Thats actually not a bad idea. I add a little water to my lotion as it is.

I basically do the same - my cleanser is not a special pimple treat thing, its basically a dead sea soap in a little tube. It was recommended to me by a long-time adult acne sufferer im friends with who said "all of those products just make it worse" and im inclined to agree with her.

However i still use tea-tree on spots.

UPDATE on that situation: I of course got a "mirror" spot a day after the one on the right, and i've had a few little clogged pores on my jawline. All of these pimples are on "hormonally driven" areas and i've been pretty warm the past few days - but the fact the spot i got was symmetrical really does suggest its hormone driven which means i need to be drinking more water and eating better and being less stressed out. I have not felt great for the past week to be honest, and so i believe this is my body's response.

Of course im terrified of the acne returning full force now, but i am trying to just forget about it. If i worry ill just pick and prod more than i already have

I flush in the ears!!!!
Since i was like 4 ive always flushed in the ears at random intervals. So embarrassing.

You flush what in your ears? I'm so confused even attempting to read this.

Soap. I use soap.

He means he gets flushed in the ears when he is nervous, blushes.
I blush big time along the cheeks and temples of my face. So if you add the red that is there, I definitely begin to 'look' like I am getting worked up. So when I know its important for me to look calm I put cover-up on in order to hide some of the extra red that creeps into my face out of nerves. I don't want people to know I am anxious or excited about speaking with/to them, even though I am. Makes me feel really....young.

loool awww dolce!


Update: It's defcon five watch on my face, quite a few minor bumps have appeared, four on my chin (which feel like shaving bumps) two on my left cheek one of which was a spot, and one on my right cheek, also a spot but i think most of them are related to me shaving today, definitely not the cheek bumps though - those are just plain spots.

Its weird how this happens but men also have hormone and testosterone cycles monthly, and no doubt one time a month my skin always takes a dip, no matter what, theres always a period it will get worse. I am praying that this is not going to progress into the return of my acne.

I definitely think that drinking heavy amounts of pepsi havent helped this week, but ive been ill and desperate for the caffeine, i guess my system has just been run down from the stress and stuff. Hopefully the better diet, a cut back on caffeine and more exercise this week will help matters!

Pray for me!

Michael, you blush? That's adorable.

rub toothpaste on ur face.

I have COMPLETE ocd about my skin, like its serious bizness, i cant leave it
i cant stop squeezing
one spot? I am sure its certain doom
i need to get used to maybe the idea that accutane has given me normal skin for a 21 year old and the odd spot every month or two is natural.

stop squeezing!

OMG Michael are you squeezing your pimples?

That is so DNW. Please don't do that EVER.

no word of a lie i had to have my mother CONVINCE me i wouldnt breakout altogether tonight. I am such a fun human being for her, i get really neurotic about it.

teh only time u squeeze, is for blackheads. but even then, you just get the strip shit.

Libs i dont just squeeze pimples, i squeeze things that arent even there, if i see a shaving bump? Squeeze! Clogged pore? Squeeze! spec of dirt! I actually have squeezed a spec of dirt before.

I cant actually take the sight of a whitehead or the idea of my spots progressing into a breakout so i try and pre-empt it, but of course that is not how to make it better.

i'm starting to think u sabotage the stuff u use, with your pre-empting squeezes.

the spot that is bothering me now started bleeding when i cleaned it this afternoon. i hope it doesnt scar

i dont get how people can leave them!!!!

Any tranny update:
My jawline spots turned out to be just shaving bumps or some shit, and now i have a red mark because i squeezed doh.

The spots on my cheekbones however were genuine acne, the one on the right hand side is dunzo becuase i squeezed but theres a lovely big red scab now, and the other side's duo seem to be calming down, im going to continue to slap treat them

MUST
RESIST
SQUEEZING

I feel you Michael. I got through with the worst of my acne after 14-15, but I can't ever seem to get my face completely clear, and when I see a problem spot arising it's very hard not to try to nip it in the bud.

I'm unfortunately breaking out right as I get ready to return to school. Which makes my biannual drugstore.com purchase super complicated because I have no idea what I should be doing regimen-wise. But, alas, I made a sensible, but boring choice:

- some cleanser, TBD*
- 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide (on spots EXCLUSIVELY)
- Jojoba Oil (as needed)

(So, in preparation: I will officially be putting away the hydroxy acids and retinols and scrubs)

* I still need to find the perfect cleanser...either bar or liquid. Now taking suggestions -- from everyone except Michael (sorry, but I don't buy the "dead sea mineral" thing and I don't really want that in my shower anyway)

I threw in Baxter's Mint Toner just cuz I had a 20% discount and I guess I could use it post-shave or as a cleanser when I'm lazy. I also threw in CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion; I've heard it's better than Cetaphil. It's nice to have some body lotion around that won't clog pores.

As for my search for a DECENT cleanser, here's the background list.

Cleansers I don't like:
- Acne.org Cleanser
- Aveeno (all)
- Baxter Daily Face Wash
- Cetaphil (liquid)
- Clean and Clear Sensitive Skin Foaming Facial Cleanser
- Jack Black Pure Clean
- Kiehl's Facial Fuel Wash
- Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
- Neutrogena Pore Refining Cleanser
- Philosophy Purity

Cleansers I like but have been advised not to use based on their ingredients:

- Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash
- Lush Coalface
- Menscience Daily Face Wash
- Neutrogena Deep Clean (the liquid one)

That's a lot of product over five years...

if you like it and it works, fuck what people say.

ftr my acne breakout didnt progress thankfully
also my chin breakout was just shaving irritating and clogged pores i think

my skin definitely suffered a hormone surge though for sure.
And in addition i got my mandaleic acid samples through today, trying it on the tzone only, seems to have a positive early effect

everyone needs to stop squeezing. that only makes it worse. just leave it the fuck alone and keep it clean

Tim

Common Sense award goes to.....

Tim?

Yeah i think there is a completely different perspective from people who have not seriously struggled with acne. Completely different.

There is always a divide between people with clear skin telling people with breakouts what not to do, when infact, people with clear skin never have the same kind of breakouts that say, someone suffering acne might. When someone with clear skin gets a few bumps then thats that. When someone who has acne prone skin suffers a few bumps it can be the beginning of a widespread facial acne breakout.

Acne is a hormonal condition and so different people get different severities and different levels of resistance to treatment. If someone is suffering from a hormonal breakout of acne, very rarely will simply keeping the area clean fight the acne off. It will need actual antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment to fight it back.

That said i am now and advocate for less is more and i do struggle to leave my face alone.

My skin seems to have improved from the breakout but i think i need to be drinking more water. I am still feeling ill so this might be affecting it. Mandaelic acid is GREAT but i would only use it as a special once in a while situation.