Bamboozle

Okay, I'm in my late 20's and I still have a bad acne problem. Lucky me to be "blessed" with ugly and untouchable skin.

This has a detrimental effect to my self esteem and makes relationships difficult/impossible.

I want it gone. Accutane is out of the question. I don’t need to finish off my liver…I’m sure there’s already enough damage done.


I am begging, please people, have any of you tried any kinds of regimens to knock this stuff out? I cannot live like this. I cannot function with diseased-looking skin. I don’t want to be ugly anymore.

Do tanning beds help?

I was on Tetracycline a long time ago and it did absolutely nothing.

I was on Retin A and Benzoyl peroxide and it didn’t work. That crap painfully irritated my skin and that’s about it.

WTF can I do?

I’m desperate.

Diet changes have not worked. This is beyond diet.

What about birth control (I’m female)?

Anyone ever beat this thing?

Aysha

I use to have real bad acne on my back and shoulders when I was a teen.
The only thing I know that cleared it up was when I went swimming in the ocean. So the salt water must have did something to clear it up.
One day at the beach and it would clear right for about a week.
I am sorry your stugglin with it. I really have no experience with acne too much.

Live

Birth control pills helped mine...when I was nearer your age.

SelfSeeking

I signed up with Proactiv about 2 months ago. It has helped a ton, although I still get breakouts from time to time (especially 'cause I PICK something awful). But that's got a lot of benzoyl peroxide in it so I dunno if it would help you.

The BCPs help lots of women with their skin issues. Me, it made it worse. I'd say it's worth a shot?

Isn't it awesome to be in your late 20s and have the skin of a 14 year old? *sigh*

Bamboozle

No kidding.


I'm trying to not touch my skin right now. I have a bad habit of picking. I use baby wipes for my face, chest, and back when the oil is bad. I'm sure it doesn't help that I work at a grease pit. I really need to find someplace else to work.

I think I'm going to go back to getting two showers a day. I think that helps a little.

Fubarcdn

I don't have much advice but I want to share my experience about Acutane.
My son had bad acne in his late teens and he used acutane and it made him so depressed he was on the verge of ending it. So if anyone is thinking of taking it keep this in mind and if you do and become depressed rethink it.
When I had acne in my teens I used to get it treated with dry ice and it seemed to help. I don't know if they do that anymore as this was back in the dark ages.

coffeenut

My aunt told me lemon juice mixed with rubbing alcohol....worked for a bit. There are a lot of those old wives tales out there.

I agree w/the birth control pills.....those are what finally worked for me.

At the very least, I would go see a dermatologist. Best wishes, Bam!

CarolD

This week on the TV series The Doctors
they were discussing a procedure that zapped zits.

I think it was about having a light beam directed into each pore.
Lazer maybe? Infra-red?
A dermatologist would know.

Anyway...it also said picking caused scars
and hot/warm compresses were recommended.

resentful wife

This is by no means medical advice:
A lot of girls, women, use liquid make-up to cover their breakouts and it just clogs your pores.
Of course I'm no longer in my 20's (I wish) but I found what help to keep my skin clear was to run the hot water in bathroom sink, place large towel over my head and the sink and allow the steam to open my pores, followed right after with a face scrubbing using Phisoderm, and then rinsing w/hot water. To close pores repeate rinse w/cold water rinse.
Try doing this twice a day and try not to use liquid make-up, and always make sure that your face is completely dry and cool to touch before you put on any make-up.
Don't give up and good luck.:ghug3

Linda

aasharon90

I had bad acne all thru high school, even when
i graduated....kids were cruel to me all the time.
Low self esteem for ever.

I had adult acne and it took going to my doctor
to find out that i had that more testostrone
in my body than normal.....yep its a male hormone
and im a lady. Chemical imblance i presume.

I still take something prescribed by my doctor
but use it when needed,,,,,I think it began to
subside as i hit my 40's.

Ur doctor can prescribe a topical cream or
something to help from the inside out.

A dermotologist would help u for sure.

Latte

Go see your doctor. I have friends who have ended up on a round of antibiotics.

You don't have to go on accutane to get help for this, there are other options. Quality of life is very important.

It might take awhile to find something that works for you, don't give up hope.

aasharon90

oops....

aasharon90

Antibiotics is it.

Sal Purgatory

A regimen of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and moisturizer worked for me for a while. Some medications combine BP with clindamycin, an antibiotic. These include duac and benzaclin.

For acne that doesn't respond to BP, usually a topical retinoid is effective. I've used retin-a micro and differin. They take awhile to work, but most skin responds to them.

The acne.org message boards have a lot of useful information, but you should probably make an appointment with a derm.

I'm turning 29 next month, and I still take an antibiotic for my acne.