Acne help....(long)

[stinkbug]

Sigh....this is going to be long. I'm going to bare my soul here a bit, and it's embarassing. I have acne. Terribly. I'm not an adolecent, I'm 49. This has been ongoing most of my life, but it's worse now than ever.
Here's the jist of it: If you have peaches and cream skin, stop reading....you will never understand.
In the past I have tried pretty much everything. Including two rounds of acutane. Once in my 30's and once in my 40's. It works. But mine always comes back, and you can't take that stuff forever. Antibiotics: I can't take them. I am allergic to virtually all of them, and those I'm not, do not work for skin problems. Over the counter stuff just makes me crusty and icky.
I eat well. I do not smoke or drink. I don't eat fast food - at all - ever. I don't drink soda or diet drinks. I don't eat white flour. I drink as much water as I can stand (I hate it). I do drink coffee.
It's depressing. I've been in my jammies all day and won't even go out to get the mail. I canceled lunch with a friend because I didn't want to leave the house. (I gave a half-assed reason.....it's too embarrassing to explain it to people.)
I'm currently waiting to see how much my ins. pays on the last round of (800.00) Dr. bills. My hormone levels are *normal*. Everything is *normal*. Then how come I feel/look like a freak??? Most Dr's have an attitude that at *my age* I should pretty much just deal with it. Thanks....
I'm currently saving to go to a local specialist to see about dermabrasion or something, but I don't think that's going to solve it. It's not just my face...it's worse on my neck, chest and back. Imagine how fun it is to shop for clothes??? Yeah....not.
I'm not looking for sympathy, but will gladly accept any ideas or alternative suggestions...Today has been especailly bad, so I guess this is a cry for help.
I'm currently trying the Oil of Olay Regenerist stuff, but it's not helping. And the current RX I've been on for two months...not working either. I should mention Dh is a Rph, so we're pretty up to date on new meds, etc. And.... the man is a Saint.

[Darlene]

I've never had it like that and can imagine my small whinings of pimples at 47 around my nose as being no big deal. I do know however feeling bad about your looks no matter what the reason can do for your self esteem. I hope someone here can help you and wish that you can feel free to go out and do whatever you want whenever you want, smiling all the while.

[Marie78]

I am so sorry, I know how you feel. I have suffered with acne since I was 11 years old. I am 29 years old now and it's only gotten worse. I did 3 or 4 back to back rounds of accutane and the last one ended 2 1/2 years ago. The acne always returned after a few months without accutane. Antibiotics don't seem to work on my acne either and I am allergic to benzoyle peroxide, which has helped my sister since she's not allergic. I have very big and painful acne along my jawline onto my neck. In December my doctor told me that there was basically nothing she could do. She wrote me a prescription for a topical clindamycin solution. It's not really helping much.

I try to do damage control, I wash my face twice a day with a cleanser from Murad. I also use the prescription I was given and then put lotion on top of that. I feel very awkward at work and I hope people don't look at me diffrently. If there was anything I could do to help the situation I would. I was going to try Oil of Olay lotion, the one with alpha hydroxy, is that the one you are using?

I am sorry you are going through this, my mom is 50 years old and she has acne just as badly as me and we have no idea how to treat it. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone and I wish I knew how to minimize them too.

[annymoll]

I have used Retin-A for years- not for acne, but for cosmetic reasons..The plus is I have never had a zit. Have you tried the new laser treatments? Ask the dermmie. I do think think you should have to suffer like this, I do not care your age. (Weird about the Accutane.That stuff is supposed to actually shrink the pores.)

[claimsgirl66]

I am so sorry. I am 40ish and have had to deal with blemishes for many years. I have also freaked out about what my face might look like before a job interview and had to go to a XMas party feeling very self concious about my appearance. So I can relate.

Most of the over the counter stuff with sulphur to dry or benzoyl peroxide made me itch and have hives. Zits with hives....lovely.


So, on a personal note, I will tell you what greatly helped. You probably have tried every product under the sun, so maybe you have tried this, and please note I do not want to be accused of selling anything etc....or promoting anything....just personally I found about 10 years ago a line sold on Home Shopping Network. Yup on TV. Silly I know. I was desperate too. It is Serious Skin care. My mom has HSN and I was kinda watching it, and figured, what they hey and tried it, I was skeptical.

I bought some kits & have finally figured out a fairly simple regime that works for myself, and fluctuates with the weather and dryness. Oh, I am also at the age with wrinkles starting too and I have sensitive skin and need to be careful, and these items have not over dried my skin, or caused any hives. They make lots of products that I do not need but they do make some good basic acne products,. One bottle will also last a long time. I now use the glycolic cleanser, ( I use less in winter when weather is dry and Dove cleanser on alternate days ), their Clearzit which is a mild benzoyl peroxide lotion that did not give me hives, & then a drying lotions. It is pink, looks kind of like calamine lotion & you dab it on blemishes with a qtip to treat over nite. They make tons of other stuff which costs alot of $ but these basics are those which I cannot do without.

Again , I do not want to sound like an ad, just sharing what worked for me with a friend!

I have found though you can buy the stuff on ebay cheaper. I would not invest a lot of $$ in alot of product in the event it does not work for you, so maybe on ebay or HSN.com you can find a sample or starter kit with smaller sizes for around $20. This stuff greatly helped my skin calm down and now I get the occasional blemish at that time of the month.

Hope you find something that works for you. I know what we look like on the outside is what matters,...but sometimes it is the small things that can make us feel good about ourselves and restore that your self confidence!

[leezza]

I still have break outs at my age (48) but not as bad as when I was younger.....some things that helped me were:

Sunshine, (or tanning bed if you live in an area that doesn't get much sun).

Steam, (my mom used to steam my face with hot washclothes, and also a few times I took saunas).

NO MAKEUP, (when I was younger I would try using it to cover up......no I don't use any face makeup and I think it helps to not clog up your pores)

**********
I haven't tried but have known folks who tryed the stuff they advertise on TV, and they seemed to have good results.

Have you tried going to a nutritionist (sp) and finding out if maybe you need more or less of some type of food or vitamins??

Sorry you are having such a bad day, I can relate.

Kind Regards,
leezza

[Dancing Lotus]

I can understand how you feel. I am 30 and have acne. It not as bad as when I was a teenager but its bad enough to make people notice.

I hate it when people ask me, "have you tried (fill in the blank)" Yes , I have and it didn't work. Everyone thinks they have the answer.

Anyways ,you are not alone. I am sorry that it effects you so much. MUCH LOVE

[stinkbug]

Not doing a tanning bed.
No makeup is not an option....if I leave the house at all. I'm pretty tired of being a recluse.
I've tried several of the *order from TV* stuff and I've lost track, but none of it has worked.
I seriously do not think it is a nutrition problem...
Retin A for *cosmetic* reasons (wrinkles) and never having a zit really doesn't help me here....it's not a spot or two. I'm saving up (as I said) to check into drastic treatments...the laser thing is incredibly $$$...and considering the extent of the problem....

Thanks anyway. I'm tired and cranky...and i just don't care anymore. But I was running out of ideas and options, so thought I'd ask for some help....
It doesn't really matter....at 49 who cares, right?

[annymoll]

I have used Retin-A for years- not for acne, but for cosmetic reasons..The plus is I have never had a zit. Have you tried the new laser treatments? Ask the dermmie. I do think think you should have to suffer like this, I do not care your age. (Weird about the Accutane.That stuff is supposed to actually shrink the pores.)

Sorry if anything came across as superficial Stinkbug. I did not know if you had tried the cremes or gels, thought if not they might be an option for you. I have had some hyperpigmentation that was unsightly to me, nothing medical, therefore I deemed it purely for cosmetic, maybe emotional reasons that I first tried the cremes. The results have been wonderful.Laser treatment is expensive, just thought it may be an option . Best of luck to you.

[frugalfarmwife]

Hugs hun, I know being "different" isn't fun. Not acne here but I've got two things combined that make people stare and wonder about me.

I'm SUPER skinny, metabolism through the roof, thin as a stick and 44. All my life both to my face and behind my back people have made comments about anorexia, bulimia and drugs, nope, just me, super hyper and calorie burner extraordianre.

And then when I hit my late teens essential tremors set in, I shake, the more nervous or the more intricate things I try to do the harder I shake. This also just adds to the insinuations of drugs. I can't even eat in public with silverware, I can't hit my mouth.

I get TIRED of explaining it to people time after time, and they still think I"m a freak.

I know for me in the future there are medications, but they can't be used long term, there are major side effects, and with time it will just get worse and worse.

It IS who we are on the inside that counts, and if people can't accept it then it's THEIR problem

hugs,
tomorrow will be better,
kj

[Squirt]

I had to do Accutane in my early 20's too, but it didn't get rid of it entirely. What did is one or a combination of herbs I took for other reasons. It might have been EPO or saw palmetto, maybe fenugreek. Basically phytoestrogens. I don't want to tell you to try these because I'm sure you've tried and tried and tried. But it worked for me. Now it's just a whiteheaded pimple or two- nothing like big cystic lumps.

Having had acne pretty bad, I notice it but don't "see" it anymore. I feel for the people who have it, but it doesn't make them ugly to me. I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way. You should take at least a little comfort in knowing this, as far as leaving the house goes. I know there's enough physical discomfort as it is.

[zakity]

Have you tried arnica? I was taking a bunch for a pulled muscle or something and my face cleared up. It might be something to try.

[OzFreeBird]

Are you a redhead?

Redheads are naturally very low in zinc, which contributes to acne. Also I understand fish oil capsules can greatly help.

Best of luck!

[baronmom]

I tried everything on my face, and the only thing that helped me at all was Clearasil Ultra. I still get a few here and there, but they are nothing like they use to be. I tried all of those as seen on tv things. Proactive didn't do squat for me. One of my issues was that I was allergic to Witch hazel. Caused me to break out something terrible. I can't use any sort of toner because of this. I hate my skin, but it is slowly getting better. (I am 37 so I feel your pain on this one)

[voodidit]

Have you ever used Lever 2000 soap? it may sound weird but that is the only soap I can use that doesn't break me out.