21 And My Consistent Struggle With Acne - Naperville, IL

Thanks for the advice! My next appointment with my dermatologist is in a month and a half. So we'll see if the strength I'm currently using needs to be upped then. Thanks again!

do not order anything on ebay. You need to go to a derm and get an actual prescription. Retin-A micro 0.04 with a prescription! You need to make responsible decisions toward your skin! See your derm for more advice!

Hello, i was wondering what amount you used for your entire face when your acne was severe? I think i have over done it, my chinn and upper neck parts are kind of irritated/burned. Some advice please, i will gladly appreciate it.

Less is definitely more with retin a. I barely use an amount the size of my pinky nail on my entire face & jaw. Something else I have been on for 2 years that I swear by is diamond herpanacine supplements. Google it. I take 5-6 every day & I never get a cystic pimple anymore only the occasional whitehead or blackhead. Got to keep your insides pure to have clear skin so watch your diet & take your vitamins . I also go about every 6 wks & get a salicylic acid chem peel or a microdermabrasion. Those help a lot. It's work to be clear but I'm guessing as long as there are hormones in my body I'll have to deal with fighting acne. I too was left with some mild pitted scarring I the cheeks. I've had several lasers to try & correct. It's better now than it was years ago but still visible in some lights. I think we're more critical of ourselves than others I know I'm terribly insecure about my skin and I'm 40. Hang in there.

Thank you for your reply, I will try :)

Thank you for your reply, I will try :)

@kcd75 can I ask you about something? Ive been using retin a on my entire face apart from my nose because I was afraid that it would widen my pores and give me a really pimply nose during the 'purging' stage as ive got quitr a lot of blackheads there. I worry about this because I put retin a on my forehead where I have/ had couple of small blackheads and it has sort of widened the clogged pore and made the spot inside feel dry and scab-like. Is this normal? Because the pores have been looking like this for a while. The tops seem to shed a bit but the area still looks like it has a blackhead inside. Does that just mean theyre deep and will take longer to come out? Also im afraid that when it gets itchy ill scratch it and rip the scab like spots and cause an indent because atm theyre all sort of half way out half way still inside the skin

Choklitvomit- I've never had that problem with retin a. I do use it on my nose & I get a lot of blackheads. Every now again I'll get a whitehead on my nose but not from the retin a just oily zone. If I were you I'd go get a microdermabrasion. That helps with scabby pimples and helps suck up blackheads. Microdermabrasion also helps the retin a absorb better into your skin .

Do not get a microdermabrasion while on retin-a. A dermatologist would advise you to stay clear from any sort of treatments while on retin-a and even a few months or so after using it. You will be prone to scarring. I am telling you, if you do microderms and laser treatments you will regret it. Retin-a drys your skin, any sort of intense peeling will scar it.

and I know from experience :(

If you're using retin a it's ok to get peels and microdermabrasion, but, your Dr. will tell you to discontinue using it 3-5 days prior to the procedure and after. Microdermabrasion & peels have worked wonders on my skin taking away sun damage, hyper pigmentation, and even softening acne scars. Getting microdermabrasion will remove old dead skin so that the products you are using penetrate better. Using retin a also helps prepare the skin for a chemical peel. You get better results with a peel when on the retin a. I would not however get microdermabrasion if you have a lot of active acne, only a peel. I'm sure people my age getting fine lines & past sun damage benefit better with the micros. It's all about collagen. Rebuilding it, so your skin sheds old (including acne) and grows new fresh skin. I've spent years researching this stuff & being a guinea pig for ALL sorts of treatments.

I dont think I really neer microdermabrasion my acne and scarring is not that severe. When I come to think of it most (if not all) of my acne scars were caused by inproper manual extraction. Luckily enough the scars on my face are small superficial indents that arent very noticeable but boy did I panic when I realised how many I had ! When I saw myself in natural light from a certain angle I realized I had to stop picking. Lack of knowledge is what I blame. And stress. And bad advice. My mother would use her nails and so did I and that is the biggest mistake ever! NEVER pop anything eith your nails and leave a pimple alone if it isnt almost fully out and if it hurts when applying pressure. Because if you do, a scar is guaranteed.

Hey kcd75 thats some good advice. Is there anything else you'd recommend for prevention of acne as well as keeping the skin healthy and balanced? Any favorite products? What about cleansing techniques? I often feel like its not as much about what you do but how you do it that makes the difference. Would you agree?

Oh an patience. That's the key issue with us skin maniacs isnt it! We want immediate results! We lack the patience but that is the key to getting results

I wash gently & pat dry. One thing I try not to do anymore is obsess. Like tonight, I came home from work, looked in the mirror to see a nice new one pop up on my forehead. I have to ignore it or I'll keep looking in the mirror. When we obsess, we stress and that leads to more. We (@ least I do) stare in the mirror all the time noticing every flaw & stressing about it. I've noticed when I just ignore my face & stay busy I don't touch it or pick & it stays clearer. I'm a 40 yr old mom & I don't have time to deal with breakouts. But, I wish I'd known 20-25 yrs ago what I know now about taking care of my skin & my complexion would probably look a lot better today. So I hope I can help somebody somehow.

Thanks! You have helped me. I suffer from mild acne but I know its not the acne thats the problem its me thats the problem! When I think about it every little scar I have left from acne was actually preventable. If only I knew back then that picking at skin (especially with your nails) canfo so much damage. You only realize when you catch your reflection in a really strong natural light. Do you have any scars/ indents from acne? And would you say they were preventable?

So I read all of these comments and they touched me. Here is my story and I hope it helps you. I will also give you some advice on how to take care of your skin and trust me, it will work. I have done a lot of research on skincare/went to college/and suffered with acne since I was 19. At the age of 19, I started breaking out heavily. I did not what to do. I tried every acne medication from Differin to all sorts of prescribed medications (all were prescribed). I even tried oils such as the jojoba method (just that with nothing else, maybe cetaphil wash occasionally, before putting on my oil). It did work, I cleared up, but my skin became dry and I broke out occasionally. Jojoba is a great oil to just get rid of acne, but it can be drying and cause your skin to be prone to scarring, TRUSTTTTT ME. It works, don't get me wrong, but it is not something to use for a lifetime. It is a temporary trick. Anyways, Tthe thing I did not know, however, is that I was not moisturizing! I was using all these harsh products, and I lacked a simple, basic moisturizer that any derm would advise. That is the most single important thing when it comes to any skincare routine. People think adding all these extra ingredients will get rid of wrinkles or scars, but it wont! The only thing proven to rid scars and wrinkles is Retin-A or ascorbic acid (used in a proper dosage and never ever together or in the same routine!) or laser treatments. Anyways, I am getting off of topic. Follow this routine and you will stay with it for years to come. I finally have great skin. I had some pitted scars and red marks, but all of it looks superficial now due to my routine. You can hardly notice that I suffered from acne, sure I have some marks, but you literally need to get real close to see it. My boyfriend doesn't even believe I had severe acne. He says I look like a doll and people at work say I look so young for 24 years old. So here is my routine (and Ps tell your derm about it and I'm sure he will agree, all of what I'm going to give you Is from their office): Morning: Wash very gently with Cetaphil Gentle Wash with luke warm water, Do not rub, just clean very slowly and gently because you are a retin-a user, your skin is sensitive now and prone to marking easily. Then pat dry very slowly and lightly. After your cleanser, use a pea size of Eucerin Original Healing Crème. A little extra can be added if your dry. Remember the key is to moisturize, but too much product is never ever good! Your skin is the largest organ in your body, it's meant to heal itself as well. So be gentle, and light with the wash and crème. Night: Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser (again be gentle, use minimal product). After that wait forty minutes.Then add a pea size of retin-a, only a pea-size, less is better. Then wait forty minutes, and add a pea size of vanicream healing ointment. The trick to this routine is using a pea size of everything, or a marble of Eucerin Original Healing Crème since that is a moisturizing. If you use more than a pea size of anything, you will need more wash to wipe it off, and that will burn and upset your skin!!!! You are now on retin-a! Cut out anything that is drying- from oils to alpha creams/wash. Any derm would tell you that when you are on retin-a you need to keep it simple, and just trusttttttttttttttt the medication. Be patient as well. it will work. There has been tons of studies that it works. You may be wondering....wait oils dry your skin out? Yes they do! Castor oil is actually very drying if you research it. It's a great oil for people with oily skin, it can clear them. Grapeseed is also very drying, it is a great toner. It got rid of my acne marks (superficial ones). But you need to pick which side you are on, if you're on retin-a, you need to throw all that out, mixing things will burn your skin and upset it. If you want to be on the oil side, I can also give you great advice on how to use the oils. I only like Jojoba and grapeseed. Those are amazing oils, if used correctly, but like I said, if you are on retin-a, they are terrible for your skin, they will only dry you out, and possibly scar your skin. Anyway, I hope I helped. Sorry for the long post haha!

I also forgot to mention, if you decide to use oils, you cannot use it until about three months or so. Retin-a has made your skin sensitive and dry, these oils act like toners/astringents. A derm would tell you that you cannot and I mean cannot use astringents while on retin-a. That includes oils, toners, ascorbic acid, alpha creams/lotions. Retin-a is very strong so just use the products I said: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansor, Eucerin Original Healing Crème, and vanicream ointment (it is really called Vaniply). it is a heavy duty ointment that will get rid of those flakes. But remember, a little goes a long way for every single product. keep these tips in mind: Use less, Be gentle, never rub, and that goes for every single product including Eucerin Original Healing Crème and your Vaniply. I cant stress it enough, be gentle. Hell, don't even let people touch your face, your face is going to be soooo sensitive for about a year. You need to take real good care of it. And one more thing, if you go out in the sun, use Vanicream spf 50. You must use sunscreen on retin-A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! only if you're going to be outside for a long time (more than twenty five minutes). Retin-a makes your skin more sensitive to the sunlight, a common misconception is that you are allergic to the sun now! No, that is false. Your skin is dry therefore, it shouldn't be near the drying sun. That's really what it is. Also, everyone knows that the sun contributes to 90 percent of your wrinkles. So sun isn't good anyways. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing!! Would love to see this in a review!! 

Thanks for the tip Natasha

Tips* some great advice there I definitely agree a little goes a long way and being gentle is key