My name is Rob, and I'm an Acneholic

[Rob Oplawar]

That title makes no sense whatsoever.

Anyways, this isn't a "poor me I have acne" thread, this is a "doctors suck" thread. So:

I have had moderate to severe acne for the past 4 years.

I have seen four separate doctors from four separate practices, two dermatologists in different cities, and one "skin care specialist." They have all prescribed me various different extreme prescription acne medications, some of which literally and deliberately burn the outer layers of skin off. I always wash my face- I've lost count of the different types and brands of soap I have tried. I tried three different off the shelf acne treatment suite things. I have tried an extremely painful procedure involving very small needles, acid, and ultraviolet light (how that was supposed to help me in any way, I have no idea). I've even tried one of those infomercial miracle acne treatments. I've tried doing nothing, I've tried working in the sun all day for weeks over the summer, I've tried hiding indoors like a hermit. I've tried every combination I can think of, running the range from mild to extreme.

Nothing has worked.

I don't normally complain about it, but today's event has pushed me over the edge. This latest dermatologist did just what all the other doctors did, despite my protests- she took one look at me and said "You have acne. Take yet another prescription medicine." I showed her the combination moisturizer/sunscreen I've been using, and she said "that's good, keep using that. In fact, you can put it on on top of this medicine." Well, I do know enough not to mix medications like that, so I haven't been doing that, but today, after thoroughly washing my face to remove the medicine, I put on that sunscreen. Put it on my arms and legs and neck and ears with no problem. Put it on my face, and-
oh god the burning. It was the most painful experience I have had in recent memory.


So, now I'm suffering from a chemical burn that has turned my face bright red, and I'm pissed off. I read the information packet for this medicine, and it turns out it doesn't even have any clinically demonstrable effects on acne under circumstances such as my own. Doctors fucking suck. I can't get any of them to put the tiniest amount of thought or effort into my case, and now it's resulted in me being prescribed something completely useless, carcinogenic, skin-damaging, and expensive.

Grr.

Feel free to post your suggestions for treating acne, but I'm willing to bet I've already tried them all.

[flibitijibibo]

This latest dermatologist did just what all the other doctors did, despite my protests- she took one look at me and said "You have acne. Take yet another prescription medicine."
Good lord. When I was told that dermatologists are to doctors as mimes are entertainers, I didn't know that was a literal analogy.

Most acne medication I've seen is designed to simply get rid of what's already there. My brother actually has the same problem, and has had it for as long as I can remember (at least 7 years). I'll ask him what he currently uses, but my suggestion is to find a product that decreases production of oil on the face, or even just the skin in general, and have a rough cloth at all times. I mean, all times. You'll have to be Adrian Monk about it and dry your face at every opportunity you get. Don't give it any chance to start.

Other note: My brother's hobby with dermatologists (whom he no longer consults): When they throw a random medication at you (it is in fact random; or at least, random enough to get all their endorsement money in equal doses), ask them why they're giving it to you and what the active ingredients do. He promises it'll be worse than Miss South Carolina.

[Good_Apollo]

Umm I had it somewhat bad in like 7th grade and I took this pill (for like 3 months), had a clear face since then. Dunno if that's what you've been taking or if it's creams or whatever.

[Chainsy]

Put tooth paste on them, let it dry over night, wash it off in the morning. Sometimes it causes the big ones to blister and scab over, but it dries out the zits and basically burns them. It cleans deep.

[Roostervier]

wash your pillow case at least 2 times a week

[Chainsy]

Keep your hands away from your face, don't get too stressed, avoid greasy foods and and avoid heat or wash off sweat after going through heated area.

[MetKiller Joe]

If you go to Croatia, there are people that specialize in popping your zits (yeah, sounds disgusting doesn't it). They actually have to go to college to be a cosmetic dermatologist. They do a damned fine job.

Whenever I go to Europe I get it done. It is painful as hell because they are poking your face with a needle and then extracting, but in the end it is worth it.

By the way, in the USA I think the closest you get with this is the stupid "acne peel", which does almost nothing. Creams can stall the progression, but you still have to clean them manually (although, the people in Croatia that do it actually know how to clean your face without infecting it).

So, next time you are on vacation Eastern Europe, call me, and I'll give you the names and addresses of some people that can help you a lot.

[Gwunty]

Proactive. seriously that shit worked for me.

[CSFLOYD]

Wash your face in the shower, with a wash cloth and soap for a while it worked for me, unless your face is a rainforest of them then do what CLS said.
/thread

[DrunkenSamus]

Oil Free Acne Cleanser from Rite Aid.

[paladin]

How longs your hair? Ive notices that long hair = oily forehead and therefore cause more severe acne on the forehead. But from what Ive read, it sounds like you have it all over your head. I feel bad for you. I had it rough through middle school. Luckily though by my sophomore year in high school, I was pretty clear. Every now and then I get on in the same spot right below my lower lip and its is so painful.

Also, since ive had my beard, I haven't had any breakout really on my face.

[n00b1n8R]

Freckles work pretty well. :downs:

Also, any idea what triggered the breakout 4 years ago or did it just happen?

[jcap]

You try Accutane? It worked wonders for some people I knew. It takes a few months to work, and your face is pink and peels like hell at first. At least it works from what I've seen.

[Cortexian]

Buddy of mine was prescribed some pills that he had to take all summer one year, apparently they basically just destroyed the olfactory glands or some such under his skin. He was taking them while we were at a Cadet camp so I was able to see the effects, not pretty while he was on them, but his face is completely acne free now.

Side effects include bleeding pores and marks all over your acne infested areas, it's really quite disgusting until it calms down.

I can ask him what they were if you want...

[ICEE]

None of the expensive shit worked for me. What did? noxema and a prescription called tretinoin. or something. ive found you can reduce the redness of acne that has bled by applying noxema just after the bleeding stops and before it scabs.

[Atty]

I used to have really bad acne and what solved it for me was:

Tanning - Going to the beach specifically, salt water, sun exposure, and no sun screen on my face. You may get burned, but every time I've been to the beach I've come away with no break outs after the next day.

Exercise - My acne was at it's worse right before I started weight lifting, after a month or so of lifting weights it was nearly completely gone.

Diet - My breakouts get worse when my diet gets worse, try cutting out fatty, oily, etc, foods from your diet and see what it does.

Sauna - Did this when I started weight lifting, since my only access to one is at my gym. Sitting in there for at least 5 minutes, at extremely high heats helped, at least, I think it did. The theory is that it's opening up your pours and helping flush away whatever bacteria is infecting them, etc. I would sit in the sauna for 15 minutes or so then go wash my face with Proactive or whatever over the counter stuff I had been using, like I said a month later my acne was completely gone.


hth

Oh, also, prescriptions I took: Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide. Both just topical creams. Clindamycin is apparently a anti biotic for your face and Benzoyl is what's in every acne shit, drys out your face.

[PopeAK49]

-MEGA POST-

I had moderate acne for 2-3 years and I tried proactive and other stuff, but it never worked out for me. You might be like me and your acne is not treated so easily. I've been struggling to look for what works forever and then I saw a doctor. He put me on some pills and creme for a year but it only helped a little bit. My doctor talked about this very serious drug program called acutain or something. Me and my mom agreed to this route in making my face more clear. He said in six months you should be cleared up. I've been taking it for about 2 months and my face barly has a noticeable pimple. I'm very pleased with what this stuff has done to treating my acne problem. Since your a guy, you don't have to worry about stuff that girls do. You have to get your blood drawn each month to see if you can still take the drug. Girls have to wait like 2 months, i don't know why. Girls can't take the drug if they are pregnant because it causes birth defects, but since you are not a girl you don't have to worry about most of the stuff this drug will do.

-The name of the drug is called Claravis and is basically isotretinon pills that you ingest.

Good effects:
- Will clear up your acne really fast in 6 months. And you won't have to worry about acne again

Bad effects:
- Your skin will get dry (Just use oil free moisturizor.)
- Your lips will get chapped and crack (Just use chapstick and you ill be fine.)
- If you don't like needles and getting your blood drawn then this will be a nightmare since you have to do this every month for blood testing to see if you can still take the drug.

Note: Doctor will take you off the drug if you have problems which show up in blood testing. This drug can sometimes make you depressed, and stuff. I never become depressed but if you do, then layoff the drug.

Overall, this drug is very effective for what it has to offer but also a drug that is taken very seriously by doctors. If you see your doctor, talk to him about the drug Claravis.

When I first got this stuff, I looked in the back and noticed a baby with a cone shaped head and was like wtf, but I guess it's a birth defect when a pregnant woman was taken the drug.

[Bodzilla]

doctors are hopeless man.

my mom had pneumonia, and i ended up getting it as well, knowing full well what was on the way i went in, stated my mother, how she'd been suffering from it, the same doctor no less rattled off the list of symptoms i'd been getting which perfectly matched my mothers and then he made me come back a second time.

it was basically "This is what is happening, my mom has it, *INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!* therefore i think i need this to help it".
"so you say your coughing?"
".....wut."

[Good_Apollo]

You try Accutane? It worked wonders for some people I knew. It takes a few months to work, and your face is pink and peels like hell at first. At least it works from what I've seen.THAT'S what it's called. Yeah I took that for 3 months when I was like 14ish or something. Occasional zit now and then (as per norm for anyone) but otherwise completely clear face since.

No problems taking it, only thing is you need some lotion and chapstick at all times, which isn't bad for the results and no pinkface from what I remember... >.>

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/uploads/1148167796/gallery_29142_2267_11095.jpg ^---Basically like that except mine wasn't even that severe, just annoying. Seriously did the job can't stress enough.

[L0d3x]

I think Atty's advice is the best in here.

[Mass]

Knowing you Rob, it's likely that your acne is largely stress based, perhaps your diet plays a role as well.

My friend had acne that came from stress and he, like you, tried everything from pills to lotions and nothing worked. It went away very quickly as soon as he got a girlfriend, so I guess you're fucked.

[PlasbianX]

Knowing you Rob, it's likely that your acne is largely stress based, perhaps your diet plays a role as well.

My friend had acne that came from stress and he, like you, tried everything from pills to lotions and nothing worked. It went away very quickly as soon as he got a girlfriend, so I guess you're fucked.

+1 to this. Im the same way. I was on Proactive, multiple pills from my dermatologist, and nothing seemed to help. When my ex and I were together my face cleared up almost completely. Now that we split and im busy getting ready for college and trying to save to pay off loans, im getting extremely stressed and my face shows it.

[mech]

Cut your hair, shower daily and drink water.

[Corndogman]

+1 to this. Im the same way. I was on Proactive, multiple pills from my dermatologist, and nothing seemed to help. When my ex and I were together my face cleared up almost completely. Now that we split and im busy getting ready for college and trying to save to pay off loans, im getting extremely stressed and my face shows it.

I'd just like to add, that studies show that having sex is good for your skin and hair. Maybe that had something to do with it, though stress is definitely a big factor.

And about long hair, I have long hair that hangs down over my forehead, and I have bad acne all over my face, except on my forehead. My forehead is the clearest, smoothest area of skin on my face. My hair is not greasy or oily at all though, so if you have long hair, make an effort to keep your hair healthy if its effecting acne. I don't mean to brag, but I have really nice, healthy hair and somehow that helps my forehead stay clear.

And with what Atty said, exercise will definitely help. Not only is it good for your insides, but it will keep your body overall very healthy. And a moderate amount of sun exposure is good for your skin, just like everything else is good in moderation.

[Masterz1337]

Sunshine

[Aerowyn]

I do not have severe acne, I've only ever had severe blackheads on my nose and beneath my lower lip, but Proactive did help me to a certain extent. It's keeping up with a routine that I hate.

I have never tried it, but there are products from Clean and Clear and Clearasil that are apparently really good. You might want to try SkinID from Neutrogena (http://www.skinid.com/econsumer/clearskin/index4.view), you take a quiz and they formulate the different skin treatment creams you need and mail them to you.

[FRain]

I have some acne. Mainly blackheads above my upper lips, below my lower lips, and on my upper nose. One, if you want to clear acne like blackheads, quickly, get a very rough cloth and just scrape it like hell. It's going to hurt, but it clears up blackheads easily. Also: one time I had a fever and stuffed nose and put some VicksVapoRub on my blackheads under my nose. The blackheads disappeared. You may want to try that.

Also: Long hair does add to acne next to your forehead. I had rather long hair for a while and some blackheads and stuff on my forehead. I cut my hair and it went away.

[Rob Oplawar]

my suggestion is to find a product that decreases production of oil on the face, or even just the skin in general, and have a rough cloth at all times. I mean, all times. You'll have to be Adrian Monk about it and dry your face at every opportunity you get.
I dunno, it seems my breakouts are directly proportional to the dryness of my skin. My mom tells me it's because when my skin gets dry the pores get hard, making it harder to clean them out.


Umm I had it somewhat bad in like 7th grade and I took this pill (for like 3 months), had a clear face since then. Dunno if that's what you've been taking or if it's creams or whatever.
Yeah, I took two different kinds of prescription pills.


Put tooth paste on them, let it dry over night, wash it off in the morning. Sometimes it causes the big ones to blister and scab over, but it dries out the zits and basically burns them. It cleans deep.
Ewww! I don't know if I even want to try that...


wash your pillow case at least 2 times a week
I clean it once a week with the rest of my clothes.


Keep your hands away from your face, don't get too stressed, avoid greasy foods and and avoid heat or wash off sweat after going through heated area.
Well I'm less stressed than most people I know, but I do have a bad habit of messing with my face. I'm trying to stop. Also, I've been trying to go on a diet for a while now.


If you go to Croatia, there are people that specialize in popping your zits (yeah, sounds disgusting doesn't it). They actually have to go to college to be a cosmetic dermatologist. They do a damned fine job.
Yeah, that was the extreme acid needles uv light treatment I was talking about. It made my skin really inflamed for about two weeks and had no noticeable impact on my acne.


Wash your face in the shower, with a wash cloth and soap for a while it worked for me, unless your face is a rainforest of them then do what CLS said.
/thread
I don't see how that's a /thread, because I already stated that I wash my face daily.


Oil Free Acne Cleanser from Rite Aid.
Tried it.


How longs your hair? Ive notices that long hair = oily forehead and therefore cause more severe acne on the forehead.
In the past four years I've run the range from half an inch to 8 inches. My hair actually hardly ever gets oily because I'm somewhat obsessive about keeping it clean.


any idea what triggered the breakout 4 years ago or did it just happen?
I got dumped.
Lol, actually, it's been so long I can't really remember when I first started breaking out but I do know that it was a somewhat gradual buildup. But come to think of it, it roughly coincides with when I broke up with my high school girlfriend...


You try Accutane? It worked wonders for some people I knew. It takes a few months to work, and your face is pink and peels like hell at first. At least it works from what I've seen.
It sounds really familiar... I think I may have tried it. I'm going to be calling my previous doctors to get records of all the treatments I've tried so I can present them all to yet another doctor to get a second eighth opinion.


Tanning
Exercise
Diet
Sauna
Oh, also, prescriptions I took: Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide.
I haven't tried tanning, per se, but one summer I spent a whole lot of time in the sun and got much darker than I typically am, and my acne during that summer was actually relatively tame, but it was still definitely there. I think that's part of it.
Like I said, I'm trying the diet.
Lately I've been getting a lot more exercise. I'm actually starting to look, dare I say, athletic. /ego
Interesting idea with the sauna... If I knew where to find one I might give it a try. :S


The name of the drug is called Claravis and is basically isotretinon pills that you ingest.
I'll ask about it.


Knowing you Rob, it's likely that your acne is largely stress based, perhaps your diet plays a role as well.

My friend had acne that came from stress and he, like you, tried everything from pills to lotions and nothing worked. It went away very quickly as soon as he got a girlfriend, so I guess you're fucked.
You obviously don't know me as well as you think you do. You think I'm stressed? :confused2:


Cut your hair, shower daily and drink water.
Done it, done it, done it.


I'd just like to add, that studies show that having sex is good for your skin and hair.
Oh shit, well, I guess I'm fucked. Figuratively speaking, of course.


And a moderate amount of sun exposure is good for your skin, just like everything else is good in moderation.
Everything in moderation, I always say. You've got a point- perhaps up till now I've only been trying one extreme or another. I'll look into it.


Sunshine
My problem is that none of the things I like to do are very conducive to sunshine, except maybe hiking. I have a computer job, and all my hobbies are computer hobbies... I do go out to get exercise somewhat regularly, but it's usually in a gym.
But like I said, I did a summer where I was outside for 12 hours a day for a few weeks. Did me good, but that wasn't the whole answer.

[TeeKup]

wash your pillow case at least 2 times a week

I switch out my pillow case every 2 days, and I flip the pillow in between nights, that along with daily cleansing and such.

[PopeAK49]

Everyone has different skin types and there are different acne types. So even though they worked out for most of you people posting does not mean a lot of these tips work out for others. But still, try some of the tips you see on these thread. Some of them may work or some will make your problem even worse.

One thing, Claravis is part of the Accutane program. So if your doctor doesn't know what the hell Claravis is, even though he should, mention Accutane and he will know what you mean. Also Claravis is Expensive each month you use it, but if you have insurance then it should be affordable. This stuff works on all acne types and skin types.

[Chainsy]

I actually heard on the news there's an incurable acne popping up, maybe you have it, though I strongly suggest toothpaste, if you're brave enough to do needles in your face, why not tooth paste?

[TVTyrant]

My brother has really bad acne on his torso. Proactiv and witch hazel cleared it right up.

Usually, I just pop mine, and then liberally apply witch hazel to them. Burns like a mother fuck, but works great.

[JackHolez]

http://www.citysackers.com/images/Carmex.jpg
Put it on after you popped them.

[k4is3rxkh40s]

doctors are hopeless man.

my mom had pneumonia, and i ended up getting it as well, knowing full well what was on the way i went in, stated my mother, how she'd been suffering from it, the same doctor no less rattled off the list of symptoms i'd been getting which perfectly matched my mothers and then he made me come back a second time.

it was basically "This is what is happening, my mom has it, *INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!* therefore i think i need this to help it".
"so you say your coughing?"
".....wut."


I know how you feel, when I was about 6 or 7 I caught it from my sister, ended up going to 6 different doctors over a time of 2 weeks before they could diagnose either of us correctly. Was seriously a major load of bull, and waste of time and money.

Back on the topic at hand, sometimes cleaning too much will exacerbate the problem. Depending on the soaps and shampoos you use, and if you get real anal about washing your face and/or hair, your body will sense that there's not enough oils on your face, and will produce more. It may sound unhygienic, but use very soft soaps or even skip washing your face completely some days.

[legionaire45]

200mg of Doxycyline daily for me. Sometimes I'll get a breakout after shaving (don't shave very often) but for the most part, I'm pretty much acne free.

[Mass]

You obviously don't know me as well as you think you do. You think I'm stressed? :confused2:


No, I know you're stressed, and you won't make progress on this problem if you can't admit it. Maybe you don't feel stressed, but something is concerning you, even if it's just the fact you're not getting any action.

This spoiler'd bit is about a friend of mine's experience with acne medication, and it's some fucked up shit you might not want to hear if you're on one, sooo...
The acne medication my friend took depleted the serotonin in his brain, (That's the chemical that makes you happy and carefree) eventually causing him to have severe panic attacks and of course making his acne much worse, (oh, the irony.) We're pretty sure that if he wasn't smoking weed to calm himself down at night, he wouldn't have been able to sleep (as it was he woke up in the middle of the night to worry about nothing in particular) and might have carried through on suicidal urges, but who knows.

Now he's on happy pills to raise his serotonin, which basically means that all this antidepressant does is trick your brain into thinking it's receiving happy impulses and just makes you feel happy about nothing in particular instead of his former sadness about nothing in particular.

Frankly, it's like he's been brainwashed and is the basis of my belief that the way these pills work means that in all but the most severe depression cases, their use is unethical.

My sister has had really severe acne all her teenage life and I've never had any, which fits the fact I never stress shit and she does nothing but stress over shit.

But, hey, what do I know?

[TVTyrant]

I know how you feel, when I was about 6 or 7 I caught it from my sister, ended up going to 6 different doctors over a time of 2 weeks before they could diagnose either of us correctly. Was seriously a major load of bull, and waste of time and money.

Back on the topic at hand, sometimes cleaning too much will exacerbate the problem. Depending on the soaps and shampoos you use, and if you get real anal about washing your face and/or hair, your body will sense that there's not enough oils on your face, and will produce more. It may sound unhygienic, but use very soft soaps or even skip washing your face completely some days.
Thats why I go HMO. They actually care about you because their only making 100,000 a year compared to the 400,000 a year fat cats some people go to.