Help with sebhorreic dermatitis, acne and bad skin texture
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:05 pm

Hi there; I've lurked here for nearly a decade, so I thought I'd join.
For the past ten years I've struggled with persistent acne and terrible hyperpigmentation and dermatitis-type issues, which has only been successfully managed by antibiotics (the acne part, anyway). However, I want to stop taking antibiotics since I've been on them for a year which I know must be bad for my body. (Unfortunately though, whenever I go off of them my face explodes in cysts.)

I tried to attach some photos of my skin (that I uploaded to an image hosting website) but it said I couldn't link them as a new member.

Anyhow, the main problem-- and I could bear the acne if not for this-- is that my skin seems to recover extremely poorly and slowly from even the most minor of breakouts. I tend to get acne in weird little clusters (small red cysts and closed comedones) -- even the unaffected skin surrounding it develops an orange-peel texture with blackheads galore, even long after the pimples have gone away (if that makes any sense). Even one single little pimple leaves a bright red mark for months.

Here's what I've tried in the past, to no avail:
-Pocketderm/Curology
-Acid and chemical peels (lactic, mandelic, and TCA); my skin is somehow both resistant and reactive.
-Prescribed topicals (all of them) with the exception of Tazorac-- but, Tazorac made my skin beet-red. Have not tried Retin-A yet.
-Clarisonic (terrible)
-Nearly all oils (jojoba and rosehip seed oil were the worst offenders)
-Scar treatments, both drugstore and high-end
-Microdermabrasion (no effect whatsoever)
-Honey and manuka honey broke me out, oddly enough

The few things that have somewhat kind of helped my skin are:
-Pond's cold cream, prior to the reformulation 5-ish years ago :C
-Zinc
-Desert Essence Tea Tree cleansing pads
-A couple different Korean beauty products
-Antibiotics
-Garden of Wisdom's mandelic acid-based serums
-Charcoal masks
-Occlusive moisturizers (but not waxy ones like Nivea.)
-Most of Olay's basic products

Any suggestions? I've been to dermatologists, and have tried birth control, and have also had my hormone levels tested but that was ruled out so I don't think it's hormonal.
I've experimented with diet changes as well, but that only helped with minor things (milia and such).

I'm always researching skincare-related things so of course I have ideas, but I just don't know if it's a fungal issue, or some form of dermatitis, or even demodex mites. (Unfortunately though, all the demodex mite creams have ingredients that would break me out terribly.) I've taken various supplements but they did not affect my skin's appearance.

And, lastly-- I'd like to know if it's at all possible for one to be allergic to iron oxides/color pigments used in foundations and mineral powder..? Every single foundation, mineral powder, and tinted moisturizer I've ever tried has destroyed my skin (even the kind without bismuth, talc, mica and other additives). It's immensely frustrating, because it prevents me from being able to wear makeup when I want to look nice. Any insight would be much appreciated.

My current skincare routine is very simple, as I tend to regret it if I add too many things:

AM: Cold water rinse, then Nip+Fab glycolic acid daily facial wipes (they seem pretty mild so far, just started using them, no averse reactions yet), followed by a Japanese sunscreen

PM: CeraVe foaming cleanser, or a pyrithione zinc facial soap followed by witch hazel and plain aloe vera. (since the Eucerin 5% urea cream I tried recently broke me out in cysts where I spot-tested)

free skin care · Sun Feb 05, 2017 3:20 pm

If the tea tree oil has helped then have you tried acid peels such as glycolic or lactic acid?

I hope that when you used the antibiotics that you used a good probiotic purchased either from a naturopathic Dr. or a health food store. I find that this really helps me with a break out. I have always had problem skin, since I was 12, now that I am in my late 40's it has finally cleared. It sounds like you need to incorporate frequent exfoliation whether manual (scrubbing) or chemical.

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