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[Ashhong]

I assume there are many people on here that suffer from acne, and I'm wondering what products you guys use?

I've been using ProActiv for like, 4 years or more, and only seen ok results (probably because I would get lazy and not commit to the routine). I wanted to try something new so I got the Murad treatment trial.

They say to expect "purging" around 2 weeks...but goddamn! My face looks pretty bad, and about 5 hours after applying I get a crapload of pustules, those regular red pimples with the pus showing ready to burst. I know I should leave those alone, but it's hard to do that when I wake up with like 15 of them on my face. It looks like I have chicken pox or something, so I'm forced to pop them.

I cant tell if I'm actually breaking out more, or if these are all from existing pimples though, which it could be. I'm thinking the appearance of pustules means the treatment is working? What do you guys think?

 

[subrock]

I used to have it but my doctor just said that I eat too many chocolate bars or that I dont wash my face

 

[Arcipello]

i think the chocolate thing is a myth actually. Anyway oddly enough i never really suffered from acne...i get maybe one or two spots a month... even when i was 16 it was fairly rare.

 

[gofreak]

I used to have mild/moderate acne. I followed a variant of the regimen on acne.org.

Followed it religiously. I started to see a significant difference after about 6 months. Takes a lot of patience and time, but it worked for me. I'm now 'clear' asides from the odd blemish or small spot..but I still follow the regimen cos I fear if I stop the spots will return :|

Dunno if it would work as well for severe acne, but it worked as advertised for me.

Products I use are: J&J Tip-to-toe baby wash (in lieu of Purpose liquid soap - it's virtually the same formula, from the same company, just different packaging..and much cheaper!); neutrogena on-the-spot cream (or, more recently, quinoderm 5%..i can find this more easily locally, had to import the neutrogena from the US before); and either cetaphil moisturiser or aveeno (the latter seems to work just as well for me and it's cheaper).

 

[RyuHayate]

Accutane worked wonders for me despite the fact it dried the hell out of my skin for a year.

 

[Forkball]

I use Benzaclin and it works fairly well. Recently I've been having breakouts, maybe I'm just not getting enough sun or air. It's not fun to go outside when it is literally over 100 degrees.

 

[Ashhong]

should i move onto a new brand? or should i see what happens with Murad? i want to believe that it really is purging my acne, causing all the pus to come out or something, but it looks so bad

 

[The Main Event]

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with some water.

 

[Petrie]

so I'm forced to pop them.

I'm going to go ahead and assume that until you stop doing this, they aren't going to go away.

 

[Tideas]

drink green tea. at least a cup a day

 

[Dead Man]

I use Old Age, it works wonders. You need to be patient though, you won't see results in the first 5 years. Once it starts working though, it's great!

Sorry, no serious advice.

 

[Ashhong]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that until you stop doing this, they aren't going to go away.

this is not true. back when id get just 1 or 2 normally, i might pop it if it looks really bad and it would completely go away. i dont want to sound extremely superficial, but i just cannot go to school with 15+ pustules on my cheeks.

no results in the first 5 years? thats ridiculous

drink green tea. at least a cup a day

can it be diet lipton green tea from the bottle? :lol

 

[mjc]

I took Accutane 2 or 3 years ago and it worked great for me. I still have horribly oily skin, especially on my face.

 

[Ashhong]

I took Accutane 2 or 3 years ago and it worked great for me. I still have horribly oily skin, especially on my face.

is that ok to use together with a treatment like murad or proactiv?

 

[ultim8p00]

should i move onto a new brand? or should i see what happens with Murad? i want to believe that it really is purging my acne, causing all the pus to come out or something, but it looks so bad

Some brands do that. They make all the pus come out as part of the cleaning process. Also I used to have quite a bit of Acne on my face until I stopped drinking soda. I still get a few spots here and there now that I've stopped, but my face is clearing up now. All I have to do now is take care of the scars.

 

[Ashhong]

Some brands do that. They make all the pus come out as part of the cleaning process. Also I used to have quite a bit of Acne on my face until I stopped drinking soda. I still get a few spots here and there now that I've stopped, but my face is clearing up now. All I have to do now is take care of the scars.

i do drink a lot of soda...but i dont think i can live without it :lol gotta find a win-win situation. i guess ill try going to my schools clinic to see if i can get some accutane

 

[Chittagong]

Roaccutane is effective beyond belief. On it now for my back. Only bad thing is that my lips are dry, plus I'm advised to stay of alcohol.. in the summer :-(

 

[Ashhong]

wtfff

1. Pharmaceutical company Roche stops selling acne drug Roaccutane (Accutane in US). The last date for distribution in the United States was June 25 2009. “Roche, the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, is pulling its Roaccutane / Accutane acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease

http://www.accutaneaction.com/

tell me there are other companies that make similar products?

 

[Samara]

is that ok to use together with a treatment like murad or proactiv?

I think those two are harsh, and really with accutane, you won't have single zit. At least that was my experience. Tho my mouth was a desert and so was my nose. It kind of burns, so I would only use the gentle stuff like Dove.

Also, moisturizer and lip balm is a must

edit: the hell!

 

[Ashhong]

I think those two are harsh, and really with accutane, you won't have single zit. At least that was my experience. Tho my mouth was a desert and so was my nose. It kind of burns, so I would only use the gentle stuff like Dove.

Also, moisturizer and lip balm is a must

edit: the hell!

hm, i thought i read somewhere that you shouldnt use standard bar soap like Dove (unless you used some kind of other face wash) to wash your face.

 

[GallonOMilk]

I used to use a few meds, though never accutane, to get rid of the vast majority. I don't recall them all, but just ask a dermatologist.

Now, I just use an oxy product that has 10% benzoyl peroxide, on applying it on every pimple, mornings and evenings, and the pimples should be gone completely (no mark or anything) in 3-4 days. This is quite annoying when you have a lot of acne, but it is quite useful when you get 2-3 every few days.

 

[Meier]

I used ProActiv back in HS (can't believe it's been like 12 years now) and it made a difference. Hard to say how effective it is these days but it helped me then -- mine was never as bad as my brother's though... he had the really terrible acne you might be referring to. Over time, it cleared up for him fortunately.

Nowadays I just use generic face wash. Currently I use Biore face wash at night and ... drawing a blank, known for their expensive shaving products... not King of Shaves but similarly priced.

no results in the first 5 years? thats ridiculous

WOOSH!

 

[AzureRonin]

Not sure if this drug is available in the US, but I'm in Canada and use Clindoxyl gel and it cleared up my skin dramatically. I still get one or two every so often but no where near as bad as before.

 

[xelios]

is that ok to use together with a treatment like murad or proactiv?

You can't use anything like that in conjunction with Accutane. It is extremely controlled in the US though, or at least supposed to be. It can have some serious side effects (though rare, think on the scale of IBD, blindness/deafness, and birth defects for pregnant females.)

As a result most dermatologists aren't going to prescribe it to you unless you have some horribly disfiguring acne or some that's persistent until adulthood. If you don't I wouldn't even let isotretinoin cross your mind. One of my friends took it back in the 90s and he's still clear. If you are planning on it you should have insurance, because it's pretty much considered the miracle cure for acne and the price reflects that.

I was fortunate that what mild acne I did have as a teen wasn't the scarring type and went away on its own; I'm not sure I'd ever be comfortable taking a drug like Accutane. I suppose when all else has failed though it's better than scarring.

 

[lastendconductor]

I use my fingers

 

[Atomic]

I stopped drinking milk and the minimal acne that I had went away in a week.
Soy/rice milk works fine for cereal.

I think it may be the hormones in the milk, or the fat (it was skim though).

So when I eat milk chocolate I break out a tiny, not due to the coco/sugar but the milk I suppose.

 

[Samara]

Not sure if this drug is available in the US, but I'm in Canada and use Clindoxyl gel and it cleared up my skin dramatically. I still get one or two every so often but no where near as bad as before.

Isn't it the little orange pill? If so it's not that bad. I used it for a couple of months, cause I don't have severe acne

 

[Atomic]

drink green tea. at least a cup a day

Hmm, I did start drinking that a few years ago, perhaps that helped along with the decrease in milk consumption.

 

[Ashhong]

WOOSH!

i just got it...:lol

You can't use anything like that in conjunction with it. Accutane is extremely controlled in the US though, or at least supposed to be. It can have some serious side effects (though rare, think on the scale of IBD, blindness/deafness, and birth defects for pregnant females.)

As a result most dermatologists aren't going to prescribe it to you unless you have some horribly disfiguring acne or some that's persistent until adulthood. If you don't I wouldn't even let isotretinoin cross your mind. One of my friends took it back in the 90s and he's still clear. If you are planning on it you should have insurance, because it's pretty much considered the miracle cure for acne and the price reflects that.

I was fortunate that what mild acne I did have as a teen wasn't the scarring type and went away on its own; I'm not sure I'd ever be comfortable taking a drug like Accutane. I suppose when all else has failed though it's better than scarring.

thanks for the info. i think i still want to try it though, if the price is right. my school insurance says all prescriptions are only like 5-10$ copay so hopefully that applies.

and i do drink a lot of milk...but not able to give that up either. i get really bad heartburns that only milk cures

 

[pubba]

Holy shit @ Roaccutane causing bowel disease...

I'm in my 30's and started taking it again last year due to a problem with cystic acne (the painful kind) on my back and chest.

Although that doesn't seem as bad as bowel fucking disease. Yay..

 

[xelios]

Yeah it should be covered.

And if you're popping your pimples all the time, you're really going to regret it one day. However unattractive you may think your acne is now, acne scars are 100x uglier. Stop it. Seriously.

And pubba those side effects are extremely rare. I'm sure you'll be fine. Most of the time the benefits outweigh the risks.

 

[The Interrobanger]

I used to have it but my doctor just said that I eat too many chocolate bars or that I dont wash my face

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Fuck, it's been awhile.

 

[Ashhong]

Yeah it should be covered.

And if you're popping your pimples all the time, you're really going to regret it one day. However unattractive you may think your acne is now, acne scars are 100x uglier. Stop it. Seriously.

And pubba those side effects are extremely rare. I'm sure you'll be fine. Most of the time the benefits outweigh the risks.

im going to try, but im pretty weak and will probably give in. usually these pustules though get to be so sensitive that they end up just popping when im washing my face. ive never had one just go away.

 

[AzureRonin]

Isn't it the little orange pill? If so it's not that bad. I used it for a couple of months, cause I don't have severe acne

I actually use the topical gel, I haven't use the pill before.

 

[ZROCOOL]

Watch what you eat
Drink lots of water
Hands + Face = bad
8 hrs of sleep


And if you want try Cetaphil its a daily face cleanser.

 

[Ashhong]

Watch what you eat
Drink lots of water
Hands + Face = bad
8 hrs of sleep


And if you want try Cetaphil its a daily face cleanser.

hmmm

I eat poorly, usually only 1 real meal a day
pick at my face because i have no self control
have slept 2 hours tonight because i have a midterm

im 0 for 3 :lol

and who is

 

[Dead Man]

i just got it...:lol

Thought I'd give you some time...

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

I used to use a few meds, though never accutane, to get rid of the vast majority. I don't recall them all, but just ask a dermatologist.

Now, I just use an oxy product that has 10% benzoyl peroxide, on applying it on every pimple, mornings and evenings, and the pimples should be gone completely (no mark or anything) in 3-4 days. This is quite annoying when you have a lot of acne, but it is quite useful when you get 2-3 every few days.

I bought Zapzyt which has 10% BP and I'm only using as a spot treatment. Well, a few days ago, the right side of my face started to get quite a few pimples, so I just smeared a little around my cheeks............HOLY SHIT is the right side of my cheeks RED.

I really hope the redness goes away.

 

[SturokBGD]

Someone once told me that the contents of a lava lamp make an excellent hand cream.

I wonder if it's good for acne?

 

[Visualante]

Roaccutane is effective beyond belief. On it now for my back. Only bad thing is that my lips are dry, plus I'm advised to stay of alcohol.. in the summer :-(

I got so much hassle for carrying around girly vaseline all the time but do it. And yeah don't drink more than one of anything. You will wake up without memory of what happened before. In my own experience.

Holy shit @ Roaccutane causing bowel disease...

I'm in my 30's and started taking it again last year due to a problem with cystic acne (the painful kind) on my back and chest.

Although that doesn't seem as bad as bowel fucking disease. Yay..

Did you not read the side effects? That shit sounds like rat poison. I was warned of hair loss! I guess it's the risk you take... The UK's drug council is really strict and I think they still dish it out here, so you know the risk is somewhat minimal.

I just have a few spots on my back and plain old Neutrogena seems to be keeping that at bay.

 

[ahoyhoy]

Accutane worked wonders for me despite the fact it dried the hell out of my skin for a year.

Accutane was a fucking bitch when I took it. Sure, it worked, but sometimes it dried my skin out so much that I felt like my face was on fire. I remember running out of my 10th grade Math class because I couldn't take the severe pain anymore. I stopped taking it after 3 months, not only because of the burning, but also because of the supposed permanent psychological side-effects. Now I still have mild acne, but at least I don't have the supposed suicidal tendencies users develop.

 

[Tideas]

can it be diet lipton green tea from the bottle? :lol

No, it has to be packet green tea with hot water. anything with sugar and you just wasted all the health benefit of drinking tea.

 

[relaxor]

I never did Accutane but I tried just about all the prescription meds that were available about five years ago, as well as every type of cream and blah blah, and the only thing that worked was a combination of becoming 21, washing my face with the normal soap I use on my body (Dr. Bronner's), and not caring.
This will probably not help, but. Good luck.

 

[xelios]

I bought Zapzyt which has 10% BP and I'm only using as a spot treatment. Well, a few days ago, the right side of my face started to get quite a few pimples, so I just smeared a little around my cheeks............HOLY SHIT is the right side of my cheeks RED.

I really hope the redness goes away.

5% benzoyl peroxide, or better yet 2.5% will have the same benefit as 10% but without the irritation.

 

[Ashhong]

just finished washing my face and man i have a huge pustule on my upper lip. i actually controlled myself and didnt touch it though since its hidden in shadows. we'll see what happens :lol i think ill give murad about a month and see how it goes, then go see about accutane if it does nothing

 

[DevilWillcry]

My acne has always been pretty mild. I usually get minor blemishes every once in a while, usually because of changes in my diet. I have been using the Clearasil ultra daily face wash for the last two years and that seems to work pretty well for mild acne. Just put it on every day before you get in the shower and it should work for any mild outbreaks. It worked pretty well for me.

 

[Ashhong]

My acne has always been pretty mild. I usually get minor blemishes every once in a while, usually because of changes in my diet. I have been using the Clearasil ultra daily face wash for the last two years and that seems to work pretty well for mild acne. Just put it on every day before you get in the shower and it should work for any mild outbreaks. It worked pretty well for me.

why not in the shower? i usually do my face wash in the shower, is there anything wrong with that?

 

[Rayo]

just a dap on the trouble spot and it's practically gone overnight

 

[Acid08]

I'm inthe same situation as you Ashlong. I've had really bad acne since I was 16. Now Im gonna be 19 in a month and it's the worst it's ever been. Really fucking sucks at this age :/. I've tried pretty much every single over the counter product and nothing worked. Tried Proactiv and it didn't work either. Now I wash my face with Dove bar soap and have Oxy pads, but of course that shit doesn't work. So now I just go a few days without washing my face and it'll clear up a little bit, get worse, then clear up a tiny bit again. I touch my face a lot and pop them whenever I see a white head. I'm going to ask my doctor for a referall to a dermatologist soon, and hopefully they give me something that works.

My acne rarely hurts, it's just there disfiguring my face haha.

 

[Chittagong]

There is only one thing in addition to Roaccutane that works somewhat well in my experience. Not the Clearacil, antibiotics, Skinoren - none of that stuff works too well.

But Biodroga Mud Mask.

Absolutely amazing stuff for cystic acne. Just use it against instructions, leave a bunch of it on top of the spot for the night and it will dry it inside out. Back when I still got acne in my face I managed to kill most overnight with this stuff.