Acne

[Xox]

Yes, the horrible, horrible acne. I'm posting this here because I'm curious to see if anyone has any methods I haven't heard of yet. That said, I've been suffering from this horrible disease since a rather young age. (5th grade?) It's always up and down, no idea why. Sometimes it disappears almost completely, but sometimes it's so horrible that well..it's bad. I usually regulate it by using one thing or another. I've used numerous products, including proactiv, to really no avail. Proactiv regulates it (on good days) but doesn't even eliminate most of it. Gone to dermatologist, got products that didn't work. My brother used to suffer form acne as well, and his dermatologist gave him this cream to put on. It made the pimples go away but causes a horrible side effect (Skin darkening in random places, including face). A little info about me: I'm sort of a health freak so eat very healthy. I have a very balanced diet. Excluding dairy products does nothing.. I wash, tone, moisturize my face twice daily. I used to not drink a lot of water (definitely nowhere near what I should have). But very recently, I've started to drink quite a bit. How many glasses should I drink anyway? I don't wear makeup or anything, mostly because it causes my face to break out more. My skin's really oily (of course). No one in my family has the issue besides me, and my brother who used to. Everyone else has perfectly clear skin (:[) So. Anyone got any advice?

[Spenner]

Moisturizing your face twice daily may have something to do with clogging of the pores with oils and influencing acne to grow... but I'm unsure, really. At the very least I'd keep your face always clean, making attempts to clean your face whenever it feels oily straightaway. Since it's been affecting you for this long, though, I'm not completely sure if it's just normal or perhaps something else.

[Xox]

I don't think it has to do with moisturizing actually. I'd dry up if I didn't. And if I were to wash it every time it felt oily, my skin would only produce more oil to combat the washing. Thanks for replying though.

[Carôusoul]

I got like one or two spots a few times. Otherwise I'm beautiful always and ever.

[reci]

Rub all the oil off your face every morning under the shower. Works well for me.

[Xox]

Rub all the oil off your face every morning under the shower. Works well for me. Yes. Regardless, the oil comes back. The oil is not the main problem, guy. It's the acne. They're related, I suppose, but I've had periods without acne and my skin is still oily in those periods. Always has been. What's your secret, Carou?

[Flashdance]

Cut back on chocolate. And potato chips(crisps). Also change/wash your pillow case weekly. The oil on your hair rubs onto the case, and your face rubs the oil, which can cause acne. Sleep on your back, if you can, so your face never touches the pillow. http://www.worldvillage.com/change-y...e-to-stop-acne And don't keep touching your face with your hands.

[Bayside]

Cut back on chocolate. This is debatable. I've read several studies that actually say chocolate is good for acne, considering stress is a primary contributor to acne, and chocolate serves as a pre-cursor to serotonin. I know personally that when I started eating a chocolate bar a day awhile ago, my acne got considerably better. Anyhow, you can always try accutane. It has the possibility of many side-effects, but if you're willing to try it, it works for most people to get rid of their acne, usually permanently.

[ClouD]

Wash bedsheets and pillowcase every three days. Drink at least 6 full cups of water a day, more is better. Take a strong multi-vitamin (for women, without iron). Eat plenty of fruit and veg, not too much dairy. Use a non-comedogenic (won't block pores) moisturiser day and night, specifically good if it contains a small % of salicylic acid. Don't use make-up. If you still have acne, you are gunna LIVE WITH IT FOREVER. I dunno, you could always try accutane. It'll work, but there'll be lovely side effects.

[Jeff777]

Wash bedsheets and pillowcase every three days. Drink at least 6 full cups of water a day, more is better. Take a strong multi-vitamin (for women, without iron). Eat plenty of fruit and veg, not too much dairy. Use a non-comedogenic (won't block pores) moisturiser day and night, specifically good if it contains a small % of salicylic acid. Don't use make-up. If you still have acne, you are gunna LIVE WITH IT FOREVER. I dunno, you could always try accutane. It'll work, but there'll be lovely side effects. This. Also, I've found the cocoa butter (Palmer's brand) stick, soap, lotion, and shea butter to not only tone my skin, but it keep it acne free. If I go without it, my skin is more prone to developing acne. Cocoa butter naturally repairs (and tones) the skin. 1. Wash your face with the cocoa butter soap in the morning ONLY your face. You can use another brand of soap for washing the rest of your body. 2. After you dry off your face, put a pea sized amount of cocoa butter lotion on your index finger and moisturize it thoroughly into your left cheek. Repeat this process for the right cheek, your forehead, your nose and mouth area. 3. At night, wash your face with the cocoa butter soap and then rub a thin layer of the cocoa butter stick around all on your face and moisturize it in (until your face isn't shiny anymore) for 5 or so minutes. This also helps circulate blood throughout your face. 4. Wakeup and repeat steps 1 - 4. **Note: Use the Palmer's shea butter before going out into cold weather (keeps your skin well moisturized throughout the day). Not only is cocoa butter/shea butter great at repairing blotches and toning your skin, but studies also show that it reverses acne entirely. I know this has been the case for me. My face only starts acting up if I go without steps 1 - 4 for awhile and I'll only go without them if I've run out of the stuff and haven't picked more up yet. >.o Of course this is to be done in conjunction with what ClouD said above.

[Xox]

I haven't heard of the pillowcase or bedsheet stuff yet. That's interesting, and makes a lot of sense. Thanks! Also yeah, I'm unwilling to try because of side effects.. Edit: Just saw your post Jeff. I'm sort of cautious around cocoa butter and stuff because my skin is really oily and that stuff feels heavy. I'll research it.

[Jeff777]

I haven't heard of the pillowcase or bedsheet stuff yet. That's interesting, and makes a lot of sense. Thanks! Also yeah, I'm unwilling to try because of side effects.. Edit: Just saw your post Jeff. I'm sort of cautious around cocoa butter and stuff because my skin is really oily and that stuff feels heavy. I'll research it. My skin is pretty oily as well unfortunately D: I should have mentioned that in my first post. And cocoa butter seems like it would break out oily skin much more though right? WRONG! It's so weird but it reverses it entirely. At least for me. And I DO have oily skin. xD Research is very important. I remember doing a lot of research on it before I opted to buy the stuff a year ago. A lot of women had been using cocoa butter to reduce stretch marks after pregnancy before it largely became a way to reverse acne and tone the skin. There are some brands that are just raw 100% cocoa butter. The raw cocoa butter is very very oily once applied (talking about the stick, the lotions isn't oily). I don't buy that stuff. Palmer's is the brand that is geared toward clearing up blemishes and acne.