Beauty Tips For Body Care
Hey guys,I'm a long-time lurker, and am looking for any advice on what to do next. History: I've had oily, acne-prone skin since high school. I've managed to get it completely clear twice in my life - once the summer before college and I think I was using the Stridex pads and moisturizer.... and that's about it. Then college started and I started having pimples again so I switched up my routine pretty frequently. Then in 2013 I started using Proactiv (yes, yes I know) and it cleared up my skin completely that summer. Then I started school again and what do you know, more pimples although not the worst I've had. I started reading SCA and decided to start from scratch and got myself some Stridex in the red box. BIG MISTAKE. I was a little too eager to have nice skin so I didn't patch test (dumb) and used Stridex maybe 2-3 nights in a row and my skin threw a fit. It was the worst acne I've ever had in my life, skin all red with cystic acne. Then I freaked out and went back to proactiv (and I think I probably tried a few other things) but it didn't seem to make it that much better. I caved and went to a dermatologist, although they were not the most helpful. I was started on the usual - tretinoin, the topical antibiotic (can't remember the name), and an oral antibiotic. That seemed to help a bit, my skin was less red and I had fewer pimples but I was still getting zits daily. I went in for a second appointment and they just upped the tretinoin which didn't help a whole lot more and my skin was extremely oily from the tretinoin so I was still getting cystic acne. So I ended up stopping this and I tried a few other benzoyl peroxide washes and creams since I knew that was the main ingredient in Proactiv, but I think it just made my skin really irritated. I saw someone on here recommend Acne.org so I tried that last year and it definitely made my skin less irritated and I was getting fewer pimples, but again I would still have a zit every single day. I ended up stopping the moisturizer because I read that Jojoba oil is somewhat comedogenic and the cream in general just didn't seem to absorb that well. I was using the glycolic acid mixed with moisturizer daily for a while and I think that helped smooth my skin out, but I stopped it for a day or two and noticed my skin seemed clearer and less dry/irritated. Since then I have stopped using it altogether.I started using Argan oil which has done wonders for my oiliness but now I'm noticing my skin is becoming really dry and flaky. Sorry for the long history, but I thought it may be useful to know what I have tried in the past.Current routine: AM - rinse w/ H2O, put on Acne.org's Benzoyl Peroxide cream, then Argan oil, and Neutrogena's clear-skin sunscreen (spf 30)PM - wash with Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, Benzoyl Peroxide, Argan oil, then Neutrogena sensitive skin moisturizer.My skin is definitely the best it has been in like 2 years, but I literally still have 1-3 zits every single day and it's just getting old. I also now have PIH and huge pores from years of dealing with acne. Mind you, I'm in the medical profession and this takes a serious hit on my confidence, especially talking to patients.I'm wondering if I should try incorporating a BHA or AHA again? I'm just terrified of using salicylic acid ever since my skin freaked out from using Stridex! And I'm not totally sure if using glycolic acid will continue to make my skin dry. Should I just stick with my current routine to see if the dryness will resolve? I'm wondering if the Argan oil reducing the oil on my skin will cause more dryness?Also, side-note: I have Nexplanon (the contraceptive implant) which is a progesterone agonist and has been shown to increase acne in some patients. With that said, I talked to my OB/GYN and she thought that because I have been on this birth control for the past 5 years and my skin has been clear with it in the past that it likely is not the culprit.HALP ME, what do I do next???
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by m1ch1g4n
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