Treatment for Acne That Doesn't Break the Bank?

[poohs_hunny]

I'm 30 years old - I didn't think I'd still be dealing with this problem at this time of my life! I get breakouts on my chin area very frequently. I think it must be due to my hormones, plus I have oily skin. The breakouts are mostly made up of those gigantic, sometimes under the skin, take forever to go away type pimples. I've tried ProActiv. It worked for about a month and then stopped being effective. I also tried Acne Free and it did nothing. I currently wash with Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash in the morning and at night and use Clearisil on the breakouts. It's really not helping much - this summer's been especially bad. I suppose I could see a dermatologist, but I was trying to avoid that cost. I am getting very frustrated and just want this acne gone - I'm not in high school anymore!! Any suggestions on something that may work, especially with "hormonal" acne? Thanks!

 

[LipglossAndLetdown]

Some cheap and easy suggestions are to make sure you change/wash your pillow cases frequently and to disinfect your phones. Both of these can harbor bacteria and rub it into your skin.

Different skin care works for different people. The main things are to make sure you're washing and moisturizing your face in the morning and night. Exfoliation is also important. At least once a week, more often if you do have oily skin.

I like the Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel, which is used after you get a pimple. I don't particularly like the rest of their Acne Solutions line; I've found other brands' products made for oily skin (not necessarily acne) that work just as well. I personally use mostly Estee Lauder products.

 

[Gigi22]

I suggest you check Paula Begoun's website for helpful information concerning adult acne, at: http://www.cosmeticscop.com
Her products (Paula's Choice) are reasonably priced. She also sells samples of all products, so you can try them out without purchasing full sized bottles.

 

[Justsyd2]

This is the only thing that ever really worked for me when I was your age:

http://www.marykay.com/skincare/specificneeds/10031580/10031580/default.aspx

 

[TxRabbit]

Researched this very topic recently. I discovered that acne can be a result of a Vitamin A deficiency. This can also be related to a Zinc deficiency (which is required for the body to absorb Vit A). Take a look at Vit A and Zinc rich foods and see if you eat a lot of them. If you don't, perhaps this will help.

 

[Graciesmom77]

This sounds crazy but it worked for me. I never had acne until I was an adult. Take the yolk of an egg and rub it on your face. Let it dry and then wash it off. Thats it! Not at all harmful and chemical free and as close to free cost wise as you can get. I know it sounds weird but not only did my acne go away, but the rest of my face became softer. Hope that helps.

 

[Brancaneve]

Don't you just hate it? I have heard that St. Ives Apricot Scrub has worked for many people. I keep it in the shower and love it!

 

[TxRabbit]

This sounds crazy but it worked for me. I never had acne until I was an adult. Take the yolk of an egg and rub it on your face. Let it dry and then wash it off. Thats it! Not at all harmful and chemical free and as close to free cost wise as you can get. I know it sounds weird but not only did my acne go away, but the rest of my face became softer. Hope that helps.

This is too funny...I was researching acne because my DS (only 9!) has a break out on his chin. That's how I found out about the Vitamin A deficiency. I did a quick google search on the egg yolk mask and found this info on this page:

http://www.mybeautyrecipes.com/homemade_acne_masks.html

"Egg Yolk Mask

Egg Yolks contain Vitamin A which is good for scarring. To attempt this method of acne treatment, whip up an egg yolk, apply it to your skin for 20 minutes. Wash off."

 

[TxRabbit]

OK. I just have to say a big thank you to Graciesmom77 for posting about the egg yolks...I just found this posted here and wanted to share...:

"I did a little research, and I think you'll be interested to see what I've found:

Egg yolks are one of the richest sources of vitamin A on the planet. Vitamin A is composed of many different chemical forms which are collectively known as retinoids.

All-trans-retinoic acid (AKA Retin-A), is one of them. It is mainly used in regulating the amount of skin cells produced and skin cell shedding. This is good for acne because it keeps your pores from clogging up.

13-cis-retinol is another. After many chemical reactions within the body, this compound is transformed into 13-cis-retinoic acid, which is Accutane. (Wierd, huh? Your body produces Accutane naturally from Vitamin A....) Anyhow, this compound has 3 main functions in stopping acne:

1) regulation of skin cell production
2) inhibition of oil production
3) inhibition of Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.

As an aside, I discovered that the reason you can't get your Accutane pills too hot or exposed to too much light is because the compound 13-cis-retinoic acid is very unstable as it is produced within your body under very specific conditions, so the synthetic form just doesn't keep well.

Now, the fact that it inhibits oil production is just one clearly stated fact that I have come across many times.

In scientific analyses of egg yolks, it was discovered that the yolks contain 13-cis-retinol, which could either be converted into the 13-cis-retinoic acid in the skin, or the 13-cis-retinoic acid is already present in the egg yolk. It is also possible that there are other, yet-to-be discovered retinoids present in the egg yolks that could be beneficial for the skin.

So putting egg yolk on your skin is kind of like putting a cocktail of Retin A and Accutane right on your face! It is also possible that eating egg yolks could be beneficial for treating acne. Of course, scientific studies of egg yolks and their affect on acne has not been undertaken, and probably never."

I've been needing to do more research about how to help my DS with his chin breakout. It's a bit severe. I was hoping to get it cleared up before school starts. He is starting 4th grade at a different school in a different school district. I just want him to be as confident as possible and the breakout is rather bothersome. I'm so hopeful this is going to work for him!! Thank you for sharing.

I just might have to give this a try for myself too. I still deal with breakout myself at 38.

 

[Justsyd2]

This sounds crazy but it worked for me. I never had acne until I was an adult. Take the yolk of an egg and rub it on your face. Let it dry and then wash it off. Thats it! Not at all harmful and chemical free and as close to free cost wise as you can get. I know it sounds weird but not only did my acne go away, but the rest of my face became softer. Hope that helps.

Eggs can carry salmonella, so it can be potentially harmful. Please be cautious.

 

[zscfan]

Birth control pills, especially Yaz, which now comes in a cheap generic form. I tried literally everything for my acne, which was just like yours. Yaz was the only thing that ever helped and it worked like a miracle. Anything topical rarely helps very deep acne.

 

[formill]

Birth control pills, especially Yaz, which now comes in a cheap generic form. I tried literally everything for my acne, which was just like yours. Yaz was the only thing that ever helped and it worked like a miracle. Anything topical rarely helps very deep acne.

Birth control pills and tetracylene only thing that worked for daugther. She was in grade 8- the difference was/is amazing. We tried all the usual drug store stuff with no good results.

 

[Irin997]

I'm 29 and have been dealing with moderate to severe adult acne since I had my daughter at 20. I used Pro-Activ with some success. I tried every OTC medications I could. I spent about $2000 on laser/light therapy which I also had moderate success with. But it still wasn't good enough - I was still breaking out...a lot.

Finally I went to my doctor, not a derm, and got on Retin-A as well as a topical antibiotic. It took a good 4-6 months to truly become effective. At one point I was ready to give up because the initial breakout for those months was so bad. But I stuck through it all. I've been using Retin-A faithfully for the past 2.5 years and I've been full on clear for the past 1.5 to 2 years. To the point where I'm actually comfortable leaving the house without makeup - something I NEVER could do 5 years ago. Also, Retin-A is wonderful for healing scars. The only downfall is that you can't get your eyebrows waxed and you cannot use it when you are pregnant, nursing, or trying to get pregnant.

I HIGHLY recommend the forums at acne.org. I lived there for 6-8 months. You can always tell when people start to clear up cause they disappear and no longer update their logs.

FWIW I too dealt with a lot of cystic acne (under the skin stays around forever). PLEASE go to a doctor. Stop wasting money on OTC meds that don't work.

 

[Jack&Ryan'smom]

I am 41 and have been dealing with horrible hormonal adult acne for the past 3-4 years!! I recently started seeing a derm. who has me on 2 differnent meds. She also suggested Cetaphil cleanser & moisturizer. All cleaning and makeup products should be non cosmegetic. I also go when I have those huge under the skin (Cystic Acne) ones. She gives me an injection and it is gone a few days later!! I love that!!!
I know it's tough. I hate to even look at my face in the mirror sometimes. I know some people say it's not that bad. But when it happens to you and you can't control it, it's frustrating.
My derm. also suggested an acne surgery. Haven't done it yet cause I'm sure the insurance won't cover it.
Good Luck!!!

 

[sumlthomp]

I had great success with ProActive when many of the prescribed topical treatments didn't work. I would definitely go to the dermatologist and try to get something to take orally.

 

[mrsyakitori]

I am 32 and it sounds like we have the same issues! After trying every otc product out there and many wacky home remedies I finally made myself an appt with a dermatologist & I am so glad I did. It has been about 1 year now and while my skin is not perfect it is majorly improving. My insurance covered most of my office visit and my perscriptions have been very reasonable. Most antibiotics used to treat acne are availible in the generic form. She also gave me coupons for the newer cream she perscribed which brought the cost down to $25.00 and it will easily last me 2+ months. Make sure you ask if they have any samples or coupons. Also check the drug company's website before you get the scripted filled because they often have coupons as well.

I tried everything over the counter and nothing worked. I honestly wish I would have gone and seen her sooner. It has been worth every penney and I am so much happier about my skin.

Good Luck,
Ann

 

[magik]

I hate those deep painful cystic zits. What has helped for me is cutting way back on dairy (hormones in it supposedly can contribute to acne), and when I do get one of those zits, using a tiny bit of full strength tea tree oil right on the breakout morning and night. I just dip a q-tip in the bottle and dab on the breakout. I start as soon as I can feel it forming under the skin. Zits that used to take weeks to go away, now go away in a week or less. The bottle is expensive, but you use so little that it lasts a really long time.

I also get omega-3's daily, either through fresh ground flaxseed in a smoothie or an vegetarian omega-3 gel cap (I'm vegetarian so don't eat fish, but fish oil capsules work for this too if you do consume seafood).

Cutting out dairy for a couple of weeks is free to try, and if it doesn't have an effect for you, you're not out anything other than missing cheese for a couple of weeks. As I mentioned, the tea tree oil is pricy, but it also lasts a really long time, so that balances it out. I know you can get fish oil pills pretty cheaply from Target and places like that, and I get whole flax seeds in bulk from my grocery store and grind them myself.

 

[simonkodousek]

I've found that Clean and Clear products do a good job at removing existing acne/pimples, and keep them away. I currently use the Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub (blue tube w/ cap on the bottom,) Persa Gel 10 (small white tube that comes in a plastic box,) and Daily Moisturizer. The exfoliating scrub works great in the shower, and the tube lasts forever; you don't need a lot to get the job done. The daily moisturizer is lightweight and oil free, so it won't feel sticky or heavy, or clog your pores. The Persa Gel basically dries up pimples so they go away faster. You only use a very small dab on the affected area, and it works fantastic.

I've found that Target has the best prices on Clean and Clear products; usually $1.50-2.00 cheaper than Walgreens.

JSYK, the Morning Burst scrub is horrible. The "bursting beads" don't do anything, and it doesn't clean as deep as the Deep Action scrub. I bought a tube to try it out, and I was completely disappointed. Go for the Deep Action scrub instead.

Hope that helps!

 

[NMW]

I would just go to the dermatologist instead of trying a bunch of things and wasting money. You will get results from the dermatologist that just can't be duplicated.

 

[TLuvsD]

I wasted a lot of money trying to help DD before I took her to the dermatologist. It would have been a lot cheaper overall, not mention less stressful, to take her to the DR in the beginning.

She does use the mint Julip face mask from Sally Beauty supply....but I think it's just a "girl thing". The DR gave her prescription meds, with coupons, and in less than 3 weeks there was such a huge difference.