Adult Acne - I can't be the only one! (Calamine Lotion update - TY Lively!)

I never really had acne. Now as an adult I break out especially when I am stressed out. I thought it was during my pregnancy but it is still there.

After years of battling cystic acne and exhausting literally EVERY remedy, including:

-every cleanser/skin care regimen/anti-acne treatment on the market

-multiple radical diets (and some not-so-radical ones too, just for the heck of it)

-antibiotics

-birth control hormones

-natural remedies

-essential oils

...I finally caved and asked my dermatologist about Accutane. I'm in my fifth month of it now. It's been BRUTAL, but after years of agony and messy, troubled, painful, extremely broken out skin, at last I have no more of that disgusting wet-looking shine I used to always get, and the results are MIRACULOUS. The most recent time I went in for my checkup, my dermatologist said my face was "exquisitely clear." Which has basically been my dream since adolescence.

It's expensive, it sucks, it's caused some horrible side effects (but no lasting damage of any kind), but as someone who has suffered terrible skin and had nowhere else to turn, oh man, I can tell you it. is. so. worth. it.

I've got one more month. Then I'll be done with Accutane forever (hallelujah) and move to a much more normal skin care regimen, and my skin will be very healthy. I won't ever have a movie star's photo-shop-level complexion, but I WILL have normal, healthy, decently clean and clear skin.

HURRAY.

Talk to a dermatologist! They'll be able to help.

I get acne pretty badly. Mine is definitely stress related though. The one thing that helps me alot is doing face masks. I think my favorite right now is called magic mud. It does wonders for my skin!

I have had bad acne all my life.. I used proactive for a long time and it really did help. Have you tried spironolactone? I have been on it for a few years now and it really helps with hormonal acne.

Ugh I feel you Randi! I did three rounds of Accutane in high school and actually stopped the third round short because I couldn't handle it anymore. It is rough! I was actually considering trying it again as I never used it as an adult.

Do you remember the brand @NAWWAL?

@Amberrose, that sucks A mom a used to babysit for had the same thing happen with her

I always had acne, am 32 now. If I eat chocolate, sleep too little or am too stressed out, I'll get pretty bad outbreaks. I use the Vichy line that has salycilic acid (or something like that) and it has really helped reduce/almost-eliminate the outbreaks, though I still get the occasional zit here and there.

FH suffered with acne for years. I felt so bad for him. A few years ago he started going to the dermatologist, eventually they put him on Accutane, it's been a life saver for him. He was on it for 6 months (I think) and his acne never came back, he gets an occasional pimple here or there, but that's no big deal. He did follow up on some meds/creams after the accutane but that was a few years ago and the results have lasted!

Mine has also been horrible since I got an IUD! I think I may need to bite the bullet and see a dermatologist. I don't need perfect skin, but something better than what I have.

I'm not sure @TFH... I honestly can't remember the name of the medication I'm on right now (how bad is that?) but I don't think I've tried spironolactone. It's not ringing any bells.

Oh wow yes K S, it was the exact same with my FH! That's what inspired me to go on it!

Nikki, my dermatologist tells me that for a 6-month round of Accutane:

-1/3 of patients will be pristinely clear

-1/3 of patients will now be easily treated by a topical treatment with their skin care regimen (this is what she guesses my results will be like)

-1/3 of patients will need one more 6-month treatment, after which they will fall into one of the first two groups

-*all* patients will see drastic results and will be changed forever, regardless of which group they fall into (even just after the first 6 months if they fall in the third group)

I would really recommend asking about it again! It may be different for you as an adult?

I have had adult acne and it only started going away recently (mid to late 40s). If you have cystic acne, try accutane if you can afford it (and aren't TTC). I used it in my late teens and had a good, solid acne-free decade.

I use calamine lotion once or twice weekly -- the pink kind -- and my skin dries out and looks amazing. Some masks do the same. I also use Retin A Micro but that will make your skin worse before it gets better.

A Clarisonic helped me initially but has leveled off. I stay on top of my skin because I have to. Some of us just have icky skin...

I have a crap ton of acne on a daily basis. If I actually keep up with ProActiv, my skin would be completely clear. But I'm lazy and don't do it every day But, ProActiv worked for me.

In highschool i used prescription benzoyl peroxide from the dermatologist and another cream that i can't remember the name of unfortunately, that combo worked the best for me then.

i need to get something for my back, it has always caused me problems and i want it to be clear for my wedding day

I just started seeing a dermatologist. He has me on an antibiotic, a gel in the morning, and a cream at night. It worked for me super fast.

Me hate it

I, like you have struggled with acne before I can remember. There were days that I would stay at home because I felt so hideous and didn't feel that even makeup would help me. These were days that I was in college! Not high school or grammar school. Ugh, the struggle really is real.

When I met my FH, I just stopped caring. I received a referral from my PCP to a derma for this damn rash I kept getting and noone could figure it out. While I was there, she asked if I wanted her to help me with anything else and I laughed off acne. She has been a MIRACLE worker! She has put me on Acticlate (low dosage antibiotic), Epiduo (topical for nighttime) and Aczone (topical during the time). Girl, I get a SMALL zit here and there when I sleep over at FH's place or when my period rolls around but my face has done a TOTAL change.

This is coming from someone who was put on all kinds of crazy medicines in the past and tried everything from Proactiv to Origins to Paulas Choice. I literally gave up and her mix of all 3 has been so great. I broke out for a LITTLE bit when I got put back on BC a couple months ago (so I don't get my period on the wedding day) but now that my body is used to it I'm back to clear skin!

Another vote for accutane here too...I never struggled through my teen years with bad acne, but developed pretty awful, stress induced, cystic acne in my mid-late 20's and was put on accutane...it was amazing. The side effects weren't bad on me for whatever reason. I was told I would probably not be able to wear contacts because of the drying, but that didn't happen. The most annoying thing I experienced was dry lips. I just carried a small tube of Aquaphor around with me and that stuff did the trick. I know it's a controversial drug with alot of nasty side effects if you don't follow the "rules", but it was worth it for me...miracle drug!

I just started using a clarisonic brush almost 2 weeks ago. I have seen a difference but my face isn't clear yet. I did read about a "purge" during the first week or two where it gets worse before getting better, so we'll see if it clears completely in the next few weeks.

FYI I just looked up Accutane to see if it might be an option for me and apparently it has been recalled and discontinued in the US...

Proactiv worked for me, except it would make my skin way too dry and flaky in the winter. It would be the worst right above my lip, and then my makeup would look darker there, giving the appearance of a mustache. I have switched to a Paula's Choice, which has been working out much better for me.

I had all the same issues as you @OriginalRandi! I did a 6 month treatment with Accutane and my biggest side effect was the dry skin -- mostly my lips and backs of my hand. Other than that, I was extremely lucky in that my blood levels were always normal, no other huge side effects, and I came out with the best skin I've had in YEARS! I too still get the occasional pimple here and there, but I have yet to get another one of those painful, disgusting cystic monstrosities!

My insurance covered a good portion of the cost, my dermatologist just had to show proof that we had exhausted all other treatments (topical gels, ointments, BC, other prescriptions, blah, blah, blah). The insurance company set the treatment time also because my doctor wanted me to go another month but they quit covering it after 6. Either way, it doesn't hurt to talk to a dermatologist. I think it was the best decision I've ever made!