Retin-A Gel
Retin-A has been around the longest, and I remember using it in high school for acne. I believe I got the gel version, and after about a week my face was so red and on fire that I couldn’t bring myself to use it anymore, so I suffered through high school with pimples instead. Even though I followed the instructions and started out slowly, and I had oily skin at the time and lived in a humid climate, it was still too much for my skin. If your skin can tolerate it, the advantage of Retin-A Gel is that it comes in a generic version, which can save a lot of money.

Retin-A Micro
This gel product is the newer form of Retin-A, and it’s also used to treat acne. It has a special microsponge technology, which release the tretinoin slowly over time, so this helps minimize skin irritation. I tried Retin-A Micro maybe 5-7 years ago when I got acne once again in my late 20s. Despite the new microsphere technology, I still couldn’t handle Retin-A Micro and once again found myself with red, flaky, painful skin, so once again I gave up. A lot of people have great success with Retin-A Micro, and it’s best for oily skin, so it’s definitely worth trying if you have oily skin and acne. This would also be a great product to try if you have oily skin and want to combat fine wrinkles, facial roughness, or uneven pigmentation. Unfortunately, I don’t believe Retin-A Micro comes in a generic, but if you have good health insurance, that shouldn’t matter.

Retin-A Cream
I tried Retin-A Cream last year to see how it would work for my fine wrinkles, slight hyperpigmentation and enlarged nose pores. I made the mistake of not checking the ingredients of Retin-A Cream, and I totally broke out after a few days, and every day after using it. It turns out isopropyl myristate is one of the first few ingredients in it, which is a major pore clogger. The cream is much more hydrating than the gel version, but I had to give up on this product after a week due to the acne it caused. This would be a great cream to use if you aren’t prone to acne because it comes in a generic, so it’s cheaper than the name brand.

Renova
Finally I decided to try Renova, which does not contain any pore cloggers, plus like Retin-A Cream, it’s good for normal to dry skin, and it’s meant to treat wrinkles, and smooth out the texture and tone of your skin. The first time around I thought I was being smart by getting a generic version, which was still expensive, but the generic was made by a compounding pharmacy, and they didn’t use the exact same ingredients as Renova. The cream also expired after two months, but I probably would have had a lot left over since I only intended to use the product every other night. The generic Renova also made me break out like crazy! Ugh. Not all compounding pharmacies use the same ingredients, but I wouldn’t risk it, and you aren’t really saving much money by having to throw out a half-used container every two months.

Finally I bit the bullet and paid the big money for the brand-name .05% Renova (it’s like $170 but should last me a year since I don’t use it every day). Success! Most insurance companies don’t cover Renova because it’s indicated for wrinkles, so if you have acne and your skin can handle it, Retin-A Micro will help with wrinkles and acne, and your insurance might cover it. So I’ve been using Renova for at least six months now, and it doesn’t cause any breakouts! Yay. It still took a lot for my skin to get used to it, and my skin was peeling for at least a month when I first started using it every other night. I didn’t get any redness or pain, though. In other parts of the world – Asia, Mexico, and Europe, for example, Renova is call Retacnyl, which is exactly the same thing, so if you don’t live in the US, you can probably save yourself a ton of money by getting Retacnyl.

I haven’t seen too much change in my skin since I’ve been using Renova, but that’s probably because I’ve been using .1% Differin for the last several years, which has probably already improved my fine lines.

Differin
Differin is another prescription acne treatment, and it’s generally more tolerated than Retin-A Gel or Retin-A Micro. It contains adapalene, instead of tretinoin, which is a different type of retinoid. It doesn’t come in a generic. I’ve had good success with Differin helping my acne, in conjunction with other acne products, and I haven’t had any of the peeling, stinging, or redness that I had with Retin-A Gel. Differin comes in an acne-safe cream or gel, so if you have dry skin, try the cream first, and the gel is better for oily skin. However, I use the gel on my currently normal to dry skin, and my skin can tolerate it well. For acne, some people do better on Differin, and some do better on Retin-A Micro. The reason I wanted to try Renova is because I wanted to see if it works better on my wrinkles than Differin. I have yet to find any studies that say how well Differin works on wrinkles, and if it does reduce them, I wanted to see if Renova was even better. From what I’ve concluded, most doctors believe Differin does work on wrinkles, but that a tretinoin like Renova may work better.

Conclusion
Renova, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro and Differin all come in different strengths, so talk to your doctor about what strength is right for you. Bottom line: Do Not use Retin-A Cream or generic Renova if you have acne. If you have acne and dry or sensitive skin, try Differin before trying Retin-A Micro. If your skin can handle it, Retin-A Gel generic is cheapest for acne, and Retin-A Cream generic is cheapest for wrinkles. Do you use one of these products? What do you think?

Related posts:

1. My Dermatologist Visit
2. How To Pick A Retinol Product
3. Old-School Beauty

I’ve been relatively acne-free for a few years now. I had pretty significant adult acne which took a few years of trial and error before I found an acne regimen that worked for me. The fear that my acne will come back as bad as it was before is constant, but I feel like I have enough knowledge now to know how to prevent my face from going completely haywire. For the past few weeks, however, I’ve been getting several small breakouts – it’s nothing major, but enough for me to take action.

I feel like I’ve personally cured my acne and can now prevent acne breakouts by following my self-created regimen. So why am I suddenly breaking out then? It’s because I’m not following my own advice and regimen! If you find a skin care routine that works for you, stick with it! If you haven’t found a routine that works, then hopefully you will find that my own regimen works well for you.

Go back to basics
It’s now been a week since I had the last breakout. What did I do? I went back to using the exact products I know don’t cause me to breakout, and that I know help to prevent acne.

It gets boring using the same products month after month, and since I write this skin care blog, there’s always something new to try. The temptation is so great to be always searching for the best new product. But if you’ve found a routine that works, stick with it – it’s boring, but it works, and it will save you money!

Try one new product at a time
If you are like me and can’t resist trying out new skin care products, then only try one new product at a time. Keep everything else the same, and give the new product a week, or two ideally, to see how it works for you. If you try multiple new products at the same time, it’s impossible to tell what works and what doesn’t. Even if you pick a new product designed to help with acne, it could always make your acne worse, so the only way to know is to test it by itself.

Prevent future breakouts
Even if you rarely breakout, using at least one daily acne product can prevent future breakouts. Daily use of a strong retinol, retinoid, or good salicylic or glycolic product can help prevent breakouts if you rarely get pimples. To keep my acne under control, I need a whole slew of products, and I think my current breakout crisis happened partly because I ran out of my acne prescription for Differin several weeks ago. By not using Differin, I’m pretty sure my skin is much more susceptible to having problems with products that don’t usually cause issue for me. So it’s back to boring ole basics for me right now since it’s better to be safe than sorry (and pimply).

Related posts:

1. Cosmetic Acne
2. Light Therapy Acne Treatment
3. Red Acne Spots

Paula Begoun says cornstarch is a ”Starch obtained from corn and sometimes used as an absorbent in cosmetics instead of talc. However, when cornstarch becomes moist, it can promote fungal and bacterial growth.” About rice starch, she says it’s an ”Absorbent substance sometimes included in products rather than talc. It can cause allergic reactions and, because it is a food derivative (as opposed to a mineral derivative like talc), it can support bacterial growth in pores.” 

L’Oreal True Match Powder
Originally this post was going to be about this foundation, and how I really like it, and how it hasn’t caused me any breakouts. All of that is true, however its second ingredient after talc is corn starch. To be on the safe side, I wouldn’t recommend using a cosmetic with corn starch as one of its main ingredients if you are acne prone. Personally I will probably still buy this product because it goes on smoothly, has a nice finish to it, it comes in a lot of shades, and I have not had an issue with it. I never would have bought it if I remembered at the time to avoid cornstarch, so it’s only by accident that I’m using it.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder
This is the pressed powder I usually use, and I think it is totally safe if you are prone to acne. It only comes in three light shades, so the color choice is pretty limiting. I started using the L’Oreal True Match, because now that summer is here, I wanted a slightly darker shade to go better with my fake tan. Currently, the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder is the only powder I’ve tested that looks good, and that does not have aggravating acne ingredients!

Related posts:

1. Cosmetic Acne
2. How To Prevent Cosmetic Acne
3. When Acne Breakouts Come Back

The ThermaClear works on mild to moderate inflammatory acne, usually characterized by red pimples or bumps. ThermaClear is not intended for use on blackheads, whiteheads, or cystic acne. The device works by sending heat to the source of the pimple, and it can make the pimple go away up to four times faster. I personally have not tested the ThermaClear, but have read a lot of good reviews about it, and a lot of my fellow beauty bloggers swear by their ThermaClear.

Win a ThermaClear from Savvy Skin!
The contest starts today and ends Friday, April 18th. To enter, just write a comment to this post telling us your worst pimple story, and include your name and email address (which will not be visible to viewers). As you know, my worst pimple story includes having acne all through high school, and then suffering from it for several years in my late 20s! My persistent acne is what caused me to make a whole website devoted to skin care! The ThermaClear winner will be chosen at random, and will be notified by email after April 18th.

Please note that by entering the contest, your email address will be shared with Therative, so that they can send you information about ThermaClear. If you would also like to receive information about ThermaClear via snail mail, you can email me your mailing address to jenipix (@) yahoo.com, but this is not a requirement.

Read more about ThermaClear at Sephora.com
Good luck, everyone!

Related posts:

1. RevitaLash Contest !!!!
2. My Hair Loss Story
3. What’s On Your Holiday Wishlist?

Wrinkles and Acne
The other main reason I was there was to get a presciption for topical acne/wrinkle products. I have been using Differin for several years for acne, however I don’t know if it’s the best treatment to use for fine lines as well. I have used Retin-A Micro in the past, but it was pretty harsh on my skin, so I wanted to avoid that. After some research, I discovered that Renova looked like a promising alternative. Renova is basically Retin-A, but in a moisturizing base. For some reason, I thought Renova contained pore-cloggers, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The doctor gave me a prescription for both Renova .05% cream, and Differin .03% gel. Differin is usually preferred over Renova for acne, however now that my acne is minimal, Renova should be strong enough for my acne, and it will give me a chance to see if it works better on wrinkles than the Differin. If I end up hating the Renova, then I will just go back to Differin. I had been using the .01% Differin, but the doctor said the new .03% isn’t any harsher, and that I might as well try the stronger one. Renova is generally not covered by insurance for acne (but my insurance doesn’t cover Differin either) so I order my products through a reputable online pharmacy.

Blackheads
The only acne I can’t seem to get rid of are the blackheads on my nose. They are super annoying, and they are always there! I also asked the Dermatologist for a prescription for Tazorac, because I’ve read that is the best treatment for blackheads. Luckily he gave me some sample tubes of it, which I will only use on my nose. Tazorac is similar to Differin, but it’s stronger, and also harsher. It’s probably better for someone with oily, non-sensitive skin.

Eyebrows
Finally, I told the doctor my eyebrows have been thinning a lot – especially the outer edges of them. They also feel itchy all the time – like something is crawling on them. Ugh. He said they look fine, and since there’s no redness or scaling, that there’s nothing he can do. He said it’s probably just heredity, or possible an auto-immune problem, but he had no suggestions. I briefly mentioned I have been struggling with hair loss for five years, but he had no comment or suggestions.

This is why I hate going to the doctor – they rarely have helpful answers to anything. It’s extremely frustrating going to the doctor, only to feel worse than before you got there. That’s why I do all my own research, and figure out what will be the best choice for me on my own. I just get frustrated when I have a problem I can’t fully solve (hair loss, thinning eyebrows) and the doctor knows less than I do.

Anyway, I will keep you informed on my experiences with the Renova and Tazorac!

Related posts:

1. Dermatologist Visit
2. Blackheads
3. Renova vs Retin-A Micro vs Retin-A

The difference between Cosmetic Acne and Hormonal Acne
There are several different types and causes of acne. Based on my experience, my hormonal acne shows up as bumps under my skin, which are sometimes also red. Not that you are supposed to pop pimples, but these types of pimples can’t be popped. These pimples also take a long time to go away – maybe two weeks.

Cosmetic Acne is more superficial, and shows up as whiteheads, or a clogged pore that can be popped, not that you are supposed to pop it! I can use a pore-clogging product, and end up with a few pimples the next day. When I stop using a pore-clogging product, within a few days, my skin goes back to normal.

Only test one new product at a time
I love trying new products, and used to buy all sorts of skin care products and use them all at once. It’s impossible to tell what is and isn’t working when you do this. Instead, if you buy a new cleanser, for example, do not use any other new toners, moisturizers, sunscreens, makeup, etc. at the same time. I recommend only introducing one new product to your regimen at a time. If you start  breaking out after a few days, then discontinue using the product, and see if your breakouts subside after a few days. If they do, then the product is probably clogging your pores. If you are like me, and are hoping the product isn’t really the culprit, you will start using the product again once your breakouts go away, only to find pimples magically reappear a few days later!

If you are trying a new product that is supposed to help with wrinkles, it will probably take at least a month to see results. So during that month, don’t start using any other new products, or it will be hard to tell if the first product is really working!

Related posts:

1. Avoid Cosmetic Cornstarch If You’re Acne-Prone
2. How To Prevent Cosmetic Acne
3. When Acne Breakouts Come Back

My experience with Proactiv
When I was suffering from adult acne, I was suspicious of infomercials, but after months and months of no relief, and fruitless trips to the Dermatologist, I ordered Proactiv because the commercials were so convincing. Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Vanessa Williams – they all say it cured their acne in the infomercials. Later I found out they got millions of dollars to do the commercials!

I ordered the three-step kit for $39.95, which is a cleanser, toner, and lotion, plus a free mask. After using Proactiv twice a day for almost two months, I saw no improvement in my skin. I was only using the three products (and the mask) and no other skin care products. My face got super duper dry (but I live in the desert). My skin did not get any worse than it was before the Proactiv, nor did it get better.

My boyfriend at the time also used Proactiv (just once a day) and he thought it was working for him a little bit. I didn’t see a difference really, but he felt his skin was slightly better. But after two months, he didn’t think it was worth the money, so he stopped buying it. He went back to just cleansing with shampoo (which is really bad for your skin).

I now realize my assessment of Proactiv is not completely scientific because I was wearing some makeup at the time. I had not yet discovered the cosmetic acne list, so there is a chance some of the makeup I wore contributed a bit to my acne. Because the Proactiv really dried out my skin, I also occasionally used a hydrating mask, and I later found out that did have some pore-clogging ingredients.

Proactiv – Its good qualities
The good thing about Proactiv is that it contains no ingredients that will make your acne worse (unless you are allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide). It might dry your skin out a bit initially, but if you use a good non-pore clogging moisturizer on top of the Repairing Lotion, it will hydrate your skin. The regular Proactiv kit doesn’t contain sunscreen, so you would need to wear a separate non-pore clogging sunscreen because the sun makes your acne worse in the long run.

If someone is using super pore-clogging skin care products, and then switches to Proactiv, they will probably see an improvement in their skin. Proactiv also contains no alcohol, which is good. My estimate is that 75% of skin care products contain ingredients that can make acne worse, so if you happen to be using pore-clogging products, a switch to Proactiv can help.

The products come with a money-back guarantee. Since I was too lazy to send the products back, I don’t know how easy it is to get your money back if you are not happy with your purchase.

Proactiv – Its bad qualities
While Proactiv may help a bit, I don’t think it will get rid of most people’s acne! The only acne-fighting ingredients the products contain are Benzoyl Peroxide, and Glycolic Acid. For people with mild acne, or maybe a handful of lucky people, this is enough to achieve clear skin, but it’s not enough for most acne sufferers. And again, a switch from bad products to Proactiv is my belief why it does work for some people.

I’ve also read that a lot of people have trouble cancelling the auto-renewal plan once they’ve ordered from the Infomercial. I ordered my Proactiv online, and didn’t opt for the auto-renewal, and had no problem.

How to get rid of acne
As I’ve discovered in my guide to cure acne, for me at least, and I’m sure most people, several more steps need to be taken to get rid of acne. The routine I use is pretty simple once you get the different products you need. You could even use the Proactiv Repairing Lotion as one of your steps, since it’s a decent 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide lotion. The Proactiv cleanser is okay also, but I would rather use a cleanser without Benzoyl Peroxide, since it can be irritating to your eyes, and it’s sort of unnecessary since you are already going to be using a Benzoyl Peroxide lotion (which doesn’t get washed down the drain like the cleanser). The cleanser is a bit drying, which is fine for oily skin, but for dry skin I would recommend a more hydrating cleanser. I would skip the toner, not because it’s bad, but because Salicylic Acid is better than Glycolic Acid for acne, and you don’t need both. Glycolic Acid is good for wrinkles, so the toner would be a good mild 6% Glycolic Acid treatment for wrinkles.

What’s your experience with Proactiv?

Related posts:

1. Murad Acne Complex
2. Acne Treatments That Didn’t Work
3. Guide to Cure Acne

The Bad
The Murad Acne Complex is a three-step system, similar in concept to Proactiv, but the ingredients are different. On the acnecomplex.com website, they list the products and their ingredients. The first step is the cleanser, which contains Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, a very harsh and drying ingredient, and something that should be avoided by all skin types. It also contains Menthol, which is drying. Strike One! I would not use this cleanser, since more than one ingredient is on my do not use list. The last thing you want to do is unnecessarily dry your skin out when it’s already in a vulnerable state.

The second step of the system is the gel, which contains alcohol as the third ingredient! Strike two! No one needs to put Alcohol Denat on their face, and especially not people that already have problem skin that they’re trying to fix.

The third step of the system is the moisturizer, which appears okay at first glance. It’s supposed to hydrate and protect your skin, but it doesn’t contain any sunscreen, so that’s sort of ridiculous, considering this is the last step of the system. Plus some of the good ingredients in the products (Retinol, Glycolic Acid) will make your skin more sun-sensitive, so you definitely need sunscreen. I’ve actually used this moisturizer before (Skin Perfecting Lotion) and it didn’t do anything good for my skin, so I stopped using it after it ran out.

The Good
The concept behind the Murad Acne Complex is good – it contains Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, and Retinol, which are all good ingredients to use to help acne. It’s just a shame that Dr. Murad had to mess everything up by adding a bunch of stuff that hurts your skin, and neglecting to put sunscreen in the protecting product. He also doesn’t list the percentage of Retinol or Glycolic Acid in the products, so you don’t know how potent they are, nor does he mention if the Salicylic Acid is at the proper pH level.

Currently in the Product Review section on Makeupalley.com, 33% of users would buy this system again. There are a few rave reviews about it, but there are a ton of people saying how horrible it was for their skin! Part of it could be that it will take a few weeks for your skin to get used to using Retinol, Glycolic Acid, and Salicylic Acid if you’ve never used them before and have sensitive skin, but the bad ingredients, and the fact that no sunscreen is included obviously contribute to the bad reviews.

The Irony
I learned a lot of great principles from Dr. Murad’s books, which in conjunction with the other 20 skin care books I’ve read, and years of research I’ve done, helped me to cure my own acne and create my guide to curing acne. I just would not recommend his Acne Complex! The Murad Method is a good book to read to get an overview about skin care, though. I used it as the picture of the post, since I wanted to include something positive! Just do a bit of research first, before you buy any of his products he recommends in his book.

Related posts:

1. Proactiv Solution For Acne
2. Acne Treatments That Didn’t Work
3. Guide to Cure Acne

If you haven’t read them yet, here are my other acne posts that tie into this article:
Acne treatments that didn’t work
How I cured my adult hormonal acne
The pill to treat hormonal acne
How to prevent cosmetic acne

Acne is complicated, and for most people, several different things need to be done to get rid of it. This is why just using a Clearasil product, or even a system like Proactiv, is generally not effective.

Acne is caused by several factors:
1) Hormones
2) Overproduction of oil by the oil gland
3) Irregular or excessive shedding of dead skin cells – on the surface of the skin, and inside the pore
4) A buildup of bacteria in the pore
5) Some cosmetics, and ironically some skin care and acne products themselves, if they contain pore-clogging ingredients
6) Less common – certain medications, or a sensitivity to skin care products, or certain foods

To get rid of acne, you need to: control hormonal activity and oil production, exfoliate the skin and pores, kill the bacteria that causes the infection, and eliminate factors that make acne worse (like pore-clogging skin care products).

Systemic – treat your whole body
I believe in treating acne not only on the surface of your skin, but systemically (treating your whole body, from the inside out).

• Food
You always hear that food doesn’t cause acne, and that’s true in a basic sense (you will not breakout just because you eat a chocolate bar), but eating a bad diet can absolutely make acne worse. A lot of foods are not good for you, and they cause inflammation in the body, and this inflammation makes acne worse. I will write more about this in future posts. In short, you should cut back a lot on processed or fried foods, sugar, and simple carbs like white bread, for example. As the saying goes – garbage in, garbage out. Eating foods high in antioxidants, and high in nutrients will help keep inflammation down. An excessive amount of iodine can make acne worse, so avoid foods high in iodine (sea kelp, shellfish are a few), and know that iodine pills can worsen acne. Smoking can also make acne worse.

• Antibiotics
Oral antibiotics can reduce bacteria, thus helping to eliminate pimples, however it’s not safe to be on antibiotics for a long time. I was on antibiotics for acne, and it did help, however this is a short-term solution. It will only get rid of your acne while you are on it, and you can build up a resistance to antibiotics, or incur side effects like yeast infections.

• Birth Control Pills
For women, I believe birth control pills can work wonders for acne. Low androgen pills, like Yasmin, or Ortho Tri-Cyclen, reduce oil production. I have had great success with Yasmin, and plan to remain on it for the long-term to control my acne. You need to research the side effects of birth control pills, though, because the side effects (such as hair loss) can be severe. I do worry that long-term use of the pill can be harmful, but at this point I personally find the benefits outweigh the negatives. Be careful about pills that are high in androgens, because they can make acne worse.

• Accutane
Accutane is a prescription pill that is used for severe acne, and it can eliminate acne for most people. The results aren’t always permanent, though, so it may only work for a few years. The side effects can be extreme, so I personally wouldn’t go on Accutane until I’ve exhausted other options. Talk with your Dermatologist, and make sure you extensively research Accutane before you go on it. You will need monthly blood tests, and cannot get pregnant while taking it. It is most likely the best treatment for severe, cystic acne, though.

Topical skin care treatments for acne
The first rule of skin care is to be gentle and do not do harm to your skin. Use lukewarm water (not hot, or super cold, and no ice cubes). If you have acne, you may think you need something harsh to get rid of acne, but that is not true!

• Avoid irritating products
Say NO to products that contain SD alcohol, Alcohol Denat, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Menthol. A lot of products can irritate your skin, causing inflammation, and worsening acne. Reference my list of irritating and pore-clogging product ingredients. Guess what – most toners contain these bad ingredients! I cannot begin to tell you how MAD I am at skin care companies that sell products that make acne worse! It really is upsetting, because not only do you waste your money and not help your acne, but you make it worse. These ingredients may feel good on your skin, or feel like they are working because your skin burns, but they are hurting your skin!

• Prevent cosmetic acne
You may be shocked to discover most skin care products (including ones to treat acne), and a lot of cosmetics, can clog your pores!!! How can you get rid of acne when the very products you use make it worse?? Again, I get LIVID when I look at the ingredients of some acne skin care products at the store. I believe skin care products for acne should do no harm (like the “do no harm” oath doctors take). When I was researching product ingredients during my struggle to cure my acne, I discovered almost every product I owned had ingredients on my pore clogging list. Just eliminating bad products can make a huge difference in your skin. It may seem like a pain to take the list with you to the store, or read about product ingredients online before you shop, but it’s worth it!

I don’t care what a product label says – all natural, won’t clog pores, Dermatologist tested, oil-free, non-comedogenic, for acne – those words mean nothing! You must read the ingredients of a product, and make sure it doesn’t contain pore clogging ingredients! Also stay away from bar soaps because they can clog pores.

• Exfoliation – on the surface of your skin, and from inside the pore
Exfoliation is a must if you have acne. You want to keep the outer layer of your skin as smooth as possible, so that there is nothing clogging your pores externally.

- Physical exfoliants
I use a soft washcloth, and GENTLY rub it to dry and exfoliate my face morning and night. I have a big stack of cheap washcloths, and use a different one each day to prevent bacteria from building on it. If you have acne, you don’t want to use products that have harsh physical exfoliants (like scrubs with seed kernels in it) because that will irritate your skin and acne, and can cause bacteria to spread. Even scrubs with little beads may be too harsh and can aggravate acne.

A physical exfoliating scrub I’ve had great success with is Philosophy Microdelivery Peel. You can use it twice a week to gently dissolve the top layer of your skin, and it has Vitamin C crystals that gently slough off dead skin. By keeping your skin exfoliated, products can also penetrate your pores better.

- Chemical exfoliants
2% Salicylic Acid is a gentle chemical exfoliant that penetrates your pores to clean them from the inside out. You want to make sure the product you use is pH balanced properly, or the Salicylic Acid won’t be effective. I recommend Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel. It also comes in a lotion and liquid form. Aside from buying pH strips (like you use in Science class), there’s no way to know if a product has the correct pH, which is why I use Paula’s Choice, since she says hers is between the correct pH of 3 to 4. You don’t want to use Salicylic Acid if you are allergic to aspirin. If that’s the case, you can use an 8% or 10% Glycolic Acid instead.

• Improve cell turnover and production
Another crucial step toward curing your acne is to use a Retinoid-based product. Retinoids cause your skin to “shed” faster, and they promote healthy cell growth, which can unclog pores. I personally use the prescription Differin, but Retin-A Micro or Tazorac can be good options as well. Differin Gel has caused me no side effects at all, which is why I like it. I haven’t tried Tazorac, and Retin-A Micro can cause a lot of initial peeling, but that should taper off after regular use. I strongly urge you to talk to your Dermatologist about getting one of these prescriptions. You want to stay away from the regular Retin-A or Renova, because they contain pore clogging ingredients.

If you don’t want to see a Dermatologist, you can try a strong over-the-counter Retinol. I would recommend TxSystems Afirm. It comes in three strengths, and if you don’t have extremely sensitive skin, you can try the 3x strength, or work your way up from the lower strength versions. Your skin will probably initially peel a bit from this, but that should go away in a week or two of regular use. There are some other good Retinol-based products out there, but a lot of products with Retinol contain a very small amount of it, which isn’t going to do much.

• Kill bacteria
Benzoyl Peroxide, which is what’s in Proactiv, Clearasil, and a host of other acne products, will help kill the bacteria on your skin, and it has the ability to penetrate into your pores. A 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide product is usually fine and causes minimal irritation. There are 5% and 10% options, but they can sometimes cause irritation, which isn’t good for acne. I use Paula’s Choice Blemish Fighting Solution. You only need to apply the product where you have acne, and there’s no need to apply it to your nose if you only have blackheads, since it doesn’t work on blackheads.

There are additional prescription antibiotic topical products that kill bacteria, which can be used by themselves, or with Benzoyl Peroxide. Long-term use isn’t recommended, though, because you can develop a resistance to antibiotics. Tetracycline, Clindamycin, and Erythromycin are popular prescription topicals. I didn’t need a prescription topical antibiotic once I followed my self-designed “acne cure.”

• Hydrate skin if you have dry skin
If you have oily skin, your skin may not need additional moisturizers to keep it hydrated. The goal with treating acne is to not overly dry it out with bad products, and then need to artificially moisturize your skin. If you live in a dry climate, or have dry skin and acne, then it is crucial to keep your skin hydrated, so that you can keep the outer skin barrier healthy. None of the products and steps I’ve mentioned should dry your skin out very much (except your initial uses of Retin-A Micro or a strong Retinol), but if you have naturally dry skin, a moisturizer is essential. I like Clinique Moisture On-line because it keeps my skin hydrated and plump, and it lasts for most of the day. If your skin isn’t super dry like mine, then any moisturizer that doesn’t contain pore clogging ingredients should be fine. Also drinking enough water will help keep you properly hydrated, which is good for your body as a whole.

• Tips for oily skin
As an adult I haven’t had oily skin, so I haven’t had first-hand experience with it. If you have oily skin that bothers you, you can use a clay mask twice a week to combat the oil. Just make sure it doesn’t have irritating ingredients in it. Paula Begoun also recommends doing a mask with Milk of Magnesia, which I haven’t tried, so I don’t know if it works. You buy plain Milk of Magnesia at the drugstore (it’s sold for upset stomachs), and apply it in a thin layer, wait for it to dry, and rinse it off. Also, there’s no need to use a moisturizer if you have oily skin. There are makeup primers you can use that can help absorb excess oil, and you can also blot throughout the day with a tissue or blotting paper.

• Use sunscreen
I recommend always using sunscreen, no matter what, and it’s especially important when you use products like Retinoids that make your skin more sensitive to the sun. People may think the sun helps with acne, but while it may in the short-term, it makes your skin way worse in the end. The sun inflames your skin, and remember inflammation is bad for your skin, and it of course causes wrinkles. Acne eventually comes back after sun exposure, so just say no to the sun! My favorite sunscreen – Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream For Face dries with a matte finish, and it doesn’t clog pores, so it can be a good option for oily or dry skin. Its main ingredient Zinc Oxide also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can actually calm inflammation.

• Other acne tips
Change your pillowcase twice a week or more so that you aren’t putting your face on oiliness all night. Also wipe down your phone and cell phone at least once a week with a cleansing wipe to get rid of bacteria. Get in the habit of not touching your face, which can put bacteria on your face, or spread it. Don’t pick at your pimples, especially if they are red! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked at red pimples, and either got a tiny scar, or a red dot – which lasted for two years. When my acne was really inflamed, I used to take Advil, which is an anti-inflammatory. I don’t know if this really calms acne, so I pretty much took it on a hunch. Talk with your doctor before taking anti-inflammatory pain medication.

How to put all the steps to curing acne together to create a day-to-day plan:
-If you are female and are on the pill, but are on one that is high in androgens, talk with your doctor about switching to a low androgen/high estrogen pill. Read up on the pill (and its side effects) if you aren’t on it, but would consider taking it. I cannot give medical advice, but will just tell you the pill has made a tremendous difference in my skin, and I have not incurred any side effects from it. I do have hair loss problems, but have no definitive proof that it was caused by long-term use of the pill. The pill doesn’t work overnight, and there is a chance your skin can get slightly worse before it gets better. After two months you should see definite results, and it will take at least three months to see maximum results.

-Start thinking about what you eat every day, and realize that eating healthy will not only improve your skin, but it will improve your body as a whole. Read up on healthy eating and do your best to cut back on sugar, simple carbs, and processed food. If you smoke, consider stopping.

Here’s a sample daily skin care regimen:
Morning:
-Wash with a gentle cleanser. For dry skin, I recommend Philosophy Purity Made Simple, and for oily or normal skin, I recommend Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish. These don’t contain pore clogging ingredients. The Neutrogena has Salicylic Acid in it, which is good, but because a cleanser only stays on your face for 30 seconds, I doubt the Salicylic Acid does much. Finding a cleanser that doesn’t clog pores, and that is gentle and cleanses well, but doesn’t strip your skin, is the most important factor. You can also use a soft washcloth to gently exfoliate and pat dry your skin.

-Apply Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel (or your pH balanced 2% Salicylic Acid product of choice). Remember that you must find a product that doesn’t contain pore clogging or irritating ingredients.

-Let the Salicylic Acid dry, and then apply a thin layer of 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide – Paula’s Choice Blemish Fighting Solution is my choice. If you choose another Benzoyl Peroxide, make sure it doesn’t contain pore clogging ingredients.

-If you have dry skin, apply a moisturizer (without pore clogging ingredients) like Clinique Moisture On-line, or Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream. Skip this step if you have oily skin.

-Apply a non-pore clogging sunscreen, such as Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream For Face.

-Apply your makeup as usual, and make sure you check all your makeup (even the powder) for pore clogging ingredients! I have great results with Maybelline Pure Makeup Shine-Free Foundation, and top that with Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder. As a concealer, I use Maybelline Age Rewind Under Eye Concealer.

Night:
-Cleanse with the same cleanser you used in the morning, and use a soft washcloth to gently exfoliate as needed.

-Wait until your skin is completely dry, and apply your Retinoid (Differin, Tazorac, or Retin-A Micro) or Retinol (TxSystems Afirm) product. Talk with your Dermatologist, but initially you will build up to using the Retinoid nightly, but you may start out by using it every other night.

-Wait a few minutes, and if your skin is dry, apply a moisturizer like the Olay Regenerist from your morning routine. You don’t want to apply a moisturizer that has any “active ingredients” in it, so check the label.

Twice a week, at night:
-Use a gentle exfoliating treatment like Philosophy Microdelivery Peel after your cleanse, and before you apply your Retinoid product. Remember you must apply the Retinoid to dry skin. The first few weeks of using your Retinoid product, your skin may be too sensitive to use this peel, so skip it if that’s the case. If you are using Differin as your Retinoid, you might not have any skin sensitivity at all, so you may be able to use the peel right away. Just be gentle and massage the peel very lightly into your skin.

-If you have super oily skin, once or twice a week on nights you aren’t using the gentle exfoliating scrub, you can apply your non-pore clogging/non-irritating clay mask or Milk of Magnesia after you cleanse. I just noticed Paula Begoun has a Skin Balancing Carbon Mask. I haven’t tried it, but Paula makes a lot of good products, so it might be a good option.

-If you have super dry skin, Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask is a nice way to hydrate your skin once or twice a week.

If you give this whole routine a month and are not seeing any results, then you could consider an oral or topical antibiotic from your doctor. But remember that the results aren’t long-lasting with antibiotics, which is why I would avoid them if they aren’t needed. If your acne is severe and is not responding to this series of treatments, then you could consider Accutane, but again, this is a last resort. I realize not everyone will respond as well as I did to my routine, and I do believe the birth control pill (which not everyone will, or can take) is a big factor in my success in curing my acne. But just by eliminating all the bad products you may be using, and using the better products and ingredients I’ve recommended, I think you should see real results. A note on blackheads: Unfortunately, I have not been able to get rid of them. Even though Salicylic Acid and Retinoids should help with them, I still have them on my nose. When I find a way to get rid of them, you will be the first to know! If you want, I can compile a bigger list of possible product choices. I recommend the ones I do because I have personally tried them and have had great success with them.

Related posts:

1. The Pill To Treat Hormonal Acne?
2. Proactiv Solution For Acne
3. Light Therapy Acne Treatment

The machine uses blue light (415nm), which has an antibacterial effect, and red light (660nm), which has an anti-inflammatory effect, and it is the light waves that are supposed to kill p. acnes, which is the bacteria that contributes to acne pustules. Acne is caused by several different things (hormonal activity, overproduction of oil, irregular shedding of skin cells in the pore and on the surface of the skin, and a buildup of bacteria, which is what causes redness and inflammation).

When I worked at the Medical Spa, we offered treatments that were similar to The BeautySkin, and clients did see good results with them. We had clients that were teenagers with red spots all over their face, plus women with hormonal acne bumps under the skin. We offered a bluelight treatment that was the same basic idea, plus an IPL photo clearing treatment, which used a laser to kill the bacteria. I have not personally tried The BeautySkin, but the acne light treatment has a reported return rate of only 4%. While clients saw good results at my spa, the treatments don’t last forever, so regular ongoing treatments is necessary. With The BeautySkin, you have it at your house and can use it indefinitely, and it comes with a 60 day money-back guarantee. I always use a credit card when I purchase online, which offers more protection than a debit card, in case I encounter a problem.

While I’ve mentioned other treatments for acne before, most of them have side effects. Antibiotics can work for acne, but you don’t want to take them on a long-term basis. I’ve mentioned good results using The Pill, but not all women want to take it, and obviously men can’t take it. I’ve briefly mentioned Accutane, but that is a serious drug, and should be seen as a last resort (but if you are taking it, talk to your doctor before trying The BeautySkin at the same time). The BeautySkin does not give off UV rays, so you don’t need to worry about getting burned or damaging your skin. It says it is safe to use while pregnant, but definitely check with your doctor. If you choose to, you can continue to use your current topical acne regimen with The BeautySkin. It takes four weeks to see noticeable improvements, and twelve weeks to see full results. The website offers a message board and FAQ if you have additional questions. While this is not a permanent cure for acne (since you need to use the machine on an ongoing basis), I see it as a good addition to your current routine if it works as well as it claims.

Related posts:

1. Guide to Cure Acne
2. The Pill To Treat Hormonal Acne?
3. Fig LipoDissolve Goes Bankrupt