Cleansing routine causing acne? I'm 33, help!

[BlinkAndMiss]

I've been reading the face wash thread but it's confusing me -

I had an awful skin breakout a few weeks ago caused by hormones, I decided to stop being lazy with my cleansing routine by cleansing, toning, moisturing and using an anti aging serum at night. I've always cleansed and moisturised but not the rest.

My skin is so bad it's painful, I have massive cyst like spots and hundred of pimples. My skin is patchy and rough - my confidence is at rock bottom and I don't even want to go out. I'm so uncomfortable.

I'm using Simple Cleanser, clinique toner and Estée Lauder daywear moisturiser, Estée Lauder anti aging serum (only use this at night). I wear Estée Lauder DW foundation and I also use a maybeline pore minimiser so I know part of the problem is the blocked pores from this. I also thought that my pillow could be an issue so I bought new ones and I change the cases every day.

Please help me, I don't have a fortune to try loads of things and I don't want to make it worse. I feel that at 33 I should have handle on my skin, I don't eat badly and I do drink lots of water but that doesn't seem to be making any difference right now. I have combination skin usually, not very oily but I am prone to spots.

Please help me!

Try cetaphil cleanser from a chemist. I think there's poss something in there that is aggravating your skin and best way to find out what it is is to start reducing the possible culprits. Also are you changing flannel every wash. This made a big difference to me. Pack of flannels from primark and make sure they're well washed. I tend to do a hot wash of pants and flannels (that sounds gross written down!)

I would knock the to be r and cleanser on the head while you try cetaphil. Also double cleanse. One time to get rid of the make up (especially as it's heavy make up) then another to wash your face. The white flannel should show no signs of make up when you're finished.

Knock the toner and current cleanser on the head I meant.

My best skin ever is done with basic baby lotion and a warm face cloth. All the geh just goes. Also, the aspirin mask may help you.

Blink and miss - I suffered with acne for most of my life, and even now I get flare ups during ovulation.

First things first - make an appointment with your doctor. If your acne is hormonal, then you might want to consider going onto the contraceptive pill to balance them out. Dianette and Yasmine are both good at helping acne. Also, if the below shows no sign of improving your skin after two months, then you might want to go on a prescribed treatment. I've been on pretty much all of them at some point or another in my youth.

On the cleansing side of the house, don't worry about using "fancy" products.

I would advise on getting:

• A teenager face wash (think clean and clear or clearasil)
• A tube of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel (you can buy them from the pharmacy - just ask behind the counter)
• A moisturiser which specifically says "non comedogenic" on the back of it.
• Stop using the anti ageing serum (unless you just want to use it around your eyes).
• Stop using the toner.
• Try and avoid using the foundation.
• Don't touch your face throughout the day. If you do touch your face, make sure you wash your hands first.

On the skin care routine:

Wash your face using the teenager facewash, and then gently pat dry with a clean towel. When your skin is completely dry, take some of the benzoyl peroxide gel, and put a thin layer all over your face, but AVOID your eye area and mouth (it will cause you a lot of problems around yr eyes etc).

Make sure it's a thin layer, as otherwise it will rub off like that peelable glue stuff.

When the Benzoyl peroxide has dried, put on a thin layer of moisteriser.
Use just a small amount of concealer (clinique do a good cream one, but anything will do) on your worst spots and to even out your skin a bit. If you can, don't use the foundation. It will just clog up your face.

Stop using any products which don't specifically state they are non comedogenic. Try and keep your hair out of your face as much as possible.

Only wash your face twice a day, unless there is a reason why you should do it again (after sport, etc).

IMPORTANT - It might take your skin a while to get used to the benzoyl peroxide. If you use too much at once, or too often, it WILL irritate your skin and make it go red and dry. Try using it once a day to being with, and build up your usage.

Could someone please explain the aspirin face mask thing?

beautybanter.com/diy-aspirin-acne-mask-and-acne-angst

Thank you that sounds really good!

I had this about 6 months ago and assumed it was hormones, change of cleansing routine etc but it became so sore I ended up going to the Drs. I was prescribed a 4mth course of docycline anti-bs to reduce the inflammation. It took a couple of weeks to see marked improvement and then it was like my skin was back to the way it used to be. I finished them 2 months ago and touch wood no sign of the dreaded spots since.

Ahhh thank you all!! I can't tell you how relieved I am to have some real advice! I could cry :).

Right - toner is going as is the anti aging serum. I'd rather have a few wrinkles that may or may not appear than spotty skin :). I'm going foundationless tomorrow (this is a huggggge thing for me).

I think I'll start with using just baby lotion and a clean flannel tonight. I've just been putting the cleanser on my hands because I thought flannels would move the germs around more! I do have a lot of clean, white flannels as I have a baby so I wash and use all the time. I'm going to start using them on my face.

On Monday I'll get some cetaphil whilst I wait for a drs appointment, I do think hormones have a part in it. I should have ovulated half way through last week which is when things got really bad, I didn't connect the 2 as I usually have breakouts when I have pmt. But that can't be a coincidence! Duh, I really missed a simple thing there. Thank you so much for all the advice kaykay, the benzoyl peroxide sounds great. I'll have to keep your instructions close by, it does sound like serious stuff. I am definitely a face fiddler too so I need to get that in check.

I'm going to have a look at the link for the aspirin mask when DS goes to bed.

Thank you again for all the advice, I can't believe that I not only have answers but I have options too! Hopefully I'll find a solution or two in there :).

Cystic spots and acne to the degree you're describing is a medical issue. Change of cleanser might help but won't cure. Look at La Roche Posay Effaclar range and make an appointment with the GP.

Agree seeing a doctor is the way to go. Get on something like spironolacto, plus an antibiotic that can tone down the inflammation, the pill and some prescription topical stuff like Acanya.

You say you are prone to spots but before the recent bad outbreak has your skin been reasonably okay?

antibiotics will clear it up in the short term which is important as it does get you down when it is bad. They often aren't a long term solution though.

my skin in sensitive and i cant use benzoyl peroxide (it gave me awful itchy eczema) , so perhaps use this with caution.

my skin is basically clear now. The things that worked for me are cutting out dairy almost completely, double cleansing with alcohol free wipes and then neutrogena extra gentle cleanser, using a lotion with salicylic acid plus glycolic acid (Jan Marini bioglycolic lotion, it is honestly the bomb and I will cry if they ever discontinue it) and using an avene moisturiser.

Similar thing happened to me and I went down the harsh teenage products route but it seemed to make it worse. So I saw the dr. Got some great advice. It turns out my skin is too sensitive. I had to be v gentle.

I has a course of roaccutane after a referral to dermatologist which got rid of everything.

I now double cleanse. First with effaclar duo foam wash, then Avene cleance. Tone with a brightening toner (botanics). Then use Vichy normaderm moisturiser. This works really well for me. If I deviate even slightly I get spotty again. It took some trial and error but has changed my life. My skin was so bad.

You may not want to hard drugs but I do urge you to at least see the gp and try to start thinking of your skin as sensitive.

Good luck.

I get a similar reaction to all Clinique toners. One application and my face is full of bumps and tiny horrible spots. Maybe you have the same issue?

Cystic acne + hundreds of pimples = medical issue. You won't solve this with products alone but you can help improve matters.

Cetaphil is the tops for cleansers - there's a reason every dermatologist recommends it.

Then you need an acid toner- something with salicylic acid in it if you have blackheads (I love Paula's CHoice 2% BHA) or lactic or glycolic if not. Effaclar Duo is great for this stage as well.

If not clearing up then benzoyl peroide.

Only moisturise if you really really think you need to. It isn't a mandatory step, just a way to sell us more product. If you do think you need to then it should be oil free and non-comedogenic - again Cetaphil would be good.

Only introduce one new product at a time and give it at least 3-4 weeks before you decide it isn't working as your skin takes a few weeks to turnover, the products will be working on your 'old' skin that hasn't had the benefit of the new regime IYSWIM and so new spots may appear as you skin beds down - it doesn't necessarily mean the product doesn't work or you are 'reacting' to it.

Also read Dr Sam Bunting's Q&A on here. Will answer all your questions.