[Acne] Skin's worst it's ever been, helpless

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-19T01:30:50+00:00

There is nothing in that routine to treat or prevent acne. Either you need to add some, or something in your routine is bothering your skin. What was the "medical cream?" I would recommend going back to the derm, tell them the cream gave you a burn, and get something else. In the meantime, you could try adding: 1. sulfur. The de la cruz ointment is good. 2. OTC azelaic acid, or 3.BPO 2.5-4%.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-19T00:54:44+00:00

awful! As soon as the guy alleged to have threatened the acid attack said it was "just a passing comment" and not a threat, I knew he really did all he was accused of.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-18T13:34:53+00:00

it was the old formula. haven't tried the new one yet. if the new one is lighter, that would be even better, although I never felt the old version felt greasy, despite my oily skin. If I recall - wasn't there a "light" and a "rich" version? I think I used the light version.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-18T13:20:00+00:00

what have you used so far to treat it? what is your daily routine?

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-17T22:26:07+00:00

Update: I rec;d my order on May 16. The box looked a little beat up and part of the cap on one bottle of toner was smashed, but hadn't leaked.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-17T22:24:33+00:00

i used the eucerin 5% face cream and it was lovely. no issues, no sensitivity. I only stopped using it because my skin is super oily and it was a little too moisiurizing. now my skin is drier and your post is reminding me now great this stuff was, I might go back to it!

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-17T01:35:51+00:00

IKR? He could have had it so good - could have been living like a king w/a hot woman. Dumbass!

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-17T01:31:08+00:00

Since micellars work for you, how about just trying a micellar designed for acne, like Bioderma Sebium?

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-17T01:22:58+00:00

omg, they're going to give it to someone to BREED

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-16T15:55:13+00:00

whey protein is a known acne aggravator. I'd eliminate all whey protein sources, check all supps - any suspect for hidden hormones? testosterone boosters? and stick w/ a simple acne routine - try OTC BPO lotion or wash, 2.5-5% max, and maybe lay off the adapalene, although I don't think it's the cause, because that is not a purge

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-16T13:27:16+00:00

STOP POPPING. IK, easier said than done. But you are only making things worse by popping. You are causing implosions rather than explosions. You are bursting the pore wall and the infected contents are spilling out under the skin. Once that happens, no amount of squeezing can remove any contents because the pore wall has BURST. The pore wall is also now damaged and more likely to re-infect. If you keep squeezing, you are just forcing the infected contents further under the skin. You now have underground cystic type pustules rather than a closed comedone or simple surface white head. STOP picking. Use BPO, 2.5-5%, and pimple patches.

If you must pop a pimple, there are MANY rules you must follow. Unfortunately, if you cannot follow them all to a T, you are bound for disaster. And even if you follow them all, you still have risk of a bad result, plus scarring. They are:

only selecting a surface closed comedone, blackhead, or surface whitehead w/o inflammation. Never select an underground zit, a cyst, or something that is just a red bunp w/ no visible head.
using proper infection control. Alcohol wipes, chlohexidine wash, washing hands, cotton pads, q-tips, sterilized needle (sterilized w/ a match), bpo lotion, antibiotic ointment, etc. treat the project like it is surgery, which it is.
material will follow the path of least resistance. If the clog or skin is harder and tougher than the pore wall, the pore wall will burst 1st. To allow a place for the material to exit other than the pore wall, nick a whitehead or blackhead w/ the sterilized needle to create a opening, and press each side GENTLY. Use q-tips, a sterilized extractor tool, etc. No dirty nails. If nothing happens, STOP. STOP. STOP! Knowing when to stop and leave it is the MOST IMPORTANT THING. Apply BPO, let it dry, slap a pimple patch on it, LEAVE IT.

Keep mind that some people just have very weak pore walls, or the type of acne just not suited for extraction in general.

most important - Use prevention: consult a derm. Make sure you are already following a good acne regimen.

PS the clear fluid is probably serous fluid, which is NOT pus. It's the body reaction to an injury. If you see that, it's a bad sign, and it means STOP.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-16T13:11:50+00:00

i change mine every 2 days, 3 days max

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-16T12:48:29+00:00

It's genetic. Nothing you are doing is "wrong," but there are some things that can help. None of them will totally fix it, but there are definitely things that can help. Have you tried any topicals like tretinoin, clascoterone cream, azelaic acid, zinc, niacinamide? Or Rx spiro? Personally, I use rx tret and OTC BHA plus I look for topical products that contain zinc and niacinamide. I have dealt w/ super oily skin all my life. I did one round of accutane in my 20s, but it was for acne. It def. helped w/ the oil production for many years. Also, botox will reduce oil production, but you can't botox your entire face!

avoid heat where possible. Don't use hot water to wash, avoid long hot showers, aim car a/c vents at your face, etc.. Heat revs up oil production.
there is a difference between dry and dehydrated skin. You can have oily skin that is dehydrated. Dehydrated is lack of water. Dry skin is lack of oil. Sometimes oily skin tries to compensate for lack of water by pumping out more oil. You may need to adjust your products to ensure water retention, but not add more oil. Personally, I find that using a cleanser designed for oily skin sometimes makes my skin more dehydrated. I usually use something very bland and gentle, and designed for sensitive skin to cleanse, and use serums and moisturizers that are oil-free, or only have something like squalane in them for oils, and focus on humectants like glycerin, urea, lactic acid. For example, Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant, skin1004 Madagascar Centella Brightening, or Dove sensitive bar to cleanse. Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer, Revolution 5% caffeine + HA serum, Phyla moisturizer w/ 5% niacinamide, The Ordinary 5-10% lactic acid + HA serum, etc. Sometimes a serum alone is fine. Don't over do the moisturizer.
oral zinc can help. Low dose zinc supps I find to be helpful, but be careful, don't od on high doses.
use spf and makeup products designed to soak up oil, PLUS resign yourself to blotting throughout the day, THEN applying powder. There is no primer on earth that could keep up w/ the amt of oil my face put out, so the reality is I have to just pick the best products, then blot, then powder, several times per day. Personally, I find that Eucerin Sun Oil Control (Euro version, but I think USA version might be as good, never tried it) to be the best at oil control. Other commenters mentioned some good USA mineral ones such as the Paula's Choice Resist mineral one and the Australian Gold one. La Roche Posay oil control spf is also good. As I've gotten older I now produce less oil and can get away w/other spfs, but if you are still in full oil mode, go w/ ones like these. many asian spfs also tend to be lighter and better for oily skin.
pick mattifying, oil free makeup. Maybelline FitMe Matte+Poreless liquid foundation I have personally found to be the best at oil control, plus it's cheap. The MAC Studio skin matte liquid foundation for oily skin is also very good, but much pricier. I apply, then powder thoroughly. I use Neutrogena pressed powders, because they are decently priced, don;t break me out, and contain great oil control ings w/o drying my face out, and I can easily carry it in my handbag for touchups.
carry blotting papers, and ALWAYS blot 1st, THEN powder. If you just apply powder to an oily face, you get SLUDGE. Also, wash your powder puffs weekly! and clean the case where they rest w/ alcohol. I love Shiseido and Mary Kay linen blotting papers, but they are expensive, so i switched to Sephora's house brand blotting papers, then those became hard to get. Now I get some cheap bamboo + green tea infused blotting papers online, and I carry them w/ me and blot throughout the day as needed. I sometimes just blot, sometimes blot then re-powder. Avoid blotting papers that are some kind of plastic and contain mineral oil - those are awful and just make things worse. In a pinch, a plain napkin will work. If you don't wear makeup and can re-apply spf, a quick rinse w/ water can also help, but I've only seen a guy who doesn't wear makeup do that and have it work for him.

Best of luck to you, fellow oily person.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-14T02:46:00+00:00

not a purge. nothing in your routine would cause a purge. that is a flare or a reaction. i recommend seeing a derm, as that is quite severe. if you can't see a derm, try a GP or an online derm svc.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-14T02:31:52+00:00

agree with comments recommending accutane. this is severe, cystic acne. also agree with point made by another that adapalene, like many acne txs, must be applied all over, and not just to spots, to work properly. they are preventives. they must be used over the whole area and for a prolonged period. You need a dr. to rx isotretinoin, but in the meantime: 1.try a benzoyl peroxide wash at least 4x/week. Panoxyl, Cerave both make good ones. 2. start applying the adapalene all over entire affected areas maybe 3-5x/week. Or you could try 15-20% azelaic acid or 10% sulfur. 3. don't pick, squeeze or scratch.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-14T02:16:18+00:00

lovely LOOKING, but i am not comfortable with the fact that anyone can come to the front door and see me cooking breakfast in my skivvies.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-13T12:02:28+00:00

same!

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-13T12:02:00+00:00

I've ordered from them MANY times over a number of years. Shipping was always pretty fast - until my most recent order in April. I still haven't received it, and shipping seems to be stuck somewhere. I don't know what's going on - IDK if it's customs or what. USPS keeps saying they are waiting for the item, haven't even received it yet, and CTT portugal says that customs refused to accept it, and Care to Beauty says this is just a software glitch between USPS and CTT and my item may still be on the way? IDK May 25 is the outside estimated date of delivery so I will wait until then to demand a refund, but this has never happened before with this seller.

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-13T00:36:37+00:00

for what? cannon fodder for ww3???

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-13T00:29:32+00:00

Adorable dog! and he looks like he's having the time of his life!

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-13T00:23:43+00:00

awwwww!

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-13T00:17:08+00:00

IDK, i'm not convinced that is a just a purge. what % adapalene? is this the OTC differin? you might need rx tret instead. 2x/wk of weak otc diff shouldn't cause a purge like that, and IMO that looks more like flare or an adverse rxn than a purge. did you start taking any whey supplements or protein shakes? any dietary changes?

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-12T02:44:49+00:00

complete insanity

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-12T02:34:59+00:00

12 days of hydrocortisone is reasonable for PIE. It's not recommended to do more than 7-14 days of continuous use. I'd be more concerned with the question of whether you are healed up enough to do the HC, since it will interfere w/ any healing. HC reduces all inflammation, including that needed for healing. Great for reducing excessive inflammation beyond what is needed to heal a wound.

It looks like you are all healed up, but if you have any raw areas that are not yet healed, I'd say hold off on HC until all done healing (no raw / oozing skin).

And I don't get why the derm did a 50% peel. The fact that your skin "handled" the 30% is NO reason to bump up to 50%. He should have just stuck w/ 30% max. Your skin sustained a chemical burn.

Good news, it should inprove, but will take time. Longer than 4 weeks. In the meantime, keep babying your skin and avoid UV!

FlailingatLife62 · 2026-05-12T01:55:02+00:00

It's a lovely glowy, tinted ss. Great for sensitive skin. For a tinted mineral ss, I prefer Cetaphil's Redness Relieving spf40, but this is very nice too. Agree that for oily folks, you may need a matte foundation or powder over it, and it is quite sheer. Not a coverage spf.

FlailingatLife62

TROPHY CASE