Adults with acne?

[Crossbow]

I started a thread like this some months ago, but I can't find it.

Any other adults here with acne problems? What's worked for you?

I'm 37. When I turned 19 I started birth contorl pills, and those helped a lot, but in the past few years it's been worse again. The only thing that's REALLY worked was the antibiotic Augmentin, but you can't take that long term.

The following have not worked:

Benzoyl peroxide
Salicylic Acid
Retinol
Alpha-Hydroxy acid
"Cetaphil" (which is just a plain old detergent, BTW)
Tea Tree Oil
Antibacterial soap

Mud and clay masques seem to help. Or at least they make me feel better. My favorite is the Mint Julep masque by Queen Helene, but almost anything seems to help at least somewhat.

The Biore brand nose strips don't improve the appearance of the skin, but I've noticed that after I use them, my nose is a lot oilier, which means it is definitely unclogging pores, even if you can't tell. The other brand names/generic brands don't work at all.

I haven't tried this Proactiv stuff, but it's basically just bensoyl peroxide and an alcohol toner. I'm guessing waste of money if benzoyl peroxide hasn't worked for me before. I'm also heard it has really bad drying effects in adults.

[LitaMS]

Hi,
I just turned 38 and I still suffer with acne. I am going to start Diane 35 and use it for a couple of months then switch to another oral contraceptive and also use aldactone ( a drug that blocks the male hormones that effect the skin). My skin is really oily. I have used accutane a couple of times and it works but the acne comes back. I use all topicals. I use salicylic acid 2% by Paulas choice) then 2.5 % benzoyl peroxide in the morning, then I use the salicylic acid again with either .5 % vitamin A acid or tazorac .5% at night. This all helps but in the past few weeks my skin has been terrible. This is why I am going to try the Diane 35 again.
I totally understand where you are coming from. The more you learn about acne the better. Knowledge is power. Check out cosmeticscop.com. She has lots of info on skin problems. I use Paulas products even though I live in Canada. I have followed her work for years. She is so honest. I love that. You could always try just plain old milk of magnesia facial mask, not the flavoured kind, just plain. It absorbs excess oil and is disinfecting and anti-inflammatory.( it is just liquid magnesium) I find it helps.
I have had acne since I was 16, I took antibiotics for years, then took an oral contraceptive and used benzoyl peroxide to help control it. Then about 4 rounds of accutane. My skin has been worse since I have had children and have been off oral contraceptives. So I find they help. I hope that you find help. Learn all you can and you will feel much more in control and active in your future treatment.
Best of Luck, L.

[girlygal]

Hi I am 42 and still breaking out I am going to go on accutane in two weeks
litams how was our accutane expierence did you have a bad breakout from accutane before it got better? any info will help thanks

[Crossbow]

I did the antibiotic thing too - six months of Erythromicin (sp?). Plus I've been on antibiotics for 5 cases of strep throat and various infections (I trap feral cats; I'm always in with some infected scrape or scratch or bite). Only Augmentin has ever affected my skin.

One thing I don't think I've tried is using both Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid together. I'm trying that starting today. BO in the morning and SA at night. We'll see if that works.

I will also look into the Milk of Magnesium mask idea.

[Lorid]

I know you've tried many products but this one is definitely worth a shot, I use it, it's called BioClear, it's by Jan Marini Skin Research, it may be hard to find but check their website. The product has Glycolic Acid, Azaelic Acid and Salyicilic Acid. Also I would suggest getting facial peels at a derm's office. I have been using oral contraceptives (Estrostep FE), it's supposed to help with acne. It was helping me for quite some time but now the acne is once again appearing all over my back. It's quite frustrating! Hang in there. I'm a medical aesthetician(skin care professional) so if you have any other questions, I would be more than happy to help. Goodluck.
Lori