As you read in my previous post - Acne Treatments That Didn’t Work - I had bad acne, and it wasn’t going away, no matter what I tried. After two years of the acne, I was 30 and I’d had enough! The last Dermatologist I visited in LA gave me a prescription for Differin cream, which again, didn’t work. A few months after moving to Las Vegas, I went to yet another Dermatologist. I asked him for a prescription for Yasmin BCP. I had done my research, and this pill seemed really promising because it was supposed to be good for acne, and hair loss (remember I was also combating that), and it wasn’t supposed to make you gain any weight! Perfect! I started on that, and after about two months my acne started to go away (I think the acne got a little worse before it got better). I also noticed the pill improved my mood (but maybe that was just because my acne was going away). I knew the pill would help my acne, but I had initially hesitated taking it because of my issues with hair loss. But remember, when I was on the Ortho Tri-Cyclen, I still had acne, so I needed to take further measures.
The new Dermatologist switched me from Differin cream to Differin gel, and I don’t know if that made any difference or not. Random note: I use the .1% Differin, but notice they now have a stronger .3% version. Interesting. Well the good thing about Differin is that is has NO side effects on me at all. It doesn’t dry out my face or make it oily. It’s expensive, though. Oh, yeah, and so is the Yasmin, since there’s no generic for it, but it’s worth it!!!! At the same time, I had just finished reading Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me - Paula Begoun
Here is the “acne safe” morning regimen I follow:
- Wash my face with Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser
- Apply Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate or Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream
- Apply Clinique Moisture On-line
- Mix Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream For Face - SPF 55
- Put on Maybelline Instand Age Rewind Under Eye Concealer (medium) on any spots (I’m not crazy about this concealer, but it’s fine), and then put on Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder
Here’s my night regimen:
- Use the same cleansers as the morning.
- Apply Differin .1% gel. I used to rotate this with TxSystems Afirm 3x, a strong retinol, but it’s drying, so it sometimes makes my face flaky. I am pretty sure the Differin also works similarly to Retin-A as a wrinkle-reducer/preventor, but I haven’t found any studies comparing the effectiveness of Differin to Retin-A.
- Apply Dove Energy Glow Night Cream
Specialty products:
- If I feel a breakout is coming, I’ll use Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel in the morning, instead of the antioxidant serum. Paula says that Salicyclic Acid needs to be at the proper ph level to work, and supposedly a lot of products are not effective because of the wrong ph.
- If I do get the rare pimple, I’ll dab it with Paula’s Choice Blemish Fighting Solution and TxSystems Afirm 3x.
- Once a week I use the fabulous Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel
- When my face feels especially dry, I’ll use Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Treatment Mask.
Other things I do to help my skin include washing my face with lukewarm water (no hot water or ice on pimples - FU The Acne Cure book). Then I bought a big pack of washcloths at Target and use a new washcloth every day to very gently pat my skin dry after washing. And from Wal-Mart of all places, I found some fabulous satin (well 100% poly) pillowcases that I make sure to change often. These leave you with no wrinkles on your face in the morning, and they are good for your hair!
After three months of this regimen, I was acne-free (and my skin wasn’t super flaky anymore), and I still am two years later! That’s my “after” picture in this post. I do not believe my acne would be gone if I didn’t do all of the things I do - the pill, the non-pore clogging products, and probably the Differin (I don’t know if it “really” works, but I’m afraid to not use it at the same time). For women that have hormonal acne who don’t want to take the pill (or Accutane) I honestly don’t know what to do to be acne-free. Maybe acne laser treatments (oh yet another post). Also, aside from the Differin, I don’t think the products I use help my acne as much as they don’t make it worse. Once my acne went away, I was left with about 50 red spots where the acne used to be. Luckily I only got one actual scar during the whole process. The saga of the red spots will be left for another post as well. And the saga of the blackheads on my nose will also be left for later.
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July 27th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Hi. Thanks for the comment on my other site http://antiaging.blogsome.com. I’m 28 and like you started breaking out again in my 20’s just when I thought I would have clear skin for life. My skincare routine sounds a lot like your own. I use and love Philosophy Purity Made Simple. I think it’s an amazing product. I also love Shiseido sunscreen it’s great. It looks like whatever you’ve been doing has worked great for you because your skin looks terrific in the photo. I love your site and would love to exchange links with you if you’re interested let me know. Take care.
Leigh
July 28th, 2007 at 5:45 am
Hi Jen- I love this little site of yours :)
Have you tried the Zeno device? I got it because I rarely break out, and when I do, it is the under the skin painful ones, and Zeno helps kill the bacteria in them and helps them go away faster. (Obviously not a replacement for good skin care) but it does aid in them going away quicker-
Hope you are doing well~!
July 28th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Hi Kim!
I want to try Zeno but don’t want to buy it since I wasn’t sure if it worked, and it seems sort of expensive. I was at my friend’s house last week in NY and he had it. I wanted to try it but didn’t have any pimples to test it on at the time! If it actually works, I’d consider getting it, because if I do get a pimple, it’s also those ones under the skin. Does it hurt at all? I was nervous, but I tried it on jeans and didn’t feel anything.
Jeni
July 29th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
The zeno has a slight heat sting but nothing that isn’t completely tolerable. I have used just two times and found the pimples less severe and went away faster. Kind of like a flu shot, even if you do get the flu, it’s less severe. I would rather have it on hand and not break out, but if I do I have it :)
I am loving all the in-depth posts you are writing!
Kim
July 29th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
A great cream that I use at night (day or night, I use it at night only) is Alba Organics Jasmine and Vitamin E moisture cream- I absolutely love it. The feel, the smell, and how i feel when applying :)
I think I pay less at the Vitamin Cottage for it than I saw on amazon though~not positive, if I love a product I don’t really pay attention to the price.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Hey Jeni…..Its Nicole from DAV. Jason sent us a link with your site and I just wanted to say its GREAT! Lots of useful and helpful tips! I’ll be checking it regularly! Hope all is well with you!
August 20th, 2007 at 3:02 am
Great article filled with useful tips which I will pass on to my wife.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:54 am
I had been on minocycline for a year to control my acne (my skin is never completely without acne) when my obgyn told me that I could take birth control to help with cramps, get rid of acne, and prevent me from getting cysts. (I get painful cysts that burst if I exercise around the time I am supposed to start my period.) So she put me on Alesse and my acne got worse. Then I tried OrthoTriCylen-Lo. My face cleared up, but I was SOooo angry and confrontational-I am normally not a confrontational person- and it made my mouth go raw, among other wierd side effects. I stopped that and decided to take a break for a month from all these medicines. Then my skin started freaking out and I went back and they told me to try YAZ. The dermotologist told me to specifically ask for it because its for acne and moodiness. (I have noticed a difference that I feel very calm all the time unlike with the OrthoTriClyclen) I just finished my first month of YAZ and my skin is more horrible than I’ve seen it in a year and a half! I have clusters of big, painful cysts all over the areas on either side of my chin. They’ve also started coming out along my hairline, and my forehead never breaks out. I dont’ know what to do. Should I give YAZ another month to see if it actually delivers its acne promise? Or should I try the Yasmine? Or…since OrthoTriCylcen-Lo worked for my skin, should I try the regular OrthoTriCyclen? (I’m wondering if I will not have the same side effects with the regular one that I had with the LO?) I also just bought MD formulations adult acne kit and bare minerals night treatment- rare minerals. Its the one in the gold bottle you’re supposed to put on your skin before you go to bed. They promise that it would shrink my pores and help clear up my blemishes! Has anyone tried that?
September 16th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Julie, if you look at this page on my site - http://www.savvyskin.com/the-pill-to-treat-hormonal-acne I have Alesse listed as a pill that can make acne worse. I have had really good luck with Yasmin helping my mood, more so than when I was on ortho tri-clycen. Yaz and Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo have less estrogen than Yasmin and Ortho Tri-Clycen Lo, so you might see more of an improvement in acne if you were on Yasmin. I know Yaz is recommended for PMDD - not sure if you have that. I would talk to your doctor about switching to Yasmin, or at least asking her about the difference. Keep in mind that sometimes when you switch pills, it can take 3-4 months before your body is used to it, so breakouts can sometimes get worse before they get better. I would stick with the Yaz, or ask about switching to Yasmin, and give it 3 months. I know that’s a long time to wait, but it can be worth it if it works.
Here’s the page about the Raw Minerals: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P136024&categoryId=B70 . It lists the ingredients, and I can’t tell if it’s good or bad, but on first glance, I don’t see anything bad in the ingredients. I looked at the MD Formulations acne kit on Sephora, and I wasn’t able to see the ingredients of all the items in the kit, but of the ones listed, it looked like it was ok for acne. I wasn’t able to see the sunscreen ingredients.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I do not have PMDD so it isn’ t necessary that I take YAZ. My main reason for taking a birth control instead of the minocylcine is because it would control my acne, and I wouldn’t have to deal with painful ovarian cysts. As long as Yasmin will do those two things, and it won’t make me so that I can’t even stand to be around myself (ha! I think orthotricylenLO had a nasty pill mixed in with it!) then I’d switch to it! I just finished my month of YAZ today so now is a perfect time to switch. A girlfriend of mine told me that YAZ made her breakout really bad too, so maybe it isn’t as great for acne as they claim? Thanks for looking up all the information on the products I’m using. I hope it helps!!! I heard about the MD formulations products on distressed derma website. Do you recommend doing a weekly masque? An Aveda rep at the mall talked to me for about 15 mins on Friday about their new Cooling Masque. Apparently 92% of users said their skin was clear in 4 weeks from using it 1 or 2 times per week.
September 16th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
I think Yaz can be good for acne, but everyone is different. Yasmin should be better than Yaz for acne, though. Just give it a few months, though, because it takes your body a while to adjust to a new pill. And even though it worked great for me, since people have different hormone levels, it won’t work for everyone. But between that and eliminating anything that can cause cosmetic acne, you should see improved results. I would do a mask, as long as it doesn’t contain any ingredients that would aggravate your skin. My favorite is the Philosophy Microdelivery Peel - well it’s more of an exfoliant than a mask. I use a Paula’s Choice hydrating mask, since I have dry skin.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:26 am
I talked to my dermatologist yesterday and she told me that YAZ and Yasmin are basically the same thing, although YAZ has .02 of estrogen, and Yasmin has .03.
I wonder if thats what makes a difference?
September 26th, 2007 at 6:32 am
I am 24 and just had my second daughter last winter. My skin during my pregnancies is great but just like after my first baby its not getting really bad. Its on the sides of my cheeks on both sides and sometimes around my mouth but not as bad as it is on the apples of my cheeks. I use Arbonne products-I mostly use the Clear Advantage line. I am assuming my sking is breaking out due to hormones. I am breastfeeding though and i cant take anything that a dermatologist would give me. What do you recommened? I am taking the vitamin supplement from the Arbonne clear advantage line but the Dr. couldnt tell me wether or not that was a good choice to take breastfeeding because he didnt know what the Arbonnes herbal blend was. It does seem to help but i am not sure if its safe for my baby. what do you suggest?
September 26th, 2007 at 6:42 am
What do you also think of Paula begoun skin care line? I need help!!!!
September 26th, 2007 at 7:36 am
I like Paula Begoun’s products and use several of them. I don’t like her sunscreen or self-tanner that much, but use her antioxidant serum, her glycolic acid, salicylic acid, hydrating mask, and benzoyl peroxide cream!
I haven’t looked at the ingredients of Arbonne, so I don’t know if they are good or not. If you look at this page on my site - http://www.savvyskin.com/how-to-prevent-cosmetic-acne you can see if any of the ingredients in the Arbonne products are on the list. There’s a chance that they could be making your acne worse.
I briefly looked at the Arbonne site but couldn’t see the ingredients in the vitamins. Do you know what they are? I don’t know what is safe to use while breastfeeding, so you might want to show the vitamin bottle to your doctor so he can see the ingredients. For skin care, I’m also not sure what is and isn’t safe - like I don’t know if over-the-counter active ingredients like glycolic acid are okay. I guess I need to do some research! It does sound like it’s your hormones that are causing the acne. I am out of town and won’t be back for several days, but when I get back and I can look to see what ingredients are safe to use when breastfeeding.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Thank you so much. I will look foward to hearing from you when you get back. The Dr. Said that everything in the arbonne vitamins for acne was fine except the one ingredient which is just listed as “abonnes Herbal Blend” and i couldnt find out what their herbal blend consisted of and since the Dr. didnt know they really couldnt give me the go ahead to take them but when i did they did seem to help. Do you like Paula Begouns products for acne and if so would you recommend any for me? Here are the other ingredients that are in Arbonnes Skin Support Dietary Supplement.
Vitamin A
Vit. B6
Pantothenic Acid
Zinc
L-Lysine
Abronnes Proprietary Herbal Blend
Yellow Dock Herb
Burdock root
Sarsaparilla herb, root
September 26th, 2007 at 9:29 am
I looked at the list of things that you should use for acne prone skin and i looked my cleaner, toner, and acne spot lotion and the only product that i found that was in the products that i shouldnt be using was Steric Acid in the lotion the toner and wash seem to be alright? Should i be using a facial mask or a higher level of Salicylic Acid. The level in the spot lotion is 1%
September 26th, 2007 at 10:20 am
My gynecologist gave me a prescription to start the Yasmin, but after taking YAZ for a month it did something very strange to me and I never got a period.
I guess I will have to wait until next month to try the Yasmin. I was reading a website where women can post their side effects of Yasmin and it didn’t sound very good. Alot of them had anger, anxiety, moodiness, depression, weight gain, restlessness, unable to sleep, fatigue- even after 8 hours of sleep, etc….
Have you ever experienced these symptoms taking Yasmin? If I knew was going to be nasty to everyone, and have anxiety and depression theres really no need to have clear skin because I’d never go out anyways!
Also, my climate is very humid- especially through the spring/summer/fall. Do you recommend using Philosophys purity made simple? I know you’re fighting the dryness of Vegas, but would that product work well for acne in a humid climate?
September 26th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I actually have had great results with Yasmin, but everyone is different. I haven’t had any side effects with it, and it has actually helped my mood, and made me happier! It didn’t make me gain any weight, and it’s actually one of the best pills for preventing weight gain. It can take 3 months or so to get used to a pill, so it will take that long before you can really determine if it’s a good fit. I like Yasmin because it’s better for acne, but if you don’t really have acne, Yaz is probably better since it’s a lower hormone dosage.
If you have oily skin, the Purity made simple may not be the best for you. I still use it when I travel to humid places, but I also switch it out with a less hydrating cleanser, since I actually get oilier skin in humid places. If you don’t have oily skin, it will probably be good. I think it’s a good overall cleanser, but I like to use something with salicylic acid in it when I go to humid places. If you check on Makeupalley.com you can read product reviews about it, and see what people say about it with all different skin types and climates.
September 28th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Glad to hear you’ve had such fantastic results with the Yasmin- on not only your face but you in your entirety! I feel more positive about trying it. My Philosophy MicroDelivery Peel came in the mail today and I’m excited to try it! I will look up makeupalley and see what everyone says about the Purity Made Simple. Thanks so much for all your help!!!
October 21st, 2007 at 8:33 pm
… I read an article on Jeni’s blog over at Savvyskin.com on how she cured her adult acne and one of the products she raved about was Purity Made Simple cleanser …
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Hello again! I’ve been trying out your ideas since September and I think I am finally on to something. The Yasmin has been great (thank goodness!) my acne is getting better everyday , the cystic acne has stopped, and I have not had ANY side effects from the birth control! YAY YAY YAY! I started by using the neutrogena healthy skin anti wrinkle anti blemish, the BP, and minocycline and for the price, the results were OK. I also tried the Maybelline pure makeup which covered well and did not cause any additional breakouts. A friend of mine purchased the murad acne cleanser line and we were on a vacation together and I tried it for 3 days and my skin started clearing that quickly! I bought it as soon as I got home and have not regret it for a moment. That line was a miracle for me. I love the results I get from using that combined with a once a week Philosophy Microdelivery Peel. (That stuff is great!!!) I eventually started getting small bumps on the surface of my skin and stopped using maybelline and went back to bare minerals and the bumps stopped. I think it started clogging my pores over time. I think the less makeup I wear the more my skin likes me ;)
Thank you Thank you Thank you for your website! I hope my skin gets better and better until all the scars are gone too! :)
January 29th, 2008 at 4:05 am
Hi Jeni, I came across your Blog last year, when I was totally frustrated with my adult acne and desperately Googling for advice. The acne had started after I stopped taking the pill and seeing as how I am 31 I thought it would resolve itself. Which of course it didn’t. After reading your Blog I went to see a dermatologist and was prescribed Yasmin, an antibiotic/antikeralytic solution for “on the spot” treatment and Isotrex cream (the topical formulation of “Accutane” or “Roaccutane”). My derm claims that this is better than Differin, although I know it’s not available in the US it seems quite popular here in Germany. I’m also using the purity made simple cleanser, Clinique moisturiser, Shiseido sunscreen and Philosophy micropeel exfoliator that you recommended.
It’s only been two weeks now, but thank you so much, it’s made the world of difference! I haven’t had any major breakouts, my nasty cystic acne is healing and I think the isotrex has also helped with my fine lines (even those stubborn nose-mouth ones!). I can’t thank you enough.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:15 am
DR,
I’m glad you’re seeing such an improvement in your skin! I have read that there is a topical Accutane in other countries, so I need to read up on that more. I like Differin because it doesn’t have any side effects, but I do believe there are probably stronger creams that are possibly more effective.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:06 am
jeni, dont you use make up cleansing lotion before the soap? If yes, what you use? And i need your comments about hair care product ingredients that can aggravate acne at our face especially when the hair touches the face, thanks so much for this blog
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Whats funny is i suffer from adult acne to. I stopped drinking sodas and started only drinkign water and i dont have big huge cystic acne anymore. I get very small ones time to time but its been clearing up!
May 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I cleared my adult acne up several years ago with Orthocyclen, the monophasic version which is different than the tri-phasic pill. It took nearly a year and a half to get the blackheads out but I have had perfect, clear skin for most of the last 3 years. I use Olay products and use a system by Dr. Denese which is based on exfoliation and hydrating with ceramides. I scrub my face once a week with the Olay microdermabrasion kit. Perricone has also worked for me for several years and recently I started drinking three liters of water a day to help plump up my skin. It seems to really work! I’ve considered switching to Yasmin. Orthocyclen was also on the list of pills I picked from based on recommendations from an MD named Elizabeth Vliet. Her book It’s Your Ovaries Stupid saved my life more or less.
May 20th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
i am 23 years old and i joined the Army a year ago. Before joining i had very good skin no acne scars, a pimple occasionally around my time of the month but not a problem. 3 months into my training i started getting large bumps under my skin on the sides of both my cheeks, right in the center - now in all my life i have never gotten a pimple there, let alone a break out. i tried my best not to pick at them but it was impossible, now i have a disgusting purplish scar on my cheek and it still breaks out with bumps under the skin - sometimes never surfacing. i don’t know what to do but it is very frustrating - i’ve tried many things, but none seem to work.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:24 am
this list is really great! I have started to check all my skincare products against this list. however, most of them do not have numbers before them… does the number make a difference? for example, is 4 ethylhexyl Palmitate the same as ethylhexyl palmitate? or not?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hi Jeni i just got on the yaz - and my breakouts got a little bit worse so hopefully it will get better. im on my first month for the yaz - actually first week so after this month i will try out the yasmine. i really hope this works out, as i don’t have insurance or the money for a dermatologist. and murad isnt working. acne is so frustrating but im so glad i found your website :)
ps maybe you know something about this, but i went to mexico for one week and when i went there, my skin cleared up. when i came back to new york, i started breaking out again. i don’t know whats changed. i eat healthier here - avoid dairy at ALL costs, as it may sometimes aggravate acne. the only thing different is that i had pina coladas and beer every single day in mexico. here i don’t drink too much. i live in the suburbs of new york. i wash my pillow covers. i use my thermaclear. do you have any possible clue what might be the culprit?
July 15th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
hi Jeni, i am 23 and i myself have tried every product. however my acne started to get worse about 9 months ago..it all of a sudden got realy oily and nothing helped. well recently i went to the gyno and he tol me my acne was because i had endometriosis (early stage) anyway he put me on Yasmin. i read all the great benefits of Yasmin..and was very excited to start. i am on my 8 th day and i think my acne is gettin worse….i read dat urs got worse before better. but i cant help but worry…how long do i have to wait to see results? will it help??? thanks 4 ur help!
July 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Would you recommend Philosphy’s Purity Made Simple Face Wash for acne skin? Paula’s gave it a bad review saying that it has a lot irritating plant oils. Would you say this is safe to use to acne prone skin? Some reviews on makeupalley have experienced breaking out. Is there a purging stage with using this cleanser? Also, is there a purging stage with retinol products?
Thanks for your site. My skin is going crazy right now and I need your advice.
Thanks in advance!
September 5th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
It would be interesting to know what you think about long term effects of the pill such as androgenic hair loss and the body not being able to produce an appropiate amount of hormones anymore after being on the pill for years. I worry about that constantly
October 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
My daughter just started taking YAZ primarily to regulate her periods, help with mood swings and clear up her skin. She’s on the third week and her skin has actually gotten worse. Logic would tell me that it might get worse before it gets better … maybe bringing up all that stuff underneath. Anyway - I know how hard this is on my daughter (high school is tough enouth!). Is this common - does my guess at “logic” have any validity? I’d be interested in any feedback from someone who has or is still using YAZ
October 26th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Girls,
All of this hormonal acne is hormonal imbalance. That is why the pill helps. it probably is caused by a progesterone shortage - bioidentical hormone replacement cream can be prescribed by your OB and a compounding pharmacy can make it. It is better for you than the pill, it’s natural and it probably will make you stop breaking out all together so you dont’ have to worry as much about that intense list of skin products.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
hi jeni! ive been on the pill (yaz) for a couple months now and it helped get rid of a lot - not all of the acne. i still broke out when i had dairy products which was super annoying, and still had several small bumps on my forehead. now im still taking the pill, and taking prescription wash cloths (prascion fc - which is sulfur based) and its helping me so much. i also use olay regenerist cream and it completely moisturizes my skin. my acne is cured and my superficial acne scars are slowly fading! its been a long five years but now i have no more acne!! i havent been acne-free since seventh grade so this is so amazing and unreal. also i can eat dairy again and not breakout!!
for blackheads, ive been using sothyst oily skin mask - you can get one at a sothyst spa or a licenced esthetician that works with sothyst and it really really helped get rid of a lot of my blackhead gunk. they also have one for dry skin too. best of luck jeni and thanks so much.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Hi Jeni,
I am so pulled in to your site. I can relate so much. I am 28, and then hormonal acne will just not stop. At time, I feel like it is taking over, and I am on antibiotics, differin, benzaclin, tea tree oil, you name it! I just took my first month of Yasmin after deciding that it was my best option for hormonal imbalance. However, I have had some worsening chin cysts over the past month (6 or 7 this month). I am just wondering if you think this is just an intial “purge” and it will get better over time, or do you think I am not cut out for Yasmin. I can’t decide, and I am not sure if I can go through another month of this. What was your experience? Thanks so much. Your site is wonderful!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I too am on Yasmin to control breakouts, that occur mainly around my chin area. I wouldn’t be w/ out it. I have tried switching to Nuvaring for convienence sake, but alas I broke out again. I never had break outs until my 20s, it is definitely hormonal. Tetracycline has been helpful in the past, and Orthotricycline has also worked for me in the past, but then breakouts started cropping up again. I have been on Yasmin for at least 7 years now. I don’t smoke, so frankly I will stay on it forever because there is nothing more depressing than having to face the world w/ cystic acne, ick. I like Estee Lauder Idealist to make my face look as beautiful as it can after all it’s been through and I try to eat healthy. L. Bauman’s book, The Skin Type Solution, is very useful/helpful for improving the texture and tone of your skin. I’m happy with Nivea Soft for face moisturizer and Johnson and Johnson Basis face soap. Exfoliators I tend to stay away from for the most part, I never know if my skin will react, but that Philosphy Peel you speak of has been my favorite in the past. And the Zeno comes in handy … Catch those suckers early and maybe you can shorten/eliminate their life!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
By the way, Yasmin has a generic now! The name is Ocella. W/ insurance, I only pay $15/mo (used to pay 60). I’ve been on it for 6 months and have had NO issues w/ the chance, works just as well for me as Yasmin.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I am seriously considering starting the Yaz that I have 3 months of samples for. I have given up the pill many times before because I hate the idea of taking synthetic hormones.I have noticed that I can use the products that I really love when I am on the pill because the true cause of my cystic acne(and all of the whiteheads) is hormones,not what I am using externaly.This is truly a disease and now at 36 years old with 2 kids, I have f—in had it with dealing with this. It really effects my mood and my life.I worry about the Yaz because I have a grandmother who had breast cancer and dont want anything that might bring that on. But at this point I might still do it. Thats how disgusted I am. I was an attractive girl who was in the beauty business for many years and I can’t believe this is still a problem.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
thanx so much! i have hormonal acne and it sux! i have tried every over the counter products, pro activ, clinque, …the list goes on. I was reading online that birth control and help..so i just srtarted this month taking ortho tri cyclin. im hoping this will work. Im 20 now and i just want to finally be over this stage of acne..i have had it since i was 13. im def going to try your regime and see if it works for me..wish me luck
April 19th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
That’s great that you’ve found a cure for your acne, but, girl you’re putting too many different products on your skin…that can’t be good.
You seem to be well educated on ingredients when it comes to treating and preventing acne, so I think this site would be of interest to you as well:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.org/
You can type in a beauty product and see how hazardous it is to your health. Yay! After using this site, I’ve been using much less hazardous products on my skin and hair, and *surprise* my hair is healthier and my skin is too! A great, and 99.9% natural, zit zapper I found via this site is Burt’s Bees Doctor Burt’s Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Oil. Works great!
May 10th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hi, I luvvv ur site! I found it a couple of days ago and I’m soooo happy that I did. I just turned 23 and I’ve never really had severe acne but since I hit my twenties, it’s just gotten worse and it’s driving me crazy. I was just wondering if you have ever tried philosophys help me retinol treatment instead of Differin or TxSystems Afirm? I haven’t used any of them yet but I’ve read some good reviews on the philosophy one. I have some discolouration and acne scars but i was worried that it might clogg my pores. Anyway thanks for starting this site, it’s awesome!
May 11th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I recommend Yasmine. My personal testimonial is that I began having cystic acne two years after the birth of my second daughter at age 38. It was terrible, and I thought nothing would ever help clear up my skin. I was once again 110 lb with acne, just like in high school. My skin improved dramatically in three months, and with the continued use of Yasmine, my skin is clear. My pores are smaller, and I have clear, smoothe skin. Yasmine is like a miracle hormone for acne.