I'm not a doctor or anything but birth control, along with other topical treatments, healed mine completely. I never break out anymore after being on it for 6 months.I would talk to your dermatologist about it.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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Yeah, I am actually taking a contraceptive pill which is also used to treat acne. But the doctor also gave me a referral to the dermatologist also. I don't know whether I want to go back to the dermatologist though, or the doctor, I didn't really like either of them to be honest... I know that's mean hehe!

posted Feb 2, 2012

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Oh no honey that's not mean! I know how horrible acne is...and if you don't feel comfortable with either doctor, than find another! ya know? There will be one out there who can help you, xo

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I've had extreme acne since I was 7 years old. My dermatologist told me that I was the worst case she had ever seen. We tried all the herbal junk, the holistic pills, and even went so far as to try proactive; however, the only thing that cleared up my acne was the Accutane. I hated it while I was on it, and thought it was the devil pill, but I was so blessed to have had that as an option. If I could go back I would tell myself (at an early age) that it was what I needed.

If you don't like your Derm Doc get another one. I had a heinous derm doctor for years who constantly just told me I need skin grafting because my scarring was so bad. PTHHHHT.
Just get a good derm doc and try out accutane.

Or, first you could try out and OTC cream called MDForte. It's supposed to be used a face wash, but my doctor recommended I put it on my skin before I go to bed every night and sleep with it on. I have used that since getting off of accutane, over a 2 years ago, and it has kept my face basically clear.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I started taking birth control for mine and it really cleared it up! Even though my skin improved a lot, I was still breaking out, so just recently I tried switching my foundation and that has also helped. (I was using Revlon ColorStay - awesome stuff, but it sticks to your face like glue and I don't think it was very good for my pores!) I have also heard that taking zinc pills can help? I wish I had better advice, acne is the worst! :( I hope that you and your doctor can find a good solution for you.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I get breakouts, but I don't have severe acne. I use reatanin on my breakouts when I get them and it helps alot! My face is generally clear if I wash it day and night. Use a good scrub, and exfoliator at least once a week. It takes time for your skin to improve, never give up though.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I have moderate to severe acne and I've just come to the conclusion I'll always have it.
My dermatologist keeps trying to push accutane on me but I refuse. I think it's way too strong of a drug and with all the possible side effects I'm just not going to risk it. I'd rather be healthy with acne.
A girl I went to school with took accutane and ended up in the hospital for a year because it completely messed up her intestines.

I use the acne.org products and they keep everything under control for the most part.
I know the pain you're going through. Just keep trying things until you find something that works for you or if you're brave try out accutane.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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And the one thing I hate more than anything is when people think you're dirty or something because you have acne. Or they think it's simple to just get rid of, when that isn't the case for everyone.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I suffer from acne. Not the worst case or anything, but bad enough to affect my self-esteem very, very much. I feel ugly every day, and though I try to hide the breakouts with foundation it just doesn't work. Nothing really has worked for me, and I'm becoming slightly desperate.
And that thing about ppl thinking it's easy to get rid of acne and stuff is so true, it's annoying. Most of my friends have close to perfect skin, so they don't really understand what I'm dealing with. Having "perfect-skinned" friends also makes me feel even more out of place and ugly..

I hope I'll someday get rid of this, I hate that my skin looks like this.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I have exactly the same problem.
A lot of my friends have skin like a baby's, and then theres me.

I'm not saying my acne is the worst ever, and I can cover it up pretty well, but that fools no one.
I'cve been on countless medicines, and will go on Accutane if the current one (erythromycin) doesnt work.
It seems to be clearing up.... a little.
I'm most worried about scarring to be honest :(

UGH BEING A TEEN SUCKS.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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sudocreme, my forehead had really bad acne but I put it on at night don't rub it in just on top, most of my class at school uses it and that's people with like one pimple to quite bad acne, it takes maybe a week to start really clearing up your acne but now 2 years later I only have like 2 maybe 3 pimples at a time when my skins bad. good luck :)

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I used to use Witch Hazel on my face. (But, it does dry your skin so you have to pair it with a lotion.)

It helped a lot, but I stopped when I went on birth control pills, because they cleared up my acne after that.

posted Feb 2, 2012

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I have acne as well, not severe or anything but my skin is definitely acne-prone. I'm on birth control pills and I've tried several but none of them works that well..or at least I'm not satisfied enough. A friend of mine used ruaccutane and for 3 or 4 weeks in the very beginning her skin got worse than ever...like bad bad bad. she didn't want to leave the house with her face like this. Thats why im hesitating to ask my doctor for it. but currently im using a lotion with zinc and urea and i put it on my breakouts and I find that they dont get so big and heal faster than before!
But I definitely agree with olivia s. that if you dont like your derm doc you should find some other for sure. because if you dont like your doctor its hard to trust them and thats important. and also its good to hear a second or third opinion!!

Good luck with your skin.

xoxo

posted Feb 2, 2012

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Thank you very much, I will follow your advice! I have decided not to go on the accutane, as it can have incredibly negative side effects. I am going to wait it out. Only another year or two now (and it's already starting to look like it's clearing now that I am not stressing so much and eating better!)

posted Feb 2, 2012

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No, sometimes it is because of the make up people use, or they don't wash it off properly before bed, but that doesn't make their face dirty, it means that they have a reaction to something in the makeup.

And I am so glad to hear that you refused the accutane! I have decided after extensive research that I will not be going on it either. My acne is moderate sever as well, but I really don't want to risk any surgery later on in life. I would rather cure my acne naturally, or as naturally as possible! It's great to know that there are people who have refused it! :)

posted Feb 2, 2012

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Having acne really sucks I was about 11 when i first got acne. My skin is acne free although i still have blackheads on my nose!!!! You should learn more about your skin and figure out what type it is and all that jazz. What worked for me was exfoliating every week twice a week and making sure of washing your face with a cleanser with salicylic acid!!!!

posted Feb 3, 2012

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I have had acne for 16 years of my life. First off I can say that contraceptives are not the answer, a pill that is used to prevent pregnancy but also has the effect of clearing up your skin probably also has a lot of other effects, not all of which are good. I have used almost every product and home remedy there is but recently I have found that eliminating dairy from my diet and reducing my sugar intake drastically has helped a lot. I also take colon cleanse to cleanse my colon and stuff. I think that different things will affect different people differently and even though acne is genetic I believe that acne breakouts are a symtom of something that is happening on the inside of our body. In my case I think its my body's reaction to certain foods such as dairy and sugar, perhaps my body does not process these types of food well and therefore I breakout. Where acne is concerned I believe the best way is to find the root cause of the problem. The same can be said for overweight people...

posted Feb 14, 2012

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You can always go to another dermatologist for a second opinion. In past experiences the stuff they sell at the drug stores don't work. You gotta got to a professional in the field (a dermatologist) who can take a look at you in person and recommend the best answer.

posted Feb 14, 2012

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roaccutane cleared mine up but it's come back partially. a treatment called panoxyl and lush facewashes helps keep it at bay, however i do break out around the time of my period before and after which seems to be just hormones. i refuse to take the contraceptive pill to regulate this though because it makes my skin LOADS worse (works for some people though.)

i find it quite insensitive when people are make assumptions about acne; i mean god, if people are sensitive about their skin and have acne then they do everything they can to try and help it which yes does include washing and not overwashing etc.... i've tried everything to help my skin - pill wise, diet wise, topical treatment-wise and this is about as good as it'll seem to get. *shrugs* it could be worse, i'm healthy otherwise.

posted Feb 14, 2012

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I use Differin & Panoxyl, night & day respectively. I don't use them daily cause it really drys my skin but the Differin especially helped a lot. My skin has visibly cleared up as compared to before, and "before" was really horrible. My acne & scarring has not completely cleared, but at least now it can be reasonably covered with make up.

Oh, & it helps to sleep early. Or at proper hours. I notice that I usually breakout a few days after if I sleep after midnight and it gets really bad sometimes.....

posted Feb 14, 2012

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Have you changed your diet recently? Poor diet, smoking, alcohol and drugs can effect how spotty your skin becomes. When I started eating more healthily and drinking more water my skin cleared up so much and I had such bad skin in my youth. Now my skin is perfect and every makeup artist comments on how good it is.

if it is not diet related then I would suggest getting a second opinion from a different dermatologist and state that you are not really wanting to go on medication and would like to try out alternatives first. It's a bit weird that they are prescribing drugs straight away without trying creams and stuff on you first in my opinion.

posted Feb 15, 2012

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the problems with doctors is that they might make u buy something because the company pays them, not because they think is the best product. what i;'m doing know ( and seem to be working weel) Is to wash my face when i wake up n go to sleep( don't leave make up on , it clogues the pores)i use a toner ( alcohol free doesn;t dry the skin n is more gentle, alcohol dries acne , so u chose) i put some aloe vera gel and an oil free moisturizer with spf. I tried to stop eating milk and cheese but i find it hard. I don't eat as much as before and i buy 1% milk and it makes a good difference. At night i do the excat same thing as in the morning but instead of moisturisin i put olive oil on my face ( 1/4 olive oil 3/4 water mixed in a botle) and it works great. It might sound scary but it works. Drink water, do exercice, eathealthy, bla bla bla .Rose tea is fantastic and baking soda and sea salt are great exfoliating n drying acne . I try all of those n they work on me after a while i develloped some recistance n change my rutine. But healthy habits will prevent acne or extreme break outs

posted Feb 18, 2012

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My skin used to be terrible! Red pimples and marks all over my face.. I went on roaccutane (the lighter dosage) and my skin cleared up amazingly in a really short amount of time. Unfortunately ever since I got my mirena my skin has been horrible again, but luckily not as bad as it used to be. I can still cover it with make up but now I can't do much about it as I can't go on the pill anymore and am using the cleansers that work the best for me

posted Feb 18, 2012

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roaccutane is next to useless for me. i changed through diet. but i do get really big ones on my chin area now :S i heard duac works.

posted Feb 18, 2012

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Turmeric is a spice known to help acne, redness, and other skin aliments if directly put on the skin.

Indians make a mask of turmeric, chickpea powder, and water or milk to help with acne.

Read my article about it here:
agypsyscollection.blogspot.com/2011/12/turmeric-diy-facial-mask.html

The turmeric is anti-bacterial so it will help with taking away the bacteria that cause the acne. This spice topically put on skin and ingested helped me a lot with making my skin more healthy and less acne prone. It also helps with a lot of other aliments as well.

Goodluck!

posted Mar 8, 2012

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I had really really bad acne when I was younger. So my mum took me to a dermatologist and she recommended Roaccutane. I went on it for about a year and my skin has improved a lot. But I do get some little pimples on my jaw sometimes but I'm okay with that, as long as it doesn't get worse. :)

posted Mar 8, 2012

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anyone got any idea of how to help clear acne scarring faster?

i've been using panoxyl which is helping as a preventative but it takes a while for the scars and discolouration to fade on my skin - eventually they do but it takes a while. i was thinking of using bio oil but didn't know if that was a bad idea?

posted Mar 8, 2012

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i was suffering from acne too for years and years, but after i took roaccutane for about 4 months it was totally gone. and no side effects at all, well i got dry lips but that wasn't so bad. most of the stories you can read from the internet are very exaggerated, the truth is that most people don't get almost any side effects. they just aren't that noisy, i mean why should you shout it out loud everywhere how well your medicine has worked? :D people tend to get noisy only when something goes wrong.

i've started to get some more pimples again, but not even close to as much as before. i guess i should change my diet too and start doing sports. blah.

posted Mar 10, 2012

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i got really REALLY dry skin and lips, and a bit of hair thinning actually, i don't think the stories are THAT exaggerated i'd definitely be cautious of them while taking it.

i think the worst side effects were my mood swings and lows but i actually wonder if that was more to do with the contraceptive pill they put me on at the time (i wasn't allowed to go on roaccutane without it despite the fact that i had absolutely no need for a contraceptive ANYTHING at the time.)

posted Mar 10, 2012

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Personally i use proactiv and i highly recommend it, it completely cleared up my face, i just have awful scars

posted Mar 13, 2012

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