Problem Skin
[ 17 March 2008 ]
“My skin has really been getting me down lately – I’m 15 and it was perfect before getting spots a few years ago. Now, it’s a disaster. I’ve got enlarged pores, under-skin spots (that never surface and don’t hurt), an un-even skin tone and very minor acne marks/scars. How can I get my perfect skin back? Has it been ruined? I use M·A·C Studio Fix, but on my problem skin it just looks caked on and obvious so I don’t wear it too often… I cleanse, tone and moisturise with Simple products and exfoliate once a week. My diet isn’t bad at all either – I eat quite a lot of fruit and veg and hardly any sugar but I still break out. One thing I can think of is I do smoke… Could this cause such a problem with my skin? If so – I’m quitting starting today!”
Well, I would say that the biggest contributor to your spots at the moment is hormones. You’re 15, which is pretty much when your raging hormones are at their peak. Unfortunately, as a teenager, there’s not much you can do about that — they have to run their course. The good news is that being a teenager doesn’t last forever, so in a few years you should be back to your fabulous self.
Having said that, if you want to make your concealer look a bit more natural, use primer on your face first, then dab it on any offending areas & blend it like mad. It is easiest to do this with a brush. If you have spots, remember to clean your brushes regularly or you might just spread more bacteria around!
It sounds like you’re doing pretty good things for your skin, but a couple of minor tweaks should improve things a lot. You still might get spots, but this will make it easier for your body to deal with them. They won’t last as long & they will clear up more easily.
Here’s my guide to clearing up problem skin!
Get super-hydrated & eat more vegetables & fruit — raw if possible
All that stuff about how “you are what you eat” is 100% true. If you eat & drink things that are good for your body, rather than what is just cheap/easy/quick, you will see it manifest physically through your skin & body.
Lots of water doesn’t keep the outside of your skin moist, but it does keep your insides hydrated — & it’s hard to look beautiful when the inside of your body is desperately fighting off corn syrup, caffeine & alcohol! You really can’t drink enough water (unless you’re one of those demented frat boys who has water-chugging competitions!), so keep a huge glass or bottle by your side & fill it constantly. Yes, you will go to the bathroom a lot, but every time you do that, water is passing through your system & clearing out toxins. It all results in a happier body, clearer mind & cheerier disposition! Just call me I.P. Freely!
Raw fruit & vegetables are full of water, fibre & protein (as well as about a billion other great things), & eating them in decent quantities will make you feel & look absolutely phenomenal. It’s no coincidence that my skin is perfect when I eat raw. Eating fruit or vegetables in their natural form is best for you, since it preserves the most nutrients. If you cook them too much, you destroy most of the good stuff, so if you can’t hack it raw, try lightly steaming or quickly stir-frying them instead. If you want to transition to raw, it’s not that hard — & I’m going to write an article on it soon!
You might also want to look into giving dairy the flick: a study of almost 50,000 women showed that drinking milk increases the risk of severe acne. Major acne was 22% more prevalent in the group of women sampled who had the highest intake of dairy (more than 3 glasses of milk a day). This is most likely because the steroid hormones & other components in dairy suppress your immune system, meaning it can’t fight infections. Ouch!
They say happiness is an inside job. I strongly believe that beauty is, too.
Make sure you wash your pillowcase regularly
Think about it — you press your face against that sucker all night, every night! If it’s covered in sweat, old make-up & god knows what other bodily fluids, of course that is going to create problems! There’s no point in washing your face before you go to bed if you’re just going to bury it in a pile of filth for the next 8 hours! Okay, so, you get my point. Wash your pillowcase! When was the last time you did? I don’t think anyone really does it often enough. Chuck it in the washing machine at least once a week.
You might like to investigate your washing powder, too — get the gentlest thing you can, because harsh cleaners might aggravate your skin, too.
Cleanse, tone & moisturise every day, & exfoliate once or twice a week
You’ve all heard this before, but it’s really important. Go & get yourself some proper skincare products — you heard me! No soap! Dear god, no soap! The skin on your face is delicate & it’s the first place to show age, so you need to take care of it! Don’t come crying to me when you have an “it bag” where your face should be!
What you use will be different depending on your skin-type, but here are some ideas. I love my routine at the moment & don’t want to alter it at all. In the morning I use Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion, apple cider vinegar + purified water, Christian Dior Capture Essential serum (face & eyes) & Nivea Soft. In the evening I remove my make-up with a baby wipe & moisturise again.
If you’re keen to change up your products, read How To Adopt A New Skincare Routine!
Use AHAs
AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid, & yes, it is actually acid. While it sounds crazy to use it on your face, the sort you buy from beauty spas & pharmacies has a very low concentration. It works as an exfoliator, & helps get rid of the old dead cells. It improves the appearance of wrinkles, roughness & mottled pigmentation, as well as giving you a smoother over-all look.
I occasionally use a product by Ultraceuticals called Even Tone Serum & when I use it, I can definitely see the difference. It helps stop a spot dead in its tracks!
You should know, though, that if you’re using AHAs on a regular basis you must wear sunscreen, as using them makes you more susceptible to the sun’s effects. Of course, you should be using sunscreen anyway, but even moreso if you’re an AHA kid!
Quit smoking!
Smoking is terrible for the skin. As well as causing impotence & well, death, it also ages you like mad. The cumulative effect of inhaling all those chemicals is that the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layer of the skin get constricted. This decreases blood flow enormously, as well as starving the skin of oxygen & nutrients. This damages the elastin & collagen in your skin, meaning you lose strength & elasticity. So your skin will hang down & be all droopy, & there’s nothing you can do about it!
Additionally, people who smoke always make the same movements with their face when they do it — so they might purse their lips when they inhale or squint their eyes to stop smoke from going in them. Doing this repeatedly causes wrinkles — not pretty ones, either. You will end up with a mouth like a cat’s bum! Not luscious!
There’s nothing wrong with having an occasional cigarette, but if you’re smoking regularly & often, you will look aged way before your time. No one wants that.
Don’t pick!
Don’t pick, squeeze or otherwise frig about with your face. If you have an ugly pimple brewing, chuck some AHA at it, but if that doesn’t seem to quell the beastie, you have permission to squeeze it. Just make sure you do it with clean hands, & make sure you remove any last traces of anything yucky that you might have smeared about. Read this for the low-down on popping a pimple.
I’m grossing myself out! Remind me never to write about this again!
See a dermatologist
This should be the last thing you do if nothing else works — I am all for natural (& free!) solutions to problems! However, there are a lot of people who finally visit a dermatologist after years of horrific acne & swear that it changed their life. From what I understand, you usually need a referral from your doctor, but after that it is smooth sailing.
Having said that, before you start a course of treatment, I would recommend that you always research the side effects of anything prescribed to you. It might disturb you to find out that there is a link between using Roaccutane, depression & suicide, for example. Have a read of Some Side Effects Of Acne Medications & this article from The Daily Mail, get informed & make your own decisions.
Here’s to spot-free fabulousness! Ring-a-ding-ding!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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Hey,
One thing i use and swear by is lush products, because they dont use chemicals (its all natural) uts great for sensative/problem skin..
If you live in australia they have a few around.
Melbourne- Swanston st!!!
Give it a go
xx
Dermalogica is great, the also don’t use chemicals. The daily microfoiliant practically eliminated my spots especially the bumpy hurty ones and improved my skins texture by a million! Can’t recommend highly enough.
Although I love mac, I did have some issues with their foundation making me breakout. I think using mineral make up helps as it doesn’t clog the pores.
I completely agree that fruit and water helps, strawberries are brilliant for the skin!
ooh, i have a secret for you!! face primer is a MUST before you put on make up, makes it go on smoother, last longer, and look better! and it’s also great because it stops makeup from melting into your skin and clogging pores. buuuuut primer can be awfully expensive (at least when you’re a student like me it seems like it!!) soooo here is my secret primer tip: Monostat Anti-chafing gel!!!! it’s made with the same ingrediants as primer but is about $5!! i’ve been using it for a couple of weeks and i loooove it. just wash your face, throw on your moisturizer (by the way, i swear by good ol baby lotion!) and then the monostat, then your foundation. easy peasy!
wow…i sound like i work for them or something, haha
Poor you! I had a similar problem when I was 15 – it wasn’t as bad as some of the girls I saw around school, but I was still unhappy about it. Eventually I went to the doctor and got put on the pill (there’s a special one that does really well on skin) it just evens out your hormones a little, which lets your skin calm down. Best thing I ever did.
The only thing that ever worked for me as a teen was going on the pill. Try Diane 35ED or Yasmin, they strip the testosterone from your body and nuetralise the hormones that create pimples.
Dairy is such a tricky one to avoid though, isn’t it, Gala? I absolutely agree that it improves my skin no end when I switch my milky cuppa to a milkless herbal tea, but then I also worry about osteoporosis. What I’m hoping is that my skin is just going through a phase, and that I’ll be able to go back to milk soon. My regular foodie mantra is moderation in everything, so to give up something completely kind of goes against the grain…
I know its hard but first of all don’t let it get you down…....it makes it worse as stress can trigger spots too.
I have had spots since i was 11…i am 27 now and still suffer although i can control it well now and go thru bad patches only now and then…on the whole i manages to keep my skin in a ok state.
I have found that a steam can help,exfoliate and masks are great and then a no oily moisurizer.
One mistake i used to make when i was younger was to use harsh acne products that strip the skin,although this makes your skin feel squeeky clan it just means your skin will feel too stripped of oil and work double time to produce more thus making it more prone to spots.
Not sure what your budget is but i have found Elemis Rosepetal clenser excellent and there gingseng toner for after.Body shop do a great Tea tree selection of products too that are a little cheaper than Elemis.
Another tip is as much as you want too just don’t pick…..not at all.Also try not to touch your face as this makes the risk of spots higher.
The smoking prob isn’t doing you any favours as all that toxin will come out on your skin…..our skin is our largest organ after all!
Drinking enough water and eating fruits and veg etc is obvious…..i read somewhere that dairy can be a trigger for bad skin.
As for make up try not to cake too much on as it looks worse…...Touch Eclat by YSL is excellent for covering red spots….the trick is to brush inwards to the pimple and not too much…just a little.
Sleep is important as thats when your body repairs itself best so make sure you get enough.
Also your age is a big factor in this and you could follow all the ‘rules’ and still get spots any way…..it’s that age when your body is going mental inside….and as i said earlier i’m 27 and still gets spots and days when i think shouldn’t this have cleared up by now for god’s sake!
All you can do is try and control it….get a routine that suits you which could take a few trials and errors and just try not to get too down with it all…...maybe go see a doctor if your spots become acne that is painful etc…...there are drugs our there that can help but you have to weigh up the side effects some of them can cause….your doctor or the net can give you good answers on the choices out there.
All in all remember it’s never that bad and other people will prob not see it as bad as you do…...i find that when i am having a bad day and hate that i have a few bad spots i make myself put it into perspective….i think at least i can walk,talk,see and hear…i am able bodied and not disfigured and i am lucky for all those things so i should not feel bad about a few spots…....i am luckier than some…...it really helps to think of it like that….compared to some people problems having spots is not that bad :)
Good luck with your skin care!
I’ve had problem skin for a couple of years and after trying all sorts of stuff and visits to dermatologists (which made it worse! Avoid Differin gel, it is HORRIBLE!!) So now it is coming right – yay! The two biggest things for me were to put as little on my face as possible – no make up (that was hard! I did put some on when I went out or something, but it does seem to make spots redder so avoid as much as possible). And apple cider vinegar is awesome! I drink two tablespoons in a big glass of water before I go to bed at night and it makes me glow. I use it as a toner as well – diluted of course. Sometimes I dab undiluted on a big, bad spot but be careful. The last thing you want to do to your skin right now is annoy it…treat it with kid gloves and it will love you. Oh, and cut down on sugar (including white flour and High GI stuff) and NO caffeine. Good luck!!
my skin problems were almost completely cured when i went on birth control so i highly recommend it. & there’s that whole added side effect of not getting pregnant which is pretty great too.
Thank you so much Gala!
I’ll definitely take every word into consideration trying to sort out my skin :)
I never even thought about the pillow-case scenario but it definitely makes sense. Neither did I know smoking could cause so much havok on the skin either: I’ve taken the first step to quitting and bought some patches to fight those deadly cravings!
Again, thank you!
Ben xoxo
Completely feelin’ you on this one, my fellow nonpareil!
I really recommend eating clean pure fresh & natural, and drinking water. You CAN drink too much water – people on party drugs have actually died from it. All you want to do is train yourself into a water-drinking habit, so every time you are thirsty and want a drink, drink water.
The pillowcase tip is a winner – I also highly recommend drying said pillowcase in the sun for extra bacteria-blitzing power!
I find taking flaxseed oil helpful if my skin is getting a bit contrary on me (and I’m, um, over 25).
I have really sensitive skin so I steer clear of AHAs and the like. I wash my face with aqueous cream and a facecloth, which is super-gentle. I personally am greatly in favour of moisturising-type cleansers. I also swear by rosehip oil.
If I have minor spots I dab on Living Nature manuka gel, which is very gentle. If I have something so major it’s taking over as the focal point of my face, I very carefully dab on a bit of teatree oil, which is effective but tough on unaffected skin, so precision application is a must!
And I have found that the MOST helpful and beautifying thing you can put on your face is a smile!
I agree with everything Gala says, including the pillowcase tip (plus it feels so much nicer to sleep on clean sheets)! And if you aren’t using sunscreen, use it!! Look for noncomedogenic (non-pore-cloggin’) formulas.
One of the best things I’ve done for my skin is come to realize that I don’t have oily skin, I have combination skin. So instead of attacking my occasional bumps with the big guns every day, I’ve been using gentler, more moisturizing products instead of things that suck away all of the oil. A little oil is a good thing; drying it all up with too-strong products will just make your skin freak out more and produce more oil (this also goes for hair). You could be using things that are too harsh for your skin.
And if you work out or do sports, wash your face after working out and sweating instead of waiting to do your nighttime wash before bed. I learned this the hard way last week…
Finally, if you do choose to go on hormonal birth control for your skin, it can lead to hyperpigmentation, which is when your bump turns into a dark spot. So there is that to be aware of, too.
Good luck!!
amypalko — Actually, most of that stuff about dairy being the best source of calcium is not that simple. Viz!
“Calcium from milk and milk products is absorbed at a higher percentage rate than calcium from inorganic supplements because of the cofactors found in the
milk. However, the high animal protein content, fat, pesticides, and bovine growth hormones in the milk make it less than desirable to consume.
Who gets bone disease?
Nations with the highest rates of bone disease also have the highest milk consumption rates. The highest rates of osteoporosis are to be found in Denmark, Holland, Norway and Sweden. Evidence is prevalent worldwide. In Africa, Masai tribesman consume large
amounts of calcium from the milk of their cattle. In rural Africa the agrigarians maintain good bones on less than 400 milligrams of calcium per day. We are
encouraged to consume 1000 milligrams per day of calcium, yet Inuit Eskimos consume 3500 milligrams of calcium each day, and by age 40 are bone crippled.
THE KEY TO OSTEOPOROSIS: It’s not how much calcium you eat. It’s how much calcium you prevent from leaving your bones.”
&
“DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE NOT THE BEST SOURCE OF CALCIUM AS THEY CAUSE CALCIUM LOSSES AT THE SAME TIME AS INCREASING CALCIUM INTAKE.
A third of the calcium absorbed from milk and more than two thirds of the calcium absorbed from cheese is wasted in this way. In contrast, [low oxalate] green leafy vegetables such as kale and spring greens provide plenty of well absorbed calcium while at the same time reducing calcium losses. Calcium supplements lie in between in terms of their effect on retained calcium.”
Links: www.vegansociety.com/phpws/ind…
www.uswellnessmeats.com/Calciu…
I would add on the topic of dairy that if you can get organic milk from a reputable source that doesn’t use artificial hormones and antibiotics with it’s cows, it can make a world of difference. We get our milk from a dairy not too far from where we live in California, and since it’s very natural in terms of how the cows were raised and how the milk was processed, we can have the milk with out a lot of the bad stuff that tends to come with it.
“It might disturb you to find out that there is a link between using Roaccutane, depression & suicide.”
I speak from personal experience when I say this couldn’t be more true! I suffered from severe depression for about a year or so (I think, maybe more) in my late teens &, unfortunately, had suicidal thoughts during that time when I was very very low. It wasn’t until years later that my mother & I clicked to the fact that I was using Roaccutane prior to / during my depression. I’m not suggesting somebody shouldn’t talk to their doctor & consider Roaccutane as an option for treating their acne prone skin (in fact, both my mother & brother have used Roaccutane with good results and little to no side effects at all) but you (& those close to you) should absolutely keep a very watchful eye on your moods & speak to your GP if you start noticing changes. I wish I’d know there was a link at the time, it would have saved me (& my family & friends) a whole lot of pain & suffering.
I may not have spotted it within this article but I think it’s important that women are also aware of the contraceptive pill as a solution to acne problems. I went on the contraceptive pill when I was 15 to deal with my acne and it cleared up within a few weeks. The pill evened my hormones out, my mood included.
Another effective treatment for acne, which is a cream rather than a pill, is Benzac (http://www.zitattack.com.au/) which contain benzoyl peroxide in varying degrees but doesn’t dry the skin like some other products containing benzoyl peroxide. Unlike most anti-acne creams and such which claim to work but only clean the surface, Benzac actually WORKS and is recommended by dermatologists. You can get it over the counter at pharmacies, so if you can’t afford a visit to a dermatologist, trying Benzac is well worth it.
Because, yeah, some teenagers are more badly affected by acne than others and it affects their entire self esteem – not to mention possibly leaving permanent scarring. The usual solutions aren’t enough.
Exercise is key to building and retaining bone density. My bones became osteopaenic at 19, so, a good thing to take are “Caltrate” tablets, as well as undertaking plenty of weight bearing exercise.
Unfortunately, the only thing that helped my horrendous skin was “Yasmin”! Nothing else. It started when I was 14, and if I don’t take the pill even to this day my skin turns hellish. Booooooo.
Clinique 3 step varied with Dermalogica pre cleanse, anti-bac cleanser, and anti bac moisturiser. + 2 Liters of water EVERY DAY nojunk no smokes. fruit veg and meat.
I actually don’t bother waiting for my spots to get a white head. I squeeze them before they do that, put on a load of witch hazel gel (antiseptic and astringent) and keep putting more on several times a day and then they go before they’ve ever really arrived. I find if I let them get a head, they get really big and then hang around for days and weeks and there’s not much I can do about it.
If they get there too quick, I go on a double offensive with witch hazel gel and Savlon. Savlon is excellent too. A girl I knew at school recommended it for spot-destroying use. It’s great because it works on them without drying out your skin at the same time. But it’s not as effective as my pre-emptive attack.
I don’t know if people outside the UK are aware of this but the Daily Mail is renowned for scare-mongering. I strongly recommend you take anything they say with a gi-gantic pinch of salt.
I would not reccomend using St. Ive’s scrubs when you exfoliate. They contain bits of the apricot pit as the exfoliant, and that literally scratches your skin. I’d reccomend something with man-made micro-pearls, as they are softer and work ten zillions times better. (think MAC microfine refinisher)
also, don’t exfoliate every day. your skin doesn’t create enough new skincells in the course of the day to need to be exfoliated that much, plus, if your skin is acne prone, you could be irritating it. try once every two days, and make sure to apply sunscreen and moisturizer right after, because you’re revealing new skin. this new skin is crazily sensitive to UVA and UVB rays, so you want to protect it as best as you can.
The only thing that ever worked for me for any length of time was Accutane. It has the opposite effect of depression for me: I was so elated at being able to face the world in the literal sense that I really had a sense of confidence. I personally consider it a miracle drug.
Unfortunately, my acne at its root is hormone-triggered. After being on Accutane twice over five years (and relapsing about two years after each course), it was found that I suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome. I was put on an anti-androgen daily pill and that has definitely improved my skin situation, although it isn’t quite as good as it is when accutaned. Still, it’s an improvement and with a combination of hormone control and azelaic acid cream, things are much better. You’d think by 30 things would have sorted themselves out, but no!
PS: the Daily Mail indeed talks a bunch of bollocks.
The Daily Mail isn’t the best source of information but the important thing is that they’re not the only ones reporting it! It was just one of the first links I found. I’m lazy ;D
At the end of the day, best source of information about the benefits & side effects of medication = your doctor!
In my opinion, reading articles online can only help but to increase your awareness of some of the reported issues out there, but just treat the knowledge you get from them as an opportunity to come to your doctor with loads of questions!
One last comment, aside from messing about with blemishes on your face, it’s a good idea not to touch your face with your sticky little fingers at all! If you avoid touching your face needlessly while you’re awake, you won’t be transferring the oils & dirt you pick up from using your hands for everything you do during the day to your face. :)
Using Roaccutane completely changed my life. I went from horrible acne covered skin, feeling depressed and horrible before, to having perfect skin and feeling so happy afterwards. I get heaps of comments on my perfect skin, and no-one who didn’t know me as a teenager ever believes I had terrible acne (and theres no photos as evidence….i destroyed them all)! There are side effects, like while you are on the medication you skin will be SO dry its not funny, but for me, 9 months of super dry skin was an easy sacrifice for a lifetime of great skin!!
The other thing thats not quite as full on as roaccutane is taking the contraceptive pill. Because it evens out your hormones, it stops those hormonal breakouts that seem to rule your life at 15. Though it depends on what your parents think about you being on the pill at 15. Oh and if you do go on the pill, it needs to be a third generation pill to be effective for your skin.
Thats my 2 cents to go along with the regular, cleanse, tone, moisturise, eat well, etc.
I’m lucky enough to have healthy skin, but some years ago I did have acne; the best that worked the best for me was a L’Oreal toner…I don’t remember the name (and I dunno if they sell it outside my country), but it was awesome. I exfoliated with a Neutrogena Pore Minimizer Cleanser and works wonders too!
Again, I’m not sure about what you’ve said about food; I know that the only thing that made me prone was hormones! It MAY do harm on your skin to eat lots of carbs and fat, no veggies, etc, but I eat two glasses of non-fat milk a day and I have a wonderful skin…I’ve red your comment on the subject, but I don’t know, you have a subjective point of view! Who has the truth, I dunno.
Hey there fellow 15 year old! I’ve got the same sort of problem as you: zitty face, underskin pimples, the appetizing like. Whenever my family goes to the market, I go with an try out a new acne-be-gone product.
NOTE: I live on the East Coast in America, so some of these might only be local/nation products. I’ve tried to include everything that I think you can get transnationally.
My favorites so far:
- NATUREMADE VITAMINS.
pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/546…
Nature Made Multi for Her. They are inexpensive, and can be found at CVS or Giant (drugstores or super markets). I use them during softball season (now!) and in the summer. They work best on the gross lumpy acne that forms hard beneath the skin. These little pills whisk it away after a couple days (3-5) so you can’t feel it. [PS: Underground pimples are cystic pimples cause by oil mixing with sweat in pores. Lovely.)
-PCA ORANGE BOTTLE SPOT TREATMENT
skincarerx.com/m_images/PCA_ac…
No, that’s not the official name. I’m not sure what the official name is. I should be something along the lines of LIQUID GOLD. I use this if I need a huge zit vanished within 2 days. It works beautifully. I love this. Even enormous pimples that take about 2 weeks to heal normally only take at most 3 days to be gone and done with. It’s pretty expensive, so I wouldn’t recommend getting this and using it as body wash.
-ZODERM
This is dermatologist prescribed facial soap. It works so well, I always feel fresh faced and giddy when I finish this up. Ask your doc.
-OTHER
Don’t poke your face. Wear a necklace, and make it your ‘thing’ to toy with it. Whenever you feel the need to touch your face, play with your hair. In class, don’t lean on your open palm, lean on the flat of the first joints on your fist.
Only look at small mirrors, and limit the time you spend looking at your face; if you have plenty of time, you’ll start finding blemishes you MUST pick at to go away.
If zits and you are long time frienemies that don’t seem to be going anywhere, I would adapt an eyeliner with mascara. Human eyes bounce from color to color, so wear what you want on your eyes. So pretty!
Final note, no matter how bad your acne may seem to you, all of your friends will only notice blackheads or little bumps when you complain. The more people hang out with you, the less they see your occasional spot and instead see your gorgeous smile, your bright shiny eyes, your pianist fingers, your halo of perfect hair, etc.
On that note, a song with the words : skin, spot, face, freckles and body! www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsoLMX…
I’m in my 30’s and still got pimples, especially the ones under the skin that hurt like heck.
The only thing that worked… Proactive.
This stuff is freakin’ amazing. I started out only using it once a day. Now I only have to use it once in a while. Other than that I use a really mild soap (Cetaphil) and Rose-water witch hazel as a toner. Wash your make-up off every night, stay out of the sun as much as possible and moisturize.
I swear, in 20 years you’ll be glad you did.
Luv
Poochie
I’m on medication for Crohns disease and I think that cause my remaining acne but most of the advice given here sounds really good.
Often a good substitute for a exfoliating scrub is just using a facecloth. If you can make sure that your facecloths are not fabric softened then they are good to rub the dead skin cells away.
ALso to reiterate the point…do not touch or squeeze if you can help it. Obviously if it’s come to a head then you’ll need to. But if you squeeze your skin when it’s not ready you can break the walls of the cell and cause an infection. I notice this alot with my BF. Even with a few small pimples his skin looks ok but as soon as he starts squeezing he gets big read angry patches which are noticeable for weeks.
I also use Living Nature. All natural products :]
O and SO looking forward to a post on Raw eating
Hey-so the thing I swear to help problem skin is salycytic acid. I crush up an aspirin mix it with water until it forms a thick paste and wear it as a mask. It’s seriously the best thing ever. It not only dries up oily skin it lessens the redness of the blemish. It’s a cheap and safe method. I also change my pillow case every other night. Anyway I hope things get better for you and your skin.
staar
@amypalko, dairy isnt actually that hard to cut out.
i’m lactose intolerant so i dont really have much choice, but seriously it is really easy to avoid.
and soy milk has just as much calcium (if not more) than cows milk.
there are a lot of dairy replacements that dont carry the nasty side effects of dairy.
on another note, i swear by lush’s cosmetic warrior mask for getting rid of a nasty breakout. it works absolute wonders.
i have drank too much water.
i don’t know what it was
i ate normally and drank three giant bottles of smart water..well you know out of a smart bottle with is about a quart per bottle.
and i just ended up throwing up all night.
miserable.
now i drink only about a half gallon but i think the key is to not chug a whole bottle and then immediately fill it up and do the same thing.
it really hurt that i couldn’t even drink water which was extra delicious that day.
water is one of my favorite things and now i have to watch myself because of two little words.
DRY HEAVES
Oooh I’m really interested in the Apple Cider Vinegar thing. Might pop down and get some Today :)
Also Gala I think you should definitely mention taking some form of OIL! Be it fish oil, eating lots of fish, eating lots of avocado, flaxseed oil, evening primrose…these are magical for the skin.
I find that when I have been taking my oils (I take flax & epo as I am vegetarian) my skin is a lot more ‘glowy’ & clear.
However flax can be hard to take! So I take the capsules which are far less potent.
Taking 3 oil caps before bed time results in a nice glowy skin, especially when used in conjunction with rose hip oil on the skin at night.
Loooovely! runs out to the health shop to buy these things shes preaching about
I sympathize, I’ve got the same sort of skin as you do I think!
I admit to doing a little acne-surgery myself with a pair of very delicate tweezers, the benefit being that you can sterilize them by boiling them/running them under very hot water. I’m not so sure about needles like the article said.
Is there a way to eat some raw foods and not do the entire lifestyle? I like the idea but I’m on a special low potassium, low phosphorous diet…
thanks for the skin advice Gala!
...my face feels oily now
Victoria — Yup, of course! Just have a smoothie instead of cereal for breakfast, a salad instead of a sandwich for lunch, or some raw veggies for dinner. You don’t have to do it all at once!
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised at a connection between Roaccutane and depression and suicide – people who are put on roaccutane generally have pretty bad self esteem, and the addition of painful, itchy, dry and flaky skin wouldn’t help. There is apparently a proven link between it and arthritis, which is scary in itself.
I find that because my skin is temperamental, I have to use oil-free moisturisers, and I use Cetaphil as my cleanser because it’s so gentle.
Great article Gala!
Great post as always and great advice. I would highly recommend having a chat with your Dr if you think it’s work it (for the Pill and prescription creams, not Roaccutane at this early stage!)
Two tiny things to add from my own experience.
Firstly, AHA’s are great things are work wonders on some people… I’m not really one of them. BHA’s are my thing and I can not live without them! For a combination of the two, try Avene Cleanance K (from Priceline) or for BHA’s only try Paula’s Choice.
Secondly, try and get your hands on a copy of the bible… Dr Leslie Baumann’s The Skincare Solution. The quiz will divide you in to one of 16 skin types, comeplete with treatment methods and products (from cheap to pricey!)
Actually, it’s only recommended that you drink between 1.5-2L of water a day. Anything more just flushes out nutrients
Two words. Mineral makeup. My skin has never looked better, also studio fix is so incredibly heavy, it made my skin horrible.
Benzoyl Peroxide is also really great as well.
Welcome to my world! I am 20 year old girl who has the worst acne ever! I had perfect skin during my high school years. it was only until i hit University and the age of 18 that my skin went down hill. I have tried everything. I used all the supermarket products. None worked. They only made it worse.
I then started using Dermalogica which only worked for a month. It got to the point where i was depressed about it. so i went to the doctors and was put onto antibiotics. they worked for a few months too. but for some reason my skin got used to the medication and became worse.
I then gave up and went to a dermatologist. he told me to go on Roaccutane but i heard about bad side effects. after a year i gave up on the antibiotics. being on them long term didnt seem like a good idea. i still continued using dermalogica.
i then went on Pro- active because it is the best skin care product apparently. but again that failed. made my skin red raw coz of the chemicals and drying agents in it.
i went to a natropath as mum said it might be caused by an allergy. i had a hair test done in which they cut a bit of my hair off and sent it to the USA for testing. the results came back and all was fine!
after reading Galas website i decided to try Lush products. and what a difference they have made. because they are free of chemicals my skin has calmed down. not a lot of redness.
Although the pimples and redness was still there, i still wanted to keep trying.
My skin was improving to the point i decided not to wear caked on foundation anymore. i was confident enough to walk out into the streets and show my improving skin.
that lasted a week because a customer i was serving at work told me that i should do something about my skin because it didnt look good. i went home and cried. it was then i decided to go against my wishes and went to the doctor to get the birth control pill. i didn’t want too, but i have tired everything else, it couldnt hurt.
at the moment my skin is slowly improving. i have changed my diet, my skin care routine and now on the pill. i am hoping within the next 3 months i might see a huge improvement.
so basically you are not the only person in the world to have skin problems.
it is sometimes frustrating when you seem to have tried everything in the world and people still tell you to do something about it!
cheers
I put up with bad skin from 15 till about 24. Nothing ever worked (including severe diet changes) and my self esteem was zero. I went on yasmin at 24 for various reasons including my skin and it’s fixed it. So if it goes on and on and on for you, go on the pill. It was also exactly the same for my sister, only the pill ever fixed it.
It’s horrible having bad skin, it makes you feel really ugly when you’re NOT. Someone once said to me that it’s never looks as bad to other people as you think it is. It’s all consuming when you experience it, bad skin that is, not just a couple of pimples.
Kylie, that customer was just not a nice person and obviously has never experienced what you’re going through.
I went on antibiotics for my skin as well, for about a year, the effects wore off.
The pill is great. Yasmin is great (but bloody expensive), your body will be fine and it’s going to fix it!
I agree with most of the things the people above have said. The pill worked for me. I didn’t have any acne on my face, but I had bad acne on my back and chest (which, for me, was far worse cos I basically couldn’t wear anything that was low cut or backless. They all cleared up about a month after starting the pill. I stayed on it for three months and then stopped, and they didn’t really come back other than the odd spot every now and then.
My boyfriend took roaccutane in high school and it worked wonders for him.
I guess everyone’s different and if something works for you, keep using it!
so many comments! but i wouldn’t recommend using medication after reading articles on the net. always go see a doctor when pills are involved i say.
i like to use self made things on my skin – if i use any. but my skin behaves pretty well, when i’m pmsing i get some spots of course :] rosewater works good as a tonic. my friends hate the smell of it though, i can’t see why.
in the village where my mom lives they always get their milk from two blocks away, from the “milk sisters”. they have a little farm & happy cows – the milk sisters sell their milk, from door to door on a bicycle… my mom & grandma sometimes make yoghurt from that milk. mmm home made yoghurt, so natural!
i just wanted to share this memory i think, sorry i went a bit off topic :]
HOOraY!! raw eating post, i’m waiting!
Smoking is a nightmare on the skin. I refused to believe that was what was causing my break outs – constant, and always around my chin despite perfectionist skincare routines – until I quit. I have photos that document the first month of my non-smoking, and you can see my skin clear right up. Frightening!
And, rosehip oil is love for even skin tone.
x
I’d be a little bit wary of going on the pill while your hormones are still sorting themselves out — and just getting started in lots of ways. But Jasmin really does help (and doesn’t have the weight gain effects of Dianne, for me anyway!)
I’ve been on Roaccutane twice (acne due to hormones — mildly polycystic ovaries I recently found out). I had acne for ten years before I caved and went on it, and I wish I had done it sooner, but it def made me feel pretty exhausted and sorry for myself! It’s worth it though, if you keep as eye on your own mental state you won’t suddenly find yourself randomly committing suicide one day or anything!!
No one has mentioned facials — I guess they are expensive, but if your parents can support you then seeing a facialist can help for mild acne. There are some light therapies and stuff that are meant to be good.
Acne just kills your confidence and self-esteem. Good luck with it.
ive never had bad skin but one of my close friends had it. I never took much notice of it, she is a pretty, extremely smart awesome girl. I never even noticed her pimples. One day she told me how much they got her down and she was going on the pill to fix her skin, it literelly took three months and she was glowing. It wasn’t until she showed me and before and after i noticed her skin… and it was quite bad. I guess the point in saying this is it is about a smile on your dial, she was always smiling with or without clear skin and who you are, not how many pimples you have. This was a great article thanks!
I think that two more things should be added here: first of all too much cleansing and scrubbing is not goo rither. Be gentle, and don’t overdo it.
Secondly, if you have Rosacea (fragile and shallow capillaries, that make your skin look pink and always flushed) than scrubs and AHAs are not allowed for you.
amypalco there are studies that show that milk actually strips our bones of calcium.
_“Excess animal protein increases calcium loss in urine. This is a significant danger in the “high protein diets” popular today. The claim that dairy products increase calcium excretion is simply not accurate.”
“Dairy’s high calcium causes relative deficiencies in magnesium and other bone-building minerals, and its high phosphorus and animal protein reduces calcium availability. Physical activity has the greatest benefit—the body efficiently uses what is available to build strong bones when it senses the need. Human milk and vegetable sources are superior to dairy for calcium and other nutrients in many ways.”
“No other animal in the animal kingdom drinks milk beyond childhood. No other animal suffers from osteoporosis, except the occasional pet raised on human meals.”_
BEST
TIP
EVER!
Ok, I have been trying to fix my skin for like 10 years now – I tried everything, Proactive, Clearasil, other drying-outy-type things (none of which work, btw)
until I saw a lady who recommended I get a Glycolic peel – I got them fortnightly for about 2 months and my skin looks AMAZING!
I’ve also had 2 microdermabrasion sessions to help clear it all up. It’s pretty intense but your skin will feel INSANELY good. I couldn’t stop touching it…probably not the best thing to do with problem skin. hehe.
I would second Suze’s recommendation for BHAs (beta-hydroxy-acids) for oily skin, instead of AHAs (and a common form of BHA is salycylic acid, so the person using crushed aspirin as a mask will be getting the BHA-goodness that way). I used to get lots of bumps under my skin until I started using a BHA lotion a few years ago. I swear by Paula’s Choice – my skin improved dramatically once i started using her BHA products regularly (I think her advice for skin problems on her cosmeticscop website is quite sensible, too, including that you need to make sure the BHA or AHA lotion is at a pH level low enough for the acid to actually be effective). You can buy sample sachets off the website, which are good for trialling a new product if you’re nervous about it.
The other thing I find is that Benzoyl Peroxide is good for big fat nasty spots when they’ve come up: I buy a 2.5% gel from the chemist, and it’s really cheap (it’s called PanOxyl). Although it’s hardly luxurious, it does work to dry out the spots, and you only need a tiny bit (though again, it’s a bit harsh on healthy skin so precision application is needed!).
Finally, a little anecdote: I know everyone’s skin is different so I’m not positing some scientifically reliable causal relation, but for what it’s worth I have found that whenever I’ve used Simple products my under-the-skin-spots have actually got worse – weird huh?!
Good luck!
It’s so interesting to read everyone else’s take on the matter — it just goes to show how different skin is from person to person! For example, Cetaphil never did a thing for me, ditto crushed aspirin masks, & when I was on the pill it didn’t alter my skin at all (just my moods).
& people saying too much water is bad for you etc., read about super-hydration! www.welikeitraw.com/rawfood/20… Whenever I practise it I feel more awake, alive, alert & switched-on than EVER, it is amazing!
keeping well hydrated inside and out is key imho, so upping the raw, living foods in your diet will be beneficial, also abstaining from cigarettes, alcohol, refined sugar, and salty foods.
plus, as i believe that thought IS indeed creative, which i found to be true numerous times, your skin and overall wellbeing will improve when you start to use positive affirmations. this might sound weird, but it really works. instead of concentrating on how bad your skin condition makes you feel, tell yourself that you love and accept yourself and your beauty no matter what. give yourself thanks for creating beautiful, clear skin right now, just as if you already had the perfect skin. positive affirmations attract more of the positive, wonderful things you want to have in your life. sondra ray’s books on the topic are especially great.
maybe the EFT techniques gala described will also help. i wish you all the best. stella
For me, Accutane was a miracle cure.
Yes, It is important to keep beauty and smart. Your information is useful to make the skin beauty. Did you try the products on http://www.inspectorbeauty.com
Saxy, Accutane did not work for me
Stella Mayfair — Your comment totally made my night! You make some great points. Telling yourself how awful your skin is just attracts more of the same… I didn’t even think of that! xx
thanks so much gala :-)
Lush Cupcake Face Mask :) I used it whenever my hormones drive my skin nuts.
I don’t seem to take much notice of other people’s complexion “flaws”, so I’m sure affirmative, positive thinking about yourself will do a world of difference – just think that most people are usually too preoccupied with their own “flaws” to notice other people’s!
I had a bit of an iffy experience with a dermatologist once; I’d been referred to see her about some scarring I got after a clumsy mole removal, and all of a sudden she starts poking at my chin/jaw and goes “I can give you something for that”, to which I reply “For what?” and I get informed I have “severe acne”. What?! I had some, in my opinion, very very minor teenage spots on my chin. I’m in no way anti-doctor’s advice, but a lot of it is best taken with a pinch of salt – especially if they’re private sector doctors who get paid a lot to peddle certain drugs. I didn’t feel my skin was so bad I had to take drugs, but I’m sure people who feel very bad about theirs would jump at the opportunity, possibly in vain.
Cupcake face mask has worked very well for me too, and it’s really gentle (and cheap!).
thanks for the advice gala!
that apple vinegar and water toner sounds absolutely amazing.
also, i must say you’ve sparked my interest on a raw foods diet!
can’t wait for that article you’re writing to pop up on your site!
oh, I know how you feel! I had really terrible skin between the ages of 13-16 and it made me feel awful. It was so bad that my dermatologist suggested Accutane, but I refused because I was afraid of the side effects. Instead of going on Accutane I decided to find an alternate cure. Although I definitely advocate an all-natural & chemical-free lifestyle, I’ve had to use some prescription treatments to cure acne, but have managed to stay off of the really intense ones like Accutane. I’m 19 now and I’ve had mostly clear skin for 2 years… So I figured I could add my suggestions to the great advice of Gala and everyone else, and tell you what has worked for me!
For cleanser, I use Nivea Visage Oil Control Cleansing Gel. It really has worked wonders for my skin. I have really oily skin and this cleanser tones down the oiliness without drying my skin out. Plus it’s inexpensive! For toner, I use L’Oreal Hydrafresh Toner. This is a gentle alcohol-free moisturizing toner and applying it in the morning prevents my skin from drying out during the day. For vitamins I take Rainbow Light Active Health Teen Multivitamins which really help to keep my skin clear. Vegetable extracts and nutrients and no sugar, lactose, wheat, gluten…
I use two prescription acne creams, Benzaclin and Retin-A Micro. Both work really well at preventing acne and quickly clear up any spots. I also take the antibiotic Doxycycline and since I started taking that, I never get any large spots. I hope that someday I will be able to get off of prescription drugs (especially because they’re so expensive!) but really they have worked wonders for my skin, in combination with the cleanser & toner & vitamins.
And as for diet, I eat lots and lots of vegetables and no meat or fish. My skin is a LOT clearer when I stay away from greasy, unhealthy foods.
So there’s my complicated skin care routine… Everyone’s skin is different and it my take a while to find something that works for you, so I recommend investigating different products and treatments, talking to a dermatologist, asking your friends for recommendations. Eventually you will find something that works. In the meanwhile, it really does help to have confidence in yourself and think positively! Remember that most teenagers go through the problem of acne at some point, and instead of envying people with clear skin, work on accepting yourself and building confidence. Best wishes.
I have a friend who went to her doctor for acne problems, and it turns out it was related to hormones. She now takes a certain type of birth control pill that also clears up her skin. However, I would recommend all of the things Gala suggested first. Any chemical solution to a problem should definitely be a last resort.
I love your articles so much.
Ug, problem skin is the worst.
I was on tetracycline for years & thank goodness, it helped! Nothing hurts your self-confidence more than bad skin :\ Now, I’m able to regulate it with mostly natural products – & I swear by ACV. Tastes like the grave, but oh does it work wonders somehow.
K — When you compare the occasional cigarette (i.e., one a week or one a month) to 20 a day, it’s pretty clear which is better for you! Not everyone is going to kick cigarettes completely, so if people still feel like they want to smoke socially, there’s no point in guilting them to death about it. Obviously in an ideal world no one would feel the need to pump their body with any kind of poison (cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, corn syrup!), but that’s not the reality!
Also:
Get loads of sleep and hydrate! :]
Lack of sleep can trigger acne and makes it worse too.
I get the odd hormonal pimple and find my skin scars whether i pop them or not. I use Rosehip oil already to help minimise scarring… does anyone recommend anything else?
I have been on roaccutane twice (which is now banned in the USA as it has too many side effects) and even though it guarentees acne not to return – mine did. I am now on Dianette (contraceptive pill) and my skin is as clear as ice! Brilliant!
I have to disagree here, Gala.
In terms of your health, there is EVERYTHING wrong with an occasional cigarette.
I do respect your need to not make smokers feel horrible about themselves, though.
I’ve had problems with my skin since I was about 12 years old- terrible acne on my face, back, chest, AND shoulders. Between then and now, I adopted the vegetarian, then vegan, and now finally RAW food vegan diets and my skin is more beautiful than it was when I was 5 years old! :D
The best thing for you skin is to keep your insides hydrated (drink lots of PURIFIED or spring water), eat plenty of raw fruits and veggies (especially those dark leafy greens), charge your water with MSM powder 1/2 a tsp twice a day- pretty much just sulfur… it has no taste, is completely natural, and is beautifying and anti-aging. You can find the MSM powder at www.sunfood.com
Also- SOAP IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. If you wear make-up, you really don’t have much of a choice but to use it, so if you have to, use something gentle with a natural antiseptic like Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Oil Soap. I do not wear any make-up at all (raw foods give you radiant glowing skin, so you don’t even need it!), so I just steam my face with a warm washcloth, lightly scrub my face with the washcloth, and then rinse it with cold water. If I have the occasional pimple, I spot treat it with tea-tree oil and it goes away within a day or two. Remember natural oil is good for your skin. Soap will strip your skin of what it needs and it dries out, so your skin overcompensates by producing MORE oil, and that’s why it gets all shiny and yucky. Using harsh acne scrubs and creams are doing more harm than good… technically they’re creating a dependency when they strip your skin of EVERYTHING- plus your skin eventually adapts to whatever you’re using, causing it to toughen and become thick and blotchy.
If you still seem to have problems with overly oily skin, try this yummy masque recipe: 1.Peel and finely grate 1 medium cucumber. 2.Cover your face and neckwith the cucumber mush 3.Place two slices over your eyes if you’d like- it reduces inflammation and puffiness. 4.Lay down and place a warm towel over your face 5.Relax for 20-30 mins and then rinse off.
A note about body acne: I’ve had best results with simply dry brushing my skin before I get in the shower (this increases blood flow and exfoliates giving skin a healthy glow) and then rinsing off in warm/hot water. Shampoo/conditioner and shower gel can worsen body acne, so use something natural that doesn’t leave residue in your hair… chances are if it’s leaving junk in your hair, it’s leaving junk on your skin and clogging your pores! You should moisturize your skin as well- that will keep it from overproducing sebum (your skin’s natural oil). I use 100% raw cold-pressed coconut oil right after I dry off from a shower, and then wipe off the excess after 10 minutes. Coconut oil is healing, cleansing, and a natural antiseptic, so it brings impurities to the surface of the skin- be sure to wipe off the excess after 10 minutes or that junk will just sit on your skin!
Hope that helped… if you have any questions you can email me at lauren@nudefoodist.com or visit our company’s website: www.nudefood.com.. We host raw food retreats and seminars as well as offer chiropractic, massage, nutritional coaching, yoga, and bellydance classes. :D
Love, Light, and Blissings!