Acne, what to do? - Page 2

[OceanDoula]

Have you tried using witch hazel? Witch hazel is an astringent which helps to heal many different skin troubles, including hemorrhoids. It helps to reduce inflammation and speeds healing. I have been using it as a toner for years without it drying or irritating my skin further. HTH

[sprouthead]

100% witch hazel?

[OceanDoula]

yes or there is Thayers witch hazel that has aloe in it which works well too.

[klosmom]

i dont know if your only looking for natural remedies but acutane really helped me. i tried otc stuff and antibiotics and nothing worked. so my derm. perscribed acutane. it was kind of a hassle for me because i have a hard time remembering to take something everyday but it was so worth it. i was on it for 6mo, been off since april, and have had no acne. does wonders for the self esteem.

[kdabbler]

I still have acne at nearly 40 but I've had a noticeable reduction since I've started using Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Wash. I've been experimenting with using a wash cloth to rinse it off for the purposes of exfoliating.

I've been through the whole dermatologist route with Accutane and all too but it never really worked. For me it's definitely hormonal. But now that I don't use hormonal bcp, my face is always under attack.

I'll have to give the jojoba a try.

What is ACV?

[Astrid1024]

The only thing that has truly cleared all my acne has been to eliminate all white glutenous food and refined carbohydrates from my diet and taking fish oil. Acne is an inflammatory condition that carby food will make worse. Fish oil is an anti-inflammatory and rocks for a whole host of reasons.

I know you said you did an elimination diet, but for how long? It took at least a month to get all the crud out of my system.

I apply a thin milky paste of baking soda every morning in the bath and then moisturize with olive oil. I think this just clarifies and softens more than clearing anything up.

If I get the odd breakout - which I do now because I am hormonal and preggo - I am going to try that garlic trick a PP talk about.

[Astrid1024]

Originally Posted by kdabbler

What is ACV?

Apple Cider Vinegar

[Mallori]

I'll have to give the jojoba a try.

Update on me: I had to stop using this. I have narrowed it down to any oil on my face will cause a break-out. I've tried olive, shea, jojoba and coconut. Jojoba was by far the best, but still can't go there.

Instead, i'm keeping up with the aloe. At first I found it drying. Now that i've been doing this a while, my skin seems to have adapted, and is very balanced, not oily, not dry. I still have some issues, but i'm waiting on some Thayers to come in my frontier shipment, and tomorrow I will try toning with green tea, instead of the ACV.

I've continued using the jojoba as an eye-makeup remover, and it does moisturize that area, which is awesome. But I cannot use it on my t-zone. Maybe during the dry, cold winter it will work ok.

[E&Gmommy]

: Great ideas everyone. I'm going to have to give them a try, my face has been horrible since having ds2.

[marimara]

The only thing that works for me that is all natural is Aubrey Organics Vegecol Line. I have extremely sensitive skin but kinda oily and I live in southern Georgia, very humid and hot. So I use the Aubrey Vegecol mask as a scrub every other day or so. It is so awesome. I also Dr Bronners Baby mild in a foaming dispenser as a quick wash. This stuff really strips the oil out so you need a moisturizer afterwards (or maybe not if it's really hot out). I use Aubrey unscented Moist body lotion, diluted w/water on my face. It's not greasy at all, I love it. Good luck!

[sprouthead]

i've been washing w/ honey, toning w/ witch hazel, and moisturizing w/ jojoba oil, and doing eft. most of my acne actually seems to be healing now so i hope that i am on the right track!

oh, and every few nights i add bs to the honey, but if i do it too much it will also make me break out.

[Mulvah]

Two recommendations:

1.) I would see if it is somehow related to a food allergy or sensitivity. You can do it through ALCAT testing or through your own elimination diet. (They typically recommend going through a doc for the elimination diet, but you can research it for yourself.)

2.) Urinate onto a cotton swab and run it around your face and/or the other areas impacted by the acne. It will not cure the problem, but will help with recurring breakouts and should heal the acne much sooner than anything else.

Your (fresh) urine is sterile and if you are drinking enough water, there will be no unpleasant smell. If you aren't drinking enough water, the smell will dissipate and no one will be able to smell urine on you.

[Mallori]

Instead, i'm keeping up with the aloe. At first I found it drying. Now that i've been doing this a while, my skin seems to have adapted, and is very balanced, not oily, not dry. I still have some issues, but i'm waiting on some Thayers to come in my frontier shipment, and tomorrow I will try toning with green tea, instead of the ACV.

Another update on me. I waited a while to update, so I could give a clear progress report about what's working/not working.

I got the Thayers, Witch hazel with rose petal and aloe. I use that after washing(with Kiss My Face aloe and green tea bar soap), both morning and night, even on my eyes. I was still breaking out, but not as bad. One big difference, the pores/blackheads on my nose were getting smaller. I also continued with the Lily of the Desert brand aloe, and Everyday Minerals when I wore makeup, but I eliminated the use of any foundation for a couple weeks.

I seem to have hormonal acne, primarily around my chin. The Thayers and aloe completely evened out my skin tone on my cheeks and forehead, even my eyes look better, smoother and lighter. But i'd still have one or two pimples on my chin at any given time, as well as the nose issue. A couple days ago, I got a product called "zap zyt". It's 10% benzoyl peroxide. I put it on an emerging pimple, and it stopped it right there. It never came to a head, just started to shrink. So I started applying a very thin layer on my nose. The difference is amazing, my nose is the clearest it's ever been, and getting better daily. If anyone does take this recommendation, and buys the 'zap zyt', I have to say, use it only as a spot treatment. I think it's too potent to use all over, it would cause burns.

I've dedicated my summer to reading and finding out what's going to work for me. I wanted to stick to natural as much as possible, and for a long time, I did. Things I have tried:

Honey, alone.
Honey, with baking soda.
Honey, with lemon.

Baking soda, as a paste, applied and allowed to dry.

Egg white mask, with lemon.

Apple cider vinegar, diluted to 25%, and diluted to 50%, with distilled water.

Every OTC chemical product I could think of.
Every OTC soap I could come across.
Every home-party brand (mary kay, l'bri, etc.)

Hydrogen Peroxide.

Diet modification.

Laundry care modification.

Wow. Typing this out, no wonder it has been stressing me out so long.

So finally, after eliminating almost everything, and trying one by one, i've found what works the best for me, and in the long run, I think i'm saving money. And my routine is oh so simple.

KMF olive and green tea soap.
Thayers witch hazel with aloe
Zap Zyt spot treatment, and very thin layer on problem area
Lily of the Desert aloe vera.

Everyday minerals, on occasion, not daily.

[gypsyhips26]

all of these suggestions sound great, as I am also going crazy trying to figure out why I keep breaking out horribly, esp on my forhead & nose, but i've found that my skin has changed since having DS (who is 14 months now). Has anyone else noticed that their skin has changed (more oily than ever!) since having their babies? None of my old standbys seem to be working, witch hazel/rose water, just nothing.

at this point i think i'm going to try the elmination diet....and kick my coffee habit while i'm at it.....has anyone had any luck with drinking the aloe juice to clear up their skin?

[eewieew]

I just went and had a facial the other day and when I told her how much I was doing to my face - a daily scrub, followed with foaming cleanser, followed with lotion, she advised me to stop. Overdoing it only makes the problem worse.

Here's what I'm doing now.

I started using just a gentle cleanser in the morning and before bed, oil free. No salycylic acid because I find that after awhile it loses is efficacy. A good exfoliating scrub 2X a week. I did splurge and buy a daily cleanser that was a little pricey, but my skin is out of control, and breaking out like a teen while pregnant and going through a divorce is NOT working for me!! And, I gotta admit, it's working really well. Still have some zits, but the condition of my skin is improving daily.

For toning, I've used just plain-old rose water. A few drops of Rose EO in distilled water (I think, or spring...something filtered/clean, NOT tap) spritzed on the face works really nicely, and smells good too!

I'm just getting into making my own body cleansers and scrubs so I'm not confident enough about face care yet, considering the condition of my skin at the moment, but I'm definitely going to try some of the stuff others have put on here!

[gypsyhips26]

i just wanted to report in that I've been washing my face at night with straight honey and warm water and using a rosewater-witch hazel mixture as toner and...

IT WORKS!!!! :

my crazy acne is actually clearing up! yeah!