Acne products

[rydra_wong]

Okay, I've tried most things, up to and including Accutane, and in my thirties, I've more or less resigned myself to never completely growing out of my acne (cystic acne on skin that manages to be oily and sensitive simultaneously, lovely).

But I thought I'd ask the comm on the off chance, to see if anyone has any magic recs for products I haven't heard of.

Any secrets out there?

Comments

[vorvolaka]

The only thing that has ever cleared up my cystic acne is low dose contraceptive pill (oestrogen and progestin combined). In talking to other acne sufferers I know, it seems like it's rather hit and miss as to whether people benefit.

I also use benzoyl peroxide most days to keep my non-cystic acne at bay.

If you've already went through a course of Accutane, there's a high chance that you've tried both of the above but that's what has helped me.

[risha]

I'm in the same boat - skin that is both extremely oily and very sensitive - and the dermatologist told me straight out years ago that acne would always be a problem. But I have the additional complication of being allergic to benzoyal peroxide! (I mean that literally, not just "sensitive to" - my eyes swell shut if I use even a little.)

I've long since resigned myself to just maintaining a routine of washing with three times a day (morning, when I get home from work, before bed) with Purpose soap, and using Physician's Formula concealer to hide what I can.

However, when I was cycling through the medications years ago, the only one that did work at least partially for me was Tazorac. It reduced the number of pimples by at least 75%, and unlike most people, I didn't have any overdrying problems at all! However, the effects disappeared on any day that I didn't use it - no permanent effect at all. I stopped using it after several years when I started planning to have children, as it's a class X drug and you absolutely can't get pregnant on it. I never did have children, but I'd still like to, and I'm uncomfortable being on it permanently anyway, so I've never gone back to it.

[kaiz]

I have had fairly good luck with Neutrogena's line of acne control products such as their salicylic acid scrubs, lotions, and toners. Ditto for frequent facials that include a lactic acid peel component. (The facials have helped a lot, btw.)

Like many people, I do experience additional oilienss with with products that contain alpha and beta hydroxies. However I like the acne-control properties enough to keep on using them and just counter-act the oil with anti-shine mattifying gels from places like Sephora.

[the_grynne]

I was in the same boat as you until very recently, but I've been on a new skin regime (a combination of products and cleansing methods) for the last month or two, and my acne has virtually clearer during that time. You can give one or all of these a go; I've listed them in rough order of priority.

1. Remove makeup as soon as you can (I use Bioderma Sensibio H2O or Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil).

2. Cleanse thoroughly, massaging with a non-foaming cleanser, before removing the cleanser with a hot wet muslin cloth to exfoliate gently and open up the pores. I use Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser.

3. I started using Sisley Botanical Facial Mask with Tropical Resins, a deep-cleansing mask, about a month ago, and noticed a difference on my breakouts immediately after the first use. It contains zinc and white clay.

4. La Roche Posay Effaclar K all over the face, over moisturiser and underneath makeup. Also, Effaclar A.I. as a spot treatment. A.I. on its own I started using about 3 months ago, and didn't notice much difference, but together with everything else I've been doing, it seems to be stopping further breakouts.

5. Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Serum, to encourage healing and restore clarity to the skin.