Acne Problems

LegacyUser

Just like to know what I could do about this? I'm 22 yrs old and I still have a bit of acne on my face. It's kinda embarrassing since none of my friends have any. I don't know why i still have it since sometimes it flares up and then other times it really clears up. This summer i had v.little but lately I have a good bit. It's mainly around my jaw line espec. at the (dunno what it's called?) hinge i would say. the corner bit of my jaw near my ears. on both sides just below the actual jaw bone i get a build up and the occasional spot up on the sideburns 2. i also get it on the bottom of my chin - like under the bone - but they're not "red spots" dunno what to call them, it's kinda lumpy in a sense that if i run my fingers over it i can feel them but its not that noticeable otherwise?

I also have loads of blackheads on my nose which i've had for years (since i was around 15) and i dunno how to get rid.

any advice would be appreciated. i know i dont have terrible acne but it's still getting me down. i kno your not supposed to give med. advice and not looking for any, mainly tips from people who had somethin similar to me. i don't want to still have acne when im 30!! makes me feel like a teenager.

i have a habit of touching my face which ive read doesnt help things. im trying to stop but i always forget. i also heard that fizzy drinks and chocolate are not good too?

thanks for reading

LighterGuy

Hey op
Im 25. I still had spots until 22.
Before I lost them I was in a sport and hit the gym as such. Eated right, drank lots of water etc. Then they were all gone. Being stupid I later found out acne is cause by what you put into your body :P

See everyones body is different. Someone could get drunk all the time and not get spots. Another could. But the common thing is all about what you put in your body (yes it could be you are eating something you are allergic too but generally its diet)

So if you wanna get rid of your spots drink plenty of water daily and cut back fatty or greasy foods. Thats it Im sure another user will probably go into detail but the above sums it up

Leeg17

I'm 18 and still have the odd nasty spot, but nothing compared to what I used to get, having to take 5 minutes to pop all the white heads (horrible I know ).

I started using the Nivea for men face wash twice daily, and then moisturise with an aloe vera based moisturiser. I'd say it has cleared up my acne by 90% compared to when I was washing with plain old water and taking acne medication prescribed by my GP (horrible Zineryt and tetracycline).

Obviously you should consult your GP if it's still bothering you, there's some treatments which might work for you.

fghijkl

Hope none of the following counts as medical advice...

Being stupid I later found out acne is cause by what you put into your body

But the common thing is all about what you put in your body (yes it could be you are eating something you are allergic too but generally its diet) So if you wanna get rid of your spots drink plenty of water daily and cut back fatty or greasy foods.

Sorry but in the nicest possible way i have to absolutely disagree with this, if it is actually acne and not just the occasional spot then diet has nothing to do with it. Yes if you're eating crap food then you'll get breakouts of spots on your face, however acne is a completely different ball game its caused by excess sebum production, nothing to do with diet!

I Used to suffer terrible acne when i was younger and this myth used to drive me nuts! Nothing worse than people telling you 'Oh just stop eating crap and drink more water'...so patronising and degrading! If it was that simple then no one would ever have acne, anyone with bad acne will tell you they'd gladly give up greasy food/junk food for ever if that sorted the problem, unfortunately its just not true! The amount of people who don't realise that acne isn't "just a few spots"...(rant not directed at you lighterguy:o)

As for advice OP well that depends if it is just a case of a few spots then yes looking at your diet and cutting out crap food will help

If its acne however then i'd advise you to see a doctor, there's loads of creams and whatnot they can prescribe, some people "grow out" of acne but changing your diet isn't going to help clear up acne.

i also get it on the bottom of my chin - like under the bone - but they're not "red spots" dunno what to call them, it's kinda lumpy in a sense that if i run my fingers over it i can feel them but its not that noticeable otherwise?

Sounds kinda like boils, keep your hands away those things spread like mad if you start touching/squeezing them :pac:

also have loads of blackheads on my nose which i've had for years (since i was around 15) and i dunno how to get rid.

you can get little pore unblocking strips in boots which you stick to your face and then pull them off when they've dried and they help pull out blackheads

I think your best bet is going to see your GP though OP

SparkyTech

Ive suffered with acne on and off all my life.

Having done some research on it, my own opinion is that while diet does not directly cause acne, common sense stuff like drinking lots of fluids, eating a balanced diet coupled with some moderate exercise will invariably help your overall fitness and health, and ease your skin problems somewhat. I take Zinc tablets & Fish Oils (the omegas) which are supposed to be good for inflammation and have found them praticualry benifical for reducing the size/frequency of my pimples. However, everyone is different so I would advise you to research the holistic approach and make up your own mind!

On a medical note, DO see your GP. There are lots of creams and ointments available, everything from Benzonyl Peroxide to Salacyllic Acid applications. Its just a matter of finding the right product for your skin type and getting the right diagnosis.

Best of luck

You may find some of the pointers on www.acne.org under 'Acne Info' helpful

I'm 20 and I started getting spots at a really young age. I always just put up with them, I didn't think that spots warranted medical attention. I tried drinking water, I tried not picking, I tried getting proper fats (omega 3's and whatnot), I tried cutting out grease, oils and fats, I tried cutting out meat, eating more meat, eating more fruit and veg, exercising, steaming my face over hot water, all the home remedies. If I heard about it, I tried it. Nothing helped.

When I did finally go to a GP about something else, she mentioned my acne and offered treatment. That was 3 months ago. I have some scarring from old spots, so I still don't have clear skin, but all the acne has cleared up. After 1 month all my blackheads had vanished from my nose. I spent years trying to convince myself that this wasn't something that bothered me, but now that it's better, everyone's always telling me my skin looks so much better and that I seem far more confident. It's made a huge difference, and I'm kicking myself that I left it so late to go to a GP. I'll always have some scarring now, but if I had caught it earlier I could have avoided most of it. I can't recommend going to a doctor strongly enough. The sooner the better.

whatsamsn

True-or-false,
what treatment did the doctor give you?

Well I'm not sure what constitutes as giving out medical advice, so I should just stress that obviously our cases are different and your GP will prescribe you whatever suits your needs best. It's unlikely that our cases are exactly the same anyway.

It was Zineryt, a topical medication, as I didn't like the idea of taking oral antibiotics. It comes in a little bottle capped with an applicator and I just rub it over the affected areas after washing my face before I go to bed. It does get a bit annoying, especially after nights out to have to wash my face instead of just going to bed, but I think it's worth it.

Roselm

Try a warming mask for the blackheads on your nose-Body Shop do one called Kaolin Clay.
Also have a look in general for a daily face wash (I find the ones that are kind of like a cream rather than foamy are best) which aim to clear pores.
I tried those Boots strips and didn't find them that effective.

LegacyUser

OP, regardless of the success/failure of various lotions& potions, the most important thing is try not to be too self conscious about it.
Have you seen the scars Heidi Klums' husband, Seal, has on his face? (admittedly from lupus, not acne, but fairly noticable nonetheless). Yet the man oozes confidence, charisma...& bagged a supermodel!
Fake it 'til you make it. (And chat to your GP/dermatologist too)

LegacyUser

Hey, so I should clarify then. It's not acne I think judging from what's been said above. It's spots that crop up every now and again in the same places on either side along my jawline. It's always in and around the "hinge" area. Some of them are very "angry" looking to. And those ones hurt like f*ck to pop.

I have good skin I think in general, but these just ruin it for me and realy gets me down sometimes. I don't know about topical ointments, I have quite sensitive skin and I'm allergic to quite a few things - something I would have to talk to the doc about anyway.

I don't know what causes these spots but I don't want to have any scars from it!!

Thanks for all the responses so far you've all been real helpful cheers!

For Roselm: what is a warming mask exactly and how does it work?

magneticimpulse

You say its not Acne...because you get it at the jawline?? But most of my "Acne" is around my jawline...so I do not know why you have dismissed it just based on location?

Of course discuss with your GP about it.

However I will be 30 in 2 weeks and still suffer from Acne. I have always had some sort of acne since I was 15 years old. Of course it is alot better now and just confined to jawline, under ears and neck now. I can tell you, people do not always "grow out" of acne.

I have taken all the various prescription antibotics from GP and then went to Dermatologist who prescribed me 3 courses of Roaccutane. I had very bad acne and it kept coming back after each course of Roaccutane. I can say however, while on Roaccutane my skin completely cleared up.

However in your case you do not seem to have severe problems. I would advice looking on acne.org The guy talks about a regime.

I think the key product I have used is Benzoyl Peroxide. This can be found in some neutrogena products, if not it is available over the counter....many products like acne.org, dermologica, and proactive actually just contain this as the main active ingredient but its alot cheaper in generic form from the chemist. But check the ingrediants of the Neutrogena products for it.

I also use Glycolic acid or (AHA)...again, in one of the Neutrogena face washes which also contains Salicylic acid. If I am not using that particular one, I will use LIZ EARLE Cleanse and Polish. 1st I will use a non coated aspirin and crush it into my hand with some water. It becomes a paste and I put this on my face and rub it around with some water. Then i put the liz earle cleanse and polish cream over it...you get the warm damp muslin cloth and exfoliate everything off. This leaves the skin ultra clean, moisturised and removes any dead skin cells. The Aspirin (salicyclic acid) kills the bacteria and reduces the redness.

If i have really bad break out once a month from hormones, ill use a clay face mask. I also put some anti bacterial hand gel containing tricolsan on the area to kill any bacteria.(avoiding eye and mouth areas)

I also use a moisturiser containing 60% aloe vera and jojoba oil.

Overall from my experience, the key products you can use in your daily face wash regime for ACNE (providing you think its acne is):

Benzoyl Peroxide - treat acne and kill the bactria

Gylcolic Acid (AHA) - Remove dead skin cells

Aspirin (salicyclic acid) - kill bacteria, reduce redness and inflamation and remove dead skin cells

Jojoba oil - This acts like your own skins serum, but puts moisture back into your skin, without contributing to acne and does not block pores.

fghijkl

It's always in and around the "hinge" area. Some of them are very "angry" looking to. And those ones hurt like f*ck to pop.

Again OP sounds like boils, maybe google them, they can get very very sore, the more you poke at them the bigger they get, DO NOT squeeze them you'll make them worse, you're supposed to leave them alone and let them drain themselves, they're highly infectious from what i know so by squeezing them you're spreading them across your face. I get them whenever i've a flu, something to do with a weakened immune system, but they're so bloody hard to get rid of because they spread so easily :rolleyes:

Personally i've found pressing on them with a facecloth soaked in hot water for a few minutes (draws gunk in them to the surface) and putting sudocreme on them at night really helps clear them up

Actually i recommend sudocreme for spots* in general, you can get a big tub of it for 3/4 euro lasts ages, really really good for drying up spots
*not acne

I have quite sensitive skin and I'm allergic to quite a few things - something I would have to talk to the doc about anyway.

Boils can be caused by food allergies

I don't know what causes these spots but I don't want to have any scars from it!!

Then you really should try and stop squeezing them OP

Recurrent Boils can be a symptom of immune problems or rarely diabetes so i'd definitely suggest a trip to the GP OP.

astra2000

Could it be a possibility that is an allergic reaction? If you are washing you bed linen in with a washing powder/fabric conditioner you are sensitive to it can cause a rash on the side of your face where skin is touching pillow cases and linen.

Roselm

"For Roselm: what is a warming mask exactly and how does it work?"
You wet your face/ wherever you get blackheads and then spread the cream (mask) on. When it comes into contact with the water it warms up and if you leave it on for a few minutes it's supposed to open up your pores and draw out the rubbish.
It's a clay mask like magneticimpulse mentioned.

thesituation51

Go to your GP, ask about Trimethoprim, an antibiotic which is great for resistant acne- it's cleared mine right up, despite everything else failing over the years! it's used in high doses off licence for acne, very few side effects. it's amazing!

up for anything

acneproblems wrote: »

It's mainly around my jaw line espec. at the (dunno what it's called?) hinge i would say. the corner bit of my jaw near my ears. on both sides just below the actual jaw bone i get a build up and the occasional spot up on the sideburns 2. i also get it on the bottom of my chin - like under the bone - but they're not "red spots" dunno what to call them, it's kinda lumpy in a sense that if i run my fingers over it i can feel them but its not that noticeable otherwise?

According to Mr Buckley the consultant dermatologist at Waterford Regional, acne has nothing whatsoever to do with diet, even a constant diet of junk food and chocolate and everything to do with hormone levels.

Do you spend a lot of time on the phone? Where you are getting the spots seems to be where you would hold a phone or 'move' it along your face when talking. Probably used to happen more with the old fashioned types of phone which touched your face more than today's ones do though.

Tchaikovsky

Seeing as they crop up along the jawline, perhaps it's due to shaving?

Maybe your skin is reacting to the shaving cream or aftershave that you're using?

I think an electric razor would be better in this situation as there's no need for shaving cream, and a perfume-free moisturiser for afterwards.

LegacyUser

Hey thanks for the input so far been really helpful.

Tchaikovsky... don't think it's due to shaving since I've been real careful with razors and creams since I found out I'm allergic to a few things so I use plain creams and titanium razors to avoid that. I think I'll change my blade though tonight just in case.

Thanks again

ongarboy

Hi, I had bad acne as a teenager and my dermatologist prescribed Roaccutane which cleared it within months. However, throughout my 20s and early 30s, I kept getting the odd outbreak (nothing serious). On a trip to the US, I noticed you could buy Benzoyl Peroxide 10% which is the strongest form of acne cream that does not require a prescription over there. I think Irish pharmacies now give it out without a prescription too. It has worked wonders so much so that I rarely have to apply it now. I might get the one sole spot every couple of months but that is it

Please consult your GP as only they can advise the most appropriate over the counter or prescription cream/solution that you need based on their examination of you. This will save you time and money purchasing trial and error products.

LegacyUser

Op you said your getting bumps in the same area all the time. you should vist a GP if this is the case. It may be an infection in your face.
Even if its not the GP will point you in right direction for recovery

WhatWillBee

Hi OP, Im 28 and developed acne last year after giving up the cigarettes and had it exactly like you say. Spots and also a hard bumpiness kind of under the skin that felt like a huge spot but under the skin. I also get them on my chin/jaw line. I think its cause I sit at the comp with my hand on my chin usually...

Anyway, I tried lots of things, salicyclic acid, saunas etc Anything! And they all worked a bit, but only for a while, but by far the best advice I ever got was this....

Get 7 medium sized towels, and sleep with a different one over your pillow each night of the week. (Wash towels and repeat) This has worked wonders and my skin cleared right up. For 'normal' acne like you describe and I had, this works wonders and apparently is a well known if little advised remedy! Give it a try, it cant hurt anyway

whatsup28

i understand you pain.
Have had acne for over 20 years now. It really gets one down. I tried every cure.. i mean EVERY cure. And spent stupid money on every gadget.

Actually now that I am older, it is a little less severe but Clearasil is actually very good. 4 hours action cream. That is probably the best i have found.

Also not touching your skin.. obviously with fingers that are not so clear will make it worse... but easier said than done.. !!

Like the idea about the towels, might try that.