Thread: Does anyone deal with adult acne?

Does anyone else have adult acne?

I am 35 years old and my face is just all broke out.
I am not sure what to use.
I am getting them on my chin and 1 inch above the upper lip and around the nose area.

What is the best way to treat adult acne?

Any advice?

What works?

What don't?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Angelique :)

I wouldn't put anything on it without the dermatologist's okay.

Are you sure it's plain acne? That perioral pattern is associated with certain kinds of dermatitis. If it's sudden onset, it could be something else, like a contact dermatitis or a new food sensitivity. Are you using some new product, especially something with beeswax or steroids in it (those can be culprits)?

Taking care of your underlying health is important. Getting enough sleep, avoiding sugar, etc. Seems like our skin expresses its outrage when we are run down.

Good luck. I know what a drag it can be.

I started breaking out about two years ago, out of the blue. I'd been living in Korea, went home for two months, and during that time, starting breaking out all over my face. I wasn't stressed, my diet really didn't change, and it didn't go away. After I came back to Korea, I started seeing a dermatologist, who gave me a topical creme and put me on roaccutane. It cleared it up, I went off it when I moved to Bahrain, and it started all over again. A friend of mine suggested a low-dose birth control for it, and that worked, but it also made me retain weight (my activity level was high enough that I should have been losing, but didn't). So when I came back to Korea, I went back to the dermatologist, got the same stuff, and it's been working since. I'm sorry, I know exactly how much this sucks.

I guess it would depend on the cause of the spots.

My two thoughts would be, 1 could be a new product you are using or 2 hormonal.

I would stop using pretty much ANY product at night. I've found that my skin breaks out less when I don't clog it up with creams, lotions and potions. It gives skin a chance to 'breathe'.

My next approach would be to use something like, Acne Treatment at AcnEase: Acne, Acne Product, Acne Medication, Acne Cure
I have used these and can vouch for it. I guess you could make your own version with herbs that help the bodies elimination process.

There are lots of other things you can do, if you can't change your pillow case each night place a towel there and change that. (prevent build up of bacteria). Try not to touch your face too much etc. I think there was a thread round xmas time that brought up this up, you may want to try looking at that?

And if in any doubt book a session with a GP or a dermatologist.

Yep, mine's almost gone now that I've seen a homeopath. She gave me a preparation to be used under the tongue and one the skin. I also take Omega 3,6,9 (Nordic Naturals is Excellent). The cysts left with the vitamin supplements and the constant zit turnover was stopped with the drops. Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water is removing the dark marks left over from the ravage of my international move. I only wish I started this sooner. For the first time since I was 12 I'm just about clear.

It is great to get advice, but I must say that EVERYONE is different. I can see that people are saying NOT to use moisturizer at night, but I breakout when my skin becomes too dry. It really is either a- an infection...b-an irritation...or c-hormonal. no matter which one it is, you will probably have to attempt different methods to clear it.

I was over-washing my face and not using enough moisture on my face. As soon as I quit washing my face in the AM, afternoon, PM.....and started ONLY rinsing my face in the morning, washing with mild cleanser at night, using toner at night, and adding lotion AM & PM... my face cleared completely up.

I also use this green tea serum once a week that helps my skin regenerate itself. ex foliation is always good as it clears the dead skin!

I can't say what will cure your issues, but I can say that there isn't one solution. good luck :(

Now, I am wondering maybe a allergic reaction to my dogs. I don't know, maybe that sounds far fetched. I tend to give them kisses on their heads.

I have been also having problems with a shampoo that I have used for over 20 years. (Matrix Biolage Normalizing Shampoo)
I get these bump like pimples, On the back of my neck. This has only been happening the last 4 months.

I think I will make an appt. with dermatologist's.

For me it's most probably hormonal. The skin clears nearly completely and just as I start to feel safe - bam, here they come again.

I thought it was linked to stress, but I am not stressed right now.

One thing I can say is that creams with too much stuff in them make it worse.
You know all the anti-aging stuff - too complicated for my skin.

Right now I am on plain old Nivea. It's the only one that keeps my skin moisturized enough without irritating it too much. (with all the heating during the winter my skin gets so dry!)

I think I'll ask my gynecologist when I see her next time... (the pill did not help much when I used to take it)

MEISSOUN

I used to get T-zone acne as an adolescent; as an adult it tends to be my chin. But after one microdermabrasion treatment I noticed my acne completely vanished for several weeks, which gave me a clue, so I started lightly exfoliating my chin with a buf-puf every night after makeup removal. Now I hardly ever break out anymore.

Yeah, stop smooching the puppehs. Give 'em pats instead and wash your hands after handling them. They like to roll around outside, remember? So lots of stuff could be on their fur. Have THEY had any steroid cream treatments (suspects in perioral dermatitis)? Do they get topical flea treatments that wick through their fur?

If the dermatologist prescribes a steroid cream, ask about spot testing it before putting it all over the breakout.

Dermatologists favor antibiotics and corticosteroids in their arsenal, which come with their own issues. If it's a contact dermatitis, just eliminating the irritant should do the trick. So doing some detective work may help you avoid a course of drugs. Any product you use, including toothpaste, should be considered.

If it is truly acne and not something else (like allergic reaction, etc.), I swear by Proactiv. It is the only thing that keeps my adult acne under control.

Originally Posted by dancingrrrlz

Have THEY had any steroid cream treatments (suspects in perioral dermatitis)?
Do they get topical flea treatments that wick through their fur?

No they have not had any steroid cream treatments.

As for flea treatments I just put their front line on last night.

I am really good about washing my hands after petting them, or anything for that matter where my hands get dirty. I just started using a Hand sanitizer too.

Originally Posted by bethsoren

If it is truly acne and not something else (like allergic reaction, etc.), I swear by Proactiv. It is the only thing that keeps my adult acne under control.

I have been interested in this product for a long time. I was not sure if it really worked or not. I am glad to know it does work for some people. It could be worth a try.
I will have to check this out. (going to look it up now)

I just started using a Hand sanitizer too.

Hmmm, could that be the culprit?

I wanted to add that I drink Pau d'Arco tea and in the past have applied the wet tea bags to my skin as an anti-yeast tonic. It's pretty harmless stuff. And if one is susceptible to yeasty stuff, has been eating a lot of sugar, is run down, etc.; it probably couldn't hurt to rule that out. Especially before going on a course of antibiotics. If it's yeast antibiotics could make it worse IMHO.

I´ve had it and have been on Accutane(due to PCOS),but I found that following Paula Begoun´s tips on how to clear it up works for me:
Battle Plans for Fighting Blemishes

Benzoyl peroxide just makes my skin flaky,but Paulas 8% AHA gel,Neostratas 10% and 15% AHA lotions keeps my skin very clear(and has made my forehead wrinkles disappear)
These are very affordable,and is great for those bumpy upperarms and dry feet as well.

Hey there... this is very timely! For the first time since the onset of my acne in my early teens (I'm now 33), I feel my acne is under control.

In the past I pretty much tried everything... a list of things that would take me all day! (Including three rounds of Accutane that never helped for more than 4 mos post treatment).

Anyhow, what is working really well for me right now is Dan's treatment via Acne.org . Basically, it's using a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, benzoyl peroxide and then a fragrance-free, water-based lotion. (Twice daily). I also follow that with the recommended daily dosage of Omega's (BIG difference)! Don't use anything else on your face (water-based makeup is fine) or it'll irritate your skin and make you break out.

I'd used benzoyl peroxide in the past and it made my face a flaky mess. I think the difference here is following it with lotion. I never used lotion before because my skin was so oily, but it is necessary with the benzoyl peroxide.

I have Dan's products and they work great, but you can get similar items at any pharmacy (thought Dan's is cheaper and is great quality).

I see someone posted Exfoliating.
What brands do you use?
Or do you make your own?

I found a website that has some homemade Exfoliating ideas along with so many more ideas for beauty tips. Just thought I would share it.
beauty recipes | recipe goldmine skin and hair care recipes

I actually use an acid based cleanser once a week and that helps with exfoliating. I find that anything gritty makes my face way too dry.

I also have adult acne. My dermatologist told me that my acne is hormonal and it has little to do with dirt on my face, germs, makeup or the foods that I eat. I've been presrcribed BenzaClin gel most recently, and before that it was Duac gel (I like BenzaClin best). They are basically the same thing: benzoyl peroxide and clyndamicin combos. I also have a script for retin A, but I don't use it because it makes my skin sensitive and I always forget to put it on. I also started taking the pill, which seems to be helping.

One thing to remember with any acne treatment is that you have to give it a few weeks to work it's magic. I always get red, flushed and dry when I start a new one, sometimes stinging...but I do apply a mild face lotion right afterward which helps.

Oh and I used proactiv before going on the scripts and it's not nearly as good...for me anyway.

I noticed this starting to happen to me and it was because I'd started to try face washes for that specific purpose and stopped just washing my face with plain old soap as I always had. The plain old soap made it go away again. Bar soap is good stuff; I sometimes wonder if the rest of the products are marketed in order to make us break out so we buy more. ;)

I noticed this starting to happen to me and it was because I'd started to try face washes for that specific purpose and stopped just washing my face with plain old soap as I always had. The plain old soap made it go away again. Bar soap is good stuff; I sometimes wonder if the rest of the products are marketed in order to make us break out so we buy more. ;)

Y'know, I've found this too. My skin is just horrible. Its both sensitive and spotty. I've tried this and that over the years but nothing really seems to work and its never actually been true acne, just generally horrid.

People are horrified that I wash with soap but I always use high quality soap, usually unscented and as little extra synthetic tat as possible. Its always seemed marginally better than most other facial washes.

Glycerin is a by-product of saponification and most body bars on the market have had the glycerin extracted. This changes the chemistry of the soap and how it works. It no longer lifts the dirt, but rather strips it from your skin, including natural oil. (This applies to both solid body bars and liquid cleansers). Once the glycerin has been removed, what you then have is detergent. So really, you may as well be using dish detergent on your face. Notice most body bars don't say "soap" on them? It's because they aren't.

If you buy good quality natural soap, the glycerin will remain in the soap making it much milder to your skin. Despite what many companies would like you to believe, many of these liquid cleansers are no better for your skin than solid bars.

Really soap clings to dirt and oil and lifts them to the surface of the water. They won't strip your skin of natural oils like detergent.

As someone with very oily skin, any products that strip my skin of natural oil increases my oil production and makes matters worse.

Anyhow, if you've found a product that works for you, that's great... I just wanted to mention that liquid cleanser is not necessarily better than the body bar some of you are using on your face. So you can now be equally horrified with them! ;-)

*** Bar soap does not have to be clear to be a glycerin soap if the company hasn't chemically extracted it. Most people think glycerin soap has to be clear, but it doesn't... it's just a naturally occurring ingredient as a byproduct of the soap making process.

(I have had a small home-based natural body care business for about 8yrs. Don't do it much these days, but have done oodles of research on the topic).

salt water..maybe a chlorinated pool will help too but i swear after a day at the beach in the water and sun my skin is clear..i guess the salt dries up everything

(also good for cracked feet)

I have had excellent success (and my teenage children, too) using Paula Begoun's Beta-Hydroxy Acid exfoliating treatment. Here's a link:

Exfoliants

She has a "Battle Plan for Acne" that might work...and notes that you don't want to dry your skin out too much.

I know how frustrating this can be...but since using Paula's, I haven't had more than one zit at a time (the "period zit") and they go away fast and don't scar anymore. That's been...four years? Yeah, about four years.

Paulas AHA gel 8% and Balancing Cleansing gel worked miracles for me,
strangely the AHA worked better for me than BHA(salicylic acid)-
maybe because I have more of a dry,wrinkled and sensitive skin than oily?
(other side of 30 here)

Anyway I´ve heard very positive things from many about Dan´s products too:
Mild washing,low procent of benzoyl peroxide and light moisturizing appearantly works good.

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

I´ve had it and have been on Accutane(due to PCOS),but I found that following Paula Begoun´s tips on how to clear it up works for me:
Battle Plans for Fighting Blemishes

Benzoyl peroxide just makes my skin flaky,but Paulas 8% AHA gel,Neostratas 10% and 15% AHA lotions keeps my skin very clear(and has made my forehead wrinkles disappear)
These are very affordable,and is great for those bumpy upperarms and dry feet as well.

Paula Begoun ROCKS! I have her book, "Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me" and it's really opened my eyes to a lot of snake oil salesmanship out there...it is so hard to keep from literally buying into the slick marketing of hundreds of skin products out there and she does an incredible job putting all that into perspective. She gives wonderful advice on what works (often for little $$) and what doesn't for several reasons. She has wonderful break downs on cost, ingredients, and effectiveness, to name a few. She will also make comments on potential irritating properties a particular product may have. She has a website so you don't have to buy the book too! Good luck...it might be worth going there before you buy.

OK, I trust you Emma ..g.:
I ordered some stuff according to my skin type. Now let's see how it works...

MEISSOUN

Mine's completely hormonal. I use the L'Oreal adult acne care kit--it comes with a cleanser, toner, and exfoliator. It's worked very well for me.

I remember seeing another thread previously where people said ProActiv worked well, too.

Oh - my - Goodness

So I ordered Paula's Choice set for Dry Skin Prone to Blemishes (mostly because I was a little confused which of the many products to order).
I haven't even used it for a week and already my skin is SO much better!!!

The only strange thing is that they also include 2 products in this set that have "normal to oily skin" written on them. Which of course leaves me with very dry skin...
I will have to save these up and use them in the summer time.

Anyway, thanks so much for the tip! I should have taken a "before" picture to compare with the "after" but really, I don't want to go back and look the way I did a week before...

MEISSOUN

I had to revived this thread to post my success story.

I've been battling acne since I entered my teens (many, many years ago!). In my late 20's I saw a dermatologist who put me on a medication that I can't recall the name of at the moment, but I believe it started with an 'R'. I'm not sure if we might have tried Accutane also, but the couple of things we did try only dried my skin terribly while I was still getting terrible breakouts. Then about 10 yrs ago I discovered ProActiv. I was pretty happy with the results of that. Even though I was still getting breakouts on a fairly regular basis, they were much less severe and seemed to clear up a bit quicker.

Someone mentioned wondering if those OTC 'acne-fighting' treatments put something in them to keep us breaking out occasionally so that we have to keep buying them. Due to my recent discovery, I wouldn't be surprised if that were true....

A couple months ago it appeared I was going to run out of my ProActiv cleanser before my next scheduled delivery. So I went looking for a temporary OTC cleanser to get me through a few days. I found Olay's Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Cleanser with Blemish Control. My skin started improving almost immediately. By the time my ProActiv arrived 5 days later, I just put in the the cupboard & decided to stick with the Olay for a little bit longer to see if the improvement would continue. It did!! But that's not the last of my story.

About 3 weeks ago I decided to start taking Omega 3 fish oil capsules to aid in weight loss. I'd read that taking that in addition to increasing physical activity will help increase fat burning better than just exercise alone. While researching that claim, I came across lots of people swearing by it for the treatment of acne. WOOHOO! Additional incentive for me to swallow those big capsules twice a day - LOL!

I've now been using the Olay cleanser & toner for about 2 months & taking the fish oil for 3 weeks. I'm thrilled to report that my skin is now in the best shape it's been in the past 30 years! I've had no active breakouts, and none lurking below the surface waiting to errupt. Of course I'm due to start my period next week, so that will be the true test. But I'm optimistic that I've finally put my lifelong battle with acne behind me.

Oh! And the best part.... I'm spending less than half of what I was paying for the ProActiv. ..g.: