help, please! - acne
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Sun Jun 06, 2004 6:31 pm

Hi all! I've been reading a lot on this forum lately, and I figured i'd join and write in. I know there are many topics like this already, but i have found that there are many different kinds, and different treatments that will or won't work for certain people..

I am 20, male, and have had acne for about 5 years. It doesn't seem to be helped by much. I used to take doxycycline, which I think helped a little, but wore off i think. Now i'm on minocycline; its been over a month, and not much change. For a while i've been using salicylic acid + benzoyl peroxide (the Clean & Clear versions), maybe this is just to feel better about doing something for my skin...

So what I wanted some advice on:
What should my daily routine be? I use the sa+bp once or twice a day, and cold water sometimes.
Has anyone had success with minocycline? Or any idea how long it takes to see full effects?
aaand when will it go away!?!!! - Physically i have developed relatively slowly, so this may just be latent puberty effects...? I am just beginning to shave, which gives you an idea of this.

Smile

thanks everyone!

free skin care · Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:36 pm

I have definitely been in your shoes. The best thing to do is to talk to your dermatologist. I am assuming that you have one since you have been taking prescription antibiotics. I took the ones that you have take with moderately good success. The antibiotic that worked the best for me was trimethoprim twice a day. I rarely need to use antibiotics anymore, but I do still use the topicals. The best combo for me is clindagel in the morning and Retin-A micro at night. I have also found that adding a vitamin C serum into my routine has greatly reduced my breakouts and my skin looks better now than it ever has. Anyway, that would be my suggestion. I know that others here can suggest a good mild cleanser for you to use, but I would definitely talk to your dermatologist.

Liz

Mon Jun 07, 2004 5:49 am

I have never suffered from persistent acne, just the pimple here and there sometimes. I have had quite a few of those annoying bumps under the skin as well. Nevertheless, I hope you don't mind me posting what I use to control the pimples that do come up (which are probably hormonal in my case).

The spot treatment products that work for me (Clean and Clear didn't work for me at all) are the MD Formulations ones. I don't like the cleanser at all (bland, non foaming, no nice smell) but I have to admit that it has been effective in getting rid of whiteheads. I also do use the MDF Clearing Complex as a spot treatment and the Clearing Complex Mask at any sign of my skin even attempting to develop a pimple. I also had a sample of the Dermalogica Medicated Clearing Gel a while ago and found that it was quite impressive at killing off one of those angry red pimples that's gearing to come up.

I think, in general (this of course may not work for everyone as you pointed out), salicylic acid products are quite effective for acne. Do you know what the salicylic acid concentration is in the C&C product you're using?

Mabsy

Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:03 am

Hey ethan I can relate to what you're saying. I'm 22, now, and I am also kind of maybe a late bloomer, i'm not sure. I mean I'm not a skinny guy or anything, but I have pretty small hands and I only have to shave about every other day or so; grows in patches. (thinking about it though, i don't think most guys our age have full beard or anything, or am i wrong)? Anyhow, what has worked best for me so far. or last year when pimples became a problem, was REtina at night, and a moisturizing lotion w/ sunprotection in the morning...that's it. i know for most people on this board retina doesn't seem to work, but for me it does...
anyhow, i've recently added zink and antioxidants to my diet...and i guess we'll see how it works out.

yeah...anyhow, good luck...

Mon Jun 07, 2004 11:05 am

thanks Aaron, Liz and Mabsy,

Yes, i have been seeing a dermatologist, thats why im on the minocycline. Sounds like Clean & Clear doesnt have a great reputation around here...i figured as long as it had the right active ingredients it was all the same. SA is 2%, BP is 10%.

I will look into different topicals though, and ask about Retin-a maybe, or something else. Where can i find MDF or Dermalogica products, in california? or..anywhere online w/ paypal Smile

In terms of diet, i forgot to mention, ive been on the "Paleo" diet. For about a month and a half now, kinda on and off (ive got to have ice cream sometime). I mean im not fat at all, just sounded logical to me. You can read about it here - http://www.paleodiet.com/

guess ill wait to talk to my dermie, and hope he is a one or two-product solution.

thanks again

Tue Jun 08, 2004 5:38 am

Hi Ethan,

Well, Clean&Clear just didn't work for me, I'm not sure what others think about it. The concentrations in it sound good. I think the MDF Clearing Complex I use has 5% SA and 5% GA.

I'm sure many salons in California carry both the lines (both lines have locators on their websites that you can use). Online places would be significantly cheaper though, but I'm not sure about ones that offer PayPal as a payment method. I don't think this site does but you could call up the ladies and check or ask if they have any other non-credit card alternatives.

Good luck,
Mabsy

Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:27 pm

well! i talked to my dermatologist again, he gave me the low-dose Retin-A in addition to continuing with the Minocycline. I don't know though, it seemed to be getting a bit better, and now is going back the other way. I know im not supposed to use Benzoyl Peroxide with Retin A so i stopeed that, but is salicylic acid still ok? I feel like i should use a daily wash still.

Sun Aug 01, 2004 2:31 pm

well! I am back.

I have been on Minocycline for almost 3 months and the .4 Retin-a Micro for about 1 and a half months. I think my face looks a bit better....but im worried that ive seen the full effect of both. Also, im worried about what else to do while im on both of these. And if they interact at all? Im pretty sure they dont negatively; my derm would not have prescribed them together...

I wash my face no more than twice daily with a Dove bar soap, and use lotion maybe once a day, when it feels dry (usually in the morning after the retin-a). What am i doing wrong?? Ive had this for too long, and its getting me [very] down.

thanks again

Sun Aug 01, 2004 4:33 pm

well, I quess I have something to share on this topic, my brother have acne to and he use the Retin A or known as tretinoin, yet it help to remove acne and it dries, but the problem is each time you use tretinoin your skin is turning sensitive and getting thin to beacuse of its peeling ingredients, using tretinoin is not for lifetime to use.The more you use it for a long time the more your face is getting thinner and sensitive, then my husband advice him to use the cleanser " Eskinol master for men", this cleanser is exclusively and fits to the skin of a men only, because girls and boys have different skin types, this facial cleanser is made with zeroil and derma clear C or known as Clindamycin this is anti biotic for acne and pimples its also helps whitens your skin. if you want to know more about that product look for ebay store in pristineworld or you can contact them at info@pristinesworld.com

free skin care · Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:04 pm

While topical Clindamycin does help acne substantially, it does NOT help whiten your skin. Also, clindamycin requires a prescription so if you are buying it off of the internet, it is kind of iffy. Oral clindamycin can cause birth defects in pregnant woman and it is not known if enough gets through to a fetus when used topically, but it is advised not to be used topically during pregnancy.

There is no evidence that Retin-A cause thinning of the skin. In fact, most derms encourage the longterm use of retin-a. Things like topical cortisone thin the layers of skin and should not be used on the face.

cb

Sun Aug 01, 2004 8:36 pm

clindamycin can't cause birth defect, but, infact Retin A and any kind of contains tretinoin don't prescribe during pregnancy and that's the fact ,The trueth is any product contains with clindamycin is SAFE during pregnancy, and also thats the fact, and the doctor told me to during my pregnancy. Clindamycin I am taking about is one of the ingredients of the cleanser with SKIN WHITENING ingredient to, not, capsule to take it oraly.
retin A or tretinoin can cause you peeling after each application , because it will dries up your pimple.
I also try that two years ago for almost one year, and what happened is my skin become thin and senstive easy to irritated to harsh perfume soap, which I experience for the first time, also my brother experience to get easly irritated to harsh perfume .

free skin care · Sun Aug 01, 2004 11:03 pm

You may want to look at the following websites on fighting facial skin blemishes. I've done my own exhaustive research over the internet because I've recently had a mild break out myself and Retinol just made it worse for me. I've compiled the links for everyone:

Paula Begoun's site is a plethora of useful information about skin care especially with respect to treating acne.
http://www.cosmeticcop.com/learn/article.asp?PAGETYPE=ART&REFER=SKIN&ID=6
The Natural Acne Treatment Report provides advice on how to treat acne the natural way.
http://clareledor.com/acne_report.html
Acne-Advice provides you a list of vitamins and minerals that are especially good at reducing acne.
http://www.acne-advice.com/diet/vitamins_minerals.shtml
About.com lists the top 10 Best Overall Acne Fighting Products (medical & herbal)
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/weekly/aatp102301a.htm
http://dermatology.about.com/library/bltopicalacneb.htm
Productwatch.net is an independent source that compiled the top products for natural acne treatment
http://www.productwatch.net/reviews/review_skin_care.htm
And since ZENMED came out on top among the best natural treatment for acne, you may want to read more about it here. http://www.natural-acne-treatments.com/derma-cleanse.html
The Acne Insider is another siteful of information about acne treatments.
http://www.natural-acne-treatments.com/index.html
Acne Treatment Information Organization ranks the best treatments out there but I'm not sure how independent their studies are since they ranked all DAK Pharmaceuticals/Skinchoice products the best overall and their scoring is questionable (giving equal weights to every category). They however did not include ZENMED for skin health supplements; Mederma for scar treatments; DDF, Phytocort Acne gel, Metazene(B3), and AcniCure(B3) for acne treatments.
http://www.acneinfo.org/OverallScore.htm#Rankings
http://www.acneinfo.org/overallscore_wrinkle_scar.htm
http://www.fountain-of-youth.com/more_info_skin.htm

And here's more info about vitamins and minerals you can take as skin supplements or use for topical treatment one of which is topical Niacinamide/Nicotinamide aka vitamin B3.
http://gmuntz.tripod.com/links.html
http://acne-care.com/vitamin-and-acne.html
http://www.healthwwweb.com/cgi-bin/request2.pl?file=acnevulg.htm
http://content.nhiondemand.com/dse/consumer/HC3.asp?objID=100942&cType=hc

In conclusion you need to follow a certain regimen to get rid of acne and skin blemishes. You will need a mild cleanser (without SLS), an optional hydrating toner to moisturize the skin, an exfoliant (without alcohol or irritating fragrances), a topical treatment that contains antioxidants & anti-irritants with healing and soothing agents, a facial sunscreen that protects you from both UVA & UVB (Ombrelle Exteme SPF30, Skinceuticals Ultimate UV defense), and a skin health supplement(ZENMED, Skinvantage, Murad, AKN Skincare) that you could probably combine with a multi-vitamin which would help you detoxify and cleanse your system (NSI Synergy, Life Force Multiple, Living Fuel Rx, Total Detox, Colonix).

free skin care · Mon Aug 02, 2004 11:01 am

Hello, i havent read the whole thread so im not sure whats going on at the moment, but maybe you could try accutane? I have heard it does wonders for acne but yes, there is definite side effects so be cautious if you try it. I personally would not use it. I know how it feels to suffer with acne Confused

and everybody wants a quick fix but try to be as healthy, active and stress-free as you can Exclamation

Tue Aug 03, 2004 6:03 am

Wow, eSquire415, that must have taken you ages to put together! Thanks heaps for posting that, loads of good info there.

Mabsy

Fri Aug 06, 2004 1:16 pm

I have a client who is taking an antibiotic because he has severe acne. He recently switched to the 3-in-1 cleanser (which is great for most skin types, especially normal to oily and comes in a tube or a bar...most guys like the bar). He uses it along with a night-time supplement that repairs his skin while he sleeps and helps to reduce the appearance of his scars.

This system has been working for him for nearly a year. Its has been tested and approaved by the FDA AND has a patented formula that will firm your skin (helps with the scars if you have any).

I cannot believe how much his skin has improved in appearance since he's been keeping up with it. Just be consistent with what you try out...you can have clear skin!

Check out the skin care system here: You can try the products Risk FREE from http://marykay.com/PWS/SkinCare/MiraclesetSampler.aspx?Moniker=faithe. Mention that you're from this forum and I'll ship to you for FREE!

Fri Aug 06, 2004 3:35 pm

My 15 year old son used mynocycline to no avail. I got the doctor to switch him to Dynacin which is the brand of the generic, mynocycline. Though his skin is not perfect, the Dynacin certainly works better. The Doctor, though, has to recommend to the pharmacy the brand rather than generic or it will cost you a fortune.

free skin care · Mon Aug 09, 2004 11:41 pm

Check this new site I found that reviews the top acne products available.

http://www.approvedcures.com/

They like the following natural treatments and ranked them in the following order:

DermaCleanse
DermaPure
Refresh

And they just added AcnEase which they like a lot.

http://www.approvedcures.com/acne-treatment/acne-medication.php

free skin care · Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:46 am

Minocycline was THE cure for my acne. I can't recall exactly how long it took but it worked. I'd imagine it might take a few months.

Try not to be harsh on your face, if you're using the minocycline you mainly just have to keep your face clean and the minocycline will do the rest. I would stop using bar soap and use a liquid facial soap that is oil free and gentle, and use an oil free moisturizer.

free skin care · Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:45 am

I think BHA is the best for acne skin. I try Paula's choice with 2% BHA liquid. It's amazing.

free skin care · Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:19 pm

I second the Paulas Choice 2% BP with her blemish fighting solution. You cannot get better than this combination. Very Happy

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.