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Acne that just won't go away...
Started
by Kaylee
on May 4, 2010
I developed cystic acne this year after I got off the birth control pill. I had huge, painful bumps, directly on my forehead and nose...Talk about embarrassing! I tried the tea-tree line at the Body Shop, which totally made my face worse. And then Alicia mentioned Suki products and I looked them up. I kid you not, I have been using the Clay cleanser, Balance toner, and Moisture-Balance and my skin is looking even better then before the pill! Also, for me, it is so tempting to pick at the bumps when they appear 'ready' to pop, however, they are not and only get ten times worse and then I'm even more embarrassed with my skin...It seems so much worse being in my thirties having crazy acne! Suki products are little pricey, but so good for your skin and last a long time. Just check out Suki and go to the prescriptions area at the bottom of the home page. I just personally wouldn't recommend using tons of different products on your face b/c it can make things so much worse. I sympathize with you and wish you luck!
Niki, I am right there with you. I seriously never had a single bump on my face before I went vegan, and now it's just out of control. I NEVER pick at my face, wash it gently twice a day, and use nothing unnatural--only all-natural soaps, shampoos, conditioners, no lotions and no makeup. I've eaten healthier than ever, and I'm afraid that my decreased self-esteem based on this ridiculous cystic acne has made me very depressed. I don't like looking in mirrors and I'm scared to run into people that I've known before, seeing as I was always known and praised for my clear porcelain skin. I've cut out sugar--no effect. I'm completely at a loss and I feel like I have tried everything! Now I think it's just my bad mood, depression, and stress over this issue that is making it worse.
Heather- I just started using those Suki products plus the purifying serum and the bio-renew facial peel 1-2x a week. I literally started this routine last week. However, my acne has gotten worse. Did your acne get worse before it got better? I know this happens sometimes with salicylic acid, which is in the purifying serum and the bio- renew facial peel, so maybe my skin is just purging. I know you are not using those two products, but how long did it take for your skin to start clearing up after using the three Suki products you mentioned?
Niki & Kaylee- I fully sympathize with you. I am eating better than ever and my skin has never looked worse. However, I have always had skin issues, but I was able to keep them under control with aggressive topicals. Since going vegan I decided to clean up my skin care routine too, but my skin is not a fan of these products. I thought if my diet was clean then thre wouldn't be a need to work so hard to keep my acne at bay- this is not proving to be the case. Hopefully the Suki products will work because I am really tired of throwing money at skin care products that do not work.
Kaylee, I couldn't relate more to what you said. I too am nervous about seeing people I knew "before" because they used to praise my "fresh/pure/baby-faced" skin. Now acne has appeared on my forehead, cheeks, and back, and I'm so grossed out! I've never eaten better, but after someone attributed this being a side effect to having no periods on another thread, I'm think that might be (but hoping it's not) the culprit. I'm going to try the apple vinegar concoction, so hopefully that works...
Everyone's skin is different of course, so different things work for different people. I also never had acne issues until I got older - late 20's, early 30's - a vegan diet gradually improved my skin, I think because my hormones became more evened out, but I still had issues. The biggest difference has been fresh juice every day or every other day. It doesn't really seem to matter what type of juice, but I do try to focus mainly on green juices. You also don't have to buy some super expensive juicer to start - Black and Decker has one for $29. I definitely encourage anyone to try it - it's the only thing that has really worked for me, and I've tried pretty much everything.
I think it is important to note that what works for one person might not work for all. Everything listed should at least be considered or tried, but don't lose hope if something doesn't work for you. My acne is hormonal. It is interesting that in my teens and most of my 20s I had the clearest skin. Now, starting around 30, I have begun to get mini acne explosions, which seems to be common for women around my age. I find it so frustrating that I have acne AND a sprinkling of gray hairs. Anyway, I have been eating per Alicia's instructions for the past 6 months and the acne seems to just come and go - but I still feel better inside and I don't feel my eating really has much to do with my skin - of course, eating well can never hurt! I take bc pills to help with acne and have a few creams that my doctor prescribes (retin-a, etc.) and other than that my advice would be not to pick. I must love picking my face because I do it all the time right before bedtime and I always pay for it in the morning. It's like a pimple-popping hangover. You know how you feel after a long night of drinking - same thing. You wake up saying to yourself, "why did I pop so many? Why couldn't I have just stopped at one?!! Why? Ugh. I want to stay in bed all day."
Hello kind lifers i just felt the need to say i empathize with fellow acne sufferers. I'm 40 years old, have three children and still battle acne. In fact it's been worse than ever these last few years. The only time i'm clear is when i've been pregnant, which leads me to believe it's hormonal! I've spent so much time and energy trying to cure it and theres a few thing s i've found helpful. Theres a very helpful website called mir skincare, her products really helped with cycts and i still use the moisture cream. Hydrogen Peroxide(not natural) swiped on chest and back once or twice a day completly cleared my body acne. Never touch your skin, take long walks, drink loads of water. I just began using an Osmosis serum (alicia recommended). I use Mend instead of Clarify because i have sensitive skin and so far my skin is clearing up(i'll keep you posted). Good luck everyone!
Hey everyone, thanks for all the empathy. Just an update - some good news! I think last Tuesday might have actually been the worst of it all. After crying on my fiance's shoulder about it that night (which, luckily, he thought was cute rather than crazy), he convinced me not to wear makeup at all anymore (except for mascara and lip gloss, of course). I did *not* want to go in public without my face covered up but I did it. The first day was awful, but ever since then it's really been clearing up, which is positively thrilling. For the record, I'm using Julie Gabriel.
I'm 42, have had mild acne since pubertiy, but has gotten worse since becoming vegetarian. HELP! I've tried different skin care products, also, but will try the things suggested. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It is embarrassing, being older, too.
the apple cider vinegar is still working for me...anyone else having success with it? This is the best my skin has ever been! Of course now that I have said that I will have a crazy breakout!
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