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FloC
New Member
 
Joined: 30 Mar 2011
Posts: 5
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:37 pm  |
My skin has changed drastically in the last few years and I need to step up my routine to combat the changes. I've always had oily skin but in recent months, it's become very oily and my cheeks and forehead are breaking out. Now not only am I left with greasy skin but I also have scarring and some small ice pick scars. I'm quite certain it's all hormonal since I rarely ever broke out in my teens and early twenties. My first priority is to stop the break outs and then deal with the scaring after.
Currently I'm using:
AM: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
DDF Glycolic Toner 10%
Cetaphil Cream
Clarins UV PLUS Day Screen Spf 40
PM: Lancome Huile Douceur (Oil cleanser)
Jan Marini BioGlycolic Cleanser
Neostrata Toning Solution 8%
And rotate between: M2 Skin Refinish,
Skinceuticals Retinol .5%, MD Forte Lotion III
Is this too much AHA? I just want my skin to calm down and minimize scarring as much as possible since my scars take forever to go away. Should I add in a spot treatment or something else that can help with post inflammatory pigmentation? Maybe I need some "acne" specific products as well? I feel overwhelmed and would appreciate any advice you could offer. Thanks for your help!
I also try to do at home lactic and glycolic peels when I remember. I've done a couple of low level (12.5%) tca peels but they didn't really do much. |
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:50 pm |
I am 31 and have noticed a change recently in my skin as well. I am also breaking out, where I had clear skin pretty much until now.
I think the best thing to do is to ensure that your skin care routine is something that you can consistently follow. Ensure that you cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize. I like using either a microfiber towel or a facial brush with my cleanser to exfoliate. This helps with the congestion.
Also, facials make a huge difference as it you get deep exfoliation and extractions (getting rid of those blackheads). |
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:00 pm |
| If you find that your skin can tolerate the AHA, then it should be fine. But the moment you notice any irritation, you should cut it down to just once a day. YOu may also want to introduce some antioxidant serums |
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FloC
New Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2011
Posts: 5
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:21 pm |
@misspisces-I hope you find the right regimen to meet the needs of your skin. Mine is just a mess and it really, really sucks!
@oasisjc-when you say serum, do you mean something like vit c? Are there any specific products you can suggest? |
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:12 pm |
I just recently started looking into serums myself, so I don't have too much to tell you, but you should take a look at this topic:
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=40456
YOu should also check out the DIY forum as there are a whole bunch of serums that can be made too  |
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:23 pm |
after age of 30, most important is anti-aging product and sunscreen:
Vitamin A, B, C is really good anti-aging product. and remember to use sunscreen; b/c UV will accelerate the aging process. |
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:04 pm |
Well, you've got the sunscreen and Vit A covered, and if you can tolerate that much AHA, that's fine. I second the backing off if you notice any irritation. And depending on the exact character of your breakouts, they could be irritation bumps...
I would replace the combo DDF Glycolic Toner 10% + Cetaphil Cream by a single AHA/exfoliative lotion. The DDF toner has loads of alcohol, which probably dries out your skin temporarily, but may increase oil production in the long run. And the Cetaphil Cream is almost certainly too heavy for oily skin. Good AHAs can help with acne, maybe the Neostrata smoothing 10% lotion?
Have you considered cutting sugar and dairy from your diet (both bad for acne)? And seeing a dermatologist? |
_________________
30-ish, sensitive fair skin, oily and acne-prone, faded freckles; tretinoin since Oct 2010 |
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:38 pm |
Finacea (azelaic acid) is an excellent product for helping fade pigmentation, helping with breakouts and it's also a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It also exfoliates and it doesn't make skin more sensitive to uv light.
It is a prescription cream in most countries, so you could ask your GP or derm for it. Alternatively it's an over the counter drug in Australia and can be ordered from several pharmacies including epharmacy.com.au (who ship internationally). |
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FloC
New Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2011
Posts: 5
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Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:44 pm |
@rockhugger-Thanks for the suggestion on the Neostrata smoothing 10% lotion. I never even thought about that option before. Do you think I could just wash with the Cetaphil bar, skip the toner and lotion, and just use the Neostrata Mattifying Fluid and sunscreen instead of the smoothing lotion? I'd prefer to buy just one product (since I have so many already) so which would you recommend?
I do eat healthy for the most part but must admit that sugar is in my diet. I don't do much dairy so that's good. I've thought about seeing a dermatologist but wanted to see if I could work through it myself first since it's not severe...yet. Thanks! |
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Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:21 am |
You're welcome! Yes, I think streamlining is a great idea, and the Neostrata mattifying fluid looks like a good option. It's not exfoliating, but it may be enough to do AHA at night only.
Come to think of it, the Cetaphil bar could be clogging some pores. What if you used the Jan Marini cleanser both AM and PM? Good modern liquid cleansers often don't need toners after them.
I know what you mean about trying to fix it yourself first... What I would suggest is give yourself a deadline, like two months, and if you're still unhappy with your skin at that time, then schedule an appointment (and remember there's a wait time to see the dr). |
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30-ish, sensitive fair skin, oily and acne-prone, faded freckles; tretinoin since Oct 2010 |
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FloC
New Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2011
Posts: 5
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Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:01 pm |
@Josh-I will keep the Finacea in mind should my attempt to fix things not work. It's a major pain to see a dermatologist here (need referral from family doc and then it's a long wait) so it's good to know other options.
@treehugger-I think I will rotate the Jan Marini with Dan Kern's cleanser (acne.org) in the AM and see how that goes. I read somewhere the Jan Marini may be too much to do twice a day. I'm still debating between the mattifying fluid and the smoothing lotion as they both would suit my needs and it'll be nice to eliminate one step in the process!
In the PM, I'll rotate the DDF toner and Neostrata to switch things up. I'm hoping this regimen will help and I start seeing results in a few weeks. Thanks again! |
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Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:51 pm |
| FloC wrote: |
@misspisces-I hope you find the right regimen to meet the needs of your skin. Mine is just a mess and it really, really sucks!
@oasisjc-when you say serum, do you mean something like vit c? Are there any specific products you can suggest? |
Thanks! Right now what's most annoying are the cyst like pimples I get every month in the same spot. They are so painful!
I hope you also find a regimen that works for you> |
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FloC
New Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2011
Posts: 5
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Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:00 am |
| Thanks Gretchen. I'll look into those books for sure. I also found a tube of bp from acne.org that I had from before. It's helping a little and hopefully mixing it with the glycolic lotions and toners will get rid of the scars faster. |
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