Acne Treatments

MisterMet said:

Go to a dermatologist and see what they reccomend. I had acne in high school and college, and did everything from benzoyl peroxide to topical and oral antibiotics. While this would all work for a time, the only thing that really worked for me was accutane. After 3 months of treatment, my acne was gone and has not come back in the 15 years since. Its strong stuff and there are side effects (which were minor for me) but it works. My only regret is that I wasn't prescribed it sooner (acne scars).

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+1
Do not waste $1 of your money on the junk cosmetic companies constantly flood department stores with until you see a dermatologist. I must have spent in the high hundreds (seriously) on over the counter crap before seeing a dermatologist. While the over the counter products may very well work for you, their are simply too many to choose from. I mean where do you start? You cant take the advice of the companies producing them as their goal is too make money, not get your skin looking good. A Dr. will be able to steer you in the right direction and will also know if a prescription is more apropriate or where to start with over the counter meds. Good luck!!!!

Accutane is serious stuff...often Dermatologists will only prescribe it in severe cases or for acne that isn't responsive to any other treatment - it's basically seen as a last resort by a lot of doctors. A lot of people will be prescribed other stuff which may or may not work. None of the stuff I was prescribed totally worked and my acne was not severe enough for accutane. So I was left to find an over the counter solution.

I agree most of the over the counter stuff is crap and a lot of the so called "high end" skin products sold at the big departments stores are really just as bad as the drugstore garbage but a lot more expensive. Luckily, I eventually found the Daniel Kern regimen one day while surfing online. His stuff isn't super cheap, but it isn't crazy expensive either. I like that the packaging is utilitarian and it's available in large quantities at fair prices. It's actually very economical if you consider the price you pay per ounce versus other products.

Benzoyl Peroxide won't work for everybody but it can be a very effective treatment for acne for many people. Dermatologists also will prescribe BP, but you can get it in varying strengths over the counter. The big problem is that many people do not use these products correctly so they don't get optimum results and all BP products are not equal. I don't like Proactiv or the knockoff Acne Free because they do not come with a moisturizer. Anyone who has ever used BP extensively will tell you that a good moisturizer is essential because BP can be very drying.

And I also agree that changing your pillowcase often is a good idea. Same thing with the towel you use dry off after showering or bathing.

I mentioned before that I had Acne Free but hadn't tried it yet. Well I've been using it ever since then and I do rather like it. I've noticed sizable reductions in problem areas (namely my forehead, but nose too).

I haven't tried ProActive or the Kern stuff, but I'm pleased with this. There isn't a dedicated moisturizer, but they do have Aloe and other moisturizers built in and shockingly I'm not having dryness problems. I say shocking because I'm facing the Chicago winter and I had more dryness before I started the treatment than I do now. I'm not trying to sell you on it, but it's not bad.

I agree with the towel/pillow case thing. That sounds like sage advice. This kind of a trifling thing, but off the top of my head, I would also say not to use a heavily perfumed fabric softener. Like I said, I use a good harsh shampoo to keep oil from my hair from being a problem, and I would also recommend combing it back or if you don't mind, cutting it short. Forehead acne probably gets worse in summer because of sweat and oily hair.

I went to a dermatologist to clear up my face for my wedding years ago, but since then, the best OTC product I've used that rivals a prescription solution is AcneFree from University Medical:

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/s...1&navAction=push&navCount=5&no_new_crumb=true

Works great! 3 step process, but it works! About $15-20 for the whole kit.

Never tried ProActive but I think it's a similar concept, just available in stores and less expensive, probably because they don't have to pay Jessica Simpson.

cvac said:

Accutane is serious stuff...often Dermatologists will only prescribe it in severe cases or for acne that isn't responsive to any other treatment - it's basically seen as a last resort by a lot of doctors. A lot of people will be prescribed other stuff which may or may not work. None of the stuff I was prescribed totally worked and my acne was not severe enough for accutane. So I was left to find an over the counter solution.

I agree most of the over the counter stuff is crap and a lot of the so called "high end" skin products sold at the big departments stores are really just as bad as the drugstore garbage but a lot more expensive. Luckily, I eventually found the Daniel Kern regimen one day while surfing online. His stuff isn't super cheap, but it isn't crazy expensive either. I like that the packaging is utilitarian and it's available in large quantities at fair prices. It's actually very economical if you consider the price you pay per ounce versus other products.

Benzoyl Peroxide won't work for everybody but it can be a very effective treatment for acne for many people. Dermatologists also will prescribe BP, but you can get it in varying strengths over the counter. The big problem is that many people do not use these products correctly so they don't get optimum results and all BP products are not equal. I don't like Proactiv or the knockoff Acne Free because they do not come with a moisturizer. Anyone who has ever used BP extensively will tell you that a good moisturizer is essential because BP can be very drying.

And I also agree that changing your pillowcase often is a good idea. Same thing with the towel you use dry off after showering or bathing.

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You are right! I have been on Acutane twice. The up side is it is a semi permanent solution. My skin has never been better and I have been off it for a very long time now. Down side is it is very hard to get and your lips get so chapped they feel like they are going to fall off! As you mentioned, it is only for serious cases and a last resort thing. I had to try every OTC and prescription product before my dermatologist gave in concerning Acutane. I have never heard of a Dr. giving Acutane for mild acne conditions without trying everything else first. The good news is, most people don't need it. Their are other, safer prescriptions (both oral and topical) that will work great if it is mild. If it is just on your face, ask your Dr. about Retin-A and Differin. They are topical creams and in my experience, most Dr. have no problem prescribing these. I can't guarantee they will work for you, but maybe your Dr. will think its worth a try? Can't hurt to ask......good luck

Retin - A and Differin are widely prescribed. Sometimes derms will combine one of these with a topical antibiotic like Clindamyicin or give you an antibiotic in pill form like Tetracycline. Both Retin-A and Differin gave me very little in the way of results and dried the hell out of my skin...they made it very irritated. I get much better results from BP via Daniel Kern's Regimen.

Accutane can also cause open sores on your skin if you go outside without sunscreen on a hot day. In general sunscreen is probably a good idea or practically mandatory as most acne treatments can be very drying.

Differin worked well for me. Retin-a Micro did not. I didn't have the patience to make it through the initial irritation phase.

The ProActive line cleared my face up but man that stuff will fry off several layers of skin. I used it to get my acne more or less under control, and now I am trying to maintain with less harsh products.

I have through trial and error discovered that a lot of my acne is due to very sensitive and reactive skin. I have to be very careful about what I put on my face.

26. I've been on Solodyn from my dermatologist for several months now. That combined with a benzoyl peroxide face wash and spot treatment has reduced, but not eliminated my acne. If I get lazy with keeping my face clean I'll still break out, but by and large I'm down to squeezing a few whiteheads and I don't get much in the way of a full blown zit anymore. I never had serious acne before, but I figured if I was 25-26 and still experiencing acne it wasn't going to go away on its on.

I do still have moderate acne on my shoulders but that may be due to the 'roids. Just kidding, it may be associated with penchant for sweating and electrolysis I'm undergoing on my back. Hopefully that will clear up over time as well.

Solodyn is expensive and my insurance wouldn't cover it, at least until I tried other options first (which I did back in my HS years to no avail). But my dermatologist had a discount card from the manufacturer that allows you to get your prescription filled for $10 out of pocket cost.

There is no one answer for this question but from my experience if you really want to get rid of your acne there are two recommended solutions that should combined together for best results.

Firstly and more important in my opinion, you must learn how you should fix the internal problem that's causing your acne, not just masking the symptoms or getting relief.
There are only few recommended Ebooks and acne cure programs that can teach you exactly how to cure your acne from the inside.

Where medicine has failed them the authors have done their own research and found a way to overcome acne. In their programs they share their great knowledge with other acne sufferers. In any case, be very careful because many of them are pure crap with little value.

I've suffered from acne since I was a teen until I did a single course of Accutane treatment. Since then I've had occasional flare ups which I control with a Tea Tree Oil wash from Desert Essence. Both the Benzoyl Peroxide and the Salicylic Acid cause me to break out something fierce. I just started using witch hazel about a month ago and it's a God send. Lotions and moisturizers have always caused more pimples for me, so after washing I'd usually get really dry skin in the morning and increased oil production later in the day. The witch hazel helps to moisturize and it doesn't clog my pores.

joe201 said:

Does anyone have a suggestion for acne treatments? My skin is not terrible, but I do have some isolated breakouts and red spots. Also, my skin is not very oilly but it is sensitive. Thanks

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Here are some things to consider:

There are three kinds of problems on the face that people usually call acne. One is acne, also called acne vulgaris, which when its mild, causes whiteheads and blackheads, or when severe, causes pustules or even cysts which scar after healing. For the severe form you should see a dermatologist. But the mild forms you can treat with over the counter benzoyl peroxide washes. Proactive is a nice product, but it is simply a packaged form of good old fashioned benzoyl peroxide. If that does not work, then a good next step is to try retin-A cream or another prescription based topical acne medicine. I usually discourage the use of alcohols and astringents on the skin of people with acne, as they irritate rather than help the problem. The same goes for abrasive cleansers.

Even if your skin does not feel oily, you could still have acne, but your oil glands may be occluded. This is part of the acne process that results in the white and blackheads. Once you start using something to open them, such as benzoyl peroxide or prescription retin-A, the oil flow can be restored. So usually what happens is that for the first 2-3 weeks people use benzoyl peroxide or retin-A they notice the skin is really dry, then after that, they notice that their skin gets used to the treatment, and is less dry. Thats usually when they notice that the acne is getting better too.

Separate from the oil your skin makes itself is the issue of putting additional oil onto your skin. If you have acne vulgaris, its important to know that oil in just about any form to the skin will make acne worse. The term comedogenic means 'makes acne worse'. However terms like noncomedogenic or "dermatologist approved" are not always accurate, and often are used as marketing rather than scientific statements. The only way you know for sure something will not worsen your acne is if it says on the label "oil-free". Nowadays, there are a lot of good oil free moisturizers and sunscreens available for those with acne.

The other two things that sometimes people mistake for acne vulgaris are acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. Acne rosacea does not cause white or blackheads, and does not cause pimples or cysts. It causes little red bumps, 2-5 mm in size, which are sometimes itchy and which are usually located around the nose or around the mouth. This is not worsened by oil, instead things like alcohol, spicy foods, or especially sunlight, can make it worse. There are some prescription meds that are helpful (like topical metronidazole aka metrogel), but spf 30 sunscreen first thing in the morning on your face (keep it next to your razor!) is worth trying as a first step.

Finally the other thing people commonly mistake for acne is seborrheic dermatitis, also called dandruff. It can cause facial redness, but its distinguished from acne in that it causes flaking rather than pimples or blackheads. It usually occurs on the eyebrows, sides of the nose or mustache, in back of or in the ears, and of course the scalp. Selsun blue, or nizoral shampoo applied for several minutes to the affected area once a day is a good way to keep that under control.

I hope this is useful,

Pete

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash... Target, Walgreens, etc. It's a clear over the counter soap but kind of yellow/orange in color. It works for me better than ANY OTHER SOAP. It's cheap, it cuts the grease and oil that clogs pores and causes acne. It's non-comodogenic and prescribed(read suggested) by many dermatologists. You'll notice the difference within a few days. Before you spend a lot of money on any gimmicky acne treatments, try this simple facial bar soap.