Busting acne before the interviews

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
S

silas2642

silas2642
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
2,283
Reaction score
16
Okay, so I bought this stuff called acnefree at Walmart today because it's supposed to be "similar" to Proactiv (which I'm seriously considering if this doesn't work) but a heck of a lot cheaper. I have moderate to severe acne which for some reason is flaring up. Anyone have any comments on Acnefree, Proactiv, or any other advice on how to get rid of zits? I just don't want to go to an interview looking like Rudolph the red nosed med school applicant.
Members don't see this ad.
 
silas2642 said:
Okay, so I bought this stuff called acnefree at Walmart today because it's supposed to be "similar" to Proactiv (which I'm seriously considering if this doesn't work) but a heck of a lot cheaper. I have moderate to severe acne which for some reason is flaring up. Anyone have any comments on Acnefree, Proactiv, or any other advice on how to get rid of zits? I just don't want to go to an interview looking like Rudolph the red nosed med school applicant.
Click to expand...

I've been using Proactiv for about a year now and it has worked wonders for me. I had tried everything a dermatologist could prescribe (except Accutane, heard bad stuff about that one). I would order their 3-step system ASAP, use it immediately so your face can adapt (there's always that flare up period as soon as you start a new acne fighting regimen), and then drink lots of water. Water... another wonder-worker, underrated in acne-fighting, but ask any celebrity hottie and that's the first piece of advice they bring up.
 
silas2642 said:
Okay, so I bought this stuff called acnefree at Walmart today because it's supposed to be "similar" to Proactiv (which I'm seriously considering if this doesn't work) but a heck of a lot cheaper. I have moderate to severe acne which for some reason is flaring up. Anyone have any comments on Acnefree, Proactiv, or any other advice on how to get rid of zits? I just don't want to go to an interview looking like Rudolph the red nosed med school applicant.
Click to expand...


just wash your face twice a day with cetaphil, and use a over the counter acne medication like clearsil. Donty use too much, i havent used the proactive or the wannabe like products so i cant comment, However the pro active ad makes it look like a great product. I dont get acne that much anymore, but some scars exist. I went to the dermatologist and got some rx differin and benzaclin. Those two together are working great. The cetaphil bar which is over the counter is really good. Im glad my derm told me about it!.. I didnt have that much of acne problem so this has worked for me. I would go to a dermotoligist if it gets too bad.



Ihttp://www.mypharmacy.com.sg/ShopFront/ProductPage.aspx?CatID=287&ProdSKU=998040127E
 
Members don't see this ad :)
When I was 16-21 I used Proactiv and it worked great. Just don't get over-zealous about the repairing lotion if your skin is dry or sensitive, because it has benzoyl peroxide in it and too much can make your face peel.

My acne was fine until I started taking a progestin-only OCP. Because of the androgens my face has flared up again, and the Proactiv isn't quite as effective. Before I was taking hormones I had great results with Proactiv, so if you're a guy and don't have that to worry about it should work fine for you.

They have a ton of products other than the three-piece system. They have makeup, which I haven't tried, lotions, sunscreen, an all-over body/face wash that is stronger than the cleanser that comes with the three piece system, and other stuff. If you shop online try QVC.com becuase they have a huge range of products.

Good luck with it!
 
I took Accutane back in highschool and it worked amazing, although time doesn't really permit you to go that route. Oh yeah it makes you crazy too, which probably wouldn't be cool during interview season.

I second the Cetaphil, although I buy the off-brand of the liquid skin cleanser. Use that with some Clearasil Ultra and you should see some difference.
 
Mike4284m said:
I took Accutane back in highschool and it worked amazing, although time doesn't really permit you to go that route. Oh yeah it makes you crazy too, which probably wouldn't be cool during interview season.
Click to expand...
How does Accutane make you crazy? Does it really make you all depressed like people claim?

I considered trying it because I have oily skin, not much acne, but just really shiny skin all the time. I just want to take it for a few months and shrink those pores. Haven't found a physician to give it to me, and I think it's because they're worried about the side effects.
 
tetracycline cleared me right up when I was 18 - never had a breakout since.
 
I tried nearly everything the dermatologist had to offer when I was in highschool (tetracyclin, retin-a, differin, etc) and none cleared up my skin...although I'm sure they helped prevent scarring. Then my doctor suggested birth control, which has since worked wonders. I still break out, but I added another regimen to my routine that has helped a lot. 1. Drink plenty of water. You'll feel better and your skin will look better. 2. Use an acne facewash. I use Neutrogena, you can pick whatever you want. 3. Benzoyl peroxide 2.5%. Don't get a higher percentage, because it will dry out your skin. Apply liberally all over your face (even where you might not necessarily have a pimple at the moment). Start out using it once a day, and if your skin can handle it you can up it to twice a day. The key to this step is to be consistent and really use it every day, and you should see results after a week or two. Just my $.02...this is what has worked for me.
 
In high school and college my skin was really clear but once I got to med school it seems to break out all the time (STRESS). Also, being in the hospital has made my face even worse. I think it has something to do with the low humidity level because my skin is getting really dry.

I would agree 100% with the other posters that you should drink lots of water.

I tried ProActive and didn't really feel like it was all that great - just really expensive (and most OTC products have exactly the same ingredients). I would stick with the wanna be product but don’t expect results right away … skin care regimens take a few weeks to produce results.

Accutane is reserved for cases that have not resolved using other measures and I wouldn’t recommend using it until you have exhausted all other avenues. Yes, it can make you depressed and I believe there have been cases where teenagers have committed suicide while taking it. It is extremely teratogenic and if you are a female and decide to take it you MUST use two different methods of birth control (oral-contraceptives and a back up method) because it causes birth defects. I have heard rumors that Jessica Simpson took this medication – and it was this, not ProActive that cleared her skin up. Here is the FDA medication information on accutane: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/accutane/medicationguide.htm

Also, if you are looking for a really good make-up that makes skin look flawless try Bare Minerals. It’s a little expensive but it covers well and it’s very natural looking. I highly recommend the clear radiance and the bisque. A start-up kit which includes brushes and costs something like $50 and it will last you at least a year – I bought the spring break of first year and I still have not even used half. You can find it on QVC.

Best of luck during interviews.
 
Like most senior high/ college folks, acne has been the bane of my daily existence for quite some time now. I started going to the dermatologist my freshman year in high school and tried seemingly every perscribed topical/ oral antibiotic and otc drug; nothing helped. With my acne (cystic type), only accutane has worked. I have been through 2 full-cycle courses of accutane treatment (lasting nearly 2 years) and took the high doses of vitamin A they recommend between treatments to make the effects last longer.

It helped considerably, yet I decided about 2 years ago when I might have gone back to start my third treatment, that I wasn't going to do accutane again. I didn't experience any of the psychological symptoms people reportedly incur, yet that stuff wrought havoc on me, nontheless. It has a tendency to dry out mucus membranes and everything generally, which it did do. I also noticed it had an effect on my teeth as well. I had my first 3 cavities ever while on accutane and developed some gum problems due to constant dry mouth. To this day, I also have to use artificial tears throughout the day because my tear production hasn't been the same since accutane.

I suppose the moral of my rambling (if there is one) is to think twice about accutane... it's one heck of a drug and it did work wonders for my face. However, it has a host of side-effects that I didn't anticipate being stuck with even after I stopped taking it.

Oh, and fyi, I still have acne so it isn't a cure-all. I don't get the cystic breakouts like I did (thank God!)... I have been moderately successful using a 10% salicylic acid topic (OTC) along with cetaphil soap, neutrogena toner, and Oil of Olay moisturizer (by edict of the dermatologist).

Whoever comes up for an acne "cure" is seriously going to contend with Bill Gates or Rockefeller for being one of the wealthiest entrepenuers of all time...
 
All I gotta say is that you BETTER take care of your skin before interviews. I had this HUGE pimple between my eyes for my Hopkins Interview and I could tell that people were looking at it while talking to me the entire day.

SUCH an embarrasement.

My dermatologist recommends sleeping on your back so that your face doesn't touch the pillow (it's really dirty). If you can't help it, then to place a towel on your pillow and change it once a day (you could do the same for with pillow sheets).

Just my dos centavos.
 
silas2642 said:
Okay, so I bought this stuff called acnefree at Walmart today because it's supposed to be "similar" to Proactiv (which I'm seriously considering if this doesn't work) but a heck of a lot cheaper. I have moderate to severe acne which for some reason is flaring up. Anyone have any comments on Acnefree, Proactiv, or any other advice on how to get rid of zits? I just don't want to go to an interview looking like Rudolph the red nosed med school applicant.
Click to expand...

If you're female, I've found that birth control pills work quite well. I tried tetracycline and minocycline along with different types of gels for a while and they helped. Unfortunately, I got the side effects, such as super dry skin, occasional naseau with the antibiotic, and sensitivity to the sun. I'm half Indian so I've never burned before taking those pills. About a year ago I went on the pill since my cycle's no where near regular and I've been able to go off all the rest of my acne meds. 😀
 
Also ... if you are taking any type of antibiotic and are on oral contraceptives you MUST use a back up birth control. Antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of OCPs. My dermatologist forgot to mention this when he prescribed doxycyclin for my breakouts - thank god the pharmacist decided to mention it. I ended up not taking the antibiotic b/c effective birth control is more important so I can't say if it would have worked.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
silas2642 said:
Okay, so I bought this stuff called acnefree at Walmart today because it's supposed to be "similar" to Proactiv (which I'm seriously considering if this doesn't work) but a heck of a lot cheaper. I have moderate to severe acne which for some reason is flaring up. Anyone have any comments on Acnefree, Proactiv, or any other advice on how to get rid of zits? I just don't want to go to an interview looking like Rudolph the red nosed med school applicant.
Click to expand...

For over the counter stuff, I think that Clearasil's Blackhead Clearing Scrub works the best. That's what I use. I've never tried Proactiv though, so I can't comment about that.
 
NapeSpikes said:
How does Accutane make you crazy? Does it really make you all depressed like people claim?

I considered trying it because I have oily skin, not much acne, but just really shiny skin all the time. I just want to take it for a few months and shrink those pores. Haven't found a physician to give it to me, and I think it's because they're worried about the side effects.
Click to expand...


No; I know this because I used it when I was a teen. The thing is, if you're prone to depression or mood swings, it tends to exacerbate them. There was a whole big deal about a senator's son killing himself while on accutane...
 
Hey, does anyone here think that having enormous zits during an interview could hurt your chances of getting in?
 
jon stewart said:
:laugh:
:laugh: :laugh:

whos going to try this and share the results with us???
Click to expand...

Dude, it is supposed to dry out the zits. Plus, you can save money by re-using the toothpaste in the morning. Anyone care to volunteer to be subjects in a clinical trial?
 
I use a combo of Brevoxyl (topical) and Doxycycline (oral)

Its average, I get a few pimples here and there, bu tno major outbreaks.
 
mshheaddoc said:
I have tried. It works. No joke.

I also use proactive. Have for about 8 years now. I live by it.
Click to expand...


wow your serious.....lol? i thought it was a joke.

Hummm sounds like i will save some $$ for the expensive apps in the future.....

So, does the colgate whitening total care work better? than the crest brand? lol

There are so many toothpastes, which ones give the best results with the least side effects.........hahaha
 
mshheaddoc said:
toothpaste
Click to expand...


yeah!!! it works!!! I never have tried,,, but I heard people say that it works..
 
Toothpaste kills the germs in mouth, and it also works on superficial levels. I think that’s the probably theory behind it.
 
in regions of the world where there are no processed sugars (white bread, white rice etc), there are almost NO cases of acne. processed sugars are also as useless nutritionally as a chicken bone. ponder that one for a while.
-mota
 
oh ya, and proactiv worked for me. i would be in an infomercial if they asked me to be.
-mota
 
loveumms said:
Also ... if you are taking any type of antibiotic and are on oral contraceptives you MUST use a back up birth control. Antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of OCPs. My dermatologist forgot to mention this when he prescribed doxycyclin for my breakouts - thank god the pharmacist decided to mention it. I ended up not taking the antibiotic b/c effective birth control is more important so I can't say if it would have worked.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is something that any time I'm on an antibiotic the pharmacist lectures me on. I actually just stopped using the antibiotic when I got the birth control pill because the two together made me nauseas (I'm one of those people who reacts very strongly to medications... Tylenol Severe Allergy knocked me out for over an hour within 20 minutes of taking it), which is why I noticed the improvement with the pill. Either way, I would never rely solely on the birth control pill... I always make sure that we use a condom.
 
silas2642 said:
Hey, does anyone here think that having enormous zits during an interview could hurt your chances of getting in?
Click to expand...

Since I'm a non-trad applicant I'm trying to look younger. So I've been growing a crop of zits and whiteheads...i got one that I've been growing by smearing a combo of Crisco and corn oil on each morning.
 
Orthotricyclin worked well for me, but I decided to go off the pill because it was messing with my system. I think I am more hormonal than other women, period, and throwing more estrogen and progesterone into my system is a bad, bad thing. I am in the process of trying Proactiv, and it works, but no better than any other skin regimen if you just stick to it (kinda like a face diet). Also, since I've been in class with my hand propping up my chin, I tend to get zits all along my jawbone and chin. Ugh! Anyone know how to combat this? I can't believe I'm almost 29 and my face breaks out weekly!
 
yeah my breakout spots are chin it sucks. I have tried many other topicals with no success until proactiv. I also have friends that tried it that it didn't really work. I used differin and some sulfa drugs before in high school. Now as long as I use proactiv twice a day I can control it. most of my problems are stress related right now though 🙁 Proactiv can't help them. BOOO!
 
I've never had a problem with Acne, atleast not since H.S., but I know a couple of friends that have used proactiv and the stuff really does work wonders. I would just spend the me money and get, after all, its probably cheaper than paying someone to date you :laugh:
 
So...does the pill make you gain weight? My sister and her friends who were on the pill all got gigantic! Not one or two pounds but 20 to 30lbs..

Also, where are people getting the special makeup...bare minerals? I hate my current concealer. It's goopy and makes my skin oily.
 
I have tried many products, but my best weapon is Clinique's Scruffing lotion. Wash your face using face wash (Cetaphil works well) in the morning and evening, and apply the scruffing lotion to your face, using a cotton pad. I think the women's line is called Clarifying Lotion. I have tried to use other products too, but every time I stop using the scruffing lotion, my zits are back in a vengeance.
 
BlinkyCat said:
So...does the pill make you gain weight? My sister and her friends who were on the pill all got gigantic! Not one or two pounds but 20 to 30lbs..

Also, where are people getting the special makeup...bare minerals? I hate my current concealer. It's goopy and makes my skin oily.
Click to expand...

Research studies say no (ala Web MD), but in my experience YES!! Actually, I think more that the hormones increased my appetite = weight gain. No real water retention (I get more of that without the pill now!). Plus, I started it when I was a college freshman, so there is another factor (freshman 15).
 
Alexander Pink said:
I've never had a problem with Acne, atleast not since H.S., but I know a couple of friends that have used proactiv and the stuff really does work wonders. I would just spend the me money and get, after all, its probably cheaper than paying someone to date you :laugh:
Click to expand...

Now THAT was funny! :laugh:
 
BlinkyCat said:
So...does the pill make you gain weight? My sister and her friends who were on the pill all got gigantic! Not one or two pounds but 20 to 30lbs..

Also, where are people getting the special makeup...bare minerals? I hate my current concealer. It's goopy and makes my skin oily.
Click to expand...
My OB/GYN told me that about the same percentage of people who gain weight on the pill also lose weight. I was one of the lucky ones, I guess, who lost weight. I lost about 10 pounds within 6-12 months of being on the pill (and I was not overweight to begin with!)...not that you could really tell I lost weight...I suppose my face was a little thinner but I didn't really change clothing sizes.
 
BlinkyCat said:
So...does the pill make you gain weight? My sister and her friends who were on the pill all got gigantic! Not one or two pounds but 20 to 30lbs..

Also, where are people getting the special makeup...bare minerals? I hate my current concealer. It's goopy and makes my skin oily.
Click to expand...



It all depends - if you take the pill and eat like a horse then yes, you will gain weight. But, no it should not make you gain weight and if it does then switch the type you on (there a MANY different formulations). I've been on the pill for 6 years and I've stayed within 10 pounds of when I started (of course I was in high school when I started and exercising a lot and now I'm in med school and exercising a lot less).

The depo shot can cause weight gain but I've known many girls who have gotten it and not gained an ounce. It is all dependent on your body chemistry and how the medicine interacts, as with any medicine.

You can get BareMinerals from various different websites. I recommend QVC b/c they have great customer service but do a web search and see who is having a sale.

www.bareminerals.com

http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?class=6295&tmp=hp&cont=sn&cm_re=HP-_-SIDENAV-_-COSMETICS
 
SuzieQ3417 said:
My OB/GYN told me that about the same percentage of people who gain weight on the pill also lose weight. I was one of the lucky ones, I guess, who lost weight. I lost about 10 pounds within 6-12 months of being on the pill (and I was not overweight to begin with!)...not that you could really tell I lost weight...I suppose my face was a little thinner but I didn't really change clothing sizes.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I definately was one of those people who lost weight on it. But I also started taking the pill at the same time that I started working out regularly and trying to eat a little bit healthier so that could have factored into it. And I really couldn't tell that I was getting thinner too much either except that I did drop a pants size, but the size that I did fit into before that was a tad bit big to begin with. If you ask my mom, though, she thinks that I got too skinny but I think that was mostly her just not seeing me for a while because I asked people at school and they didn't think it was too dramatic.
 
CoffeeFreak said:
Since I'm a non-trad applicant I'm trying to look younger. So I've been growing a crop of zits and whiteheads...i got one that I've been growing by smearing a combo of Crisco and corn oil on each morning.
Click to expand...

HAHA. :laugh:
 
Anybody consider diet to be a problem?

The dermatologist I shadowed sometimes asked people to avoid eating bread, cereals, and other refined foods for about a week to see if that might be the problem. That starchy stuff puts your body in turmoil as you quickly become hyperglycemic and pump out all sorts of oils and other crap. This is espessially true for those who are sensitive to this effect.

If you have acne that just won't clear up this might be the reason. For some patients this worked miracles...I watched myself. So for anyone who wants to try it, if only for a couple of days, then stay away from anything refined, like white breads, white rice, etc. Feel free to eat fruits, meat, vegetables, whatever else, to your hearts desire.

Good luck.
 
I guess this could help (also will make you healthier overall) but, acne is not caused by food. The common myth is eating certain foods will cause acne ... chocolate was always blamed ... but this has been proven untrue.
 
DaMota said:
in regions of the world where there are no processed sugars (white bread, white rice etc), there are almost NO cases of acne. processed sugars are also as useless nutritionally as a chicken bone. ponder that one for a while.
-mota
Click to expand...
I do notice that when I lay off the high glycemic carbs, my skin looks better. I wonder if stable insulin levels help one's complexion??
 
NapeSpikes said:
I do notice that when I lay off the high glycemic carbs, my skin looks better. I wonder if stable insulin levels help one's complexion??
Click to expand...

Oh, probably. I failed to mention, however, that I am addicted to carbohydrates (especially in the form of Cheetoes and Chocolate milk) and have yet to come to terms with this little problem.
 
Just be careful when you go to a derm office. I know my insurance will NOT pay for anything deemed to be cosmetic. So, if you have a few moles that uhhh "look questionable" ... make an appointment to get these looked at and then just mention that you would like them to take a look at your face. That way you will not be as likely to get billed by insurance for the visit.
 
To toss in my two cents on Accutane, my fiance used it three different times (yeah, three), and she never went crazy, shriveled up into a raisin, or anything else. She got sunburnt more easily, but that was about it. So, different people have different reactions, but it's certainly a drug with strong side effects for some.
 
2 things to add to the no-acne list:

1. Don't touch your face. Stop. No picking, no feeling, no little squeezes on an inviting little bump. In addition to oil and dirt there are billions of bacteria just waiting to crawl into your moist little pores. Keep those filthy paws off your mug.

2. You might want to consider getting a facial. If there is a nice spa/salon with a good reputation that you know of, check it out. Those people see faces every day and often can get junk out of pores way before you even know it is there.

Plus, ProActiv is great - especially the face wash!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
All Late Interviews
Replies
7
Views
975
LizzyM
LizzyM
rose1101
Submitting Secondary before Verification?
Replies
1
Views
439
Dee2daK
Dee2daK
A
Med Schools That Update Portal before email?
Replies
2
Views
1K
ClashRoyaleKing
ClashRoyaleKing
V
Bankruptcy before medical school
Replies
8
Views
1K
Stuaccount
S
F
Letter of Intent before interview
Replies
5
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top