Today I have to do me. Specifically my skin. Please let me be vain for a moment. I used to have beautiful skin. Smooth, soft, perfect caramel colored skin. My teen skin years were good to me. I did not suffer from acne or breakouts. I used regular bar soap to wash my face and that was just fine.
I am totally comfortable bragging about my skin because there was not much else to be vain about. Exhibit A.
Yes, that's me. I had HUGE red glasses, braces, frizzy hair and no sense of style. As can be seen by my choice of a sports bra with overall shorts? Really??? So I'm sure you can agree when I say that my skin was the best thing I had going for me.
Then I hit 30. I was totally fine with turning 30. My skin on the other hand? Clearly, not so much. In the last year it has gone completely bonkers, crazy, haywire. I am prone to ridiculous breakouts, hideous pores, blackheads, and well yuck, yuck, yuck. My chin is the absolute worst, but I've been getting zits everywhere now and I am not a FAN. Please look at my chin, it's a war zone.
I've tried intensive masks, blackhead clearing scrubs, oil removing papers, salicylic acid face washes, and sensitive skin bars, but I don't know what I'm doing. I'm literally just standing in the face wash aisles of Target and taking a stab in the dark at what might help.
None of it is working. I need help. S.O.S my friends. What do I do? I've considered the Xeno hotspot and those battery powered face scrubbers on several recent Target trips. I'm just not certain if they would be worth the money. However, given a thumbs up by a friend I'd be willing to spend the money.
Now that I've shared those hideous photos with you. Advice, anyone?!?!
Two things...i have a prescription for duac gel which is antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide. Makes a huge difference. I also use a wash by therapy systems that is specific for acne prone skin. I have struggled for years as well and this combo does the trick for me.
ReplyDeleteI, knock on wood, haven't entered the acne stage again. I have minor breakouts, but nothing like in high school and college. For me, I always go to the dermatologist. Differin and Retina always worked for me. I still use the Retina when I have breakouts on my back, it seems to clear up the deep nasty acne that I get after exercising. Yay! I also use a acne system called Zap It!, by Melaleuca. Laura (my sister) gets acne pretty badly and I get it for her to use and it really helps. It is made from all natural ingredients and isn't as harsh on your skin like some of the medicated stuff. However, it has tea tree oil in it, which is highly effective.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps and sorry for the book.
So sorry you have to deal with this! I also have problem skin that is great during the second and third trimester and good during the first few months postpartum. But around the one year old mark and during the first trimester, I have problems. Right before I got pregnant with my third, I went to the dermatologist and got on Differin and Finacea which were safe for breast feeding moms. I noticed a difference right away with the Finacea but had to stop them both b. I got pregnant again. Anyway, thanks for posting this. It's refreshing to know I'm not alone!
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