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Acne control recs?

Maya

Veteran

Just FYI, this will have some personal info:

For the past five years or so, I have been taking hormones to regulate my periods, and one of the surprise side effects has been clear skin. Before the pill, I always had some kind of acne on my cheeks, often in the same spot, and it drove me nuts and made me so insecure.

Everything about being on the pill has been great...well, almost. As most of you are aware, my chest size makes me miserable. I know that part of it can be attributed to weight gain, but I know the other part is due to the hormones. I was able to tolerate it for a while, but I'm at a point where I just never feel comfortable (physically). I can't go a day without fantasizing about having a smaller chest. At this point, I would be thrilled to even be down to a D cup. I think that would be achievable if I went off the pill, since I gained about 2 cup sizes (after going on the pill and before gaining weight).

I tried to do it last year, thinking I'm an adult and my body has changed, so maybe things won't be as bad as they were when I was 20. But they were. Within just 2 weeks, my face broke out and my body went haywire. I was able to go only 2 months before starting again. I think if I stuck to my guns and gave it a good 3 or 4 months, it wouldn't be so bad as far as periods go. It takes about that long to adjust and get back to a normal cycle. It was never *that* bad to begin with, just not predictable. I'm already on a pretty low dose, so going just a tiny bit lower probably wouldn't help.

The real problem is that I have gotten so used to having clear skin that I just can't bear the idea of going back to my pimple-speckled days, especially as i get older. So the million dollar question is: Do any of you know of an effective acne treatment system? I tried a few when I was younger and all they did was make the skin surrounding my pimples dry and sensitive, but maybe things have advanced since back in my day. I think hormones were so successful because they treated the problem from the inside out. I'm a little skeptical that topical applications are really all that effective. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. I either have to deal with an unsustainable boob size or a face full of pimples. Thoughts?

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Hey Maya, that's rough.
My husband has battled acne for over 10 years now, and we have tried *everything*. He's even been on Accutane three times, the max his doctor will allow. His skin gets immune to acne products, so we have to rotate products each time they're used up.
He likes the Pro Active soap and toner, but prefers the Philosophy spot treatment and overnight retinol products. We're still trying to find a moisturizer. He's using the ProActive one right now, but even that is too oily. Any moisturizer gets oily on him and he has a shine over his entire face that makes the acne and scarring look much worse than it really is.
I can't really tell you which option I would prefer. My bust only went up one size when I went on BC, but it's still proportionate to my frame. I miss my C cups though, heh. The BC does more for me than keep my skin clear, so it's an obvious choice.
Good luck.

shannon

I recently started taking Spironolactone, which is really a diuretic along with the topical cream Differin. The combination has done wonders for my skin! My sister-in-law also takes Spironolactone and it has worked well for her. Differin can be expensive, but a tube lasts forever. Good luck with everything! I have been dealing with adult acne for 20 years. It's a hard one to figure out.

Kristina

I have always struggled with acne, also. Currently I'm on BC, lowest hormone dose possible, and my skin breaks out like always and I never gained weight or boobs (I would have killed for the boobs!!). However, I attribute my skin's general clearness to my two perscriptions: Tazarac 0.1% and Evoclin. The Tazarac is a night cream that helps your skin cells turn over, and the Evoclin is an antibacterial something for day to kill the ickyness that gets in pores. I love them both and have never had better skin. Both are perscription only.

However, I'm going to go off BC in about 3 months to try to start a family, and my doctor said you cannot use these creams if you are pregnant or trying. The pill form of them is related to birth defects. So if you are in baby mode, I wouldn't suggest entertaining the idea.

Sarbear: For oily shine, which I have plenty to spare, I use the new Biore + sunscreen moisturizer for "in-between skin." It absorbs super quickly and doesn't leave any oily residue. It's also very moisturizing, as my prescription creams tend to make me super dry with an oil slick on top. Also, the oil absorbing sheets are awesome. I even get my husband, the man who refuses to wash his face outside of the shower or shaving, to use them.

crwilson

Veteran

Maya-I use Renee Rouleau's skincare, and it's been the first thing that's ever kept my acne at bay (most of the time). It's pricey, though. I've always had a hard time because my skin is super-sensitive and I'm allergic to salicylic acid. Renee's has a line designed for sensitive skin with acne, and it really works for me. It's the only thing that I have liked, and I swear I've tried millions of products.

Vani

Veteran

Maya,

I haven't read the other comments yet so I don't know if this a popular choice of a acne control regimen. A few years ago I started grappling with adult acne. I tried everything except ProActive and Accutane. What worked for me best was the regimen detailed at http://www.acne.org/. 5% Benzoyl Peroxide with my own addition of Clindamycin Phosphate (I always stock up this in India as this is only available with Rx here in the US. I do know of a site or two where you can buy the Indian pharma brands, will post later tonight.) Tea Tree oil to control and soothe redness and sensitivity, Clinique's Dramatically Different Gel for moisturizer and City Block for SPF .

A few of my cousins who also had to deal with adult acne have confessed to me that this is the only regimen that has worked for them without the overly drying effects or ProActive and Accutane. It is also a lot cheaper!

Sarah, Kristina is right on. Those oil absorbing sheets are a miracle in disguise. I used to use clean and clear's sheets. But after reading about it somewhere, I tried these squares of paper they use to wrap hair in while perming(?) from Sally's. Same shine control, a third of the cost! This can also be done with toilet seat covers, but I don't want to "quease" anyone out here

Maya

Veteran

I have been doing a little research and found out that Yaz is another low dose BC that works well for acne and also cuts down on water retention, which might help with the bust size issue (I read somewhere that weight gain and breast growth from hormones is usually from water retention rather than fat...maybe I am wrong). Maybe I'll ask if I can switch to that and see if it helps first. That is more of a medical/doctor question I guess.

Thanks for all the input. I guess I won't be able to know what to use until I try, which is annoying because I'm going to have to wait for a breakout. I was hoping to attack it preemptively so I just wouldn't have to deal with it. To those of you that struggle with this, I really feel for you. It's no fun at all.

I started off as a B cup before the pill and was up to a D before gaining weight. I think the weight gain is what pushed me up to a DDD, so I think going off the pill would get me down to a D. I suppose the alternative would be to lose weight, but since I am not overweight now I don't know how much sense that would make.

Anonymous

What Niva said: Acne.org. Acne.org.

I strongly suggest using 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (LOTS of it), as Dan describes on that site.

I had moderate acne from age 12-25. Earlier this year, I finally followed the advice on that site and I've been almost totally clear for four months now. I never thought that would happen--I thought I'd have a spotty face all the way into middle age.

Best of luck!

Kari

Veteran

Maya, my sympathies. I'm in a very similar boat. I've had near constant acne for the past 13 years and been on hormonal birth control for my skin since I was 15, and in the past two years eczema has been added to the mix - and this week the eczema has spread to my face too, so I have to be really careful not to overdry acne-prone areas. If you do find a great acne-preventing solution, I really hope you'll share it. In case it helps, this is kind of a summary of what is working okay for me now, and what I've tried in the past.

I'm currently on the generic of Yaz and really like that it controls hormonal breakouts (and cramps!) pretty well. For topical prescriptions, I use the Differin gel that Shannon mentioned, and I use a cream called Akne-mycin to treat breakouts because it zaps them without overdrying. I also use a liquid spot treatment called Clindagel.

For the past year and a half, I have been using Sensaria's skin care line after buying some from a friend who is a consultant. It's pricey, but I like that it is gentle on my skin and doesn't seem to irritate it. I especially like the topical Skin Perfecting Treatment serum for a light but effective moisturizer under makeup. It's a pricey little bottle, but I only need a little bit at a time. I bought mine in Spring 2008 and am just starting to run out. I also like Sensaria's Enzyme Exfoliating mask to gently remove skin from dry post-breakout areas.

In the past I used the Acne-Free line, which is pretty much the same formula as Proactiv. It was okay but the benzoyl peroxide made my skin quite dry, so I stopped using it once I started getting eczema too. I also accidentally bleached quite a few nightshirts or towels because of the benzoyl peroxide content of the products.

I temporarily went off birth control a couple years ago for about 6 months. I really didn't notice a change in my body fat or in my breast size when I went off it or when I started up on the Yaz - I was hoping I might drop a cup size or two, but it didn't really happen. And I had more trouble with my skin because, like you mentioned, the topical treatments only seemed to control breakouts once they already started. The birth control option seemed to alleviate the cause of the acne so that breakouts occur less often, so I opted to go back on it.

medusa

Veteran

There's some evidence that a low glycemic index diet (basically a low carb diet) improves acne:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Me...../AAD/13261

http://livinlavidalocarb.blogs.....ed-by.html

Many of these studies are done by low-carb proponents, so they may not be totally objective.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the great info ladies! Wow. You are a melting pot of information.

Maya, I’m sorry I can’t offer acne advice, but my suggestion would be to get off BC and see a dermatologist.

marianna

Veteran

I've battled acne all my life. I had pretty severe acne as a teen and went on Accutane at around age 15 and that really helped. My skin remained clear for about a year afterward, but since then I've been dealing with the annoying pimples here and there (constantly). Nothing works. I've tried all the acne antibiotics, I've been on Spironolactone, seen numerous dermatologists, I'm on BC right now, yada yada yada. I've come to the conclusion for myself that I'll always have to deal with pimples, that it's just part of my genetic make-up, and I've learned to accept that. I honestly think some people have pimples and others don't. I may be a pessimist.

crwilson

Veteran

Oh, I forgot to mention that what works best for me is avoiding dairy - without dairy, I don't break out AT ALL. It's amazing. I love cheese though so I just don't eat when I know I have a special occasion coming up.

Kyle

Veteran

Maya:

Accutane is the court of last resort, and your dermatologist, by law, cannot prescribe it until every other avenue has been exhausted. It is very serious stuff, and you need to be well informed, as it is directly linked to birth defects. My son uses it and the results have been incredible.

Lovely Maya, please talk to your dermatologist about Retin-A (Tretinoin). I call it my miracle cream. My acne has been gone forever since I started using it some years back, and it's anti-aging to boot (not that you need it, but still). I just can't say enough good things about it, and I now actually receive compliments on my complexion. Really great stuff.

marianna

Veteran

Kyle, Accutane is linked to birth defects if one gets pregnant while taking it. That's why you're required to take blood tests/pregnancy tests each month and you are required to be on birth control. It is a super serious drug, but it is a miracle worker! Glad your son's skin is clearing up!

shiny

Veteran

Well, I'm probably the last person to ask about this, as I've been blessed and never really had much of an acne issue, beyond the one single gigantic pimple that shows up occasionally at TTOM - (The "third eye" type thing) - whether on the pill or off of it. All I have ever had to do is use an antibacterial soap daily (Lever), moisturize, wear sunscreen, and make it a habit not to touch my face. The pill also didn't make any difference in my breast size, although I do think it did help me fill out elsewhere. The breasts grew with pregnancy and nursing, and never shrunk back down again.

With that said, going off it (I've used a non-hormonal IUD for about 10 years), has not really made any difference in my weight control - plus or minus. (Yet with that said, using a non-hormonal B.C. has done wonders in other aspects! But that is beyond the scope of your question here

DH, however, battled horrible acne in his teens and early 20s. They put him on accutane - now remember, this was 20 years ago - and it destroyed his oil glands. Basically he does not produce any oil on his face anymore. This means he has to moisturize - several times a day. Very heavy duty moisturizers at that. He says it is just as painful to have super-dry skin, as it is to have cystic acne. Yes, his face these days is clear of pimples, but if he could go back into a time machine, he says he'd never have used the accutane.

DD16 has acne issues - not as bad as DH had, but bad enough that it is not just a beauty issue but it is painful, and uncomfortable. DH was adamant she should not go on accutane. So we first tried Proactive. And it did nothing. Did not make a dent.

So then we took her to her doctor, and the doctor said Proactive really doesn't do a thing. It's a great face cleaner system, but that's about it. She prescribed something - and I'm sorry, I don't remember what, and I don't have it handy (I can check with her when she comes back from her dad's in another week, if you like - let me know). It works. As long as she uses it every day. If it didn't work, the next step was going to be the pill.

Long winded way to say - stay away from the accutane, if the pill increased your breast size there's no guarantee it's going to go back, and you should talk to your doctor or dermatologist. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something and there may be no need to see a derm (they are notoriously, frustratingly hard to get an appointment ).

HannahC

Maya, hope you find a solution to your acne problems!

I am sorry to disappoint you, but your breasts most likely will not shrink if you go off the pill They will shrink if you lose weight, because most of the breast tissue is fat tissue, but since you are not overweight, I don't think this is the right thing to do.

However, staying on the pill might cause another increase in your breasts size, and this might be a very valid reason to go off the pill.

Re acne - I also had minor acne problems well into my 30-ties. I even tried Accutane (the lowest possible dose) when I was 27, I think, and it indeed did wonders, but the results lasted only until I got pregnant (again). Since you are not planning kids, you might enjoy a permanent effect of Accutane, though ... (pregnancy breaks havoc in the hormones). Talk to your dermatologist. What happenned to Shiny's DH is scary, but I think it might have something to do with the dose and the length of treatment as well. BTW, I don't have acne anymore, except a little once a month, but this improvement is only from about a year ago. Not sure the prospect of waiting until you are 35 to be acne-free is so great.

Good luck!

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, I think there's a good chance my size will go down if I go off the pill. I did not go from a B to a DDD just from weight gain (I haven't gained THAT much weight!). It takes a long time though. It's not like after 3 months or even 6 months I'll see a big difference. I talked to my VBF (very best friend) about this since she had to go off the pill due to persistent headaches. She told me she definitely lost at least a size (she is much smaller than I am though), but it took nearly a year.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how bad the acne problem is.

I would seriously consider reduction surgery eventually, if all else fails. But doing anything invasive is obviously a last resort.

Edit: I did some research and found out that for ever 10-15 pounds of weight loss, you should expect to lose one cup size. I only gained 20 pounds between being a B and a DDD, so clearly not all of it has been from weight gain. I have to be honest, if I were to go up even one more cup size, I would be totally devastated. So going off the pill even to prevent further growth might be worth it. I'm terrified of getting bigger. Given my overall size and frame, being a G or bigger is just ridiculous and would be a nightmare in terms of physical comfort.

shiny

Veteran

Having been in a weight loss forum before, with hundreds of people, my observation is that the "one cup per 10-15 lbs" is highly individual. It really depends on how your body wants to put on weight. Some people gain and lose first in their breasts. Some people do not.

In high school and college, I was an A cup. I gained a lot of weight after marriage, and became overweight. But I was still an A cup.

However, then I got pregnant and I ballooned to a B. While nursing, I ballooned to a D, though the D was temporary and after the first 3 months, I settled back to a B. This was even while I was getting into shape and losing excess weight. Once I stopped nursing (when DD#2 was about a year old), I was still a B, which is where I have remained for 15 years - despite being on the pill, being off the pill (I've been off it for 10 years), being back at my college weight, even being back at my high school (!) weight for a brief period, and through heavy weight training, running, etc, as well as periods of inactivity.

I can say that I completely sympathize with you, Maya, because I hated being a D cup - even if it was temporary. It was so hard to find clothes that fit and flattered. I ended up living in XL tee shirts. If I had YLF back then, I may have figured out how to manage better.

At any rate, I suspect my ballooning to a B during pregnancy - and staying there - has more to do with a change in the breast tissue itself. Those who are mothers on this forum probably know what I mean by that! You get less firm and kind of just... sag. (Can I get a cheer for underwire??)

Maya

Veteran

That's funny because I would give anything to be a D. I never had any fit issues when I was a D. I could even wear high necklines at that point without looking awful. When I first got fitted as a 32D, I remember scowling with annoyance and complaining to my mom. Now, 3 years later, I still have one D cup bra in my dresser that I hang on to, just in case. Luckily my band size is only a 32, which means that a D is actually not that remarkable. But a DDD is just BIG at any band size...and even more silly when one considers how small the rest of me is.

Up until maybe the last 2 years, I haven't faced any real problems with my bust size in terms of fit and physical comfort. It has become pretty bad lately though. I can't even sleep properly anymore (I like to sleep on my stomach, and well, you can imagine why that is not a comfortable option). R

Anyway, I don't think there is any question that hormones affect breast size. It is a very common side effect. I don't have unrealistic expectations. If I even went down to a DD I would be thrilled, because it would be the first time in my life that I have gone DOWN a size instead of up. And if it only prevents me from getting larger, I guess that's okay too. i can't imagine life as a size 2/4 with a G cup. I'm pretty sure that would actually make me a legitimate candidate for insurance-covered reduction surgery.

While I am not overweight, I still have some wiggle room. If I lost 5-10 pounds I would still be a healthy weight. Who knows, maybe that would do it. I'm just trying to explore my options because I am young and have a lot of life ahead of me, and I don't want to spend it fighting with my chest. Very recently, I have been getting pretty good at making peace with the rest of my body...but I just can't get over this.

taylor

Veteran

Goodness Maya, In your photos you don't look that large busted....You look tiny all over...busty, yes....but I would have never guessed that large...I guess it would be different if you had a larger frame and could therefore carry and balance out easier.

I am sure if you wanted a reduction..*should all other avenues* fail for you , it wouldn't be a problem...I have had 3 clients and a girlfriend who have had this done...and they are quite happy with the results.:) The pain ,shoulder, back,neck, not to mention the emotional distress you are feeling, is taken very seriously in the medical field....this is not vanity,* this is well being* body and soul:)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I just want to say that saying this: “I have been getting pretty good at making peace with the rest of my body...” , just won you another YLF award. You know I don’t hand them out lightly.

I’ve met you in person a few times and you know I think you are gorgeous :0)

HannahC

Maya, yes, I am pretty sure it was the pill that contributed to the increase in your breasts size. What I was saying is that if you go off the pill, most likely your breasts will not shrink back. It usually only goes one way (the wrong way ).

Four years on a pill got me from C to DDD, and now the supposedly extremely low in hormones Mirena (hormonal IUD) got me from G to H (the jump from DDD to G is because of pregnancies and weight gain). You say you would give anything to be a D - well, I would give anything to be a DDD The size 32H is just ridiculous (not to mention extremely uncomfortable). I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't cause further increase in breasts size ...

I also have to say that, while I haven't met you in person, I've seen your pictures on the forum, and you are gorgeous and have a great figure. You really are beautiful exactly as you are now. But I understand very well that it is mostly a matter of comfort, and I hope you will find a solution that you are happy with.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Maya, I sympathize with this in a big way. I've had acne issues that were also treated with accutane when I was a teen. It works beautifully, but is drastic and not something I am willing to repeat. I'm on a birth control pill to control things (diane-35), but went off it for awhile in order to conduct some medical tests. My skin broke out a month later, and I only brought it under control with the use of...an organic skin-care line. I've mentioned Evan Healy products before, I think, but they truly saved my skin. They're all natural and environmentally friendly, but don't smell horrendous and earth-mama-like. In fact they smell like either rose or lavender, depending on which line you choose. They operate on the premise that the best way to treat sensitive skin is not to dry it out with acids and subject it to a lot of chemical processes. It sounds hippy-dippy, but honestly it's worked for me. Just throwing in my two cents. Good luck resolving this issue!

casey

Hi Maya,

I haven't posted on the forum very much but I go to an awesome dermatologist (mainly for cancer checks but she helped me out with my skin when I was a bit younger) and I wanted to share her advice with you.

I used to have your average mild teen breakouts. What I didn't know at the time is that I have super sensitive skin and react to all kinds of skin care products (but strangely not makeup). By trying to blast my occasional blemish with an over-the-counter-spot treatment or a pore-cleaning face wash or astringent or whatever, I exacerbated the problem. My sensitive skin would dry out, produce more oil that produced more blemishes, and I would end up with irritated, splotchy blemished skin. (I tried Proactiv once and I was a blotchy mess!)

My derm told me that there is really NO reason to use expensive cleanser or moisturizers and it only makes the problem worse to use harsh spot treatments or anti-acne face washes on my sensitive skin. Instead, go for something simple and gentle - cream cleansers and bar soaps tend to be safe bets. Avoid anything with salicyclic acid! Make sure your moisturizer is not heavy (the ones geared towards sensitive skin tend to be lighter) and is noncomedogenic. My dermatologist did give me the Differen cream (the gel was way too harsh and drying) to spot treat if needed but agreed that treatment is mostly internal.

If switching to Yaz (which I happen to be on, though I don't think it has affected my skin one way or the other) does not help, the next treatment my dermatologist would prescribe is antibiotics. This has worked very well for people I know!

I currently use Neutrogena products - cream cleanser and sensitive skin moisturizer. I vastly preferred Dove's sensitive skin line but they have since discontinued it. I avoid face wipes (aside from baby wipes), astringent, and makeup remover. Keeping my skin moisturized is the most important for me - my dermatologist told me to wash my face only once a day. My skin is perfectly clear except for the occasional single blemish.

Sorry I wrote a novel for you. The bottom line is to get to a good dermatologist and in the meantime avoiding drying out your skin and causing a reaction.

SunnySof

Member

As acne sufferer for decades now, here are my two cents. I'm in a similar boat with BC as I'm currently breastfeeding, so I'm on the minipill, which doesn't do much to help my acne as the combination pill did. When I got pregnant and after, the acne was horrendous, but I couldn't use any strong medications because of the pregnancy and after the breastfeeding. So I've tried many things over the last year, and here's what's helped me.

Basically, as others have mentioned,I use the basic regimen on http://www.acne.org. Except I used 5% benzoyl peroxide as the climate where I live doesn't dry out the skin. I also use a neutrogena salicylic acid toner twice a day, then apply the BP twice a day. And use a light moisturizer with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) which is good to remove dead skin. This has worked great, and I find it's the consistency that's very important. Plus this is nice and cheap compared to proactiv, or prescription meds.

TylerAnne

I know I'm late to this topic, but I read that you are considering staying on BC but trying a different pill. I have been taking Lutera for over a year now, with no increase in bust size AT ALL (for me that's a bit disappointing, because I'm barely an A cup, but it might be what you're looking for). Before that I was off pills for about six months, and I had acne, which cleared up right away with the Lutera. Before THAT I was on Yaz, but I think the Lutera is better for no weight gain at all.

elpgal

Veteran

Maya, I sympathize with the bust issues.

I went from a size B to a size F over a 9 year span with a 10 lb weight gain. B to D was not a difficult transition and I could still wear nice tops. I stopped wearing nice clothes when I went to a DD. Nice clothes for me meant nice tops since I was mostly in jeans or chinos.

My current size is just intolerable. If I were not planning on breastfeeding potential kids, I would seriously go in for a reduction.

The only birth control I have tried is Nuvaring and it took my size from an E to a F, so I can't complain too much.

Maya

Veteran

I had a similar experience as you Elpgal, though it took me only 5 years. B-D was no big deal, but DD and DDD have been really uncomfortable. Actually, I started posting here in January of 2008 and I was a D then, so frighteningly, I have gone from a D to a DDD in only a year. In fact I remember my first set of pictures were in a high cowlneck which I could definitely not wear now.

I have 0 interest in having kids, so in all honesty, I have no reason NOT to consider surgery other than my reluctance to have myself cut open and uncomfortable (though after foot surgery, I'm sure I can handle just about anything). I'll give it some time but if things don't improve (or god forbid get worse), I wouldn't hesitate. I have been reading that reduction surgery has the highest level of satisfaction over any "cosmetic" procedure (I put that in quotes because I think in most cases, it's more than just cosmetic).

I was going through pictures in my photobucket album today and I can't help but feel like this is just SO wrong...

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....G_1423.jpg

And that was when I was a cup size smaller!

As for all the acne input: As expected, lots of conflicting advice, but definitely some thorough input and a lot of possibilities to try out. I don't know if this going off the pill thing is going to work or not, but if it does, I'll definitely be doing a lot of experimenting with acne control.

Angie: It's true. I have actually been noticing that I'm really not as big as I thought. Ironically, I think it's just my chest that makes me feel bigger than I really am...hence being the one thing I'm hung up on.

elpgal

Veteran

Aww..I am sorry if I made you feel badly by bringing up this post to the top. But then again, look at that hot booty and teeny waist! *hugs*

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