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Here’s a little something about me you may never glean from reading my posts.
I have acne.
I’ve been told my acne is “adult acne.” Perhaps I should feel better I wasn’t told my acne is “immature”, “sophomoric”, or “could apply itself more”.
The way I see it, adult acne is an oxymoron. A painfully embarrassing and recurring oxymoron. The moment one pimple disappears… a new one takes its place overnight. No matter how you phrase it, it sucks. Nothing can make me feel better about my acne except getting rid of it.
I should go see a dermatologist but the last time I saw a dermatologist about it, he sent me home with antibiotics. Those got rid of the acne while I was taking them, but it came back the moment I stopped. I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure no one should take antibotics forever.
Oh, yeah, and I have no insurance. Good luck finding a pro-bono dermatologist. I’ve looked. They don’t exist.
I have tried many things:
Gluten Free diet (effective but expensive and difficult for me to maintain)
Antibiotics (bad for liver. As you may glean from my posts, I need my liver)
Pro-Activ (Too harsh for me)
Tea Tree Oil (ineffective for me)
Harsh chemicals (I’m sorry, the only way harsh chemicals get into my system is through Dorito form)
Benevolent Unicorn that touches its horn to your face and all your skin problems are solved (only Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet have met this unicorn, and they’re not telling anyone anything)
I got to the point where I’d basically given up. I was resigned to always having this cluster of acne on my chin. I tried to look on the bright side and not let it ruin my life. I counted my blessings. I still have nice eyes. That is, if your gaze isn’t focused like a lazer beam on my chin.
Up here, fellas!
Men, am I right? Oh…and everybody else in the world? Staring at me? Wondering if I also have adult braces to go with this adult acne?
At least that’s the way I felt. Very embarrassed, exposed and unattractive.
Until…
Add some turmeric and honey to a baking soda mask and you have the most amazing face mask EVER! I use it once a week and it really keeps my acne away and my skin glows! It’s the best. Be sure to use it before a shower and wash your face twice with a mild cleanser to remove all the yellow that the turmeric leaves behind. THIS MASK WORKS MIRACLES! It cured my sisters chronic, cystic acne that she’s had for 13 years! No joke!
(1/4 tsp each baking soda and turmeric, 1/2 tsp honey (preferably local honey from a farmers market), and a little bit of water until it’s a consistency that’s still thick but spreadable, leave on for at least 20 minutes)
It is very Useful for the skin.
http://www.freehotlinksdirectory.com/world-news/overstock-coupons-4/#discuss
While I find the baking soda idea intriguing, at 30 years old I do not want to think about how to make pimples go away… I don’t want any to begin with! Like Sarah, I am on Spironolactone. After trying all different kinds of antibiotics, expensive creams, Proactiv, diet restrictions and the ever painful cortisone shots to the face, I decided to give this drug a try after multiple appointments with various dermatologists. All I have to say is man am I glad I did! It did take a full 6 weeks for the drug to really take affect and get my out of wack hormones in check. What some people don’t realize is that cystic acne is actually incredibly painful so it’s not just about the looks. Well it’s been 8 months now and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve seen zero side effects and nothing but benefits and I’m on a pretty low dosage so my doctor says it’s perfectly fine to stay on the medication. I recommend it to anyone who has exhausted all other options and is at the end of their rope. It’s allowed me to regain my confidence and feel comfortable in my own skin again.
It’s not weird to write about the same topics, a lot of people have adult acne and I’m sure a lot of people have used similar products, like baking soda. I have adult acne and I am always reviewing products that work – so it is not weird to find a similar story featured – this is in reference to Amber’s Comment.
Are you me? OMG I have written the exact same things on my (discontinued) blog. Weird – adult acne does make one slightly obsessive, at least in my case. I tried the baking soda. It actually clogged my pores more. My zits got larger, and if I’d pop them, a grainy white substance (baking soda!) would come out. Eww. I still have acne scars from that trial.
Have you tried the Oil Cleansing Method? I’ve been suffering from one type of acne or another since I was 12. I’m 25, and it HAS TO END NOW. I tried everything on your list, plus nearly every drugstore brand, and also antibiotics. I read about the OCM, and was completely skeptical. My face is oily enough – why would I want to put more on it!? I’ve been at it for a month, and my skin has 1) NEVER looked better – my skin glows now! 2) not broken out. I’ve had one teeny-tiny pimple. That’s it! Most people think the OCM is just using olive oil or almond oil, but it’s a little more complicated. You combine olive oil and castor oil according to this website: http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/ . I also add a few drops of tea tree oil. So far, SO GOOD! I must admit though, I’m still hesitant to just wipe off the oil and leave it at that, so I also get my palms a little sudsy with Kiss My Face olive oil soap, rub that on my face for a second, then rinse.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-ways-not-to-use-baking-soda.html <– it's not good for your skin
It may not be the cheapest solution, but I recently got a Clarisonic, which is kind of like an electric toothbrush, but for your face, and it has definitely helped my skin. It not only helps with my acne but also with pore size, my skin feels sooo soft, and I can’t believe how much make-up I wasn’t getting off by just washing my face. The cleansers they give you kind of stink, although I haven’t been able to find the acne solution one so I can try it, but they have different brush heads to use depending on how sensitive your skin is, and now my face just doesn’t feel clean without it!
I wash my face with salt water. It may be a bit harsh for some, but my face gets super oily.
Thanks for the spot treatment! I have had success with low dose retin-a, a topical gel, problem is I need to keep using it to continue to see results. Luckily it is relatively cheap and you just use cetaphil to cleanse with.
I started taking Spironolact about 6 months ago cause I’ve tried EVERYTHING else except accutane, which I don’t want to do. It’s actually really helped!!! I would look into that, I don’t think it’s too expensive? But it does take a while to build up in your system enough to start working:-) There is just not much else that helps that painful hormonal acne…
Hi there! 2 rounds of Acutane kinda did it for me.
Now birth control and avoiding chocolate (tear) and most sugary things seems to keep it at bay. I will try the baking soda fo’ shiz, though!
I use baking soda as a scrub 2-3 times a week and my skin has never looked better. I am never going back to buying exfoliants ever again. My monstrous period breakouts are now like one tiny little zit on my chin. That does away in like two days.
I have adult acne . I took antibiotic for more than six or seven months .
My dermatologist did a blood test to see if my liver is working fine. Still alive I do not take any medications now still suffering from acne. I will try baking soda. Thank you so much. http://www.youravon.com/nkhan.
Amazing! I also heard taking a probiotic can help. Has anyone tried that?
I hadn’t thought of that!
I used to use baking soda to exfoliate but apparently it gives off “free radicals” or something (I read this in a trustworthy science-y place I just don’t remember the details) so it’s not a good idea to spread it all over your face every day. But a spot-treatment wouldn’t have that problem! Yay!
I add a little honey to the baking soda mixture. It feels less harsh and smells great!
I love baking soda for pimples!
I also found that reducing dairy in my diet helped clear my skin a lot. Of course, it’s to the point now that if I eat a sundae, I know perfectly well what my face is in for over the next few days.