All about ACNE

[mac_addict_erin]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

i used to have lots of pimples and some cysts and honestly the only thing that DID really make a difference is accutane... i'm not done with my treatment but 3 months in and i'm completely clear, but i understand if your mom is worried about the side effects, i haven't experienced many except dry skin and lips.

anyways if you do have a cyst and try to pick at it (that was always my worst habit!) ice definitely helps with the inflammation... another trick is at night before bed put some antibiotic ointment like neosporin or polysporin on the cyst and then put a band-aid on it to make sure you don't touch it! this helps alot with healing, and can reduce the chance that you'll get a scar from it!

hope this helps! =)

 

[hawaiian_mele]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

Ouch! I'm sorry to hear that, I understand your pain, I get cystic acne as well. I have personally found that using an aspirin mask once to three times a week definitely helps with preventing such breakouts. It also helps with current blemishes. So if you're not allergic to aspirin you may consider trying a mask.

If you have to pop it - everyone acknowledges you shouldn't but every now and then you can't help it, lol.
It helps to take a warm shower and when you've gotten out of the shower, take a clean washcloth and run it under very warm water and hold it to the blemish. The heat from both the shower and the washcloth will help relax the area to somewhat ease the pain as well as hopefully draw the blemish to a head, so the icky stuff rises to the surface. Once it's headed, make sure your hands are very clean and pop it as you usually would. Once it's popped, sanitize the area with a pain-free antiseptic wash, pat dry and ice it if you like, to ease the pain and inflammation. Once you've finished icing the area pat the area dry and apply something like neosporin. You can even apply a bandaid on top of the blemish if you like (you can get those fun little round ones!). Actually, I would even go so far as to strongly suggest that you do - it is an open wound and just like any wound it will most likely heal faster with fewer scars (as well as keep it from getting infected) if you keep it clean and protected.

Obviously, don't pick it if you can help it - I don't normally have that kind of will power, lol. I hope this helps a little. Best of luck with everything!

 

[IDontKnowMomo]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawaiian_mele you can get those fun little round ones!

Those wouldn't even fit over it, it's so big! haha

 

[SparklingWaves]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

I don't have cystic acne, but I had siblings that did. I don't know if accutane was around when they were teens or not. But, they sure needed it. They have permanent scars now. Yes, the acne went away, but the scars didn't. It affected their youth too. My sister didn't go to school when she had the bumps. My brother was made fun of by people. This is a serious issue.

If I were a parent, I would put my child on this accutane. Yes, I know it has serious side effects. But, so does leaving this condition alone. My nephew was put on accutane and the condition totally went away. He was on it for 3 years. He is now off of it and has no scars.

It may not be my place to post here, but I felt compelled to say something after seeing what my siblings went through. My brother literally had this spread from his face down his chest, shoulders and on his back. It was really bad. He was very nice look young man, but the darn condition really affected him with dating and socializing. I just don't want this to hurt other people like it had him. He had nothing to treat it with and is left with scars today. My sister had a lesser case, but still has scars.

I would hope that the young people's parents would really reconsider the use of accutane. The use of Accutane may only be temporary, but not using the drug may have long lasting effects which be felt for a life time. After all, the face is the first thing people see.

 

[MissDiva]

Re: Acne is worsening day by day help please

i might try it too, my skin has been acting up lately.

 

[anns]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

Quote:

Originally Posted by dollparts Hello hunny... I hear ya- I have never had acne until recently.. and I have cystic acne too... I have tried everything from proactiv, to aspirin masks... you name it.. I have not tried zeno (but apparently this only caters to minor blemishes) and I have not tried accutane due to the side effects as you mentioned.. However, there is great news... That actually works for EVERYONE.. It was on the news the other night, it's a canadian device called Tanda. It's the same blue light system that dermatologists use that kills acne and prevents it from coming back- so this way you know it totally works because it is used at almost every skincare spa... The only downfall, the price.. but I am so buying one. It costs $295 canadian... but I know it works so in my opinion, with the amount i have spent on products that DON'T work, it's really worth it. I really highly recommend you check the website out and ask your doctor about it... you have nothing to lose but acne!!! (I am sooo excited to be getting this!!!) http://www.tanda.com hope this helps hunny... =)

That sounds awesome. I think I'm gonna get it too, as soon as I save up enough cash. Thanks!

 

[Ms.Amaranthine]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

According to that website, Tanda is only available in the US through a prescription.. ?

 

[mayenni]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

well I had lots of pimples and cystic acne, but after using tazorac at night and clydamycin in the morning my pimple have cleared up. The cystic ones however are harder to get rid of. I still get them along my jaw. I just went to the derm last friday to treat some that i had for weeks by getting them injected.It hurt like hell to have a needle right in the pimple but they were gone that same night! So maybe you should give that a try. Oh and they put me on oral antibiotics in addition to my regular routine .

 

[zombie_candy]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

i've had severe acne, pimples and cystic for the majority of my life. i'm 23 now and i've had it since i was 11. i've tried everything from clinique to proactiv to prescription topicals. my period was also extremely and heinously irregular so my hormones must have been the problem too. the one thing that did work for me is the birth control pill (diane 35--i know it's something else in the USA; i live in canada) and now i'm 98% clear. it took about 6 months to see those results. i still have a lot of hyperpigmentation but i use the glycolic acid from www.glytone.com to help with that. my skin has never been so clear in so long.

 

[Temptasia]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

The aspirin mask has helped me control them. When applied as a spot treatment just when it forms minimizes the size and speeds up the healing proccess.

 

[aquadisia]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

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[shadowaddict]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temptasia The aspirin mask has helped me control them. When applied as a spot treatment just when it forms minimizes the size and speeds up the healing proccess.

How do you do the asprin mask?

Also I've been seeing tv and magazine ads for a new birth control called Yaz that is suppose to clear acne. I don't know anything about it but maybe you could ask your doc. I'm 45 and back when I starting taking birth control pills at 18 they made me gain weight and didn't help my acne but I think they have changed so much since then.

 

[Evey]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

I hate those types of pimples...i rarely break out but when I do...it's always these huge nasty pimples under the skin. They feel like rocks and they look disgusting. I have a habit of picking at them but, i try not to do that anymore because it just causes these huge red blemishes on my skin. I always get them in the SAME spots too...right in the middle of my eyebrows and on my chin. I recently got one right beside my nose a couple of months ago...yes MONTHS...and it hasn't gone away. It gradually get's smaller but it's still there. So far proactiv has been working for me...i still get them obviously but, not as often and not as many. let me not jinx myself :knocks on wood::

 

[marreyes38]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

proactive really worked for me you should try it other than that sry i cant help you.

 

[Temptasia]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowaddict How do you do the asprin mask? Also I've been seeing tv and magazine ads for a new birth control called Yaz that is suppose to clear acne. I don't know anything about it but maybe you could ask your doc. I'm 45 and back when I starting taking birth control pills at 18 they made me gain weight and didn't help my acne but I think they have changed so much since then.

I take a few uncoated generic aspirin, wet it, and let it dissolve in my palm. Then I crush the aspirin with my finger tips and add a drop of spectrojel or cetaphil to form a paste. Then just apply the paste directly on the spot. Let it sit for about 15 mins or until it's dry. Do this twice a day on the spot to minimize the size and calm it down.

As a mask, using it twice a week should be good to keep the cysts/blackheads/pimples from getting out of control.

Never try to squeeze a cyst since it can really damage your skin if there is an infection. Let it dry out and flake off on its own.

 

[Kuuipo]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

Topical erythromycin,available by perscritption works well. Don't ever sueeze at cystic acne or put pressure on it. Ice will not hurt. Benzyl peroxide does help,lthough it can bleach fabrics. A dab of toothpaste overnight will not make it better either. Flouride is a skin irritant and is often responsible for acne around the mouth and chin. Baking soda can relieve some of the irritation.

 

[chameleonmary]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

See your dermatologist. I have had severe cystic acne for 10 years and only Roaccutane cleared it up. Squeezing the cysts is painful and does not help. I can tell you, from my own experience, nothing will get rid of cystic acne like Roaccutane!

 

[CandyKisses1018]

Re: Cystic Acne :[

proactive is horrible for your skin. I went to beauty school tobecome a skin care professional (don't get me wrong, I'm not a dermatologist) i mainly do facials and what not. bbut Proactive dries your skin out and it's highly alkaline. I'd recommend getting a sensitive chemical peel like Rapidex. Thats what I used on all of my clients, if you use it as a 14 day regiment it'll help a lot. After you use a chemical exfoliant use a toner (that helps bringing your natural skin potential hydrogen levels back to normal) and take an ice-cold towel and drape it on your face for 10 minutes.

 

[mixxey]

Acne solution?

What do you guys think is the best product line to get rid of acne? My skin is very problematic. It's very oily in the morning and during the day it gets pretty oily. I have a lot of blackheads on my nose and a bit next to it. I have a lot of pimples all over my forhead and chin. They aren't huge or really big.. But noticable. I also have those small ones and they give a certain redness to my skin. I live in Germany so I can't buy stuff like Proactiv and I don't want to. What do you think about Vichy or Clinique or something else?

 

[elektra513]

Re: Acne solution?

I just started using Clinique Acne Solutions yesterday. I am going to give it 4-6 weeks to see if it works well with my skin, but so far it's ok. I like the foaming cleanser because it's gentle and doesn't leave my oily, sensitive skin feeling dry right afterwards. Most cleansers do leave my skin tight, but this doesn't.

Whatever you choose make sure the products are gentle and don't irritate the skin, since acne-prone skin is already irritated.

I used Neutrogena products for a while, but it stopped working so I've moved on. I liked the Murad AcneComplex as well, but you have to start out slow with that b/c the ingredients can be strong. It can take as long as 3 months for it to work, but after that it's worth it. Start out by applying the exfoliating acne gel once at bedtime for at least the first 2 weeks so your skin can get used to it (it contains salicylic acid and glycolic acid).

If the Clinique doesn't give me the desired results in 4-6 weeks, I am going back to Murad, just because I know that it works for me (even though it takes a little while...)

Hope this helps