products to be less than average. They are IMO overpriced. The gel provides no protection and is all around horrible, the face wash is below average, and the aftershave is also below average. I have also been suffering with mild cases of acne for years and these products did nothing to help with that at all (not that I was expecting them too). I used these products before I started wetshaving and revisted them for a shave after to see if I would change my mind. I didn't.

There are plenty of other products out there that are skin friendly, allow for closer less irritating shaves, and just flat out provide a better overall more enjoyable experience. Zirh can be grouped with a lot of these newfangled shave products (ie, Anthony Logistics, Jack Black, etc) that rely on marketing rather than quality and performance of product.

Also I don't want to speak for everyone on this forum but I personally could care less about what people in hollywood are using.

Chris

[bordeaaj]

Sorry for the typo, Chris. Good post - a healthy dose of skepticism is good for researching what works and what does not. I think you and I agree on more about the Zirh line than you think. And it is Clean not Cleanse. I am just a newbie around here relating my experience to someone with a similar problem and sure didn't mean to offend your sensibilties with the mention of "Hollywood." Like I said, Zirh stuff is not for everyone. If one is not willing to use the products as they are meant to be used one probably will not get the results one is looking for. So let me make it clear; if you are looking to "faceturbate" Zirh is not the way to go. It is is more of an industrial strength solution to clean, protect, and prevent skin problems. Definitely not something to pamper yourself with. It is fairly expensive, especially if you buy the entire line and use it as a system as it is meant to be. It is, however, no more expensive and even less expensive than some of the combinations of products many people list off in their signatures or when talking about their "shave of the day" and this one may actually help with the particular problem someone was having. In relation to the original problem discussed, it would be far less expensive (and more effective) to have the entire Zirh line in his bathroom cabinet than have it stuffed to the gills with a random assortment of every highly ranked shaving product listed in these forums in a desperate, grasping attempt to solve the same problem. I do not claim to be an expert by any means, but at 42 years old I am not inexperienced in shaving or having to deal with irritation. I have plenty of experience using my preferred assortment of cheap, moderate, and very expensive products and equipment to try to get the same smooth shaves and prevention irritation that we all desire. For me, treatment and prevention of irritation due to close shaves took priority over the close shave itself. I have a very good job that depends upon how I look. I was pointed to something that works for others whose jobs depend upon how they look (including the on the set of 24 from which you take your screen screen name). With rather low expectations, I actually used the products in the way they were meant to be used found that they worked in such a way other products I have actually tried did not. And now I am passing it on to someone who may actually have similar priorities to mine. It worked for me, it may or may not work for others. To each his own. If you have any, and I mean any, combination of products in mind that is simultaneously better, cheaper, more pleasurable, and more efficacious in the treatment of the original problem as described please be part of the solution and list them for us all. You have set some high expectations with your expertise. I am eagerly awaiting your suggestions for my own use. Respect.

[Jack Bauer]

If it works for you by all means keep using it. I was just responding to your suggestion that people on this board may be giving it bad reviews based on its packaging, smell, etc. Although these may be some of the reasons it has been ripped I am sure all of these superficial reasons would not deter people here from continuous use if they were happy with the efficacy of the product.

Chris

[srk1103]

Sorry for the typo, Chris. Good post - a healthy dose of skepticism is good for researching what works and what does not. I think you and I agree on more about the Zirh line than you think. And it is Clean not Cleanse. I am just a newbie around here relating my experience to someone with a similar problem and sure didn't mean to offend your sensibilties with the mention of "Hollywood." Like I said, Zirh stuff is not for everyone. If one is not willing to use the products as they are meant to be used one probably will not get the results one is looking for. So let me make it clear; if you are looking to "faceturbate" Zirh is not the way to go. It is is more of an industrial strength solution to clean, protect, and prevent skin problems. Definitely not something to pamper yourself with. It is fairly expensive, especially if you buy the entire line and use it as a system as it is meant to be. It is, however, no more expensive and even less expensive than some of the combinations of products many people list off in their signatures or when talking about their "shave of the day" and this one may actually help with the particular problem someone was having. In relation to the original problem discussed, it would be far less expensive (and more effective) to have the entire Zirh line in his bathroom cabinet than have it stuffed to the gills with a random assortment of every highly ranked shaving product listed in these forums in a desperate, grasping attempt to solve the same problem. I do not claim to be an expert by any means, but at 42 years old I am not inexperienced in shaving or having to deal with irritation. I have plenty of experience using my preferred assortment of cheap, moderate, and very expensive products and equipment to try to get the same smooth shaves and prevention irritation that we all desire. For me, treatment and prevention of irritation due to close shaves took priority over the close shave itself. I have a very good job that depends upon how I look. I was pointed to something that works for others whose jobs depend upon how they look (including the on the set of 24 from which you take your screen screen name). With rather low expectations, I actually used the products in the way they were meant to be used found that they worked in such a way other products I have actually tried did not. And now I am passing it on to someone who may actually have similar priorities to mine. It worked for me, it may or may not work for others. To each his own. If you have any, and I mean any, combination of products in mind that is simultaneously better, cheaper, more pleasurable, and more efficacious in the treatment of the original problem as described please be part of the solution and list them for us all. You have set some high expectations with your expertise. I am eagerly awaiting your suggestions for my own use. Respect.

Thanks for your input. Sounds like you've done a lot of R&D related to shaving, its great to have your opinions present here in this thread, and throughout the forum. :thumbup:

[bordeaaj]

If it works for you by all means keep using it. I was just responding to your suggestion that people on this board may be giving it bad reviews based on its packaging, smell, etc. Although these may be some of the reasons it has been ripped I am sure all of these superficial reasons would not deter people here from continuous use if they were happy with the efficacy of the product.

Chris

Understood...By the way, I am a Portland area boy myself.