(Part 2) Top products from r/acne

This looks very minor, there is no scarring, and there are no flakes and rough regions. what can clear this in my experience as a guy with lots of acne but experiment with different substances through the year have found some that worked and some that don't work so much. If you are a shaver, apply cream and shave normally, if you have an electric, rinse and shave as lightly as you can before you move on. My advice for this particular case was to start from a small solution since it's not as bad as mine with 1% Salicylic acid and use it for a few weeks. Do it in the shower and don't scrub too hard and dab face with towel after leaving shower. if you don't see any significant changes and the pimples and inflammation persists, up the does to 2% salicylic acid, stronger might not mean better but I have seen changes in my skin when I use it so try that for a week. If still no difference, you can cocktail it as follows. In my experience you should never use something with Benzoyl peroxide in it all over your face (especially the one I have been using which has 10% concentration, HOLY BALLS!!! that was a lot. as a result my skin got super irritated and burned, and I got redness everywhere). What I use the Benzoyl peroxide for is for dabbing it on the severe areas (where there is a zit, and/or large bumps) it's best for concentrating on specific regions because of it's strength. leave it there for almost 5 seconds (any more time then it's start the burn) and rinse (make sure it's all gone because mixing this product with others is not recommended, we are trying both to tackle specific areas while at the same time keeping the rest of the face under control.) then move on to using the salicylic acid solutions all over your face to keep everything under control. Back to regarding the Benzoyl peroxide. No matter which solution works the best, when pimples start to disappear it leaves behind scars and discoloration, in order to solve this in some cases you would use a scrub with honey and oatmeal (or make a mask with honey and oatmeal in it) as the antioxidants could help remove the bacteria that remains and restore skin pigmentation.

be sure to keep your skin moisturized and keep your body oil secretions under control with this routine. Using the 1% salicylic acid solution helps keep everything in check, it clears dead skin cells from pores and keeps the sebum from being trapped in the hair follicle and then creating another zit. It also helps keep your skin moisturized so there is no rough spots and peeling skin (if you ever get sun burnt, aloe helps but don't force it if you are really proud of your clear skin because you will get redness that will take time to go away as it's elasticity isn't as active as the skin on the rest of your body).


If all fails, visit a dermatologist, he/she will probably prescribe you things that can't be bought over the counter that contain ingredients like clindamycin phosphate, glycolic acids, etc. she might also give you surgery if your skin fails to restore it's natural pigmentation. Here is a list of the solutions I have been trying.


There are a variety of the Salicylic acid scrubs that even the grocery store generics work, pay close attention to the drug facts.

• 1% Salicylic Acid Solution This green tea one has been keeping me moisturized and could be used for your routine once everything is clear.
  
  
• 2% Salicylic Acid Solution There are a variety of 2% solutions but it sometimes doesn't matter what it is.
  
  
• 10% Benzoyl peroxide, Steer clear of overusing this one as it is strong and could cause some long lasting burns. use only in small areas according to my experience. And don't leave it on your skin too long and make sure you rinse all of it away before you move on to the other solutions.
  
  
• Honey and Oatmeal scrub, Possibly could help restore skin pigmentation if scars are left behind, you'll start to notice them get lighter without the solution sometimes, Be aware that some redness aren't scars, they are either burns from the peroxide or pressure points from touching your face.
  
  
• 100% Aloe Vera There certainly is no shortage of aloe in the drug store or supermarket. but here you go. this is for general use in my book when you run out of ideas lol. But it's a good idea to apply to face and stand in front of a fan for it to dry. Leave it on your face for a good 10 to 30 minutes depending on what makes you comfortable, it really doesn't matter.
  
  Be aware that not all products at the store feature drug facts (because the meds in the market are loosely if not barely regulated by the FDA), keep an eye out so you know what you're putting on your face. also Don't scrub super hard. and don't scratch. It's good that you are tackling this at a young age, just simply using the solution I suggested to keep things under control once you get rid of the mess will most likely keep it at bay, taking action after it gets bad is cause for seeking medical attention as keeping it under control on your own is like herding cats.

My skin is very oily and I have hormonal acne and PIH due to the cysts. I've seen a derm and she prescribed me some things that I'm combining with others I've found and tried for the last months. So far, the things that aren't expensive and are improving the general look of my face and controlling oiliness are:

• Avene micellar water (as make up remover)
  
• Alepo soap. You can buy it in natural shops and it helps to keep the oil under control. I wash my face at night with it.
  
• Aztec healing clay mask with apple cider vinegar. This is so great. I use it once a week and add some drops of Tea Tree Oil and it leaves my skin very smooth and helps with the occasional pimple.
  
• Tea tree oil pure. I use this mixed with masks and moisturizer. Is strong so just one drop sometimes stings, but is worth it.
  
• Isdin Acniben repair. The only moisturizer that I find suits me and doesn't break me out. Is gel texture, very nice.
  
• Sr Skincare Vitamin C Serum 10%. I use it in the morning after washing my face. I feel my PIH is better but I've just bought The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% here if you want to check, the concentration is higher and the brand seem to be serious, I don't know how it will go though...
  
• Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Lotion. I bought it here It last forever and is waterish. I read in a redditor's blog, this one, that it had helped him a lot and I've been using it for a month, no break outs and really, my face is much better with my new routine. Btw that blog has a lot of good tips.
  
• I also use Cosrx BHA blackhead Power liquid as exfoliator and Klairs preparation supple toner to balance my skin ph, those are more expensive though. When I have a cyst or a pimple I use DUAC, it was prescribed by my derm and you need a prescription, I was using Epiduo before and it dried out my face, so the derm told me that is the most gentle BP formulation.
  
  Good luck, btw, I'm a girl not "sir" lol.
  
  

For acne usually you have to do hardcore lifestyle changes. The video from "acneanswers" seems promising, i haven't seen it all though.

In general for acne you should:

• Take care of your digestion, this book is awesome: Digestive wellness
  
• Another overall health book i really like is this: The Ultramind solution
  
• In general avoid dairy products and foods high in glycemic index.
  
• For start these are enough, if you finish the above books then you will find your way by yourself ;)
  
  About dermabrasion and microdermabrasion, in a few worlds:
  
  
• Demrabrasion is for deeper scars and if performed by a VERY good and experienced in this procedure physician can have great results.
  
• Microdermabrasion is for thinner scars, it is has lower risk for complications but still an experienced and well trained physician is needed.
  
• You can find many reviews around the web, check http://realself.com.
  
  I think you have lot of homework to do xD
  Good Luck
  
  PS: These books are gold, read them!
  

What's interesting is that so far (around a month of 40mg of isotretinoid nightly and now recently starting month two at 60mg - oh btw I'm something like 5'9", 166 lbs to give some context for dosage) the only thing noticeably drying out has been my lips. I have been moisturizing everything well.


Here's what I think I'll end up doing on top of the isotretinoid and you can let me know how this daily routine sounds:
Morning . . .

• Use a super gentle "renewing" salicylic acid based cleanser in my morning shower.
  
• Immediately after getting out of the shower I'll apply this water activated moisturizer that's been phenomenal so far.
  
• One of the biggest things I've read for scarring is sun damage. This is especially an issue for these vitamin A based medication(s) if I remember correctly. I also happen to live in Arizona which certainly doesn't help. This should suffice as a broad spectrum sunscreen and the additional moisturizer for before I leave my dorm.
  
  Throughout the day . . .
  
  
• As I mentioned before, my biggest issue so far has been drying lips so I'll just carry some Blistex with me all day and reapply as needed:)
  
  Before bed . . .
  
  
• Take 60mg of isotretinoin
  
• Again use the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser.
  
• Wait a bit and then apply the retinol. In this link, they warn against letting the tretinoin (Retin-A) interact with salicylic acid (the cleanser I want to use twice daily) and other drugs that may increase your sensitivity to sunlight (does Accutane do this? idk). If my skin does start to get irritated, I'll switch back to just moisturizing at night or something.
  
• Right before I get in bed I'll apply some heavier moisturizer (uhm this one is infused with vitamin E which I have read is a no-no when dealing with acne scarring? But see my "scarring" is smooth if that makes a difference. All I'm worried about is the hyperpigmentation which I guess is what the Retin-A (tretinoin) will be for.
  
  So... that was a lot more of a post than I set out to create. Sorry lol
  But my complexion is playing a very real role in my life and is therefore important to me so I'll end with a single questions for you and anyone else who would be kind enough to chime in and help me out:
  
  
  Are there any alterations you would make to my daily routine?
  
  Perhaps you think there's a better product available than one I've linked to above.
  Maybe you think I should cut something out entirely.
  
  Thank you for your help!:)
  

First of all, congrats on your face clearing up. Hopefully it doesn't come back like mine. I found that Panoxyl 10% benzoyl peroxide (http://www.amazon.com/Panoxyl-LA-AM-FU-PanOxyl-Bar-10%25/dp/B0000Y3COC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1405318366&sr=8-4&keywords=panoxyl) works for me. It's like $6 at my Wal-Mart. I use it at least once per day, twice if I go to the gym. I use it like soap to wash all over the skin that's prone to acne. Before using this product, I was afraid to wear tank top at the gym. Now, I even attend pool parties. However, it doesn't not fully get rid of the acne, but it cleared more than half. Make sure to apply generous lotion after shower! It's the best I've tried and relatively cheap.

I'd say you have mild acne. Do you often have breakouts?
Im on my third month supply of IMMUNE Acne Treatment. It's a 30 day kit but it does a good job of managing my acne. Before that I was on acne treatments with Benzoyl Peroxide... yea not a fan of those. They dry your skin albeit they do fade it out a bit but really not worth it when you have better options. So things like Proactiv are really outdated but people dont realize that...
If you want something good then i'll highly recommend this one.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072PXMY81/

Take a 10,000 IU vitamin A pill and an Omega 3 with breakfast and a 5,000 IU vitamin D pill and a multi-vitamin with dinner. Do this every single day and your acne will cure up. I personally cured my severe acne doing this.

If you don't believe me, look at what Accutane and retin-a is. They're both just derivatives of vitamin A. Vitamin A and vitamin D both work to reduce oil production and Omega 3 will decrease the viscosity (stickiness) of your oil. Vitamin D and the multi-vitamin also helps fight infection. Omega 3 also reduces inflammation which will help to keep your pores open.

lots of scientific studies confirming all this referenced in this book

Hey! Currently on my last month. For facial moisturizer I use vanicream and for the rest of my body, I use whatever I have in the house. The main thing that does get dry is my face however. Just apply it every morning and every night and you should be good until you move up to a higher dose. Honestly any lotion will work for your face but try to get something that says light or lite because it won't leave your face so oily.

As far as other side effects, I haven't noticed too much joint pain(currently on 120mg per day). However your liver could take some damage, my first month my liver numbers were all really high, but i started taking milk thistle once a day and my numbers improved greatly, to the point where it was better than where I started.

For cleaning I would avoid anything made for oily skin because it will dry your skin out. Just get a normal cleanser. For now I just use water since my skin is getting better with just using the medicine.

I also haven't found any particularly effective spot treatments. I recently bought this mario badescu drying lotion so I can let you know how it works after about a week of using it if you like. It seems to be pretty highly reviewed.

I use a gentle scrub by Aveeno. It feels more like a cream cleanser, that's how gentle it is. I would never use anything harsh or abrasive as it's sure to just make things worse.

I'm on the same situation than you. 2 cups of green tea per day and Nature's Cure Two Part Acne Treatment System for Males help me a lot https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000535CI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Other than that I don't know about a possible permanent solution. My dermatologist told me that I have to deal with the acne for the rest of my life (I'm 36 years old) and still got acne from time to time.

I disliked razors and instead went for this It helped with my acne immensely. I basically love shaving now. As long as you go slow (with care but not like super slow either) it's better than a razor and I rarely get ingrown hairs in my jaw areas. Go electric, it won't be super omg smooth but the convenience of a quick but still close shave is worth it. Or you can buy the really expensive ones and let me know how those compare instead.

In my case, the ass/thigh bumps turned out to be keratosis pilaris, not acne. Or at least they responded well when I started treating them as such. I just use unscented bar soap, exfoliate gently with a washcloth a couple times a week, and then apply this stuff afterward (and again before bed when I remember). It's stinky lotion, but it worked for me. Not flawless but enough that there isn't lingering PIH anymore.

This post was popular on /r/SkincareAddiction yesterday and takes a different approach: https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/4bhma7/acne_to_me_butt_acne_sufferers/

Just some ideas!

Something I've found that works pretty well for me is Prids Drawing Salve. As soon as I feel one of the cystic pimples emerging I put the salve on at night with the sticky part of a bandaid over it. It might take a couple nights but I can usually get a head to form to release pressure. Once I am able to lance it, I use this to help absorb what's left.

http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Hydrox-Enhanced-percent-Glycolic/dp/B000052YM7/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1374453063&sr=8-4&keywords=glycolic+acid

I'm using Skin Laboratory 20% Salicylic Acid Peel.

Root Canals are EXTREMELY toxic - Dr. Mercola
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q02mLcdBtGI

Rooted documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRrlgYqtDjM

The Toxic Tooth: How a root canal could be making you sick Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Tooth-canal-could-making/dp/0983772827

Clean&Clear Cleanser (http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Essentials-Cleanser-Sensitive/dp/B002B4K8J6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411492326&sr=8-2&keywords=clean+and+clear+cleanser)

Clean&Clear Toner (http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Essentials-Cleaning-Sensitive/dp/B0009RFAPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411492344&sr=8-1&keywords=clean+and+clear+toner)

Paula's Choice BHA (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00949CTQQ/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1411492367&sr=1&keywords=paula%27s+choice+bha)

CeraVe AM Moisturizer (http://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Facial-Moisturizing-Lotion-Packaging/dp/B004TS06HG/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1411492390&sr=1-2&keywords=cerave+moisturizer)

The red comes before the moisturizer -- my face feels really dry and hot after putting the AHA on so I usually put a fair amount on, which makes my face shiny the rest of the day, annoying. But the red face problem was before I added the AHA to this routine.

Interesting. In my shaving book section on acne, I quote Anticancer: A New Way of Life, by David Servan-Schreiber:

>When [Loren Cordain, PhD] was told that certain population groups whose way of life is very different from ours had no experience of acne (which is caused by an inflammation of the epidermis, among other mechanisms), he wanted to find out how this could occur… Cordain accompanied a team of dermatologists to examine the skin of 1,200 adolescents cut off from the rest of the world in the Kitavan Islands of New Guinea, and 130 Ache Indians living in isolation in Paraguay. In these two groups they found no trace whatsoever of acne. In their article in Archives of Dermatology, the researchers attributed their amazing discovery to the adolescents’ nutrition. The diets of these contemporary sheltered groups resemble those of our distant ancestors: no refined sugar or white flour, thus no peaks of insulin or IGF in the blood.
>
>In Australia, researchers convinced Western adolescents to try a diet restricting sugar and white flour for three months. In a few weeks, their insulin and IGF levels diminished. So did their acne.

Note a key finding: "in a few weeks..." I suspect most people would not try it for that long on their own: a week, max, and if no big change, back to business as usual---the same reason people can't lose that last 10 pounds.

Also see the NY Times article "Is Sugar Toxic?" and this video by the University of California on the effects of sugar.

What kind of problem do you think is causing your acne? Too oily skin or too dry? Personally I had a mixture of both from the harsh treatment I used on my skin in various places.

I've been fighting Acne for 6 years now (22 years old) and have been on Minocycline 100mg twice daily for 4 years. Nothing seemed to work until recently.

I started putting Clean and Clears spot treatment on my acne areas and drying them out heavily.

http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Advantage-Acne-Treatment/dp/B00027DDOQ

Around 30 minutes after applying this I moisturized the dry parts of my face with Clean and Clears 2 in 1 moisturizing cream. The spot treatment has heavy BP in it so it WILL dry out your skin, and the lotion has some salicylic acid in it but the moisturizing effect makes up for it (for me).

http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-ESSENTIALS-Action-Moisturizer/dp/B000052YJM

On top of doing that routine 4 times a day (once in morning and at night, twice throughout day... probably a bit much but I'm obsessive) coupled with an exfoliate in the mornings and evenings and it totally cleared up after about 5 weeks. I feel ridiculous saying this because it's crazy to say but I haven't gone a day without at least 3 painful and hugely noticeable cystic pimples on my face in many years.

A lot of people will tell you that this is way too many times to wash your face a day, and for most people it probably is. but it's the only thing that worked for me after 6 years of trying different stuff people said to try online. Everyone's skin is different, I'm just recommending some products to try.

Pic below is current day, 7 weeks after starting this. still do same routine because I'm afraid to stop lol.

http://imgur.com/Nitkd6L

I've gone two weeks without a single pimple, and that's compared to 6 years without a single day away from the torture.