My skin keeps breaking out!!!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 3, 2005

my husband gave proactiv a try and believe me it works. there has been a drastic change. also, you need to make sure you are getting plenty nurtrients in your diet. we sometimes eat enough or too much but not the right foods. make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day and keep the skin clean.

good luck to you. :)

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Aug 3, 2005

... and dont touch your face.........
The more you touch the more dirt is spread.
Terri

Right on - that's a very good point. I also tend to "pick", and that definitely makes things worse. (Like ALOT worse), So stay away from that as well.

I am also a Proactiv user. This has always worked very well for me.

I've also done alright in the past with the Noxzema wash. The menthol in there feels kinda refreshing, too.

I currently use Proactiv, but have Noxzema incase I'm feeling particularly lazy or am in a big hurry. (Not that Proactiv is all that complicated).

Anyway, I wish you (all) Good luck. If you haven't found your solution yet, keep pokin' around - you'll find it sooner or later. (hopefully sooner) :chuckle

rhapsodyRN · Aug 3, 2005

Hmm..I've always been leery of ProActiv because of the celebrity shilling for it, but maybe it's time. I don't really have acne, but about the time I turned 26 I noticed that I'm ALWAYS getting small breakouts on my chin and forehead. And my nose is always oily. I guess this is my punishment for having perfect skin in high school when all my friends were suffering..LOL. I will have to look into this stuff and try it out. Noxzema hasn't done anything, and I don't want to go the prescription route since my skin really isn't horrible..it's just not what it used to be.

NancyNursz71 · Aug 3, 2005

I'm gonna have to try ProActiv. In high school, it was a crisis if I had so much as a spot under my nostril (you know, right by the septum where those teeny suckers hurt like the devil). My skin was fine until I had my second child. I now have thick wavy to curly hair (depending on the humidity-- right now it is passing curly into mall hair) and acne. I'd blame the polycystic ovarian disease but I had that diagnosed at 16. You know you have a blemish when even your patients comment on the headlight that cropped up overnight (sheesh, and it is NEVER tactful to point out a zit).

sugabuga · Aug 3, 2005

Have any of you tried the generic version of ProActiv at Wal-Mart? I think it's called Acne Free or something.

Peachy720 · Aug 3, 2005

I tried Proactiv for several months, and had no improvement.

Like someone said, I'm 27 and everyone thinks I'm much younger because of my skin. I'm allergic to benzol peroxide.

My skin has started to clear up a little bit (still have pockmarks on the edges of my cheeks)--but the sad thing is, this happens when I'm not using ANYTHING.. those nights where I have been too tired to even wash my face before bed..does that make sense? I have some Noxema pads that I use, other than that, I think I'm going to stick with this icky method.

MIA-RN1, RN · Aug 3, 2005

Help, help, oh help! I am 23-years-old and my skin is worse now than it has ever been (couldn't be the stress from nursing, now could it!?!). I mean, it's not terrible where every square centimeter is covered, but I cannot think of the last time when I didn't have one pimple on my face. The last year it has gotten worse. I feel like hiding because I have tried everything and when I went to the dermatologist last week he wrote a prescription for Brevoxl 4% wash and for Differin gel. I had tried Differin gel before but my skin was so sensitive I quit using it. He suggested that I start out using it every other night instead of every night at first. The only thing is that I know it makes skin worse before it gets better and I dread *shudder* the thought of my face being worse. I know this may sound vain, but I'm decent looking and this acne has made me very self-conscious and has seriously given me some self-esteem issues. A lot of people think I am younger than 23 due to my skin. My back and chest break out occasionally, but not bad. Has anyone else experienced this? And what do you think about the Brevoxl wash and Differin gel? Could I have some input please?
Thanks much!
:balloons: Jaime

My son uses differin and cleocin gels and for about six weeks he took minocycline too, first twice a day and then tapered to once a day. Now he is off the pills and just uses the gels. He has been doing realy great and had the acne fairly bad on his face, chest and back.

I have acne/rosacea and keep it in check with cleocin gel only. I only wash my face w/ Dove soap for sensitive skin. I used metrogel for a while too. The doc wanted to put me on minocycline too but I declined. I've had this for about 15 years now(I'm 36) and the cleocin keeps it in check. Not perfect but good. If I want the minocycline I can get it but so far I am staying away from it. (I take enough meds already lol)

Oh, and you can try green base makeup to cover red. It REALLY works well. There are several brands out there, stick or liquid. (I like the stick). put it on and then cover w/ regular base and the red goes away.

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2005

Well, this may not be a popular answer, but my derm put me on Bactrim DS, an oral antibiotic, and it cleared up all my problems. No matter what I put ON my face, I would still break out.......until those pills. Get generic and with your insurance they could be as cheap as five bucks a month! Can't beat that!! It even clears my cystic acne problems!
Good Luck. Acne problems can be so frustrating, I know.

I am allergic to Bactrim! Darnnit! But thank you.

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2005

I swear by ProActiv. I first saw it on an infomercial, thought it was too good to be true and kept on suffering from acne flare ups. Interestingly, I never had problem skin as an adolescent or teenager; my bad skin started in my mid-20's. I tried everything; OTC solutions, scripts for Tetracycline, everything, and nothing worked. I finally, out of frustration, called the number of the ProActiv people, ordered the basic product, and the very first time I used it I could tell a difference in the way my skin felt. Within maybe 10 days, I was blemish free and a very happy convert to the ProActiv cause. I get the product every 2 months and it costs about $50 per shipment, so $25 q mo seems very reasonable, especially since it works for me! I believe it's a combination of prescription strength benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, and it was evidently created by two MD's (Dermatologists). I swear by it, and can't imagine using anything else. I've been using it for over 5 years. They have an extensive website... http://www.proactiv.com

I have seen ads for it and I thought maybe it was too good to be true as well. They have stuff at Wal-mart along the same lines called Acne Free--3 step program even--I wonder if it would work the same?

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2005

My dermatologist put me on spironolactone for a few months before my wedding, and my face cleared right up. It inhibits aldosterone, but also has an effect on testosterone, which is why it works. I had to have my potassium levels checked, but no big deal. He also gave me minocycline, but I only stayed on that short-term. I am now off all medications and only have to use salicylic acid on my face each night.
Another thing to try is Orthotricyclin or Yasmin- these are proven to help clear up mild to moderate acne.

I have been on Ortho tricyclin for a few months and nope--no changes. I think if anything that it has made my skin worse. Is that possible?!

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2005

I'm gonna have to try ProActiv. In high school, it was a crisis if I had so much as a spot under my nostril (you know, right by the septum where those teeny suckers hurt like the devil). My skin was fine until I had my second child. I now have thick wavy to curly hair (depending on the humidity-- right now it is passing curly into mall hair) and acne. I'd blame the polycystic ovarian disease but I had that diagnosed at 16. You know you have a blemish when even your patients comment on the headlight that cropped up overnight (sheesh, and it is NEVER tactful to point out a zit).

Ha! That is one reason I am thankful I work midnights! Thank goodness that they don't particularly pay attention to the crisis occuring on my face because they are tired!

Super_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2005

My son uses differin and cleocin gels and for about six weeks he took minocycline too, first twice a day and then tapered to once a day. Now he is off the pills and just uses the gels. He has been doing realy great and had the acne fairly bad on his face, chest and back.
I have acne/rosacea and keep it in check with cleocin gel only. I only wash my face w/ Dove soap for sensitive skin. I used metrogel for a while too. The doc wanted to put me on minocycline too but I declined. I've had this for about 15 years now(I'm 36) and the cleocin keeps it in check. Not perfect but good. If I want the minocycline I can get it but so far I am staying away from it. (I take enough meds already lol)
Oh, and you can try green base makeup to cover red. It REALLY works well. There are several brands out there, stick or liquid. (I like the stick). put it on and then cover w/ regular base and the red goes away.

Thanks for the makeup tip. I don't really wear a lot of makeup, but I will have to invest in that!