Help! I have adult acne and its driving me absolutely insane!!!

**MANDERS** · 09-30-2010, 11:05 AM

Ok I'm 30 and going to college full time so I know I'm a little stressed. And 3 years ago I had a hysterectomy so I know my hormones are out of whack. I'm not taking any. But why in the world does my face have to break out this bad? It seems nothing I do makes it any better. I'm so afraid of scaring and my skin is starting to get all discolored. Please does anyone have any advise. I can't afford to go to a dermatologis(no insurance). I thought about taking herbal remedies but I don't even know where to start. Any advice would be great. Its getting close to Halloween so I could sport a mask for a while.lol

**stinkbug** · 09-30-2010, 11:16 AM

I'm almost 52 and still fighting it. Have tried everything including two rounds of accutane. Drugs, herbal, washes, diet.....nothing works for mine. I'll go to my grave with acne.

I hope you find something that works for you. There are times that I go weeks without leaving the house.....it ain't pretty.

**frugalwarrior2** · 09-30-2010, 11:27 AM

Eat as well as you can afford-naturally. I wanted to lose weight so I dropped processed foods and no white(sugar,salt,wh. flour,etc.) and as a by product my hair is so less oily,my skin had improved. I highly recommend a course of vitamins too. Vitamin E is the skin,hair ,nails vit.
Also try to be conscoius of touch/rubbing/leaning w/ your hand on your face.
Product wise-Neutrogena pore detoxifier. Walmarts had it last I looked. It is alcohol free.
hope you find something.

**MANDERS** · 09-30-2010, 11:44 AM

I do take viatamins...lots of them..viatamin e is one of them so is biotin. I'll have to try the Neutragena. I've seem to have tried everything short of getting a facial transplant( does that even exist). Somedays its not so bad..but these past 2 days OMG I need a new face!

**MaryCarney** · 09-30-2010, 12:31 PM

One thing that helped me a lot (I'm 55 and still have it) is to buy a bunch of 100% cotton pillowcases and change it every day.

Also, are you SURE you cannot afford a dermatologist, or just assuming it because you lack insurance? Have you called around and asked about the cost of an office visit for an uninsured person? You never know. Is there a university with a medical school near you? A community health clinic?

**itsahumanzoo** · 09-30-2010, 01:52 PM

I agree with a lot of the advice you've already received. Change your pillowcases, or at least the one that touches your face, every night. All that oil from your skin and hair builds up! Also, try to cut out chocolate, caffeine and processed foods from your diet. It's hard to cut them completely, but even cutting back a little helps. I also think you should call around to dermatologists offices or even esthetician schools to see if you can get a good price for a visit. They may be able to help you more than you think! You can also go to your personal doctor and get a referral, that way your insurance will cover at least some of it. Good luck!

**itsahumanzoo** · 09-30-2010, 01:54 PM

Ooops, I missed the part about no insurance, so that last bit of info isn't very relevant.

**stinkbug** · 09-30-2010, 02:41 PM

For the LAST time...chocolate does not cause acne......neither does greasy food.....and a LOT of it is gene related. Believe me, I've talked to/been to so many Drs, dematologists, even a platic surgeon!
Any every Neutrogena product I have tried has turned my skin to sand paper :-(

**Telephus44** · 09-30-2010, 02:42 PM

I also have acne and I'm 32. It's not completely gone, but the 2 products I like are the Burts Bee's spot treatment (its .75% salacylic acid - .5% doesn't do much for me but 2% is too strong) and the Neutrogena Age Reverse Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. Sounds crazy, but I read somewhere that retinol, which is used as an anti-aging product, was originally developed for acne - so even though I don't have "deep wrinkles" I find that this retinol cream helps a lot. It's like $20, but it last about 2 months.

**Contrary Housewife** · 09-30-2010, 02:43 PM

Things that have helped me:
- keep the face clean, this means washing with mild soap 2-3 times a day or using some kind of wipe if you are on the go.
- use antibacterial soap
- no hands on the face
- limit your use of cosmetics, if they aren't an outright cause, they can make things worse
- eat healthy, fresh food, drink water not soda/sugary things, lots of vegetables
- get your hormones fixed, for me this was birth control, but you probably need something else. Not all hormone treatments are expensive
- vitamin D3 was the kicker, once I started that it was Goodbye Puberty!
- search the web for foods that are acne triggers and figure out what does it for you. You could be having a reaction to almost anything, and trying an elimination diet costs you nothing.

**pollypurebred39** · 09-30-2010, 03:10 PM

This works, but make sure you get the real and not counterfeit.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Likas-Papaya-Blemishes-Whitening-Herbal/dp/B003M318GW/ref=pd_sbs_bt_3"]Amazon.com: Likas Papaya Soap 4 Bars Great for Acne, Blemishes, Whitening Herbal Soap: Beauty@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jVpf4Q-%2BL.@@AMEPARAM@@51jVpf4Q-%2BL[/ame]

I use this

African Black Soap

Nubian Heritage / Bar Soap / African Black Soap

I could not be happier with my skin since I started using this. I get mine at the health food store.

**shoiji** · 09-30-2010, 04:35 PM

I am currently sporting acne after being pretty free of bad breakouts for a while. I am pretty sure it has to do with what I eat. I have to stay away from nightshades and processed foods containing modified food starch.

I also have come to realize that I have very sensitive skin. So all the creams and lotions promising to get rid of acne of to help exfoliate the skin just aggrivates my skin more causing breakouts. After removing makeup wash you skin with clean hands. Pat your face dry no rubbing. Look for facial cleansers and moisturizers for sensitive skin. If I have a breakout I will use Alpha Hydroxy face cream I found at Walgreens. I just use a dab on the acne itself. Then I have to be patient and let the acne either come to a head or go away by itself. Try to use a mineral coverup right on the acne. This will help to keep it from scarring or darkening when you go outside in the sun light.

I would also suggest going to someplace that could run a blood test to check your hormone levels. You might want to look into a place like planned parenthood.

**AnW819** · 09-30-2010, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

For the LAST time...chocolate does not cause acne......neither does greasy food.....and a LOT of it is gene related. Believe me, I've talked to/been to so many Drs, dematologists, even a platic surgeon!
Any every Neutrogena product I have tried has turned my skin to sand paper :-(

Neutrogena makes me break out more.