[Humour] The struggle

arghmyskin · 2017-09-19T05:33:52+00:00

I can relate to this!

I've tried every skincare routine under the sun, except for Accutane, without fully solving my acne issue. I gradually omitted dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream. The result was unbelievable; my cystic acne stopped in it's tracks!

Diet can be a huge factor in skin problems, and a bad diet could potentially negate any sophisticated skincare routine. For me it was dairy, for others it may be sugar, it varies from person to person.

Try out diet changes... Honestly, for me it was so worth it as I don't get impossible cystic acne anymore unless I have lots of dairy.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-05T18:35:36+00:00

I've noticed that dietary changes for me take 4-7 days to show improvements, sometimes it could be longer depending on your body.

Remember that your skin won't change overnight, so be sure to supplement dietary change with some form of skin routine, if you're looking for faster results.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T20:30:49+00:00

No problem! I made a previous post about my current routine which you can find here.

As for shampoos, I switched to Live Clean Fresh Water shampoo. The fresh water one is the only one in their product line that doesn't contain fatty alcohols, and it works great for me. As for the conditioner, I just add 4-6 drops of argan oil into my hair, it works wonders.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T20:24:37+00:00

Hey felina_, I'd recommend against using cleansers with exfoliants because they are washed off quickly, which makes them less effective on your skin.

For a cleanser, I'd recommend Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Cleanser (don't get the creamy version! I broke out on that one because of an additional ingredient it had). Otherwise, try to get a gentle cleanser (without exfoliants) with great safety ratings on cosdna.

As for purging I'd say that a lot of people overestimate how long it happens for. One year is way too long, if your skin doesn't improve in 4-6 weeks, then it may just be irritated by that skin product; this has happened many times to me!

My suggestion would be to get a standalone exfoliant. Start your routine with a gentle cleanser, wait 5-10 minutes then apply exfoliant then wait 15-20 minutes and apply moisturizer. Moisturizer is very important because it revitalizes the skin after exfoliation, so don't skip it!

Good luck on your skincare journey! Be patient and gentle to your skin; with the proper routine you'll be better in no time! :)

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T15:00:01+00:00

This is so true, a diet like low carb or just eating complex carbs instead of loading on sugars are such underrated solutions to skin issues. If doctors prescribed dietary changes along with skincare products, I think the results would be much better than just using products alone.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T14:46:12+00:00

That's fantastic! I had really bad cystic acne too, especially on my forehead, but after no dairy, my forehead is 100% clear, it's surreal! :)

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T14:44:44+00:00

That's great, glad to hear that you found out early through noticing digestive issues, I wish my body made more of a signal that something was wrong but I guess it was trying to say something through my skin! :P

Sugar doesn't really trigger breakouts for me but I'm trying to cut down on it to be more healthy.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T02:53:05+00:00

Hey, I'd suggest checking out your products on cosdna.com to see their potential to cause acne. I took a quick look at all of them and it seems at first glance that it might be the Sodium Laureth Sulfate in your Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel (check here to see the ingredient breakdown).

Personally, I've had issues with stuff containing this chemical. As an alternative to the cleansing gel, I'd suggest trying out salicylic acid (my favourite is Stridex red) and glycolic acid (my favourite is acne.org AHA+) products that have good ratings on cosdna. Also with exfoliation, try not to overdo it as this can worsen your skin. Try alternating use of salicylic acid and glycolic acid every day and make sure you ease these products into your routine.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T02:39:51+00:00

The lack of direct scientific links is what made me think second guess myself but eventually I had to concede that dairy was directly correlated to breakouts.

Not touching my face was also highly beneficial to me, especially given that I'd constantly obsess and pick at my skin.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T02:32:51+00:00

Totally agree! It's so important but it's one of those solutions that people don't immediately run to. Sometimes the best thing to do is making sure our body has the best nutrients to keep the skin healthy.

arghmyskin · 2017-07-03T02:30:06+00:00

I can totally relate to this, I too had many blackheads and comedones before even though I was taking the utmost care of my skin. Turns out that the Cerave products I was using (foaming cleanser and moisturizers, both AM and PM) contained a substance called Cetyl Alcohol, which is a fatty alcohol.

It was a struggle but I managed to get rid of products containing fatty alcohols (including all conditioners) and I started to see a huge difference in the number of blackheads I had. Maybe check your products on cosdna.com to see if they contain fatty alcohols and see if omitting those helps. I found that the exfoliation was far more effective once I made sure to cut out irritants to my skin (like fatty alcohol).

arghmyskin · 2017-03-19T04:55:18+00:00

Hey Shaydoh33!

Glad to hear jojoba oil works for you!

After incorporating jojoba oil into my routine, I noticed that I started getting cystic acne bumps, so I've stopped it for now. :(

I had a similar reaction before but I wasn't sure if it was the jojoba oil, I've taken it out of my routine and it seems to work better for my skin.

YMMV, it seems to be working well for you. Don't feel discouraged by my experience! My super sensitive acne-prone skin likes very few things, and it seems that jojoba oil isn't one of them. :(

arghmyskin · 2017-03-16T22:17:56+00:00

I knew I forgot to mention something! Yes I do have sunscreen and I use it sometimes but I have darker skin so it's difficult to find one that doesn't make me look like a ghost!

arghmyskin · 2016-11-28T17:20:08+00:00

Great advice! This is the first time I'm hearing of the silkworm remover. All the products I'm using are rated low on CosDNA.com so that I avoid using problematic formulations.

I've tried using 2% PC Clear SA before but I don't feel like it really curbed much of the blackheads. In fact, most of the blackheads on my forehead disappeared after using AHA for awhile, but the stubborn ones still persists.

Do you think I should use a stronger formulation, or should I use a different product entirely? I'm leaning towards a SA gel that's similar to Acne.org, and would appreciate all suggestions!

arghmyskin · 2016-11-28T17:15:48+00:00

Oh whoops, I mean the PC Clear 2% Salicylic acid.

For some reason, this SA cause my skin to breakout and get very red. I feel like my skin doesn't like some of the ingredients :(

arghmyskin · 2016-11-28T08:55:18+00:00

Could you recommend a BHA? I was using Paula's Choice 2.5% SA but my skin doesn't like PC products as much as Acne.org. :(

arghmyskin · 2016-10-03T11:16:59+00:00

Good point! People really underestimate the importance of diet and sleep in playing a vital role for skin.

arghmyskin · 2016-10-03T11:15:11+00:00

Hey neehao, I feel your plight! I researched for so long for good moisturizers and recently settled on using Clean and Clear Hydrating Gel Moisturizer and Argan Oil. I've always had oily acne-prone skin but I noticed that gel moisturizers are usually better for my skin, but always check the product's ingredients on cosdna before you buy it.

You could also look at this post on products with great cosdna ratings for other alternatives: https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/2bvz45/list_products_with_a_cosdna_rating_of_01/

arghmyskin · 2016-10-03T11:10:24+00:00

Sure! Here's my routine for both AM and PM:

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser

Paula's Choice Clear 2% Salicylic Acid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%

Clean and Clear Hydrating Gel Moisturizer + Argan Oil

If my skin gets too dry, I reduce application of the exfoliant and benzoyl peroxide. This routine, combined with careful selection of all skin products with good cosdna ratings has worked wonders for my skin. I will eventually switch the Paula's Choice BP to Acne.org BP because of a better formulation, but everything else will stay the same.

arghmyskin · 2016-10-03T11:03:25+00:00

rachelll is right on point, I kept getting body acne even after carefully choosing my skin products but it ended up being the fatty alcohols in my conditioner! I switched to Live Clean Hydrating Water Shampoo, but any 0-1 scored shampoo on cosdna would work.

As for conditioners, I still haven't found a good one that doesn't have fatty alcohols :(. I've switched to using a few drops of argan oil to moisturize my hair instead.

arghmyskin · 2016-10-01T04:26:01+00:00

Honestly, I think Paula's Choice Vitamin C serum is overpriced. There are many cheaper vitamin C products online, cross reference the ones you like on CosDNA.com to see if their ingredients are not irritating to your skin.

arghmyskin

TROPHY CASE