Acne cleanser that continues to work???

[kyyy1010]

HI BABES so I have never really been worried about my acne because it’s just a few here and there which I can deal with. Within the past year I have had very bad cystic acne, which likes to stay under the skin and has now made my face super super textured. I have changed my diet and nothing helped. Some have said it could be hormonal but I am not sure how I can help that! I have gone to a dermatologist, (and guess what my face was somehow fine the day I went) I was prescribed 2 different things and they have both made my skin very very oily. I stopped using them and just went back to switching my cleanser every few weeks cause nothing was clearing, and I wake up with a new zit every morning while the others are just sticking around. What do y’all recommend as an acne face wash, and or any tips and tricks I can help my face back to a normal setting. ????

[AshleyLinden]

I just went through the same thing. I made a change a couple months ago to glow recipes mosituizer, cleanser and pineapple serum and since I've been using those 3 products my skin is crazy nice. The best I've seen in the last year.

[cacf811]

Ole Henrikson’s Balance face wash. It’ll work, I promise. You need the aha’s. I was where you are about 3 years ago & this face wash saved my skin & has continued to be the ONLY face wash I can use. Keeps my skin completely clear. Use The Ordinary’s Glycolic Toner at night & rose toner in the day. I use Fresh Rose Toner, it’s very soothing. Stay away from silicones! Sunday Riley’s Vitamin C & Turmeric Oil, YTTP Superberry Oil, The Ordinary Lactic Acid, The Ordinary Rosehip Seed Oil, YTTP Superfood Whipped moisturizer all helped me. I started with Ole Henrikson’s Invigorating Night Gel for texture & now use Ordinary’s Lactic Acid. Facemasks that worked for me Ole Henrikson’s Power Peel, REN Ultra Comfort Mask, Biossance Glycolic Renewal Mask, Ole Henrikson’s Pore Scrub & his Cold Plunge Mask

[tsavorite]

@kyyy1010 ,

A prescription medication, Spironolactone, was a miracle worker for me, after trying everything else, including Accutane, oral and topical antibiotics, birth control pills, etc. 

[Wrren]

Get facials WITH a Doc THAT can/Will go deep into your pores AND Take out the crap (pop pimples) yes i know it's Cystic Acne

[snoflakefaerie]

Do you mind sharing what your derm prescribed? That might help us go in one direction or another. I haven't had to deal with cystic acne since I was in my early 20s, but I was prescribed both tretinoin and clindamycin. If those are the things that haven't worked for you, have you talked to your derm about taking spironolactone? It's an oral medication that has been shown to help with cystic acne.

I feel like most otc products aren't great for cystic acne, but I would suggest trying a low pH cleanser, CosRX makes one (avoid if you find out you have fungal acne), CeraVe Foaming, or Vanicream Gentle Facial cleansers. Sometimes the pH of your skin can get out of whack and cause bacteria to take over, and a low pH cleanser can help. Do you recall if the start of your acne coincided with a move to a new house? Using a new detergent?  After taking antibiotics?

I would also look in to an AHA/BHA toner, and possibly check out azelaic acid, as mentioned below. The Ordinary makes an azelaic acid and it's supposed to help with cystic acne, but it does have dimethicone, so hopefully you don't react to that. I would suggest doing one new thing at a time, just so you can see if anything is the culprit in making things worse or better. Good luck and please let us know if you find something that works <3

[Ispend2much6]

@snoflakefaerie   That's great advice about a low PH cleanser, since yeast/fungi grow in an acidic environment.  Thanks!

[Ispend2much6]

@kyyy1010   I know how frustrating this is; we have a family member struggling with this.  The typical antibiotics won't even work to reduce the couple of huge cystic spots on the forehead. 

We've added probiotics to the regimen, and I accidentally discovered something that really helped.

My child was prescribed an anti-fungal lotion (more like a liquid,) for a rash on the arms, clindamycin phosphate topical solution, 1%.   Just for the fun of it, because I had briefly read something about fungal acne (had no idea this existed,) I applied it to his large spots.

The next morning?  Almost completely disappeared after not budging for two weeks.

We think the issue is an overload of yeast in the system because of a bacterial upset in the gut.  It may be caused by the gerd meds.

I thought I'd mention it because our dermatologist suggested tretinoin, which was not an option because of other physical concerns, as a last resort.  Fungal acne never was brought up as an issue.

[WinglessOne]

@kyyy1010  I’m back because I just talked with a friend who also has cystic acne. Hers is more widespread than mine, to the point where she was prescribed dapsone gel by her derm. She says it’s made her skin super oily, but it’s also helped reduce her bumps—so she’s sticking with it. Is that one of the things your derm prescribed? 

She also applies a homemade turmeric mask a couple times a week. A doctor once suggested that to me as an easy anti-inflammation treatment, but I haven’t done it in a long time. You just put some ground turmeric in a bowl, add enough water to form a paste, and spread it on your face, either your whole face or just where you’ve got acne. That might be worth trying. I’d completely forgotten about it until she mentioned it. 😄 

Something I have recently done a few times is applied cold compresses to my cystic acne. I also do that whenever my skin reacts badly to something. My cold compress is either a washcloth soaked in very cold water, or ice (or a frozen gel pack) wrapped in a towel. I hold it against my skin without pressing, just like icing my knee, to reduce inflammation. This doesn’t get rid of cystic acne, but it can reduce its size and make it less painful. It’s better (for me) than getting a cortisone shot for acne, another derm’s suggestion that I quickly rejected. I may have tattoos but a tat gun is not the same as a hypodermic needle injected IN MY FACE, right into the acne mound... no thank you. 😬 That is another option, though.  

[ItsAsh001]

I've had similar issues and best one is La Roche Posay Effaclar. It has salicylic acid (even more than Murad at half the price). I am on my second tube now. Try it. 

[Brutalitops]

@kyyy1010 I have the same problem. I use Kate Somerville ExfoliKate™ Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash with AHA & Enzymes 4 oz/120 mlbecause I like the way it smooths out my skin and dissolves away rough patches/ healing dead skin patches. That said, as someone who's cystic acne is definitely hormonal- there isn't a product to fix it, only mitigate in my experience. It's very frustrating, but get a good daily chemical exfoliator (Paulas choice also has some great options), some retinol (or possibly a prescription retinoid), some acne hydrocolloid stickers, and do your best to make peace. Mine are brought on by stress, so worrying about them literally makes them worse.  Hopefully this bought of unrest in tour hormones or whatever passes swiftly- I know it sucks

[Anonymous]

@Brutalitops ooh!  your post reminded me that 10% sulfur works great as a spot treatment for giant volcanic acne.   Kate Somerville EradiKate™ Acne Spot Treatment with 10% Sulfur 1 oz/30 ml and Mario Badescu Drying Lotion are great, but they look like calamine lotion, so not too flattering 😄  Sulfur masks like PETER THOMAS ROTH - Therapeutic Sulfur Mask Acne Treatment Mask  also worked well for me as a spot treatment.

[Brutalitops]

@Anonymous Yeah I had some limited success with the KS sulfur mask and face wash but the spot treatment gave me a horrible red whitehead  spotted rash all over my face like I was an extra dying of some freak alien disease on an Episode of Star Trek.... turns out I have a sulfur allergy 😅. I also don’t react well to salicylic acid. I have a working theory one of my grandparents ran over an old gypsy woman and we’ve all been suffering since 😂🤷‍♀️. Still good suggestions for anyone else!

[WinglessOne]

@Brutalitops  Wow, this almost makes me not wanna complain as much about my benzoyl peroxide allergy anymore. I can’t imagine never being able to use BHA. 😞 It doesn’t do much for cystic acne, but it’s such a good pore clearer. 

I don’t remember the last time I used sulfur, but now I wonder if my skin can still handle it. I do recall being kinda sensitive to it, but I didn’t have an allergic reaction. I might need to investigate this soon. 

[Anonymous]

@WinglessOne it's funny about BHA, for several years AHA seemed to work better for me for acne.  But when I got a big one (the type that started out feeling painful deep under the surface then eventually grew into gigantic angry volcanoes) I would sometimes blast it with Paula's Choice 9% BHA (i'm talking multiple times a day spot treatment) and it would calm the volcano.  I got to the point where I was using 20% AHA, 9% BHA, AND the 10% sulfur on a single spot.  

Yeah, my acne was pretty bad back then.  I think that combination would burn a hole in my skin if I tried it now.

[Brutalitops]

@WinglessOne I can take some salicylic acid, my skin just never seems to get used to it so I’m stuck with super low doses. Or maybe it’s reacting to something else in my routine? Idk, after a couple bad experiences I’m freaked out about it but luckily I’m only actually allergic to sulfur compounds 

[snoflakefaerie]

@Brutalitops if you don't mind me asking, do you have any allergy to aspirin? 

[Brutalitops]

@snoflakefaerie You know honestly.... I don't know. I couldn't say the last time I actually used asprin

[Anonymous]

@Brutalitops oh noes your family curse! 😂😂  sorry that you can't use sulfur or salicylic! 😞  I think overall salicylic (like paula's choice 9%) has been the least damaging for me.

you may be stuck with the old method of rubbing your spots with an enchanted crystal under the full moon of the vernal equinox!  

[Brutalitops]

@Anonymous I haven’t tried that yet 😂 I’ll have to give it a shot 🤣🤣

[Anonymous]

Yes, Paula's Choice is awesome!

In general, you can treat acne with over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid.  You may want to supplement your cleanser with a leave-on product containing one of those.  Paula's Choice website has some really good info about treating acne and also skincare in general.