quote:

As for Retin-A, it worked for the most part, but dried out my skin, and at time burned so bad that I couldn't stand it anymore. Plus, it intensifies sunburns phenomenally

Yes, I was using Retin-A on my back, and it burned so much at one point that it hurt to lay on my back...even after showering it all off!

Yikes! I don't think i would use anything on sunburnt skin...I think the peeling afterwards does more for your skin than any product on the market (the pain is just an added reason...)

quote:

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Astringent: pretty good, not sure it really gets rid of blackheads, but it is a really good astringent

This, along with Sea Breeze and another kind of astringent, never got rid of my blackheads either.

As for Retin-A, it worked for the most part, but dried out my skin, and at time burned so bad that I couldn't stand it anymore. Plus, it intensifies sunburns phenomenally

Ooh! I just remembered my "box o' products" that I used during my acne speech this year...let's see...

Minocycline (script): antibiotic, made me sick, didn't really do anything in the 2+ months I used it...

Noxema Deep lathering Cleanser (combination/oily): good as a face wash...doesn't bleach, but doesn't do much of anything...

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Astringent: pretty good, not sure it really gets rid of blackheads, but it is a really good astringent

Aveno foaming cleanser: recommended by my derm, does absolutely nothing (same with the clean and clear foaming clanser)

True Blue Spa Pore Refining Peel-Off facial: kind of disgusting feeling...doesn't really do anything except make your face smelly

10% Benzoyl Peroxide cream (different names, all the same stuff): only works on pimples, not black/white heads, but it will get rid of pimples in a matter of 3 days with constant use; bleaches fabrics...

Avon Clearskin Targeted Blemish Remover: kind of nasty, gel that dries on your zits that you peel off in the morning; it takes the edge off of pimples, but that's it...

Pore strips: the stupidest thing ever invented, they don't work in the slightest and they make you look dumb while you are using them

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask: I've never used this as a face wash, but as a mask it is amazing. I never saw any direct results, but keeping the mask on burned off my top layer of skin, just like a chemical peel! You can feel it burning, and it will make your face look sunburned for a good half hour, but it really is great...

Duac (script): does a worse job than benzoyl peroxide...

Differin (script): severe drying agent...works relatively well

Retin-A (script): The most amazing stuff I've ever used. Cleared up my face and back so well...My derm never actually prescribed this for me, he jumped right to oral meds after duac and differin didn't help; I had to ask my mom's friend (a doc) for a script...

quote:

Clindamycin works just as well when taken as a pill and supplimented with a cream.

I didn't take clindimycin, I think my script was minocycline...whatever it was, it didn't help in the slightest and it made me sick...again, it is all in you, your skin type, and what you are willing to go through...

Umm... this may sound dumb to some of you, but anyone looking to get rid of blackheads or back acne as I was.. and are desperate.. this might be your "cure". It didn't eliminate them completely, but did a much better job than any cream or pill.... Ready? Water-activated or Nitro-gold Snap-on hand cleaner... I just decided to try it one day, knowing full well that it works very well on grease and oil, and found that it completely rids me of my back acne and works pretty well on my blackheads too. Only downside is it may irritate during and shortly after you scrub, but you may need to do it a while (no more than 30 seconds) before you rinse. Good luck!

Clindamycin works just as well when taken as a pill and supplimented with a cream.

I know a lot of people who have taken it...it has a lot of side effects, but the serious ones are rare. Everyone I have talked to has decided that it was worth it. My dermatologist was the third leading prescriber in MI, and he said that he never had anyone with emotional problems because of it...one girl insisted that the meds were making her depressed, but the depression would have ceased after ending treatment, and it didn't...so it wasn't related to the drug.

When I was going to go on it, they did blood tests to get preliminary levels for all sorts of things, especially my kidneys. Then I was going to have to go get blood drawn eery couple of weeks.

quote:

but I don't think its worth killing yourself over good looking skin

Women die from birth control pills...actually it probably happens just as much as with accutane. One could argue that the sexual freedom it provides is not worth the risk...it is all about looking at how bad the situation is and deciding if it is worth the risks for you to help the situation. There are people who feel so uncomfortable with their skin (especially once it starts scarring) that they are willing to accept the risks of the medication, which you are made FULL aware of before the doc writes you a script. Acutane should stay on the market...

I have heard really bad things about accutane. Doctors will tell you it is safe, but I don't think its worth killing yourself over good looking skin.

One kid in my high school (this was last year) started having seizures because of Accutane. It was extremely scary for everyone, because he didn't have a history of health problems, didn't do drugs or anything. And then he was in a coma for almost a week.

The biggest thing with acutane is that it causes severe birth defects. I had to provide 2 negative pregnancy tests, then, since I refused birth control, I had to sign a legal document saying that I wouldn't have sex for the duration of my treatment.

As long as you are monitored while on acutane, you should be fine. It is on the market because, while it may not physically save your life, it can emotionally save your life...

I took accutane and so far so good. It depend on the person and its completely voleentary. Not to mention they have major restrions and lots of check-ups to make sure nothing goes wrong.

quote:

Acutane? Isn't that the prescription drug that causes seizures and stuff?

It does a lot worse than that. One of my relatives took it and it messed him up badly. It's surprising that a drug that dangerous is allowed on the market considering it isn't exactly a lifesaving drug...

Go to a dermatologist. They can help you pick out a good way to deal with it. There is medication (pills and creams) that can help. Go to a professional and don't mess around with the stuff on commercials.

Well, yeah. It all depends on your skin type.

That may seem the case for you, but I am telling you, from experience, that the method you are describing is not for people with severe acne. I am sure it works very well on mild to moderate cases, but I used to use the Clinique 3-step program (soap, astringent, moisturizer) and it DID NOT WORK. The only way I personally am able to clear up my complexion is when I use super drying agents...why do you think derms do chemical peels? By drying out your face, you kill the top layers of your skin. When these layers are killed, they are replaced with fresh, acne free tissue. This is especially important if you want to prevent scarring.

Trust me on this one...I went to a dermatologist who treated me for about 4 months without success, I almost went on Accutane but my doc was an idiot, so I decided against it. Since then, I have been self-medicating my face and I have brought my problem down from constantly moderately severe to a very mild case which flares up each month...

Yes, use your hands. Using your hands won't irritate your skin or remove too much oil and cause more acne. Removing too much oil is super bad. Gently wash with your hands, apply an astringent, then moisturize. It's not rocket science.

Don't wash with your hands, use a soft cloth...you don't want to spread oil from your hands to your face. Also, some of the coolest things out there are the oil absorbing tissues; you can get like 50 of them for 4 or 5 $ and they come in a teeny tiny package that you can just throw in your purse or pocket. You rub them all over your face and you can see how much oil it pulls off...pretty disgusting, but it really does help the acne...

Actually, the main causes of acne are touching or picking at your face too much, washing your face too often, not moisterizing, or using a face wash that is too harsh. It may seem like your facial washes don't work, but they probably would if you were gentler on your skin. And scrubbing your skin is huge no-no. Just wash gently with your hands.

Ok, reality check please... for guys, washing your face has hardly anything to do with it... while yes it's an important part of hygene, just because someone has Acne doesn't mean they dont wash regularly... for example... I play multiple sports play the drums, and i sweat a lot, I also have huge pores... so therefore I get acne, I take a medication to keep it down, but as long as I stay as active as I do then I'm going to have acne, and there is nothing I can really do about it.

this may sound ridiculous but...wash your face regularly and eat peanut butter everyday.

Oh! and there is an amazing face mask called Queen Helene Mint Julep masque. It is a miracle! Make sure you get the mint kind.