On to the topic of acne... dredful acne.

[V-Gamer]

What's up guys, I wanted to know if I could get some information, opinions or even experiences from you all.

For starters, I don't have terrible acne. It's just those little annoying ones that pop up around the mouth/chin area that I really don't like. Other than that, my cheeks/forehead and neck is completely clear.

I'm 18, I've done some research, but I was wondering if I could get some information out of some other people on this forum who have experienced the same. I know everyone goes through their acne stages. Does it go away with age? My family has relatively good skin. I've tried the face washes, and I don't see much improvement, it's actually kind of annoying to do too.

Lately I've been taking a lot of vitamins to attempt to put a stop to it. 13,500 UI of vitamin A, the acidophiles fiber vitamins and the normal multivitamin on top of those. I've yet to see much improvement.

I have a pretty active life. I work out on a daily basis, I've only been drinking water for two years now and I eat pretty healthy, with the exception of junk food occasionally. I shave every three days, sometimes I don't shave for weeks, it depends.

Anyway, to keep it short, is there any special trick that any of you do to help prevent or reduce it?

Thanks. I would go to an acne forum, but that's so cliché, why not ask my gtagaming buddies?

[X-reS]

Try running sweating out all the shit out of your body. Any exercise in good. Omega3 fish oils cleared up my skin.

[guilty.by.association]

Acne is caused by hormones, not dirty skin. I have acne, not severe but I have it. The reason nobody knows is because I take medication. It's called doxycycline and it's an anti biotic. Not recommended for long term use but i say stuff it. It makes me look completely normal. Speak to your doc about it. I also have a topical benzoyl peroxide gel i use sometimes as well as an extra.

But since acne is caused by hormones, face washes don't do a thing. Sure I use them but that's for cleaning not for getting rid of acne. It just doesn't work. All those ads about proactiv etc are bullshit, if you have an acne problem you need pills, those creams only zap the spots that are already there, not prevent them like pills do.

[Vortigern]

You should definitely wash your skin to prevent dirt piling up. But actually, you just need to be patient. When I was 16, I had a lot of acne, now (four years later) I hardly ever get pimps anymore.

[Zidane]

I should've never listened to my parents. "IT'S DIRTY SKIN! KEEP WASHING YOUR SKIN!" I'm a man of science, dammit, I knew there was more to it.

Check out Cephalexin as an antibiotic for acne. I've taken it for the past few months and I'm clear now, though I have to stop taking it due to health issues (not caused by the antibiotic). Or if you prefer topical solutions that work half-decently, I'd recommend Retin-A-Micro.

Good luck, man :)

[V-Gamer]

Haha, thanks for the info guys. Yeah, I mean, I can totally see where it has cleared up over the years. When I was 16, I had a lot of pimples, but now it's just one or two that come out of no where.

Still, anything to completely rid them, I'm going to look into.

[Zidane]

Go with the antibiotic if it ever gets out of hand. Also stay away from things like accutane.

[guilty.by.association]

Many people have acne into their 20s. If I stop taking the pills I see it return with blotchy skin and it looks shitty. So i'll hopefully lose it at some point.

[Havok_Jro]

You'll look at me, and think i'm a crazy person.... But the pill clears it right up

Or at least the one in the UK does, i can't really remember what it was professionally called, i'll look see if i can find an empty pack

[V-Gamer]

Many people have acne into their 20s. If I stop taking the pills I see it return with blotchy skin and it looks shitty. So i'll hopefully lose it at some point.

I don't think it ever really stops. Just occurs less and less over the years. The scary think about meds is just that though. Will you have to take the meds forever because you don't know if acne will come back?

[guilty.by.association]

I took a break last year and it came back. I suppose when i'm 20 i'll try again and see if it's better. The problem with my pill is that it harms your liver and other things if you use it long term. A year max is how long you should take it. And i've been on it for 3 years. But i'd rather take the risk instead of looking like shit. My doctor hasn't told me to stop taking it yet so meh. I don't know what i'll do about it long term, but the pill i'm on works a charm

[Lynk]

I used to have a bit of acne when I was around 15-16 but ever since then it has mostly died off barring the odd spot or two, which is mostly due to shaving.

[Jose]

I have/had awful acne, but it has gradually slowed down. I clean my face when I bath with an oil-free wash(my face is very oily/greasy). But I think it's something that just has to do with age, growth and hormone secretions. Like everyone else said, washing is better than nothing, but it won't magically stop it.

[Tyler]

i think i have the average teen pimples.
on my chin, cheeks, and forehead. It sucks, and i pop them, then wash the face.
But washing the face does get annoying most mornings, especially if im running late for school.
I gotta start using them pills, forreal.

[lillb]

I never use any special face wash or anything and I've never had more than a pimple or two at a time and most of the time I have nothing.
i think i just got lucky
my little brother has terrible acne and proactive and many other face washes haven't done shit for him

[Havok]

I used to have the most atrocious acne imaginable. My face looked like a martian warzone. now, nothing. Absolutely nothing.

everyone here is right, it's all hormones and the like and all you really must do is wait.

[Zidane]

CEPHALEXIN G0D DAMMIT! It clears y0u up and d0esn't destr0y the liver like Accutane.

[Charger]

CEPHALEXIN G0D DAMMIT! It clears y0u up and d0esn't destr0y the liver like Accutane.
That's what the box is called? You think I can find it at CVS? Rite Aid? Like the OP I just have some pop ups here and there near the chin.

[WiM]

I hate acne. Had it for over four years now and I'm getting sick of it. I rarely get it on my chin, forehead and under my nose, though, but I get quite a lot of pimples on my cheeks and throat. I've tried some medication, creams and stuff like that, but no visible effect, really. It's a bit less than it used to be, but it's still fucking annoying. I'm 18 and I'm the only one in my class who has acne.
Even more annoying: I have acne on my chest, shoulders and back. I've never heard of this Cephalexin, so I might try that.

[Tyler]

CEPHALEXIN G0D DAMMIT! It clears y0u up and d0esn't destr0y the liver like Accutane.

Is that available at the local pharmacy?

[Jay]

I used to get fairly large spots every month or two thanks to my parents genes. But now my skin is generally clear.

* If its bad go on antibiotics (I take doxycycline whenever I get a breakout)
* Don't scrub your face or over-wash your face, washing your face 5 times a day or whatever will actually do more damage since your skin will try to produce more oil to make up for the dryness.
* Try to avoid facial scrubs, try to get something like Clearasil face wash, make sure you only leave the wash on your face for around 15 or so seconds, any more could cause dryness.
* I use Clearasil wipes every morning and evening, just to help get rid of any oils and dirt that might be on my face.
* Moisturize after using an acne-wash.
* Don't squeeze the spot, it can cause it to go deeper and cause scarring.
* Water, drink fuckloads.
* Benzoyl peroxide 5% on the spots themselves, do NOT use this over large areas of skin as it will cause redness and dry your skin out. Moisturize around 10 minutes after applying.

Also don't assume antibiotics will solve your problems, if you're on the same one for over a year or two you will eventually become immune. Also not all antibiotics work with everyone.

[V-Gamer]

I've started Drinking Green Tea.

Honey on the face for 15-20min then shower is amazing.

I take 50mg of zinc.

I have like no breakouts now, just little tiny ones, near the chin, but nothing major.

[Ash_735]

Tea Tree Oil is also a good thing to use every now and then along with Benzoyl peroxide when things get serious. Apart from that, wait, between 13 and 16 I had terrible Acne and tried all sorts but once you get past that age, clears up amazingly fast.

[Zidane]

Apparently that thing I'm taking for my prostate, Spironolactone, is good for acne... but I totally don't recommend it to you guys unless you absolutely needed it =P

Cephalexin is available by prescription, usually in 200mg or 500mg dose (I had 500mg... taking one pill cleared me for a month).

[Pablo Escobar Jr.]

I used to have quite a lot of acne, but now it's gone for the most part. Still get a pimple here and there every now and then, infact just today one little fucker popped up in the corner of my mouth. I'm not sure if it's acne or a cold sore but the thing swole up like a motherfucker. It doesn't really hurt or anything but I really need this swelling to go down.. so, does anyone of you how to treat something like this?