Acne
Author
Discussion

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

281 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
Serious post alert (and, as such, please stick with serious answers this isn't exactly a great topic to be revealing to the world)

Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone has discovered a 'miracle cure' ?! I'm 25 and don't suffer mega badly but significantly enough to make me hate it. As a 16yr old I went through roacutane (18months worth ) and also the drying out agent you rub on yoru skin (i forget the name) but which was awful. Anyway, none of that seemed to do the trick. I have tried a couple of the regular products; clearasil and similar but they don't really seem to do much. I remain very fit and healthy (gym every day), have a well balanced diet, don't smoke, have cut down my drinking so I really don't think it#s something related to health wise.

So, I just really wanted people's other experiences; what's worked, what doesn't, and how do you appraoch it on a dialy basis?!

Thanks all, appreciate your thoughts
Tony

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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Antibiotics, long courses of them.

scorp

8,783 posts

260 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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Exfoliating washes work well, be carefull not to over do it or your face might be missing a few too many layers of skin.

nervous

24,050 posts

261 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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serious answer: have you tried a daily face scrub? get a really hardcore one, thatll really help. coal tar soap is also good.

beyond that, the only real cure is plenty of water and plenty of sleep. having the window open at night will help your complexion too. and it sounds silly, but if youre face is that messy (not a criticsm) change your pillow case every night.

MilnerR

8,273 posts

289 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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never had a problem myself. With a face like mine adding acne to it would have been cruel even for mother-nature!

Had a couple of mates who had it really bad and I seem to remember them being prescribed antibiotics (tetracycline, or doxycyline, can't remember now). It worked although now they have lots of lovely scars but at least the acne went.

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

281 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
Antibiotics, long courses of them.


as a result of antibiotics I now can't eat a whole hosts of food (basically, not only did they kill bad bacteria, they killed my good bacteria too!) so I'm somewhat nervous! Which type of antibiotic?

I use an exfoliating wash every morning - not a ridiculously harsh one, relatively mild, but seems to not work. Do you suggest harsher, then?!

Ahhh Moneypenny

4,100 posts

253 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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I have started with this in my 30!! The best thing I tried, (antibiotics ok but not good for the bodies natural defences) Try Freederm Cream, about 8 quid from the chemists, it honestly works, I recommended it to a friend, who started with this in her 50's and she swears by it, diet can help but research has shown not directly affected by eating fatty food etc

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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This works



Think of it as a Zymol HD Clense for your face

Now where's that "never live it down" smiley?

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

281 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
nervous said:
beyond that, the only real cure is plenty of water and plenty of sleep. having the window open at night will help your complexion too. and it sounds silly, but if youre face is that messy (not a criticsm) change your pillow case every night.


A couple of off-the-wall suggestions there which I will most definitely keep up (never hurts to try, hey!).

I might try and find myself a harsher face scrub too. My skin is not particularly oily - it's not like it constantly feels dirty or anything like that.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

MilnerR

8,273 posts

289 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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TonyHetherington said:
Which type of antibiotic?


The most common I think is tetracylcine It think. Have a look on google. The course is very low dose over along time (6 months or more). One of the PH medics will be along in a minute so ignore me unless I'm right

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

281 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
BliarOut said:
This works


Ahhh Moneypenny said:
Try Freederm Cream, about 8 quid from the chemists


Fan-bloody-tastic! Thanks chaps!

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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MilnerR said:
TonyHetherington said:
Which type of antibiotic?


The most common I think is tetracylcine It think. Have a look on google. The course is very low dose over along time (6 months or more). One of the PH medics will be along in a minute so ignore me unless I'm right


He's on the money.

250mg.

Yugguy

10,728 posts

266 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
TonyHetherington said:
Plotloss said:
Antibiotics, long courses of them.


as a result of antibiotics I now can't eat a whole hosts of food (basically, not only did they kill bad bacteria, they killed my good bacteria too!) so I'm somewhat nervous! Which type of antibiotic?

I use an exfoliating wash every morning - not a ridiculously harsh one, relatively mild, but seems to not work. Do you suggest harsher, then?!


To top up your good bacteria get some acidophilus capsules, take with food.

Jinx

12,023 posts

291 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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Depends on the type of spots - the white headed puss monsters respond to boiling water (hurts a bit mind - cotton buds a good for targetting purposes). The others are more likely to be a hormonal issue. It might be worth adjusting your diet (one man's balanced is another man's topple) cut down on readily absorbed sugars (glucose etc.) and especially chocolate - are you more stressed at the moment?

g_attrill

9,157 posts

277 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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My sister used Minocin, apparently the standard stuff prescribed [edit: tetracylcine as mentioned].

I had a mild problem (and get the odd few still) and used Zineryt which is a topical solution. I stopped a few years ago and it didn't get any worse, although I think it had pretty much stopped by then anyway. I had it prescribed but I think you can get Zineryt or a similar solution over the counter now. I think you will know within a few weeks whether it is working or not.

One other idea is this "n-lite" system which is supposed to have good results, but some are sceptical. I don't think it was mega expensive so it might be worth a go.

Gareth


>> Edited by g_attrill on Thursday 16th February 13:29

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

281 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
Thank Yugguy. I've been with a dietician for 4yrs so all my good bacteria is slowly coming round (hence why I have a fairly good diet too, because I'm so careful with what I eat!).

Tetracycline; that was the one. I went to the docs about 3 months ago and she prescribed that. I said about previous problems I'd had and she said it was really that or nothing. So I left and after a long hard think chose to not go ahead with it because of the horrid time I'd had previously with antibiotics. Especially a 6 to 9 month course!!! If you guys really have had good results, then I think I might just cash in that prescription...?

Piglet

6,250 posts

286 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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I also suffered for a while during my late 20's and early 30's - for me it coincided with a stressful period in my life which I think contributed to it. I didn't have any as a teenager though (my friend said this was devine retribution for having good skin during my teens!)

I tried all sorts of things - including anti-biotics which worked whilst I used them but not when I stopped and as I didn't fancy that long term I gave that up as a bad job.

I have quite sensitive skin which had always been quite dry and I found that clearasil and similar products just irritated my skin.

I'm not going to be much help as mine in the end just went away. I think it was mainly hormonal as my diet was OK, I exercised - it was just that my skin had changed hugely.

I'd recommend trying things that are more natural rather than chemically based as I don't think that drying the skin out is entirely the answer. I now use a soap called "Fresh Farmacy" from Lush - it's got all natural ingredients in it and has tea tree, calamine and loads of other things to calm skin. It's fantastic look here www.lush.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28_29&products_id=235 They have a couple of soaps for problem skin.

I feel for you - I couldn't decide whether it was worse suffering as an adult rather than a teenager - I know as a teenager you're full of angst anyway but it's pretty tough being a spotty adult!!

shadytree

8,291 posts

280 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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Tony ever tried washing your face in your own p*ss ?

Eskimos swear by it.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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shadytree said:
Tony ever tried washing your face in your own p*ss ?

Eskimos swear by it.
That's for jellyfish bites, not acne

4WD

2,289 posts

262 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
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I get a small zit the day after if I ever eat chocolate or have a really heavy night on the beers.