New acne

[Anonymous]

I have always had pretty clear skin my entire life I would get a few pimples every few weeks. I’m turning 22 in a few days, for the last couple of months my skin has been breaking out worse than it ever has before. Most of my breakouts are on my chin and I have clusters of acne near my mouth. I’m scared to change up my skincare in case it gets worse. I’m just worried that I’ll never be able to get it to stop.

[Anonymous]

I've dealt with the exact same problems. My underlying cause was determined to be hormones. I tried every drug (oral and topical) in the book from my dermatologist with the exception of Accutane (still on the fence due to potential side effects, but I have friends who have had major success with it). I even tried the blue/red light therapy. The one thing that did help the most was a combination of my birth control and spironolactone (oral medication). But I didn't want to be on drugs/medications my whole life so I stopped all medicine after a year or so. 

My dermatologist said to stay away from Proactiv for hormonal acne. However, my dermatologist recommended Cetaphil Pro Oil Cleanser (it's a foam) and Cerave Moisturizer. Cetaphil has helped dramatically with my oiliness. Cetaphil does have a gentle daily scrub too that I use 2-3 times a week in place of the regular cleanser. I used Cerave moisturizer at first but switched to the Cetaphil moisturizer (no particular reason, just personal preference) for the AM and organic raw shea butter in the PM (this has helped some with discoloration/scarring overtime).

Unfortunately, I still suffer from hormonal/cystic acne here and there but not quite as bad as I used to. So for those pop up issues, I love Rael acne patches. They have non-medicated for white heads and medicated with micro-needles and salicylic acid for cystic acne. I don't see Cetaphil, Cerave, and Rael available on Sephora, but I get mine from Walmart or Amazon.

I tried so hard to refrain from using drugs/chemicals to treat my acne, but I just can't seem to solve it. So, something new I wanted to try (only three days in) is the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads 30 Treatments + 5 Bonus. 

I highly recommend trying Cetaphil Pro Oil cleanser. It's gentle and I can use it all year round without it drying out my face (I used to be extremely oily, now my skin is combination). I have been using it for years and love it.

Lastly, I would suggest consulting with your gynecologist and/or a dermatologist to check out your hormones to make sure everything is okay. I wish you the best! 

[lolagolijan]

I had something similar happen to me last year- I literally broke out like crazy in the same area. For me Personally the doctors did not really do much1 I got meds and a topical cream that I used for half a year and did not see any changes. I went ahead and bought proactiv to give it a try and it helped for my acne 😳 of course I followed it with their green tea moisturizer and paid really big attention to how well I'm taking my makeup off.

[averylayne]

@Anonymous adult onset acne hit me around the same age.  Chin breakouts are usually hormonal. Probably best to consult with a dermatologist.  When I was having really bad hormonal breakouts, my dermatologist recommended prescription topicals including antibiotics.  Also make sure you're wearing adequate sunscreen, because sun damage can make your blemishes so much worse.  EltaMD UV Clear was the one my dermatologist recommended.  

[Brutalitops]

Yeah @jk1998 that sucks, I was the same but mine started coming in at 25. First: what is your current skincare routine and have you changed anything recently (just to rule that out). If you haven't started doing anything different then it is likely hormonal. I know mine is set off by stress and frustration and I know with the whole Covid situation things have been getting pretty rough.

That being said, if you can see a dermatologist-do. They are likely to have the fastest/best solution and a prescription costs much less than the similar products for sale through beauty stores. For me, what has worked is a combination of retinol, an AHA/BHA acid blend serum, and yoga. Retinol specifically will help address acne, I use Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL but on my college budget I would have gotten The INKEY List Retinol Fine Lines and Wrinkles Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL. Start slow if you decide to get it- retinol can burn your skin if you don't give it time to adjust, use every other day and wait extra days if your skin seems extra dry or flakey.

The AHA/BHA will help dissolve away dead skin and fade scarring, plus it keeps your pores clear while the BHA helps go deeper and prevent those "bumps" of buildup that just look like regular skin. I use FARMACY - HONEYMOON GLOW AHA Resurfacing Night Serum with Hydrating Honey + Gentle Flower Acids but DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE - Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel is another great alternative and The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% High-Strength Peeling Solution for Brightening 1 oz/ 30 mL is a great budget option- though it shouldn't be used daily. Wait to start an acid until you've been using the retinol for at least two weeks to make sure your skin will accept that product. Finally, be patient. Once you're using both it will take about 6 weeks to really see results, you might also consider a vitamin C serum somewhere further down the line to fade any remaining scarring.

And I do yoga to relax, obviously a number of things work here- cooking, art, whatever works for you. Just make a commitment to setting aside 30 minutes or so per week to relax and reset- it will do a lot of good 😏

[DrDOB]

Thanks for sharing! I have a similar routine! I haven’t been able to find a toner/essence I love yet. Do you use one in your routine? Also, what vitamin c serum do you like? I have been using Perricone md but I’m not a huge fan and want to try a new one that pairs well with retinol.

[Brutalitops]

@DrDOB  my favorite toner by far right now is YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE - Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist with Reishi + Ashwagandha but with the sale I've been considering Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Toning Mist 2.53 oz / 75 mL since the hydrating ingredients are so much further up the dec, but I really like that the YTTP one has helped a lot with redness

I'm using BIOSSANCE - Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil and it is very effective, but the oil base gets a little heavy in summer. It has lasted over 5 months though though so it's a fair price at least. After that runs out in probably a month or so, I got the Tatcha C as a GWP. I've gotten a sample before and I really liked that one but I'm not sure I want to spend that much so hopefully I'll know for sure after it's used up which one I'll continue with

[HannahPatience]

What's your diet like?

[Brutalitops]

@HannahPatiencemostly whole foods- I like to cook, but I also work for an ice cream ingredients manufacturer in R&D so sugar and some processed food is unavoidable. Generally though, diet hasn't been the main factor

[Anonymous]

I don’t have a nice skin care routine because of how sensitive my skin can be, I simply just wash my face with the fresh soy face cleanser, tone with a burst bee acne toner, and moisturize with the fresh rose moisturizer. I’ve been using the same products for two years now except for the toner. It’s probably time to switch everything up

[Brutalitops]

I mean if it's working don't feel like you need fancy and/or new skincare just because someone on the internet said so @jk1998 😉. I will say though: fragrances and dimethicone (like in the Fresh rose) can be acne-causing ingredients- though not necessarily. Neither dimethicone nor fragrances set off my acne, but everyone is different. Additionally, sometimes your skin will react positively to some anti-acne ingredients and not others- for example, sulfur works for a lot of people but I get an allergic reaction 🤷‍♀️ There is always some trial and error involved, which is why the dermatologist is the fastest route. If your skin is frequently sensitive, definitely take at least two weeks in between any changes to make sure your skin is reacting well to any new products.

Ultimately, I really think just adding a gentle retinol- like The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, Signs of Aging Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL (the oil will help with the dryness retinol causes) to your regular lineup would help if you don't want to/ can't go to the derm

[risa0225]

If you didn't have a problem in the past with the products that you are currently using, I don't think that you need to switch that up. However, if you feel that your skin has been more reactive after the introduction of the new toner, I would definitely stop using the toner for now.

As many of the others have commented, professional help from a dermatologist would be the best course of action. If it is difficult to go out and see a dermatologist, I would suggest checking out Apostrophe. You can send a photo to a dermatologist online, they will prescribe you medication, and you can get it shipped to you. I recently tried them out and received a 3-month supply of tretinoin + clindamycin ointment for $90. It cleared up my chin and jaw acne within a week. 

[Beadshopgirl]

@Anonymous  Given that they are focused near your mouth, I would suspect a possible food allergy/sensitivity. If possible, you should talk to an allergist. If you can’t because of Covid, then google elimination diets and try to do that on your own. Personally, I break out like that if I drink milk or eat soft dairy cheese. It’s worth looking into. 

[DrDOB]

Hormonal acne (aka cystic acne) is usually focused near your mouth, chin and jawline.