stress acne

[jesse14]

I'm not sure if it's stressed induced or just the cyclic nature of acne but i always seem to get a huge breakout on my chest when exam time rolls around or when there are a lot of things that need to get done.
I use 10% benzol peroxide body wash and it hasn't done anything to break the acne cyle. Its like my acne doesn't even respond to it at all because i can use it and the next day get a zit on my chest!!!. I also just started minocycline so MAYBE that will help. I'm hesitant to take actutane due to the serious side effets.

Any advice?

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[confettiflyer]

i don't have too much advice, but i do get one giant pimple during finals week every academic quarter. haha..just one, usually comes up during the end.

You're lucky it's on your chest unless you're wearing clothes in the style of John Travolta. Hahaha...goodluck there.

 

[Jcrown]

I used to take minocycline, and its great stuff. It just takes a couple months to kick into full effect. I used to have the same problem. My acne correlated with tests. I think for me it had less to do with stress, and more to do with lack of sleep (or getting my sleep cycles way out of wack). If I only got like three-four hours of sleep before a test, I would enevatably come home and do the two hour nap-thing, and bingo...the next day I find that once again the little zit-fairy made another visit and left me with several new friends.

 

[katiew]

Anyone know anything about Retn A. I think thats how you spell it. Anyways at the Er I volunteer at im pretty close with everyone and was explaining that ever since I started drinking starbucks on a daily basis my one side of my face is messed up looking so they wrote me a script for that. Im afraid to use it because my mom told me it burned her face when she was young!!

 

[Sparky Man]

Anyone know anything about Retn A. I think thats how you spell it. Anyways at the Er I volunteer at im pretty close with everyone and was explaining that ever since I started drinking starbucks on a daily basis my one side of my face is messed up looking so they wrote me a script for that. Im afraid to use it because my mom told me it burned her face when she was young!!

i took retin a when i was in high school. man, that stuff burned!!! i didn't have any pimples, but my face was fire-engine red!!!

 

[sdnstud]

i had serious acne problem when I was in high school/beginning of college. i'm now 25 and my face has been cleared for over 3 year.

I've been on acutane 3x. unless you're a female and sexually active, the drug's side effects are bearable. Acutane is usually adminstered in 6-month trials. In most cases, your acne gets worse in the first 2 months. After that, you'll see "some" improvement. About 4 months into the trial, you'll see dramatic improvement. Acutane is supposely the "only drug" against acne. Although it has a very high success rate, it didn't work on me.

Minocycline was the first med I tried. It is supposely an effective drug against mild acne if taken persistently. The key word is persistently. You need to take the drug everyday, and usually the drug has no effects on your acne in the first two months. I took Minocycline for about 4 months and quit because I was too impatient.

Erthromycin is another antibiotic I took. This drug worked well against my acne. Within 2-3 days of starting this drug, I saw visible improvement on my face. I took this drug for about 2 years and decided to lay off of it when my face was perfectly clear. I haven't broken out since I stopped.

I'm not sure if it's stressed induced or just the cyclic nature of acne but i always seem to get a huge breakout on my chest when exam time rolls around or when there are a lot of things that need to get done.
I use 10% benzol peroxide body wash and it hasn't done anything to break the acne cyle. Its like my acne doesn't even respond to it at all because i can use it and the next day get a zit on my chest!!!. I also just started minocycline so MAYBE that will help. I'm hesitant to take actutane due to the serious side effets.

Any advice?

 

[katiew]

i took retin a when i was in high school. man, that stuff burned!!! i didn't have any pimples, but my face was fire-engine red!!!

Thats just great! I think I will keep it in bathroom where it has been. Thats all I need is red skin! lol. Come to think of it the PA that gave it to me said he has been using it for over 20 years and he is always very red.

 

[krelian]

Hey katiew, i have a few suggestions for you. Most of them are for facial acne, but I would imagine that body acne work the same way.

1. I don't think using a 10% benzoyl peroxide wash is a good idea. Benzoyl peroxide is great for reducing a pimple's inflamation. That said, I think it's better to use it as spot-treatment rather than a regular wash. I would suggest getting some 10% benzoyl peroxide gel (gel tends to stick to skin better than cream) and using a bit of it on top of the pimple when it breaks out. Btw, don't use a 10% wash on your face since it's quite harsh (although on your chest it may be okay). A 4% benzoyl peroxide wash works OK for the face.

2. Retin-A is great, and it is one of the medication that I use most commonly on my face. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, it will not shrink your pimple. Retin-A works to prevent new breakouts by constantly shedding your skin. Unfortunately, when used incorrectly, it will give you retinoid dermatitis (basically your face becomes red, starts to peel, feels dry and burning, etc.). When starting a Retin-A regimen, you must start slowly and take breaks whenever your skin starts to show signs of irritation and sensitivity. Most people will not tolerate using Retin-A if they use it everyday (which I suspect may be what your Mom did). I suggest starting at 3 times a week @ night and then stepping it up when your skin acclimates to the Retin-A treatment. Some redness is inevitable, but this will subside after a week or two once your skin acclimates to the medication. Another benefit of using RetinA is that it reduces wrinkles, and some old people do actually use it for this reason 👍 .

3. If using RetinA, you should use sunscreen when out in the sun, because your face will be more sensitive to sun burn due to the skin renewal. Also, if using RetinA for the first time, I suggest using a mild cleanser, since a combo of harsh cleanser + RetinA is usually very rough on the skin. I also suggest getting RetinA Micro over the regular RetinA because the micro version allows you to apply it immediately after washing your face.

4. Not all acne are the same. There's the regular small acne that most people know, and then there's the larger nodular/cystic acne variant. If your acne appear large, hard, and in isolated areas, it's probably the nodular/cystic variant. This kind is harder to treat with RetinA and benzoyl peroxide. They inevitably pop up from time to time (yes... mainly due to stress 😡 ), and the only really effective way to get rid of them is to have your dermatologist inject a bit of steroid right under these large pimples.

5. There are many topical treatments for acne available, and I think it's always a good idea to exhaust these treatments before taking any oral antibiotics. I definitely recommend using accutane only as a last resort, and I would advise you to get off minocycline if possible. Antibiotic resistance is not a good thing, and you're also killing off your indigenous flora if you take too much antibiotics.

6. Stress is definitely a cause of pimples. Make sure to sleep well, relax, and also drink a lot of water if you want to keep your skin beautiful 😍 .

If you want to discuss any of this further, feel free to PM me. Btw, I spend a lot of time talking with dermatologists if you can't tell

 

[bjackrian]

I also tried Accutane three times and it did not end up working long-term for me either. I'd been on topical clindamycin for about two years which worked fairly well, but my doctor recently switched me to a combination of 4% benzoyl peroxide wash with a benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin ointment called bendaclin that's been amazing so far.

 

[Jcrown]

I have been taking Differin (sp?) gel for quite some time, and I love it. I think it is gentler on your skin than RetinA (correct me if i'm wrong guys). It took care of the small surface pimples, but I do still occasionally get the cystic kind. oh well.
*differin makes you quite vulnerable to the sun as well
*I have heard that accutane can be really harsh on your liver, and I think you have to get blood tests done throughout the treatment to make sure this doesn't happen.

 

[krelian]

I believe Differin, RetinA, and Tazorac all remove blemish by the same mechanism, but they use different active ingredients. I've tried all 3 😀 , and Differin seems to be the mildest of the 3 (although I also think it's probably the least effective of the 3). Still, most of these medications can be made milder by simply getting a lower concentration. I started at 0.025% RetinA and then moved to 0.04% (there's also 0.10% for the brave people out there).

I haven't heard of Accutane's harsh effects on the liver, but I have heard that it causes a host of problems. The most important problem is the high risk of birth defect; I know some dermatologists that get females to sign agreements stating that they will not become pregnant if they're on Accutane. I also have heard that Accutane can cause brain problems (due to increased pressure) and also produce high cholesterol in some people.

@bjackrian: You have almost same exact regimen I have. I use RetinA at night, and Duac gel (benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin combo) and Zoderm wash (4% benzoyl peroxide with urea) in the morning.

 

[lightnk102]

i didn't get acne until i hit sophomore year in college, and then all hell broke loose. i've been on everything you can name - minocycline (gave me lockjaw for some strange reason), doxycycline, every antibiotic possible. plus all the topicals possible (differin, benzaclin, retin-a-micro, klaron, etc.). I've even been on a diuretic usually used for people with kidney problems (it's supposed to be an androgen blocker). it actually cleared my skin great, except then i got dehydration headaches.

my skin cleared up last year though, and it had nothing to do with any medication. i started drinking more water. drinking water was always tough for me before because i'd forget, but i found a tea that i liked to drink - and the side effect was lots of water consumption.

i still get small pimples right before my period, but nothing like it was before.

 

[SitraAchra]

So is that proactive stuff just a scam?

If it worked for Jessica Simpson..it must be the best!

So yeah what's up w/ that stuff.

 

[Dave IPFW]

Find a soap that is pure and not so damn pretentious: low on additives such as showy fragrences and stuff. Soaps like that (the damn pretentious ones) seemed to only perpetuate the acne cycle for me.

Another thing: exercise always appeared to do the trick too. The more active I am, the less acne I generally have.

 

[SitraAchra]

oh oh i've got a good tip: SUN.

If I get like three good hours in the sun it clears me up PRONTO. Doesn't have to be a sunburn, but it dries out the skin really well. Might not be a great long term solution but for a quick fix it's my fav.

 

[Twitch]

There is a website for Retin A Micro and it's got a lot of good information on it. Other than what's been said, I'd like to point out three things:

1. Some drying of the skin is expected and normal. On the site, it says drying for the first two weeks is expected. My derm suggested to tough it out. It's not too bad after the first couple of days. Make sure you use a moisturizer like cetaphil (OTC). BTW, I'm using it for the face, your results may be different.

2. The recommendation is to hang on to it for 7 weeks. Wash your face at night before going to bed and after pat drying it apply it - that's how I do it. I'd guess the same goes for the chest?

3. AFAIK, you need a prescription for anything greater than 4% benzoyl peroxide. There is a candian company that makes a 6% wash called triaz that works wonders. You need a prescription for that though.

Good Luck.

Fellow Acne'd
-Y_Marker

 

[maygirl]

So is that proactive stuff just a scam?

If it worked for Jessica Simpson..it must be the best!

So yeah what's up w/ that stuff.

Actually that stuff works.

I had two sisters who suffered from horrible stress breakouts (the type that makes you cringe) when one was in college and the other was in med school. Proactive worked wonders.

It's crazy, but Jessica actually got something right!

To the OP, have you tried the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne wash stuff? I heard that works for body acne. And it's cheap.

Retin-A is good, but you have to be pretty religious with the sunblock. It also makes your skin peel for a week. And if you have sensitive skin, I would stay away from it. But since this is your chest, I think you're safe.

 

[KiKat37]

It seems to really depend on people and their lifestyle (how much stress, water intake, exercise, etc). Proactiv didn't work for me, but it really helped one of my friends. I'm using differin now and it works pretty well. I still get some pimples every once in a while, usually before my period, but it's good enough. And, it's not as harsh as other stuff. All that is for your face though... I have heard that salicylic acid (sp?) gel works well for the chest and back. I don't know if it's true. 😕

 

[juniper456]

strangely enough, my zits really cleared up when i started treating my skin as if is was "dry" (which, by the way, it was not; it used to be really oily). i started using cetaphil for cleaning and a somewhat heavy moisturizer, on a tip from a friend who told me that maybe my skin was overcompensating for my former drying-out regimen (retinA, acne wash, oil-free moisturizer) by pumping out extra oil. it worked like a charm; my skin is totally clear now.

 

[Crake]

Only on a premed forum could a thread about acne thrive. Alas, all of us have suffered from the red, ***** beast at some point in our lives. My struggle lasted from 8th grade to 11th grade of high school. These were dark times. I used Retin-A and minocycline. Retin-A kinda sucks, it dries you out, it smells funny. God, I'll never forget that smell as long as I live. Minocycline works, but I dunno about the long term affects of taking a pill like that. You usually have to take doxycycline first, b/c insurance won't cover minocycline until they determine you can't tolerate doxycycline. Doxycycline sucks because it needs to be taken on a full stomach or you'll get a stomach ache. In the end, mine just cleared up on it's own, luckily in time for college. Acne sucks though. Any idea what evolutionary purpose it serves?

 

[Dave IPFW]

Any idea what evolutionary purpose it serves?

Weeds out the good-looking people from procreating with those individuals who have it...



ahh. jk. I had acne too. But then again, I didn't get laid when I had it either, so who knows...

 

[superdavykinz]

So is that proactive stuff just a scam?

If it worked for Jessica Simpson..it must be the best!

So yeah what's up w/ that stuff.

Different skin regimens work for different people. What cleared up her skin wasn't just proactiv, but the accutane she uses (said on film).

People with acne should avoid the sun and use sunscreen when in the sun. It doesn't have any benefits to tan or whatever, only makes the skin worse and causes hyperpigmentation.

 

[arisunomori]

For women, one thing that has worked for me is going on the pill. I realized that hormones were causing my acne problem when I lived in a developing country, got sick a lot, lost a lot of weight, and stopped getting a period. Despite having a really messed up set of intestines, my skin cleared right up. When I came back to the US, I tried the pill, and that seems to work good for me, though it has made me gain weight... funny how the body works.

Also, in Japan, you can get a topical sulfer solution that seems to work similarly to benzyl peroxide. It's like yellow powder in some kind of liquid that you dab on. It worked OK for me, maybe is inferior to newer stuff that is here. I haven't tried much other than benzyl peroxide.

The sun has also worked for me. Doesn't do much for the big ones, but keeps the little ones in check somehow.

 

[Qemmalee]

How do you get rid of the dark spots that appear after the pimples go away? Are there any creams that will lighten these particular areas?

 

[2badr]

strangely enough, my zits really cleared up when i started treating my skin as if is was "dry" (which, by the way, it was not; it used to be really oily). i started using cetaphil for cleaning and a somewhat heavy moisturizer, on a tip from a friend who told me that maybe my skin was overcompensating for my former drying-out regimen (retinA, acne wash, oil-free moisturizer) by pumping out extra oil. it worked like a charm; my skin is totally clear now.

I usually have to change products when summer rolls around. In winter, I have very little acne, one maybe 2 every month or so. I treat my skin as if its dry in the winter months, because it is dry. I have even used oil based products in the winter. This past winter, I have been using shea butter as a moisturizer for my face. I haven't had an outbreak.There is no change in the amount of zits I have. In the summer, I have to make sure I wash my face or suffer the consequences.

I also work out more during the summer which is probably why my skin is always oily during the warmer months: sweat, dirt and grime are probably the culprits. 😉 So as the weather heats up, the shea butter's got-to go. 🙂

I am glad someone caught the reference to sun and acne meciations. Also, some of the products you might use to clear up the dark spots after the blemishes also recommend that you be careful with your sun exposure. 😉

 

[superdavykinz]

How do you get rid of the dark spots that appear after the pimples go away? Are there any creams that will lighten these particular areas?

Usually they'll disappear after an estimated period of time (3 months) if you're getting plenty of vitamins. I've been told more zinc would help. As far as a topical product there are a few out there that have a lightening effect because of the hydroquinone used but there seems to be more products coming out without the normally used hydroquinone. The stuff can be expensive, like 50 dollars or more. Murad has a lightening product as well as different skin regimens.