So, you probably have already tried oodles of products to see what works best for your oily, slightly harrowing skin. I’m sure if your medicine cabinet looks anything like mine, you have spent a small fortune on skin care and ways to tame the oil and breakouts. Well, while brainstorming with my team, I found out that I am not the only one who faces battle (no pun intended) every time I go to the store to find products that work for oily skin. Below are a few of the regimens my other oily skin, acne-prone colleagues and I use and swear by. I hope you can find a regimen in here that works just right for you too!

Beauty on a Budget (Routines less than $25)—Drugstore.com

Neutrogena

Cleanser: Rapid Clear Oil-Control Foaming Cleanser (6 oz.) $7.39

Moisturizer: Oil-Free Anti-Acne Moisturizer (1.7 oz.) $6.99

Total: $14.38

-This is a great regimen for someone who wants a no-hassle, no-frills routine that works! I personally use this routine when traveling or when my skin is out of control and quickly needs to be whipped back into shape. The moisturizer is light and non-greasy and the cleanser actually does what it says in preventing excess oil production on your face. Please note, this routine probably works best for those who have oily skin as opposed to actual breakouts.

Clean & Clear

Cleanser: Advantage Acne Cleanser (5 oz.) $5.96

Moisturizer: Advantage Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer Salicylic Acne Medication (4 oz.) $6.29

Treatment: Advantage Acne Spot Treatment (0.75 oz.) $5.99

Total: $18.24

-This routine has worked for a few of my team members, but beware it can strip skin of necessary moisture and may burn slightly if overused. From all contributing parties, I gathered that this is a routine that is best used only for a short period of time, probably 4 weeks or less. The moisturizer is a tad bit heavy so only a very small amount is needed and is best applied when the skin is still slightly damp (such as directly after being pat dry from washing).

L’Oreal

Cleanser: Pure Zone Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser (6.7 oz.) $5.19

Toner: Pure Zone Pore Tightening Astringent (6.7 oz.) $5.19

Moisturizer: Pure Zone Skin Relief Oil-Free Moisturizer (2.5 oz.) $5.19

Total: $15.57

-Once again, this is a great routine that I have tried myself. The cleanser is great and so is the astringent. With this regimen, I would also highly recommend using less of the moisturizer, because it is a bit thick. The following instructions detail what I did to get the best results out of this routine:

1) Wash face with lukewarm water + cleanser

2) Pat face dry, and make sure there is no excess moisture left on the skin

3) Let face air dry further for about 20 seconds

4) Apply a dime-size amount of the astringent onto a cotton ball and swab face gently (you don’t need a lot of astringent for it to work, so don’t try and over saturate your face with astringent, this will leave a sticky residue behind if you do.)

5) Let astringent dry on face for about 1 minute, this will allow face to dry but still be slightly damp.

6) Apply a half a dime-size amount of moisturizer to face, in an even layer.

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care

Kit, Daily Face Care Kit for Oily/Impure Skin $21.95

Total: $21.95

-Tried this one on an impulse buy and was pleasantly surprised by the results, this product line is great because they use organic extracts and no synthetic additives. Definitely worth a try.

Mid-Range Beauty (Routines less than $75)—Beauty.com

Dr, Brandt

Kit: Poreless Essentials Kit $55.00

Total: $55.00

Juice Beauty

Kit: Organics to Clear Skin Kit $39.00

Total: $39.00

skyn ICELAND

Kit: Detox Kit for Stressed Skin $35.00

Total: $35.00

Beauty Beyond a Budget (Routines over $100)—Beauty.com

Peter Thomas Roth

A.M.

Cleanser: Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash (8 oz.) $35.00

Moisturizer: Environmental Repair Hydrating Gel (2 oz.) $40.00

P.M.

Cleanser: Botanical Buffing Beads (8 oz.) $36.00

Treatment: AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel (2 oz.) $45.00

Total: $156.00

-A routine gotten from a beauty consultant at ULTA, in two words, THIS ROCKS! This treatment is used by several people I know. It is a two part routine that brings great results. If you are very sensitive to moisturizer, this routine is especially great for you. The lightweight gels are a very effective alternative to cream-based moisturizers and feel virtually weightless on.

Dr. Brandt

Cleanser: Poreless Cleanser (8 oz.) $35.00

Toner: Poreless Tone (8 oz.) $35.00

A.M.

Treatment: Poreless Gel (1.7 oz.) $55.00

Moisturizer: Poreless Moisture (3.5 oz.) $42.00

Maintaining Moisture Throughout the day: Pores No More (1 oz.) $45.00

P.M.

Treatment: Poreless Pore Effect (1.7 oz.) $55.00

Total: $267.00

-For the woman who likes all the bells and whistles to her skincare routine! This regimen is not for the rookie but the woman well-versed in products application and how to effectively layer products. The routine has one devout follower on my team who takes her skin and keeping it clear very seriously. To get the best results, I would say read all of the labels to ensure the products are being applied in the correct order and amounts. This one is too complicated for my taste but I have seen the results first hand and can see that it works.

BORBA

Cleanser: Clarifying Fiber-Knit Facial Cleanser, Pomegranate (6.8 oz.) $18.00

Treatment: Clarifying Fiber-Knit Facial Concentrate, Pomegranate (1.7 oz.) $30.00

A.M.

Moisturizer: Clarifying Fiber-Knit Lotion, SPF 15, Pomegranate (3.4 oz.) $25.00

P.M.

Moisturizer: Clarifying Fiber-Knit Night Repair Lotion, Pomegranate (3.4 oz.) $27.00

Internal Treatment

Clarifying Skin Balance Aqualess Crystalline System, Pomegranate (30 Days) $100.00

Total: $200.00

-If you want to use one of the hottest systems used today, then this is it! BORBA is really effective in targeting the problems areas each product and skin balance water was especially formulated to treat. I have tried and loved this treatment, as do many others on my team. The only downside is the monthly cost.

skyn ICELAND

Cleanser: Glacial Facial Wash (5.95 oz.) $30.00

A.M.

Treatment: Nordic Skin Peel (60 ea.) $45.00

Moisturizer: The ANTIDOTE Quenching Daily Lotion (1.76 oz.) $45.00

P.M.

Treatment: Anti-Blemish Gel (.5 oz.) $25.00

Moisturizer: Oxygen Infusion Night Cream (1.98 oz.) $75.00

Total: $220.00

-A routine that is highly favored by many on my team, and a great fallback when nothing else is working for myself, this regimen has a cooling effect which helps reduce swelling if you are having breakouts. Please note, even though this routine is for oily or acne-prone skin, everyone’s skin and tolerance is different. You may need to adjust the “Treatment” in the A.M. or P.M. regimen. Excessive use of the Skin Peel or Anti-Blemish Gel can cause irritation. I would suggest starting with the Nordic Skin Peel about 3 times per week. Go from there, and add or subtract the treatments as you see fit. However, once you get the exact routine that works best for you, you will be amazed at the results of this product. P.S. I am absolutely addicted to the Face Wash.

I hope some of these regimens help you in your quest for perfect skin. It is a daily battle that can be won; it just takes persistence, patience, and drinking lots of water! And remember, everyone is different, though some of these regimens have worked well for my team and I, it doesn’t mean you will necessarily have the same great results. I wish all of you the best and know that you are not in the battle alone!

Acne scars are easily recognized by the red skin of an area formerly occupied by a pimple. The initial form, while not actually a scar, will lead to one in some cases. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure that it is a scar is if the red skin persists for longer than 6-12 months. It is often better, therefor, to treat all acne lesions as potential scars.

What Causes Acne Scars?

Acne scars are caused by an overabundance of the connective tissues your body uses to heal itself. These tissues work to provide a temporary framework for your skin cells to regrow on. But if there is too much of this connective tissue, it is not broken down when the healing is complete, but rather stays permanently. This causes a discolored or unpigmented section of skin to form.

Avoiding Acne Scars

Since the root cause of acne scarring is acne, preventing acne in the first place is the best way to avoid scars. But even if you already have acne, it is still possible to prevent acne scars from forming. The way this is done is by speeding the healing process as much as possible. The faster your acne lesion heals, the less time the connective tissue framework has to overgrow and leave scars.

Speeding the Healing Process

There are 2 main treatments dermatologists use to facilitate the rapid healing of acne lesions. The first is Tretinoin, an acid derivative of Vitamin A, also known as all-trans retinoic acid. This chemical speeds the skin’s healing, reducing inflammation and preventing acne scars from forming.

The second method involves the use of various Alpha- and Beta-Hydroxy acids, which perform much the same function as Tretoinin, speeding healing and reducing the chance of scarring.

Helping Yourself

Even if you don’t or can’t see a dermatologist, there are several different things you can do yourself that can help prevent acne scars from forming. The biggest thing is to treat your skin well. Avoid over-exposure to the sun, as sunburns can dramatically slow the healing process. Always wear sunscreen when going out in the sun. Don’t pop your pimples, and if there are scabs from lesions, do not pick at them. Picking at any wound as it heals causes more damage, extending healing times and increasing the likelihood of scar tissue forming.

Removing Existing Acne Scars

Even with the best of care, scarring still sometimes occurs. But even if a scar does form, there are several options available that can reduce or eliminate your visible scarring.

Dermal Fillers

Fillers such as collagen can be injected into the site of an acne scar, raising the skin surface to reduce the appearance of pockmarks. These are not permanent treatments, however, and will require re-injection every 3-6 months.

Laser Resurfacing

An extremely popular and fast treatment for acne scars, laser resurfacing works by burning a precisely measured upper layer of skin. New skin then grows over the wound, leaving mostly unscarred skin visible. But as with the initial acne healing process, care must be taken to insure that this new skin does not scar as well.

Punch Excision

This procedure is only effective on certain types of scars. A surgical punch is made to precisely the dimensions of the scar to be removed. The scar is then punched out, similar to a cookie cutter, and the wound sewn together. If there is any scarring left after the wound heals, it can be more easily treated with laser resurfacing than the original larger scar.

  

Adult acne is a common occurrence in those who thought they had escaped the scourge of the acne condition through the adolescent years.  Adult acne often appears in individuals between the ages of 25 and 35. In fact, one in five adult women suffers from this type of acne.  As found in adults, acne is not the same thing as that found in teenagers.  The cause is well defined, and the treatment is also fairly specific to the adult variety. The treatments that help your teenager probably will be less than effective on your adult skin. Most of the principles of healthful living still apply, though.

 

A Link to Blackheads

 

One of the significant links or causes for adult acne is blackheads.  A blackhead is the visible result of sebum, the secretion from the sebaceous gland, meeting the air.  When the free flow of sebum is restricted, bacteria collect in the area around the gland.  The more bacteria that collects in the pocket, the more pain, swelling and infection occur. Acne that begins during the adult years shows up initially as a blackhead.  These may be improved by limiting and freeing up the products of the infection to be removed or reduced.

 

Common Causes

 

Adult acne has other causes besides the obvious blockage of the sebaceous gland.  For example, acne that begins in the third or fourth decade is caused by hormone production, by stress and by bad cosmetics.  In addition, acne found in adult women can be the result of birth control pills. These causes have been found to be very different from the causes identified as significant causative factors for adolescent acne breakouts. For that reason, successful treatment often takes a very different route than that for adolescent versions of the skin condition.

 

Cheese and Chocolate

 

Neither adult acne nor any of the other types are caused by the ingestion of cheese and chocolate.  A fatty diet has not been found to cause acne per so, but poor diet is not the most nutritious approach to a healthy life style. Eliminating foods that are high in fat has an effect on your overall health, particularly with the health of your heart and circulatory system.  Indirectly, eating right helps you to maintain healthy skin and other bodily systems. Replace foods of less than stellar nutritional value with more healthy choices will improve your chances of living longer and enjoying it more.

 

Cleansing and Treatments

 

Because adult acne is different both in cause and treatment from other types of acne, it is important to understand fully the causes and rate of occurrence.  For example, if the acne is a result of the hormones found in birth control pills, an antibiotic applied topically or ingested orally will be of little or no value.  On the other hand, a regular routine of gentle cleansing is important to help keep the skin healthy and vibrant. The skin should also be moisturized so that it doesn’t dry out, causing problems such as cracking with additional likelihood of infection.

 

 

Acne is very common amongst teenagers. People use numerous acne treatments like herbal, homeopathic, antibiotic medicines, lotions, homemade medicines etc. Everyone uses some different treatment for acne. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. There are a lot of misconceptions about acne and its treatment. There are different stages of acne and each stage requires different types of treatment.

If you are using some treatment for acne whether it be herbal or some homemade remedy and you don’t see any progress in the treatment then you should immediately see a dermatologist. One thing should be kept in mind that acne treatment is not often a one day process. It can take a long time to cure, sometimes even a few weeks to show some initial improvement. Sometimes a dermatologist can suggest some vitamins along with acne treatment to help get better results. Remember that all types of acne are curable so do not worry at all.

The initial stage of acne is very mild and it can be treated with any mild acne face wash along with some over the counter medicine like benzyl peroxide. These types of medicine kill bacteria and help to prevent acne. Proper skin care is very essential in acne treatment. Acne can appear on different parts of the body like arms, neck, back and shoulders. Facial acne is most easy and convenient to treat as compared to other parts of the body.

If acne covers half of your face then you are suffering from moderate acne. At this stage you should consult a dermatologist immediately in order to avoid acne from further spreading. Acne is very depressing for youngsters as they can lose their self confidence and they stop feeling good about their physical appearance. If acne is not treated at this stage than there are chances that acne will leave scars on your skin. At this stage a dermatologist can suggest more than one type of treatments like extraction, light therapy, topical creams etc. in accordance with the acne condition.

The last stage of acne is very depressing for the patients as their pimples and zits increase tremendously. Sometimes pus filled pimples might appear on the skin. At this stage skin is intensively damaged. Dermatologists will use very rigorous treatment during this stage due to the fact that acne has penetrated deep into the skin. Antibiotics are used in this stage to prevent permanent scarring and other treatments like drainage techniques and surgical incision can also be used depending on the severity of the acne.

It is important that you get all the information required during your acne treatment. Acne should be treated at initial stages. You should not wait for the acne to get worse and then contact the doctor. This delay can sometimes cause permanent scars on your skin. Don’t do experiments with your skin as they can damage your skin for the lifetime.

So for ages now i’ve had bad acne all over my face, neck, chest, back, lower back and arms. I’ve been given about 5 different creams from the doctor and i’ve tried loads of different types of pills. Is laser a good idea? Does it hurt? How much does it cost? Any other options? Tah x