Mandelic Acid Nightmare?????
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

free skin care · Sat May 19, 2007 11:22 pm

Ok, so I did something very stupid. As many of you know I am 30 yrs old and have been suffering from a moderate case of acne since about November of last year. My face was very clear prior to that and I used to get a lot of compliments on my skin. Well then the pimples started. First localized to my chin. Small bumps, but lots of them. I tried so many different things and the only thing that really seemed to help them was Juice blemish clearing serum and Best Bath Store acne gel.

The small pimples went away, but thats when the cystic acne started. Large angry red hard, painful bumps that took weeks to heal- if they even did at all. The Juice blemish clearing serum and the BBS acne gel were no match from these scoundrels. I tried many different things for months, but then decided screw it, and pretty much stoppped using anything, except for Dalicin T (a topical antiobitic solution that my Dr. then prescribed).

Well it looked like things had started to heal up. But then I started reading about Mandelic acid and how it did wonders for acne prone skin. Oh the promises-pores significantly reduced, acne banished.

So I order some mandelic acid. I ordered the alcohol free version, becuase I heard that the acid can be quite drying. But my mistake, I ordered the 15% instead of the 10%. My skin is pretty tough so I thought, the 15% will be easily handled by my skin.
SO I got the package, and at first just let it sit around for about a week, not sure if I really wanted to use it. Then I had a wedding I was going to this weekend. SO I started examining my skin a bit more, and thought- what the heck, let me try the mandelic acid- maybe my pores will shrinK???

Mistake #2- I LIBERALLY applied the acid to my face- it did sting in some areas, but not bad.
I put it on at night and went to sleep.

The next moring I woke up, and felt that my skin was a little sore around my nose and chin area. I got up and looked in the mirror and my skin looked great! I couldn't beleive it! My skin looked so smooth and the pores looked less noticeable. That is until I washed the acid off of my face and a layer of my skin came off with it.

So now it has been about a week since this happened, and my skin is a mess. It is extremely dry, and keeps peeling off. Mainly around my nose and chin. The isn't just regular peeling either. You know when you put on a bit too much nail polish on your nails and then when it chips, you can peel the whole thing off? Well that is exactly how my skin is peeling off.

I even have small pimples coming back as well- this time all over my face.

I don't blame the product, I am sure that many of you have had success with it. I blame my ignorance. I have been doing more research on mandelic acid and it seems that you need to start of with a lower concentration (10%) and apply sparingly. As well once you have let it sit on your skin for 30 mins, you should follow up with a moisturizer.

I really wish this product would have come with some sort of directions.

If any of you have any advice on how I can get my skin back on track I would really appreciate it. I think the first thing is to somehow get my skin hydrated again. But any moisturizer I use has not done a thing.

I did buy the Jan Marini Bioclear cream and used it prior to this mandelic mess, but I'm too scared to use it on my skin because of the state it is in now.

I hope to hear from you soon!
Thanks!
CG Sad

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 12:46 am

Oh dear, I hope your face heals quickly. How about some emu oil?

I know emu oil works for a lot of people but unfortunately my skin had difficulty absorbing it.

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 12:53 am

I really think it's time for you to see a dermatologist.

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 12:57 am

Hi Canadian Girl,
So sorry to hear of your mishap. I tend to over do things also (If a little is good, a lot will be better...NOT!)
I would treat your skin in a very gentle manner. Perhaps Cetaphil or another very mild cleanser and a bit of hydrocortizone cream (.5%).
What I would not do is use the Jan Marini Bioclear cream! It is really powerful and your skin seems to be in too fragile a state to be adding more actives to it.
I hope things clear up for you soon. Try not to be tempted to start using any acids or other items that will irritate your skin further.
Good luck,
Joani

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 1:35 am

Thanks guys!
I have been seeing a dermatologist- who insists that I keep taking antibiotics (which I don't really want to do since I am trying to get pregnant.

I don't really want to try the emu oil b/c my skin doesn't absorb oils well either - plus I still can't get past that it comes from a bird!

I will definately give the hydrocortisone a shot! And yes- I am staying away from all acids and actives until then.

I really hope the hydrocortisone works! Let me know of any other suggestions!
Thanks
CG

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 1:48 am

I think you could use the JM Bioclear again but just use a small amount and very sparingly at first. The Bioclear will help with the bumps that are appearing and it will also give some moisture. For the first couple of days, just use Bioclear at night and a sunscreen in the day and see how you go.

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 4:39 am

Canadian Girl, I'm so sorry for your grief <hugs>. I use Vivant 15% serum and love it but i have to say that I only started using it when my face was clear, so....
I think you really should get antibiotics from a doctor. When I had my cystic eruption (the one and only time in life) antibiotics was the only thing that cleared it and in very short time (less than two weeks).

Second of all if you're not allergic, I suggest SA - it clears the pores like noting else does and also helps everything else you put on your face to work better and not congest pores.

Third, about Emu - people, very little is needed, esp when one has oily skin. I have very oily skin and acne prone and I've been using it for more than a year with excellent results. Very little is needed.

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 6:36 am

I agree with the emu oil. I was using dianne yvonnes emu oil, but then switched to the gow emu oil and love it. I was put off by it at first becasue it was thick and yellowy, but I use only a tiny bit after I spray on my avene water and I love it. I can't use rose hip oil, because it did congest me I think, but I really like this stuff. I have been using it for a few months.
On the flip side, you could try some retinol for that acne, but you can't if you are trying to become acne. I have really really congested skin sometimes, those small small little bumps under you skin, and the retinol is really helping them come to the surface. I was just using it under my eyes, but I tried it around my temples and on the side of my cheeks by my hairline and it really does do wonders. It works fast. If I put it on a pimple the night before (had one on my chin the other night) it really signifacantly ( I KNOW I didn't spell that right) reduced by morning.
Whatever you do, good luck!! With both things. Wink

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 7:54 am

CG,
I had a similar experience a while back, and when I tried to treat it myself, it just got worse, spread across my face, until I finally went to the derm. Here's what he had me do:
1. Only use Cetaphil to wash (which I was totally opposed to, but since nothing else was working, I followed dr's orders)
2. Use cortisone cream as needed for irritation for two weeks only. This will work miracles, but cannot be used long-term. Maybe OTC hydrocortisone cream might suffice until you see a derm.
3. Moisturize with Vaseline (of course I protested, but it worked...I alternated with Ultra emu oil, and only used Vaseline when it was extremely dry).

After two weeks of this, there was great improvement, but when I went in for followup, the second derm I saw (because my dr was on vacation) decided to step things up...he put me on doxycycline and Klaron.

I hope you heal soon!

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 8:29 am

CG -

You must be so frustrated with all that's been happening with your skin! Sad

My humble suggestion is to first try a very good, very basic facial, to start getting things under control. I know it can get pricey, but when my skin was out of control, I went for a facial (deep cleansing, steam, extractions, etc) once a week for about a month and it helped significantly. After about three weeks, I saw a big difference. It really helped to balance my skin w/the acne, dryness, etc. The Cetaphil is a really cleanser to start with; I've also found the Biomedics Decongestant cleanser to be good without overstripping your face. Also I don't know if you used the Mandelic Acid from the Vivant line, but they also have a v. good marine cream, which does a great job of moisturizing without getting too oily or greasy. Lastly (and I wish I had known about this YEARS ago because I have scars from cystic acne), a dermatologist can give a shot of cortizone to reduce the size of the cyst. I hope that helps a little bit! Keep us posted on what happens. Good luck!

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 9:25 pm

Canadian Girl, I had the same problem as you not so long ago. Last year when I turned 31 I started breaking out in small bumps around the chin and jaw. The bumps turned into huge cysts a few months down the track. I had clear skin till then and everything I had used in the past seemed to aggravate the acne. And I did try the BHA, AHAs and retinols and nothing seemed to work. So off I went to a GP and I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts which apparently creates havoc with the hormones. Further diagnosis with a specialist showed that I have PCOS which really messes up the hormones. I have my acne now under control with BCP and a low GI eating plan but still have breakouts occasionally. I'm not saying that you might have PCOS or ovarian cysts but I agree with some of the posters that when all else fails it's time to see a medical professional and check if acne is symptomatic of something else that's going on in your body. G'd luck!

free skin care · Sun May 20, 2007 10:52 pm

LizaA,

Do you have other symptoms besides the bumps on your skin? I have appts with both my GP and derm next month. Besides the bumps, I have also been getting really long periods. Wondering if my hormone is out of wack or something else is going on?

TIA!

Mon May 21, 2007 12:26 am

To help your skin recover, you can try using some vitamin E in oil soluble form, diluted with rosehip or straight, it helps with scarring and skin turn over tremendously.

free skin care · Mon May 21, 2007 7:12 am

Isn't vitamin E oil considered very comodogenic?

free skin care · Mon May 21, 2007 6:39 pm

Mtview, I found that my periods were either heavy and painful and would last for more than 7 days or light (like spotting). Other than that I gained weight rapidly, sweated more, increased BO and my lower belly would bloat badly one day and then be flat a few days after- I sound very attractive, I know! Laughing

Sometimes I did feel discomfort around the ovary area, usually my left side which turned out to be more cystic than the other. But not everyone feels the dull ache.

But most of the symptoms are under control with increased dosage of oestrogen for me.

Other people experience hirsutism as well while some unlucky few develop Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistence. Hope I'm not scaring you! And I hope all the best when you see your GP!

free skin care · Mon May 21, 2007 6:41 pm

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I actually tried the hydrocortisone cream for the last 2 days and it is really working well. The moisture has returned back to my skin and no more peeling! I really thought I had done it this time with the mandelic acid.

I will try the bioclear cream in a day or two and hopefully that will help clear up all the little bumps. I got antibiotics from my Derm and will see how that goes as well. Right now I am going to keep my skin care routine very minimal- no new products, just stuff I know that doesn't irritate my skin.

I did get checked for ovarian cysts a few months ago, so no problems there.
Thank you all once again- I'm finally feeling better about my skin again!
CG

free skin care · Mon May 21, 2007 9:02 pm

LizaA,

Thanks for the info. I think my period finally stopped after 2.5 weeks. Hope everything checks out with my dr's visit.

CG,

Glad to hear your skin is better. Cortaid is my friend. Let your skin rest for at least another week before trying new things. Good luck!

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.