I've been reading dermatology research on how hormonal shifts across the menstrual cycle affect acne — specifically how progesterone in the luteal phase swells pores over trapped sebum, causing the classic pre-period jawline breakouts.
The literature suggests that switching to BHA and azelaic acid during that window and avoiding heavy occlusives could help prevent breakouts before they form.
Has anyone here tried timing their actives to their cycle phase? Curious if it made a noticeable difference or if it's more theoretical than practical.
31F, Ive had moderate acne and oily skin most of my life that only got cured while on oral isotretinoin, but unfortunately it never lasts.
Ive been trying to find a lasting skincare solution that doesnt involve oral treatments.
Recently, I tried adding panoxyl 4% wash (8 weeks) to my already established differin (2 years?) and so far im not really seeing any improvements. My inflammatory acne is processed faster, but ive had a large increase in closed comedones (which are uncommon for me) and its been drying my face alot. I got Finacea from my derm and tried shortly to roll all 3 actives (differin pm and BP + Finacea am) but thats a no go - my skinbarrier said no. So now im wondering if maybe i should give up on panoxyl and try finacea + differin instead.
Whats your experiences with BP + differin or Finacea + differin? Preferably people with low to moderate acne and on the sensitive skin type.
Ive been breaking out on my chin and mouth area only the past couple months now should i see a dermatologist or is there a way i can get rid of it myself. Right now iam just using a salicylic acid face wash 2% and a cerave face moisturizer
I feel like my derms only recommend prescriptions & spas recommend the products they have on their shelves. Where do you find products? Who can you actually trust?
I live in a third-world country (also, English is not my native language, so please forgive any mistakes!), and dermatologist appointments are very expensive, which is why I haven't scheduled one yet!
However, recently my acne has been making me lose the will to live, and I need to do something about it, so I'm going to book an appointment.
Just wanted to hear some opinions about my skin bc accutane kinda creeps me out a little!
(Also, both pictures were taken on the same day, just with different lighting.)
I have oily skin. I wash every night and most mornings with curology.I also have bacne I haven’t been able to get rid off. Ive tried different body acne washes and nothing seems to change.I have lots of blackheads on my nose,forehead and chin.that have been there forever I haven’t been able to get rid of.
My skin has been overall pretty clear. I do my usual skincare and all is fine, but recently I started randomly breaking out more on my cheeks and chin. And they aren’t normal pimples with whiteheads..?? They’re just red spots that hurt if I touch them, so I just leave them alone and continue washing my face. I don’t know what to do. They leave dark scars on my face and I’m getting really insecure about my face, I’m not sure how to adjust my routine in order to fix it.
I’ve had body acne in highschool but it went away. It would come back once or twice but go away quickly. For SOME reason- it has returned now for about 6 months. I have ZERO clue how to get rid of it but it is ruining my self confidence as well as my wardrobe. 🥺
I have used the PanOxyl body wash and it helped in the past but doesn’t seem to be doing anything now. Also tried the SA spray from Paula’s choice to no avail.
If anyone has any ideas or things that worked for them I’d love to hear it.
Just got this pimple today right under my nostril and man it’s hurting like crazy! I can’t even wash my face with ease since when I apply a little pressure on that area it hurts so bad.
i was prepared for this, my acne is hormonal so i knew i’d have a slight break out at some point but just to see it back slightly is freaking me out.
anyone who has taken accutane and experienced a breakout after please give me ur tips!!
i’m thinking about changing my skincare routine back to what it was while i was taking accutane which was just the bare bones (double cleanser and moisturiser)
What helped you get rid of stress-related acne? Recommendations appreciated!
I (19F) have had acne for around 7 years now consisting of texture, blackheads, and mostly white heads/pimples on my cheeks. It is not caused by my diet, environment, deficiencies, or skincare routine. It flares up during high-stress periods. I practice stress management but that is not a fix, and cannot not experience high-stress because I am a college student among other lifestyle things.
I also have anxiety disorder (false-triggers of stress), so stress management isn't a fix for me the way it is for others. I'm just a stressed person. During suuuper high-stress periods I get what I call "flare ups" of acne all down my back, chest, and torso, sometimes arms too.
My hair is also affected by these high-stress periods too and I experience lots of hair fall-out resulting in lower density hair volume which I hate because I love my hair.
Recently
A couple of months ago the acne appeared on my forehead and chin, and has stayed ever since. This college semester in particular has been the most stressful one yet, and subsequently my acne has gotten out of control, affecting my entire face.
Lifestyle
I eat clean (like really clean), hydrate properly, exercise, do yoga, sleep early, not on social media, have friends, wash my bedding weekly, wear my hair in a bonnet to sleep, and take vit. D, folic acid, and iron (all prescribed).
Skincare routine
I have oily skin.
CeraVe SA Renewing Cleanser (nightly)
Vanicream (moisturizer)
Benzoyl peroxide (prescribed) occasionally even though I feel like it does nothing
Glycolic acid %7 also occasionally even though I feel like it does nothing
I've been prescribed tretinoin and clindamycin and used them for over a year, but they did nothing.
Since I can't reduce stress, I want to make my skin inhabitable for acne to occur. I'm considering going on acutane. What helped you? Stories & recommendations are appreciated. Thank you!
I was lucky enough to never really have acne growing up but since I've gotten into my 30's (now late 30's) my skin is getting really bad. I've tried every OTC face wash, salicylic acid cleansers and washes sometimes help for a while then it comes back worse. Anything with benzoyl peroxide causes huge cystic pimples on my nose and cheekbones. Pimple patches also seem to make it worse. I don't know what to do anymore and need some advice. My skin is extremely sensitive.
Tell me why I start Lymecycline get really hopeful that my acne is going away, stop worrying about it for a month or 2 then bam, 10 pimples all over my chin. I’m not even upset or anxious about it anymore it just pisses me off. I’m not letting this shit ruin my life but god is it winding me up. Why can’t my bloody pores just take the hint and stop clogging up all the time and getting infected. In fact no someone tell me how I’m still getting inflamed acne when I’m taking a drug which allegedly kills the thing that causes the inflammation huh, riddle me that DR.A who said that my skin would be fully clear in 6 weeks, genuinely fuck you. Also fuck you to anyone who tells me that acne is ‘not a big deal’ and that ‘everyone gets it’ yeah right like anyone else at my school has 20 massive red spots dotted precisely everywhere on my face, it is a big deal. Also fuck you to all the shitty topicals prescribed by my doctor those companies are all fraudsters; Dear mr azelaic acid, I want all my fucking money back please as well as the faith I put into your product to work. Oh and while I’m at it let me cc benzoyl peroxide and salycilic acid, cause your products are shit as well. Genuinely fuck all of you.
I've been taking Accutane (isotretinoin) for about a year and a half under my doctor's supervision, and I've recently finished my course. However, I still have red marks and indented areas on my face.
The thing is, I don't think I have any active acne anymore, but these marks and indentations are still there. Is this normal, or could something else be going on?
Should I go back to my dermatologist and consider taking Accutane again, or would a different treatment be more appropriate at this point? How are these red marks and indented scars usually treated? Is it actually possible to get rid of them or at least improve their appearance significantly?
My acne the last few months has been the worst it’s ever been. I never really had much acne as a teenager but now in my late 20s, it sucks. And it’s really discouraging. I did start doxycycline and tret about 2-3 weeks ago. Doing sandwich method with the tret and doing every other night, and yes using SPF in the mornings. Doxy is one twice a day.
Of course it’s still early, but I just have my doubts about either of those working. I haven’t seen the slightest improvement so I automatically assume it’s just not gonna work.
I used to have bad acne in my early teens, tried everything and nothing worked so went on accutane, which cleared my skin up really well.
I came off accutane about 3 years ago and my skin has been generally good, with the odd breakout here and there. But over the last year I’ve developed these closed comedones mostly on either side of my chin. They really bother me, and because I’m terrible at leaving my skin alone I tend to squeeze them which (obviously) just makes it worse. I’m worried it will develop into my skin becoming bad again.
Does anyone have any advice on how to clear this up?
i’ve been struggling with this since puberty where i have EXTREMELY sensitive acne prone skin. i break out from pretty much anything. if i wear any makeup product i get itchy and can feel it within an hour of putting it on, if i sleep (or even just lay on for a couple hours) with pillows i haven’t washed within like 2 days i break out, etc. ALSO- when i get a pimple the dark mark stays FOREVER so even when everything is going good it’s still so discolored.
in the morning i wash my face with the cosrx low ph good morning cleanser (i tried the no cleanser thing in the morning and the vanicream cleanser, didn’t help) and vanicream daily moisturizer sometimes i wear the elta md sunscreen.
at night i wash with the same, dry on a clean towel, and use vanicream and every couple days .025 tretinoin (i know it’s not damaging my skin barrier it is the only thing that REALLY makes a positive difference) and recently tried the medicube zero pore pads before moisturizer but i haven’t got much of that. also if i wore face makeup or sunscreen i use micellar water on a cotton pad.
any recs for next skincare steps or makeup products (especially primer, foundation, setting sprays) that are REALLY safe but also actually work good?
i know my skin isn’t terrible but this is with me rarely wearing makeup and i LOVE makeup. i also model so i can’t be in control of what goes on my face all the time which definitely makes a difference
I need some help with my routine suggested by our Dermat.
So, I used to get like a pimple once a month or something like that, but every single pimple left a dark red spot, so I visited Dermat and she told me to start clindamycin morning and in the night, along with moisturiser like mix together and apply it ,and also Deriva CMS short contact for 2 hours before washing my face in the evening. Now after 2.5 months i have so many acne marks and im still breaking out and face is hella itchy. I can’t meet my dermat until next month im not sure if i should continue this routine.
Hii so Ive been having blackhead problems all my life since i was 9 and still dont know wth to do with it. I got it all over my t zone and its oily too. I little bit on the cheeksand chin. What should i do to change my lifestyle orrr products ect ?? Thanks
I have this cyst on my chin that I swear has been on my face forever! The issue is that it will go away for a couple weeks and then come back in full force, I’ll be able to drain it once it comes to a head and then it goes down again. Right now, this is the worst it has ever been and it has looked like this for almost a week.
It hurts to the touch and it even hurts when I smile. The skin on the surface is super smooth and I can feel that there’s liquid underneath.
I use clindamycin 1% & Winlevi in the morning and then azelaic acid 15% at night with a CeraVe moisturizer.
Does anyone have any advice for how to get this thing to go away? My dermatologist basically just says I have no other option besides birth control since it’s definitely hormonal acne but I really am not wanting to do that.
