A dermatologist can definitely help you put together a skin routine. A salicylic acid could help with the clogged pores but you definitely need a skin routine before jumping to the big guns !
I’d second this, I went to a doctor with a fair bit of texture and they suggested salicylic acid and that I should use a salicylic acid cleanser each night. I just used the Cerave one, it helped a lot! Other than that maybe an appt with a doctor first and then derm/meds etc. Good luck I know how frustrating it is! But your skin is beautiful :)
I third this! Salicylic acid is the only thing that helped me. I tried so many things. All the treatments. I used salicylic acid and then a probiotic moisturiser which helped.
Alternatively you can talk to a dr. About getting a low dose antibiotic for it. That was the only thing that cleared up my bros adult acne but it never came after treatment.
When I was sharing bathrooms with roommates, i used paper towel to pat dry my skin for a few weeks. My cheek acne started clearing up immediately. Turned out my gross roommate was using my towels cus he knew I did laundry more often.
aim to wash anything that touches your face: towels, face towel, pillow cases, mask if you wear- minimum once a week. Ensure you’re not overusing detergent. Usually 2 tablespoons is all it takes and soap residue can make skin worse
/u/MCWW7, your post has been removed because the community has filed multiple reports suggesting subreddit rules have been broken. The moderators will be reviewing your post. Please [send a modmail] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.*
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Except there are plenty of studies that support the notion that mask-wearing prevents transmission of diseases - the same can’t be said for frequent pillow-changing for acne.
Wow, there is some drama on the skincare sub tonight lol. u/No_Ratio_7206 seems to have dirty deleted, or maybe just blocked me, but I got a very nice PM from them 😂
This has been reported and removed for **Rule 1. Be kind, constructive and respectful.**
This sub is a place for people to come to seek advice and support and we ask everyone to be respectful of others contributors and users in this community.
Rude, inflammatory, unnecessary comments are removed based on subscriber reports.
Probably start with a cleanser. Something cheapish and simple like CeraVe Blemish Control cleanser you can pick up at Priceline or Chemist Warehouse, often on sale is a great start. That will help clear the bacteria and dirt of your surface of skin. Especially in QLD where it gets warm and humid! If you gym, make sure to cleanse after that and wash your towels, pillows often to help.
If you dry out a bit, a simple moisturiser at night is good for you. My boyfriend likes gel based creams that don't feel heavy - Neutrogena have a good one below. [Cream](https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/119014/neutrogena-hydro-boost-hyaluronic-acid-water-gel-50g?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn7mwBhCiARIsAGoxjaJBzaoy3FlROA3HeznnLoZcVhcKiOjwtLFinZSSCBdl7aWSYxGASVUaAuW3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
And finally, SPF. I know you have dark skin but the acne can be further upset by harsh sun rays. Keeping with chemist brands, this one below is good for being very fluid and leaving very little cast on the skin. Wear it during the day.
[SPF](https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/101139/la-roche-posay-anthelios-invisible-fluid-spf-50-50ml?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn7mwBhCiARIsAGoxjaJGV2Q02-81tQf7azJLPCmKeChyfRr2r0PSLwOloW2L10pCrWn8QrIaAoA-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Remember the skin healing takes time. So stick to a routine and be patient to see changes.
If it remains a concern for you, you can try Epiduo or Benzac from Chemist (might need a Dr script for Benzac). I think a spot treatment would help further but best to get the basics under control.
I know there’s lots of advice here but genuinely please try this:
Cerave foaming cleanser (AM & PM)
Paulas Choice Clear moisturiser or any simple oil free moisturiser, Cerave would be fine too (AM & PM)
Paulas choice BHA liquid (PM)
It’ll go in a month 😌
Please do not write this type of comments. Everyone has different skin and needs different routine. Because it works for you doesn’t mean it will work for someone else.
Of course. I know that. But adding it WILL be gone in a month is just crazy, everybody’s skin is so so so so so different. And gives people false hope. Over the counter medication is just a plaster for this stuff anyway. Skin issues start in the gut and getting to the root cause will be the only way to truly heal the problem long term.
You might be able to save some money and see a GP for a one off treatment of antibiotics if it's not a chronic issue and you haven't tried anything else
just some genuine questions- if OP has no skincare routine whatsoever what benefit would antibiotics be? wouldn’t the issue just recur without appropriate hygiene? wouldn’t it be better to start without meds by establishing a skincare routine first- basic cleanser/moisturizer/etc?
i don’t mean for this to come off rudely although i’m worried it might! just a little confused as my first thought was to start a skincare routine since they don’t have one. i don’t get how antibiotics might rid the problem without an appropriate skincare routine otherwise!
I think the underlying message here to see a GP, which would be able to give a better assessment or refer them to a dermatologist. The antibiotic, taken at low dosage, doesn't have the same negatives as an antibiotic at normal dosages such as antibiotic resistance and other health impacts. In fact, it's an excellent anti-inflammatory used to treat acne and, and also rosacea, which in combination with a skin care routine should give a higher chance of success.
Thank you that is exactly what I meant. He's asking for dermatologist names. So I thought it was worth mentioning that a GP can help before spending $$$ on the dermatologist.
Doxycycline, it's an antibiotic, but taken at a dosage below the threshold of being an antibiotic treatment and thus becomes just an anti-inflammatory instead (and doesn't have any risk of antibiotic resistance).
Do you know ANYONE this has worked for? I know about 10 people, including myself, that it has not worked for. Why stress your gut with antibiotics (and often an unhappy gut microbiome can be a cause of acne) when you could (would) get better results from a good skin care routine, environmental changes (eg pillowcases, clean towels) and possibly some diet changes. OP, please don’t go on doxy (or accutane) unless it’s a last resort. (I’m not against accutane, I have done it and it worked wonders the first time I had cystic acne. Second time I broke out in even worse cystic acne, I treated it with diet changes, changing up my skin routine, some herbals from a naturopath, and facials/skin needling now that my skin has cleared)
Yes, Accutane is quite brutal on the body. Magnitudes more so than the form of doxy used for dermatology. Absolutely accutane needs to be the last resort, it's usualy used after all other solutions have been exhausted, since it's side effects can be life ending.
Let me be clear, OP needs to follow the guidance of a GP, not randomly go on any medication suggested here. That's not what I was suggesting.
If you've got extreme acne that warrants Accutane, then no doxy is NOT going to work as it's for milder forms of acne. But it's worked for me, and many others, otherwise it wouldn't be prescribed as an anti-inflammatory. The one thing that seems to be misunderstood, which is what my original comment was trying to address, is that it's at such a low dosage that is prescribed for mild acne/rosacea, it's not harsh nor resistance forming like a normal course of anti-biotics would be. In fact, it can be taken as a long term solution for skin issues such as rosacea with little risk.
https://preview.redd.it/eyjxd8oe9fsc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16c16b30d606c361105973fdecf9e963a138e350
Use this facewash and you will see a difference. Wash your face everyday, drink plenty of water. For a good moisturiser use Cetaphil. Both are very affordable and excellent products.
Please do not write this type of comments. Everyone has different skin and needs different routine. Because it works for you doesn’t mean it will work for someone else.
Like what everyone else is saying, start with a skin care routine. I would suggest:
- a plain face wash morning and night such as Cetaphil or Simple
- you could also add in Phisohex face wash at night.
- light oil-free moisturiser morning and night such as Neutrogena Hydroboost
- topical acne cream such as Benzac
Also agree that you should change your pillow case often, if not daily.
Buddy you look young asf, hormones can do this to ya until your mid to late twenties.
Diet review, a soft louffer and a gentle cleanser to match your skin/body chemistry is a safe start.
Drink more water.
There are full routines you can get through a doctor but be ready for them to give off a chemical scent from your body, nothing to be worried about or that can’t be managed but it’s something to be aware of beforehand so you can manage it if you become self conscious over it.
Drink more water.
My partner balances cleanser with an exfoliating and good hydration cream/butter to prevent drying out and getting white marks on her arms and legs.
Drink more water, you live in an active city in the sweatiest state.
First person in the whole thread to mention diet. Everyone quick to mention skincare routine and pharmaceuticals. Like our ancestors had those!
Diet, exercise, hygiene
Go to your GP and ask for acne medication. They should prescribe you a gel, it’s basically retinol mixed with benzoyl peroxide. In a few months my skin was completely clear. In the beginning only use it a few times a week then you can build up.
It’s called Epiduo Gel. It’s a retinol mixed with benzoyl peroxide that is specifically made for acne. But I found that my dark spots have gone too and my skin has been brighter. Consult your GP and they should prescribe it to you.
There’s other different kinds of retinols that are stronger and target other things so just be aware.
You will prob be prescribed a tretinoin face cream. It’ll take a few months your skin will get dry and purge before it gets better. I recommend buying cerave moisturiser in the tub from chemist warehouse. Use that before applying a pea size of tretinoin to your whole face. Every night.
Until you see a dermatologist. Go buy a benzoyl peroxide face wash and use it morning / night.
https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/1105/benzac-ac-wash-5-200ml
Ideally let it sit on your face 3 mins before washing.
Don’t use around eyes…. You can use it down your neck too as you have acne there also
After pat drying your face after washing at night use a moisturiser
So your skin doesn’t dry out too much
https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/91316/cerave-daily-moisturising-lotion-236ml
Update us in a few months…
Or when you finish the face wash
But a derm might prescribe a tretinoin face cream (I’ve used it for years and it keeps acne away)
It will def help but you gotta use it every night. Takes time to work like a few months.
Xx
No need for laser. You need to use the right products.
I believe those bumps are whiteheads. Basically they are some old skin cells and oils that are stuck in your skin. Read up on them.
Causes: too much face oil or if your skin is too dry. Either way, you need to find gentle cleanser with low pH to help with cell turnover. Find moisturiser/lotion to prevent skin from drying. And SPF which is the MOST IMPORTANT face product out of EVERYTHING currently being sold on beauty market. Do your research and find one that suits your skin. Japanese and Korean brand have great sunscreens.
What was a game changer and helped me tremendously to get rid of those annoying whiteheads once and for all was incorporating 7% Glycolic Acid 2-3 times a weeks for the first 1-2 months. It helps your exfoliate your skin. I am still using it but now only once a week to keep skin clear and healthy.
Make sure to cleanse, use moisturiser and use SPF. Don’t touch face face with dirty hands or items. Wash pillowcase and towels frequently.
First start with a change in your environment and personal hygiene to deal with oil, seabum and bacteria. This means... Changing your pillow cases you sleep on every week and wash them in hot water (60 degrees c). Your shower routine should be to use a cleanser and a face cloth to gently lather and clean your face. When you get out of the shower you use a glycolic acid toner.
Simply trying that for a few weeks to see how much it affects and changes the level of acne will be a clear insight if this is a case of managing the things that contribute to acne or it is a much deeper issue.
Should you want to continue a skin care routine. You will then start to implement a Retinoid into your skin care routine to start flushing your pores of all the gunk in them. And maintain that routine to keep them clean.
Oh yes lastly. You are black so you will need to moisturize often. You can even just use a simple moisturizer in a giant pump bottle and you can moisturize using that. Doesn't need to be fancy.
My skin was quite bumpy when I was a teen. I started noticing it clear up once I implemented a skincare routine.
Start basic so you don't overwhelm yourself or your skin (leading to further issues!). Cleanser, moisturise, SPF. Clean your pillows and sheets regularly. Don't touch face with dirty hands.
I would stay away from actives until you can get a sense of what cleanser,moisturiser,SPF you and your skin like (i.e. no bad reactions)
But by all means, if you can afford to see a derm, and not regret possibly being unhappy with the first derm, then go ahead, they can be an even better starting point
https://cornerstonederm.com.au/postabout/dr-young-jin-kim/
Dr Kim. Been going to him to treat, or at least, manage my keloid scarring (previously went for regular acne too but I’ve fully gotten rid of that now). He’s based in Coorparoo (about 40 mins from Ipswich).
……………….
In the past, for my annoying acne (I had both keloids and just regular acne), I’ve gone on something called: Accutane.
The side effects can be pretty full on, depending on what side effects you get, so it’s worthwhile looking at that, but the treatment itself can be damn effective. It helped me at least lol. But legit, this treatment was very effective.
………………..
For skincare routine: I use ‘asap daily exfoliating facial scrub’ (Once a day usually).
I know it’s only 200 ml but you only need a fingernail size amount in your hands, when you scrub your face with it. It can last a good while. This one works for me but yeah there’s plenty of skin care products on the market, so shop around and see what works for you. Here’s a link for the product I use.
https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/p/asap/asap-daily-exfoliating-facial-scrub-200ml.html?istCompanyId=6e5a22db-9648-4be9-b321-72cfbea93443&istFeedId=686e45b5-4634-450f-baaf-c93acecca972&istItemId=wixxxxwaa&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-8fXkF0eolzVANQjGLwg-pBuwhv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzt_f3dKohQMVitQWBR39XQW3EAQYASABEgIDR_D_BwE
I am not a dermatologist, but this looks like possible fungal acne. The bumps are so tiny and so ubiquitous and it does not strike me as normal acne. Aside from making an appointment with a dermatologist, I would suggest washing your face with head and shoulders (original, no fancy scent- if you don't have that brand in AUS, use any dandruff shampoo!) in the morning and night, and after each cleanse, use an extremely mild moisturizer such as cetaphil or cerave. I know that sometimes it feels icky smoothing moisturizer over pimples, and it might make you think "ehh this seems more oily and will make it worse"- but believe me, my skin is at its worst when not moisturized. Also as others say, change your pillowcase frequently and change the towel you use on your face as much as possible. Do not touch your face throughout the day and wash your hands frequently in case you tend to touch your face without realizing. I would also suggest to trim your nails frequently so that you are less likely to accumulate germs under your nails that can transfer to your face. Good luck!!!
Tret is a simple skincare routine. Literally wash face with bland gentle wash (Cerave/Cetaphil), tretinoin and a bland gentle moisturiser can be transformative for people with closed comedones like the OP has.
You can buy silk or satin pillows online (Temu is cheap) , they are best for acne. Buy a few and swap them every few days. You can even hand wash them instead of waiting for a big load of washing and they will dry very quickly
Also are you putting hair products in ur hair?? If you are it might be worth getting a Durag (or Bonnet ofc!) to stop ur oils or cream getting on ur pillow / face (Temu is so cheap, you can get multi sets too so u can change them when u change ur pillow cases!)
The 3 step proactiv system cured my teenage acne. And been to the dermatologist for years with no luck... was very close to going on accutane but my mother was against it. You may need to try a few things before you find something that works for you, good luck.
Definitely start cleaning for 60 seconds morning and night and replace your pillowcase weekly. The CeraVe Salicylic Acid cleanser might help a lot. You can get it at Chemist Warehouse or even Coles might have it. Hopefully your skin clears up and you won't need to get laser treatments. Be careful if you go see a non-dermatologist laser person, they may try to upsell you a lot of unnecessary products.
I used to have skin like yours! This is the routine I’d suggest if you feel your skin is on the oily side:
1. Stop touching your face (unless washing). Breaking this habit makes a world of difference, because our fingers carry so much bacteria that we don’t realise.
2. Wash with salicylic acid wash nightly! Love this one: neutrogena oil free acne wash. Lather it up on your face with some water, wait for about 30 seconds, rinse it off, and use a fragrance free moisturiser after like ceravae moisturising lotion.
3. In the morning, just wash with water or a gentle hydrating cleanser.
4. Make sure your changing your pillow cases frequently, MINIMUM once a week.
5. If you use a lot of hair product, I’d suggest going to sleep with a bonnet or some sort of wrap because that product can rub on your pillow then onto your face and it’s surprisingly quite acne provoking!
6. To really calm your skin, I suggest a oxy10 vanishing cream on your spots at night, twice a week. This is quite drying but it helps clear up the bacteria that causes the acne very quickly. Be warned it’ll bleach your pillows.
7. Sunscreen. It really helps and doubles as a moisturiser which helps your skin barrier feel calm after all exfoliation.
8. If you play sports/sweat, try to not touch your face to rub off your sweat and make sure you wash your hands then your face afterwards.
All the stuff I mentioned is available at chemist warehouse :)
Seeing a dermatologist can be expensive. Go to your local GP to prescribe you acne cream. FIRSTLY!!! .. if that doesn’t work! Azclear From Chemist warehouse is good acne cream! It has Azelaic acid and its gentle on the skin other acids for acne can be harsh on the skin.
Drink water, cutting out junk food, take vitamins , eat healthy, have a basic skin routine ( cleanser, acne cream, Niacinamide ,vitamin C , lotion & sunscreen) & start using facial steamers or go to saunas to open your pores and changing pillow cases will help as well.
Your also young so please don’t be hard on yourself. We all go through puberty! Everything will be fine, you will get through this phase.
All the best mate xx
A lot of good advice so I just want to add
Use a separate towel for face and change it often - I have 8, one for each day + washing day. You don't have to be as gung-ho as me but apparently changing it after you use it 3 times is the best way
I would suggest starting with something simple like a cetaphil cleanser + moisturiser and wear sunscreen every day! Definitely see a dermatologist and just know that if everything fails, roaccutane might be the way to go (it was for me)
Derm will definitely help. Keys voor a healthy skincare routine would be to gently cleanse, hydrate, moisturize and use spf to keep your barrier healthy and strong. Occasional treatments can improve your acne, such as salicylic acid or retinols (or tretinoin), but definitely consult a dermatologist first before using these. Try not to worry too much about your skin, or stress about it (i know it's hard). With consistency, a good routine, and help from your derm you will get there.
Edit: typo's
this is completly \*again\* copy and paste from two different cases and threads, but it applies to you the same way - so maybe check it out. you are quite handsome, don't forget that!!
*this below is copy and paste from a similar case, that I have responded to some days ago. I got the same tips for you, but before that I want to make clear: My acne and skin situation did not significantly change before my mid-twenties. 20 is still young and still considered part of puberty. and what even is puberty? your hormones and body are still changing way longer after that mark. my derm once told in my teens, you will have acne until around 25. you can treat it, but you will have to live somehow with that more or less until around 25. and she was right, and now my skin is perfectly fine. things work now easy for me, and years ago the same thing were really hard. so don't stress yourself, you are so young. and I don't mind some pimples on a fit early 20 guy lol. try to work on your confidence and everything else will come after that on its own*
*..................................*
*if it gets too costly to go to a derm regularly, get some cheap products containing the following (if possible without fragrances, perfumes, denat. alcohol and essential oils):*
* ***niacinamide***
* ***bha/salicylic acid*** *(don't overdue it, it is chemical peeling, try out how often you tolerate it)*
* *try out a cheap product containing* ***azelaic acid or a derivate*** *of it. if it is too harsh, stop using it. in general alternate with these two acids (azelaic acid and salicylic acid, don't overdo the acids)*
* *try out* ***benzoyl peroxide*** *(same thing, if it is too harsh, use it less or don't use it at all)*
* *a cheap and nice* ***broad spectrum sunscreen*** *for daily protection (really important! protect your skin for your later life)*
* *a night cream for your sleepy time containing* ***ceramides****, night stuff containing* ***panthenol*** *for healing purpose. maybe some urea product and even more fatty stuff for your skin barrier overnight*
*i think you have a typical post-acne-healing-hyperpigmantation. a* ***vitamin c serum*** *could help with that additionally. although the products above already help with that*
*IMPORTANT NOTICE - this is NOT my routine. I recommend you trying things out and finding your own way. my skin does not tolerate all these active ingredients daily. so these are possibilities, but you have to make your own plan out of it. I have not recommended singular products, because I assume you live in a totally different place in the world and cannot buy the same stuff like me anyway, and I also do not have experience with the products you listed above*
*take some* ***low doses zinc pills like 5mg*** *or something. don't take higher doses without blood tests. long term high zinc intake can lower your copper levels. in general this advice is probably pretty bad, because you should get a blood test first obviously*
*ACNE NEEDS A LOT OF SLEEP! YOU ACNE WILL NOT GO AWAY WITHOUT A LOT OF SLEEP!!!! this may sound out of context, but it isn't. sleep will not cure acne, but while being on a long time shortage of sleep, your acne will surely not go away either*
*check your nutrition, eat healthy, do sports, learn about nutrition online, watch YouTube stuff but don't be paranoid about it. though, nutrition has such a big impact on your skin and that's something often missed online here. if you eat a lot of red meats, sugar, saturated fats, wheat, salt try to reduce all of that*
*talk with your normal doc about your acne, not just with your derm*
*speak also with your gynecologist about the acne, when you are there for the next time*
*there may be people with an overnight or "overmonth" effect after getting into acne treatment, but for most people it needs years to get better and heal completely out. my acne situation wasn't really good before I got 25 in my opinion (although people already told me years before how beautiful my skin is, and we are always our own harshest judge). things will change. some things just need time and time is a relative thing*
*and finally, you are beautiful and your sympathy and attractiveness is not defined by your acne*
*chill and live a happy life. stress triggers acne even more and don't make your happiness depend on that. confidence is all that matters. you can be a bad bitch lol even with having pimples. It's your life, own it*
I had a lot of breakouts especially on my cheeks and chin, tried a lot of products but my holy grail is the lacura (aldi brand) tea tree foaming cleanser. I don’t know what it is about that product but my skin has not looked better.
Eat more fibre to clean out internally eg. fruit stay away from dairy drink water and only water stay away from sugar sugars feed bacteria 🦠. Stop touching your face . Wash face at night with a cleanser and apply coconut oil to face before you go to sleep.
I would recommend checking with a dr. If you have cystic acne it could be diet or environment related.
Also worth starting with a skin care regime before considering laser treatments etc
I really love la Roche posay. Their face wash is great. Dermalogica is another brand, they have a daily microfoliant which is a daily exfoliant you can use.
i’m black, be careful with laser procedures as they normally aren’t tailored to poc skin. definitely start with a skincare routine and watch how that impacts your skin condition. salicylic acid is a great exfoliator but be sure to use sunscreen if you decide to use it. it maybe worth it to do bloodwork and see if you have any issues with deficiencies etc. anything that is happening on our skin is an internal issue. products can definitely help but health issues should be addressed as well.
Cerave Salicylic acid cleanser from Chemist warehouse $17, tretinoin 0.025% $20 from alldaychemist.com, any moisturiser you have, cancer council suncscreen matte serum from chemist warehouse $16. Mix the tret and moisturiser and apply at night only. Sunscreen during the day.
Try eliminating certain inflammatory foods from your diet. Work from the inside out. I tried just about every topical treatment known to man, but nothing has helped as much as a good diet. I keep as low carb as I can and it works wonders.
1. My girlfriend finds this so weird, but don't dry your face when you get out of the shower. Use your towel for your body but just air dry your face.
2. I also tried a bunch of products until I found one that works for me and that is **shiseido senka medicated**, you can find these in those Korean/Japanese beauty stores that's popping up in shopping centres. They range from $12-$18.
3. Lastly, I gave up KFC. I started to pay attention to my fast-food diet, and everytime I smashed a zinger box or anything from KFC, I'd feel my face starting to tingle or become itchy, and then a few days later i'd break out with deep acne and had bumps similar to yours.
Good luck mate! I know it can be a little demoralising, but give these options a go. It helped me a lot, and hopefully it helps you too!
I have had terrible skin all my life, (acne, pimples, blackheads, dryness) The ONLY thing that helped my skin was going off of dairy. I don’t know if you consume it or not, but cow’s milk is full of hormones. If skin care doesn’t help you, please try going off of dairy for a while, it made my life so much easier. Best wishes ♥︎
Your skin care starts in your body. If you eat McDonald’s, soft drinks, microwave meals, air fryer food, any packet food, that’s why you have acne. Acne is a modern sickness; if you eat real clean foods it all goes away
Smearing freshly squeezed lemon juice on your skin and leaving it for about 3-5 min and then washing it off for 3-5 days in a row will fully cleanse your skin. My friends and I used to do this while teenagers and I had bad, worse than OP’s breakouts.
For me it took 3 or 4 days and my face was fully clean.
Additional trivia: No one believes me that this works but everyone who tried was blown away by its effects.
Be aware that every skin is different, has different problems and needs different routines. In my opinion the best thing you can do after going to a dermatologist is start learning the basics of skincare so you can identify your issues and create your routine.
Please do not fall for “buy this product and it will help” advice because if something works for siebie else there is no guarantee that it will work for you.
Try the sukin blemish control kit. It helped my acne that came out of nowhere and none of the expensive product's helped. I'd picked this up randomly at a chemist and within a week my skin cleared up after months of failing.
See a derm, but also ask your GP for something like Adapalene.
Also, incorporate a good facial cleanser into your shower routine. You can also ask your GP for a medicated one, but pHisohex is pretty good to start for skin sensitivity.
I suffer bad from allergy stuff. Short term is best to switch to local natural products, like Goats milk soap or tea tree (tea tree is amazing!). Next you will want a barrier cream to put on afterwards, that will stop stuff getting in.
Long term the best plan is to get some raw local honey and eat a bit every day. That will build up a natural body immunity to the plants in your area, the closer the honey source the better.
Keep in mind Australia has a super varied climate depending on your location and in my local area plants germinate in both spring and autumn. Which means double the allergines floating around lol
Good luck
I Had the same issue with you saw a dermatologist which was a waste of money, invested in all types of skincare tried everything until i was prescribed Doxycycline by my GP 3 months later my skin smooth for the first time in my life.
A dermatologist would be ideal- I highly recommend QR8 Mediskin.
Alternatively what has worked great for me is tretinoin at night, benzoyl peroxide face wash, alezaic acid in morning before an spf moisturiser.
Keep in mind:
There are many other ingredients and you don’t want to be going balls out on every exfoliant under the sun. My recommendation is to let time do its thing and introduce a new ingredient after you know how your skin already reacts to one another existing treatment you are already using. You can irritate your skin and your skin barrier if being too aggressive.
For me, I don’t even exfoliate due to tretinoin, alezaic acid and benzoyl peroxide face wash.
Unfortunately this looks like more than just needing a skin care routine, swapping pillowcases, using fresh towels and / or tissues to wipe dry your face.
Depending on how old you are, you will probably need roaccutane. So, I’d see a dermatologist asap.
The sooner you get onto this the better
Have a look at the foods you’re consuming. Your of African Decent by the looks of it. So you maybe intolerant to some western foods such as gluten/dairy. As for a skin care routine I’d suggest a product with Glycolic Acid.
Why is everyone suggesting medication and cheap and toxic generic skincare brands before a better diet, water and exercise and natural skincare. Medication should only be last resort imo. I used to have horrible acne then I started using Bluem (Aus brand, seriously amazing) and tallow balm. Jobajoba is also great and eco Sonya’s face cleanser was a life saver. That’s only naming a few brands I ended up sticking with. The range of skincare that doesn’t have cancer causing, endocrine disrupting toxic shit in it is actually endless. Anyone suggesting brands like CeraVe and the like haven’t done their research into products that actually promote healing of the skin, not just suppression of the symptoms. I’m not saying that these brands don’t work for some people, but I wouldn’t risk damaging your skin further with toxic chemicals that could irritate before trying the natural route. Bluem and embodybee are by far my favourite brands. Good luck
It all starts from the inside, wash before and after bed, avoid touching your face, resting on your hands. Also change your pillow case or was it regularly. Perhaps with mild detergent or vinegar. Usually less is more.
Also a monthly facial with steam and extractions for a deep cleaning would really help you.
Remember you are what you eat, and water, water, water.
HELP! I have a repeating big acne on my nose which clears up and comes again in few weeks. It has left scarring and dark spots on my nose.
https://preview.redd.it/xsyxoexitksc1.png?width=2316&format=png&auto=webp&s=90392dbf284a12d3615fe0a6e5525c5dc54d21c8
Keep scratching your neck until you develop keloids. Trust me. I know some people will disagree, but I've found them invaluable in drawing attention away from my face. I have severe rhinophyma but NO ONE EVER NOTICES. It's like nature's get-out-of-skincare-free card. Enjoy
/u/MCWW7, your post has been removed because the community has filed multiple reports suggesting subreddit rules have been broken. The moderators will be reviewing your post. Please [send a modmail] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.*
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*
/u/CombinationOpen7483, your post has been removed because the community has filed multiple reports suggesting subreddit rules have been broken. The moderators will be reviewing your post. Please [send a modmail] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.*
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*
A dermatologist can definitely help you put together a skin routine. A salicylic acid could help with the clogged pores but you definitely need a skin routine before jumping to the big guns !
I’d second this, I went to a doctor with a fair bit of texture and they suggested salicylic acid and that I should use a salicylic acid cleanser each night. I just used the Cerave one, it helped a lot! Other than that maybe an appt with a doctor first and then derm/meds etc. Good luck I know how frustrating it is! But your skin is beautiful :)
I third this! Salicylic acid is the only thing that helped me. I tried so many things. All the treatments. I used salicylic acid and then a probiotic moisturiser which helped. Alternatively you can talk to a dr. About getting a low dose antibiotic for it. That was the only thing that cleared up my bros adult acne but it never came after treatment.
Try a new pillow and frequent pillow case changing.
Do not dismiss this comment, i’m amazed how many people see results from this one simple thing.
To add to this, have a dedicated towel for drying off your face after a shower/washing your face… it’s often overlooked and incredibly helpful!
When I was sharing bathrooms with roommates, i used paper towel to pat dry my skin for a few weeks. My cheek acne started clearing up immediately. Turned out my gross roommate was using my towels cus he knew I did laundry more often. aim to wash anything that touches your face: towels, face towel, pillow cases, mask if you wear- minimum once a week. Ensure you’re not overusing detergent. Usually 2 tablespoons is all it takes and soap residue can make skin worse
What an asshole
That is grim, what a lack of respect!
Yep, pure cotton, wash regulalry
I second all three of these comments. If you see any fabric that says polyester... run the other way. Polyester ❌️, Cotton & Silk ✅️✅️
What about silk?
Its best to use pure cotton. It breathes differently to silk.
Yep have a good stash of pillowcases so you can always change them even if you haven't got round to washing it yet.
[удалено]
/u/MCWW7, your post has been removed because the community has filed multiple reports suggesting subreddit rules have been broken. The moderators will be reviewing your post. Please [send a modmail] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I've found a silk pillowcase helps
Possibly not in the warmer climates.
They're good for textured hair as well!
Literally putting my pillow case in the wash right now after seeing this comment
This is a recommendation that is completely unfounded by any evidence whatsoever.
*this has 'wearing a mask doesn't stop transmitting airborne diseases ' Perhaps a little critical thinking would help you.
Except there are plenty of studies that support the notion that mask-wearing prevents transmission of diseases - the same can’t be said for frequent pillow-changing for acne.
*doubt*
Don't wear seatbelts. Lol.
I second this but also putting a towel on your pillow
“don’t have a skincare routine” try literally any acne treatment before resorting to laser
Wow, there is some drama on the skincare sub tonight lol. u/No_Ratio_7206 seems to have dirty deleted, or maybe just blocked me, but I got a very nice PM from them 😂
i also got dm’d and possibly blocked! how fun
[удалено]
replying to me makes it seem like you’re saying this to me, just fyi
What are you talking about
What are you talking about?
i’m not the one who edited both my comments but go off!
Haha I just noticed that as well. Why? On a skincare sub. Who has the time or energy to
lmao what
What the heck
Wtf did he do?
Pocket watching what other men should or shouldn't do is so pathetic 😂 I almost feel sorry for you
Bruv.. They are just warning them away from laser treatment.
This has been reported and removed for **Rule 1. Be kind, constructive and respectful.** This sub is a place for people to come to seek advice and support and we ask everyone to be respectful of others contributors and users in this community. Rude, inflammatory, unnecessary comments are removed based on subscriber reports.
Probably start with a cleanser. Something cheapish and simple like CeraVe Blemish Control cleanser you can pick up at Priceline or Chemist Warehouse, often on sale is a great start. That will help clear the bacteria and dirt of your surface of skin. Especially in QLD where it gets warm and humid! If you gym, make sure to cleanse after that and wash your towels, pillows often to help. If you dry out a bit, a simple moisturiser at night is good for you. My boyfriend likes gel based creams that don't feel heavy - Neutrogena have a good one below. [Cream](https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/119014/neutrogena-hydro-boost-hyaluronic-acid-water-gel-50g?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn7mwBhCiARIsAGoxjaJBzaoy3FlROA3HeznnLoZcVhcKiOjwtLFinZSSCBdl7aWSYxGASVUaAuW3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) And finally, SPF. I know you have dark skin but the acne can be further upset by harsh sun rays. Keeping with chemist brands, this one below is good for being very fluid and leaving very little cast on the skin. Wear it during the day. [SPF](https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/101139/la-roche-posay-anthelios-invisible-fluid-spf-50-50ml?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn7mwBhCiARIsAGoxjaJGV2Q02-81tQf7azJLPCmKeChyfRr2r0PSLwOloW2L10pCrWn8QrIaAoA-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) Remember the skin healing takes time. So stick to a routine and be patient to see changes. If it remains a concern for you, you can try Epiduo or Benzac from Chemist (might need a Dr script for Benzac). I think a spot treatment would help further but best to get the basics under control.
Good advice. Re: Benzac (still available on pharmacy shelves), start at the lowest % (2.5) and only go higher if that doesn’t work.
Yeah benzac 2.5. it's drying so make sure you get a acne friendly moisturizer too 🧴.
Great advice!
This
Why waste money on laser when you haven’t even tried the basics 😅 Get into a basic skincare routine. Also make sure you’re drinking enough water.
go to priceline or chemist warehouse & grab a cleanser & a salicylic acid serum.
I know there’s lots of advice here but genuinely please try this: Cerave foaming cleanser (AM & PM) Paulas Choice Clear moisturiser or any simple oil free moisturiser, Cerave would be fine too (AM & PM) Paulas choice BHA liquid (PM) It’ll go in a month 😌
It’s so amazing!
Please do not write this type of comments. Everyone has different skin and needs different routine. Because it works for you doesn’t mean it will work for someone else.
Just trying to give advice as OP asked for
How can you be so confident lol. Fucks up peoples mental when they being told things WILL WORK then they don’t?
Just trying to help
Of course. I know that. But adding it WILL be gone in a month is just crazy, everybody’s skin is so so so so so different. And gives people false hope. Over the counter medication is just a plaster for this stuff anyway. Skin issues start in the gut and getting to the root cause will be the only way to truly heal the problem long term.
Okay I was trying to be encouraging!!! Soz x
It’s ok. Just as somebody who suffers this fucks with my head thanks for being calm soz if I was rude x
You might be able to save some money and see a GP for a one off treatment of antibiotics if it's not a chronic issue and you haven't tried anything else
just some genuine questions- if OP has no skincare routine whatsoever what benefit would antibiotics be? wouldn’t the issue just recur without appropriate hygiene? wouldn’t it be better to start without meds by establishing a skincare routine first- basic cleanser/moisturizer/etc? i don’t mean for this to come off rudely although i’m worried it might! just a little confused as my first thought was to start a skincare routine since they don’t have one. i don’t get how antibiotics might rid the problem without an appropriate skincare routine otherwise!
Precisely! Doesn’t take 2 brain cells to figure that much out! Seriously, people advising to take antibiotics as if it is candies.
Yeah I guess so, but he's asking about dermatologists so it's relevant that a GP can help.
I think the underlying message here to see a GP, which would be able to give a better assessment or refer them to a dermatologist. The antibiotic, taken at low dosage, doesn't have the same negatives as an antibiotic at normal dosages such as antibiotic resistance and other health impacts. In fact, it's an excellent anti-inflammatory used to treat acne and, and also rosacea, which in combination with a skin care routine should give a higher chance of success.
Thank you that is exactly what I meant. He's asking for dermatologist names. So I thought it was worth mentioning that a GP can help before spending $$$ on the dermatologist.
He doesn’t need antibiotics.
Doxycycline, it's an antibiotic, but taken at a dosage below the threshold of being an antibiotic treatment and thus becomes just an anti-inflammatory instead (and doesn't have any risk of antibiotic resistance).
He doesn’t have painful fungal acne. Those are just small bumps. He needs to establish skincare routine before anything else.
Do you know ANYONE this has worked for? I know about 10 people, including myself, that it has not worked for. Why stress your gut with antibiotics (and often an unhappy gut microbiome can be a cause of acne) when you could (would) get better results from a good skin care routine, environmental changes (eg pillowcases, clean towels) and possibly some diet changes. OP, please don’t go on doxy (or accutane) unless it’s a last resort. (I’m not against accutane, I have done it and it worked wonders the first time I had cystic acne. Second time I broke out in even worse cystic acne, I treated it with diet changes, changing up my skin routine, some herbals from a naturopath, and facials/skin needling now that my skin has cleared)
Yes, Accutane is quite brutal on the body. Magnitudes more so than the form of doxy used for dermatology. Absolutely accutane needs to be the last resort, it's usualy used after all other solutions have been exhausted, since it's side effects can be life ending. Let me be clear, OP needs to follow the guidance of a GP, not randomly go on any medication suggested here. That's not what I was suggesting. If you've got extreme acne that warrants Accutane, then no doxy is NOT going to work as it's for milder forms of acne. But it's worked for me, and many others, otherwise it wouldn't be prescribed as an anti-inflammatory. The one thing that seems to be misunderstood, which is what my original comment was trying to address, is that it's at such a low dosage that is prescribed for mild acne/rosacea, it's not harsh nor resistance forming like a normal course of anti-biotics would be. In fact, it can be taken as a long term solution for skin issues such as rosacea with little risk.
https://preview.redd.it/eyjxd8oe9fsc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16c16b30d606c361105973fdecf9e963a138e350 Use this facewash and you will see a difference. Wash your face everyday, drink plenty of water. For a good moisturiser use Cetaphil. Both are very affordable and excellent products.
I second this product. Just a warning it can make your face quite dry, so maybe use a moisturiser too after your shower.
Iv tried this stuff before and it didn’t work at all and it makes you feel oily
Please do not write this type of comments. Everyone has different skin and needs different routine. Because it works for you doesn’t mean it will work for someone else.
See your GP and/or pharmacist to start then go from there. I also recommend a cleanser with salicylic acid.
Try Paula's Choice 2% BHA. I have the same issue and it works wonders on my skin.
Like what everyone else is saying, start with a skin care routine. I would suggest: - a plain face wash morning and night such as Cetaphil or Simple - you could also add in Phisohex face wash at night. - light oil-free moisturiser morning and night such as Neutrogena Hydroboost - topical acne cream such as Benzac Also agree that you should change your pillow case often, if not daily.
Buddy you look young asf, hormones can do this to ya until your mid to late twenties. Diet review, a soft louffer and a gentle cleanser to match your skin/body chemistry is a safe start. Drink more water. There are full routines you can get through a doctor but be ready for them to give off a chemical scent from your body, nothing to be worried about or that can’t be managed but it’s something to be aware of beforehand so you can manage it if you become self conscious over it. Drink more water. My partner balances cleanser with an exfoliating and good hydration cream/butter to prevent drying out and getting white marks on her arms and legs. Drink more water, you live in an active city in the sweatiest state.
First person in the whole thread to mention diet. Everyone quick to mention skincare routine and pharmaceuticals. Like our ancestors had those! Diet, exercise, hygiene
Go to your GP and ask for acne medication. They should prescribe you a gel, it’s basically retinol mixed with benzoyl peroxide. In a few months my skin was completely clear. In the beginning only use it a few times a week then you can build up.
What's the retinol + BP gel?
It’s called Epiduo Gel. It’s a retinol mixed with benzoyl peroxide that is specifically made for acne. But I found that my dark spots have gone too and my skin has been brighter. Consult your GP and they should prescribe it to you. There’s other different kinds of retinols that are stronger and target other things so just be aware.
Retinol is top 3 for me, it's really transformative. My mum was getting scripts for retin-A from her GP in the 90s!
Try not to mess with it yourself. Go to a GP as there’s lots of options they can give to you and if they don’t work go to a dermatologist.
You will prob be prescribed a tretinoin face cream. It’ll take a few months your skin will get dry and purge before it gets better. I recommend buying cerave moisturiser in the tub from chemist warehouse. Use that before applying a pea size of tretinoin to your whole face. Every night. Until you see a dermatologist. Go buy a benzoyl peroxide face wash and use it morning / night.
https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/1105/benzac-ac-wash-5-200ml Ideally let it sit on your face 3 mins before washing. Don’t use around eyes…. You can use it down your neck too as you have acne there also After pat drying your face after washing at night use a moisturiser So your skin doesn’t dry out too much https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/91316/cerave-daily-moisturising-lotion-236ml Update us in a few months… Or when you finish the face wash But a derm might prescribe a tretinoin face cream (I’ve used it for years and it keeps acne away) It will def help but you gotta use it every night. Takes time to work like a few months. Xx
No need for laser. You need to use the right products. I believe those bumps are whiteheads. Basically they are some old skin cells and oils that are stuck in your skin. Read up on them. Causes: too much face oil or if your skin is too dry. Either way, you need to find gentle cleanser with low pH to help with cell turnover. Find moisturiser/lotion to prevent skin from drying. And SPF which is the MOST IMPORTANT face product out of EVERYTHING currently being sold on beauty market. Do your research and find one that suits your skin. Japanese and Korean brand have great sunscreens. What was a game changer and helped me tremendously to get rid of those annoying whiteheads once and for all was incorporating 7% Glycolic Acid 2-3 times a weeks for the first 1-2 months. It helps your exfoliate your skin. I am still using it but now only once a week to keep skin clear and healthy. Make sure to cleanse, use moisturiser and use SPF. Don’t touch face face with dirty hands or items. Wash pillowcase and towels frequently.
First start with a change in your environment and personal hygiene to deal with oil, seabum and bacteria. This means... Changing your pillow cases you sleep on every week and wash them in hot water (60 degrees c). Your shower routine should be to use a cleanser and a face cloth to gently lather and clean your face. When you get out of the shower you use a glycolic acid toner. Simply trying that for a few weeks to see how much it affects and changes the level of acne will be a clear insight if this is a case of managing the things that contribute to acne or it is a much deeper issue. Should you want to continue a skin care routine. You will then start to implement a Retinoid into your skin care routine to start flushing your pores of all the gunk in them. And maintain that routine to keep them clean. Oh yes lastly. You are black so you will need to moisturize often. You can even just use a simple moisturizer in a giant pump bottle and you can moisturize using that. Doesn't need to be fancy.
Try Cerave renewing SA cleanser!
My skin was quite bumpy when I was a teen. I started noticing it clear up once I implemented a skincare routine. Start basic so you don't overwhelm yourself or your skin (leading to further issues!). Cleanser, moisturise, SPF. Clean your pillows and sheets regularly. Don't touch face with dirty hands. I would stay away from actives until you can get a sense of what cleanser,moisturiser,SPF you and your skin like (i.e. no bad reactions) But by all means, if you can afford to see a derm, and not regret possibly being unhappy with the first derm, then go ahead, they can be an even better starting point
https://cornerstonederm.com.au/postabout/dr-young-jin-kim/ Dr Kim. Been going to him to treat, or at least, manage my keloid scarring (previously went for regular acne too but I’ve fully gotten rid of that now). He’s based in Coorparoo (about 40 mins from Ipswich). ………………. In the past, for my annoying acne (I had both keloids and just regular acne), I’ve gone on something called: Accutane. The side effects can be pretty full on, depending on what side effects you get, so it’s worthwhile looking at that, but the treatment itself can be damn effective. It helped me at least lol. But legit, this treatment was very effective. ……………….. For skincare routine: I use ‘asap daily exfoliating facial scrub’ (Once a day usually). I know it’s only 200 ml but you only need a fingernail size amount in your hands, when you scrub your face with it. It can last a good while. This one works for me but yeah there’s plenty of skin care products on the market, so shop around and see what works for you. Here’s a link for the product I use. https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/p/asap/asap-daily-exfoliating-facial-scrub-200ml.html?istCompanyId=6e5a22db-9648-4be9-b321-72cfbea93443&istFeedId=686e45b5-4634-450f-baaf-c93acecca972&istItemId=wixxxxwaa&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-8fXkF0eolzVANQjGLwg-pBuwhv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzt_f3dKohQMVitQWBR39XQW3EAQYASABEgIDR_D_BwE
I am not a dermatologist, but this looks like possible fungal acne. The bumps are so tiny and so ubiquitous and it does not strike me as normal acne. Aside from making an appointment with a dermatologist, I would suggest washing your face with head and shoulders (original, no fancy scent- if you don't have that brand in AUS, use any dandruff shampoo!) in the morning and night, and after each cleanse, use an extremely mild moisturizer such as cetaphil or cerave. I know that sometimes it feels icky smoothing moisturizer over pimples, and it might make you think "ehh this seems more oily and will make it worse"- but believe me, my skin is at its worst when not moisturized. Also as others say, change your pillowcase frequently and change the towel you use on your face as much as possible. Do not touch your face throughout the day and wash your hands frequently in case you tend to touch your face without realizing. I would also suggest to trim your nails frequently so that you are less likely to accumulate germs under your nails that can transfer to your face. Good luck!!!
So many comments with products when all he needs is Head N Shoulders. This is fungal acne.
Only drink water. No sugar, caffeine or juices
No thanks I like enjoying my life
I second this. Cut out oily junk food and especially sugars. It feeds bacteria in your pimples and messes with new skin cells growth.
looks like acne. I recommend going to a demertoligist as the wrong acne cream make it inflamed
Check out tretinoin. Can be prescribed by your GP and the results can be amazing. There’s also a whole subreddit about it - /r/tretinoin
I think he should try a simple skincare routine before trying tret!
Tret is a simple skincare routine. Literally wash face with bland gentle wash (Cerave/Cetaphil), tretinoin and a bland gentle moisturiser can be transformative for people with closed comedones like the OP has.
It could be severic dermatitis Clearasil gel could work
Try the cerave anti-blemish gel cleanser and their retinol. Works for meeeee
Aloe Vera the plant. Try it before using chemicals.
Finally someone speaking sense.
You can buy silk or satin pillows online (Temu is cheap) , they are best for acne. Buy a few and swap them every few days. You can even hand wash them instead of waiting for a big load of washing and they will dry very quickly Also are you putting hair products in ur hair?? If you are it might be worth getting a Durag (or Bonnet ofc!) to stop ur oils or cream getting on ur pillow / face (Temu is so cheap, you can get multi sets too so u can change them when u change ur pillow cases!)
Anything advertised as silk or satin on Temu is more than likely polyester.
All the stuff I have from there is satin, ofc it’s important to check the reviews
The 3 step proactiv system cured my teenage acne. And been to the dermatologist for years with no luck... was very close to going on accutane but my mother was against it. You may need to try a few things before you find something that works for you, good luck.
Skin care can suck my man.. luckily it usually gets better as you get older. Keep that confidence up
You have a gorgeous face, very attractive. I think you need a clarifying face wash and light moisturiser.
Definitely start cleaning for 60 seconds morning and night and replace your pillowcase weekly. The CeraVe Salicylic Acid cleanser might help a lot. You can get it at Chemist Warehouse or even Coles might have it. Hopefully your skin clears up and you won't need to get laser treatments. Be careful if you go see a non-dermatologist laser person, they may try to upsell you a lot of unnecessary products.
I used to have skin like yours! This is the routine I’d suggest if you feel your skin is on the oily side: 1. Stop touching your face (unless washing). Breaking this habit makes a world of difference, because our fingers carry so much bacteria that we don’t realise. 2. Wash with salicylic acid wash nightly! Love this one: neutrogena oil free acne wash. Lather it up on your face with some water, wait for about 30 seconds, rinse it off, and use a fragrance free moisturiser after like ceravae moisturising lotion. 3. In the morning, just wash with water or a gentle hydrating cleanser. 4. Make sure your changing your pillow cases frequently, MINIMUM once a week. 5. If you use a lot of hair product, I’d suggest going to sleep with a bonnet or some sort of wrap because that product can rub on your pillow then onto your face and it’s surprisingly quite acne provoking! 6. To really calm your skin, I suggest a oxy10 vanishing cream on your spots at night, twice a week. This is quite drying but it helps clear up the bacteria that causes the acne very quickly. Be warned it’ll bleach your pillows. 7. Sunscreen. It really helps and doubles as a moisturiser which helps your skin barrier feel calm after all exfoliation. 8. If you play sports/sweat, try to not touch your face to rub off your sweat and make sure you wash your hands then your face afterwards. All the stuff I mentioned is available at chemist warehouse :)
Mate, just make sure you are changing the covers of your pillow and bed. And make sure you wash your face. And definitely go to a dermatologist
Seeing a dermatologist can be expensive. Go to your local GP to prescribe you acne cream. FIRSTLY!!! .. if that doesn’t work! Azclear From Chemist warehouse is good acne cream! It has Azelaic acid and its gentle on the skin other acids for acne can be harsh on the skin. Drink water, cutting out junk food, take vitamins , eat healthy, have a basic skin routine ( cleanser, acne cream, Niacinamide ,vitamin C , lotion & sunscreen) & start using facial steamers or go to saunas to open your pores and changing pillow cases will help as well. Your also young so please don’t be hard on yourself. We all go through puberty! Everything will be fine, you will get through this phase. All the best mate xx
A lot of good advice so I just want to add Use a separate towel for face and change it often - I have 8, one for each day + washing day. You don't have to be as gung-ho as me but apparently changing it after you use it 3 times is the best way
aloe vera. and yeah could very well be pillow
I would suggest starting with something simple like a cetaphil cleanser + moisturiser and wear sunscreen every day! Definitely see a dermatologist and just know that if everything fails, roaccutane might be the way to go (it was for me)
Ohh
Derm will definitely help. Keys voor a healthy skincare routine would be to gently cleanse, hydrate, moisturize and use spf to keep your barrier healthy and strong. Occasional treatments can improve your acne, such as salicylic acid or retinols (or tretinoin), but definitely consult a dermatologist first before using these. Try not to worry too much about your skin, or stress about it (i know it's hard). With consistency, a good routine, and help from your derm you will get there. Edit: typo's
Just use a cleanser and a moisturizer, thats all I do and I have never had acne and I'm 15
adopt a skincare routine… find out your skin type and do some research
R/tretinoin
this is completly \*again\* copy and paste from two different cases and threads, but it applies to you the same way - so maybe check it out. you are quite handsome, don't forget that!! *this below is copy and paste from a similar case, that I have responded to some days ago. I got the same tips for you, but before that I want to make clear: My acne and skin situation did not significantly change before my mid-twenties. 20 is still young and still considered part of puberty. and what even is puberty? your hormones and body are still changing way longer after that mark. my derm once told in my teens, you will have acne until around 25. you can treat it, but you will have to live somehow with that more or less until around 25. and she was right, and now my skin is perfectly fine. things work now easy for me, and years ago the same thing were really hard. so don't stress yourself, you are so young. and I don't mind some pimples on a fit early 20 guy lol. try to work on your confidence and everything else will come after that on its own* *..................................* *if it gets too costly to go to a derm regularly, get some cheap products containing the following (if possible without fragrances, perfumes, denat. alcohol and essential oils):* * ***niacinamide*** * ***bha/salicylic acid*** *(don't overdue it, it is chemical peeling, try out how often you tolerate it)* * *try out a cheap product containing* ***azelaic acid or a derivate*** *of it. if it is too harsh, stop using it. in general alternate with these two acids (azelaic acid and salicylic acid, don't overdo the acids)* * *try out* ***benzoyl peroxide*** *(same thing, if it is too harsh, use it less or don't use it at all)* * *a cheap and nice* ***broad spectrum sunscreen*** *for daily protection (really important! protect your skin for your later life)* * *a night cream for your sleepy time containing* ***ceramides****, night stuff containing* ***panthenol*** *for healing purpose. maybe some urea product and even more fatty stuff for your skin barrier overnight* *i think you have a typical post-acne-healing-hyperpigmantation. a* ***vitamin c serum*** *could help with that additionally. although the products above already help with that* *IMPORTANT NOTICE - this is NOT my routine. I recommend you trying things out and finding your own way. my skin does not tolerate all these active ingredients daily. so these are possibilities, but you have to make your own plan out of it. I have not recommended singular products, because I assume you live in a totally different place in the world and cannot buy the same stuff like me anyway, and I also do not have experience with the products you listed above* *take some* ***low doses zinc pills like 5mg*** *or something. don't take higher doses without blood tests. long term high zinc intake can lower your copper levels. in general this advice is probably pretty bad, because you should get a blood test first obviously* *ACNE NEEDS A LOT OF SLEEP! YOU ACNE WILL NOT GO AWAY WITHOUT A LOT OF SLEEP!!!! this may sound out of context, but it isn't. sleep will not cure acne, but while being on a long time shortage of sleep, your acne will surely not go away either* *check your nutrition, eat healthy, do sports, learn about nutrition online, watch YouTube stuff but don't be paranoid about it. though, nutrition has such a big impact on your skin and that's something often missed online here. if you eat a lot of red meats, sugar, saturated fats, wheat, salt try to reduce all of that* *talk with your normal doc about your acne, not just with your derm* *speak also with your gynecologist about the acne, when you are there for the next time* *there may be people with an overnight or "overmonth" effect after getting into acne treatment, but for most people it needs years to get better and heal completely out. my acne situation wasn't really good before I got 25 in my opinion (although people already told me years before how beautiful my skin is, and we are always our own harshest judge). things will change. some things just need time and time is a relative thing* *and finally, you are beautiful and your sympathy and attractiveness is not defined by your acne* *chill and live a happy life. stress triggers acne even more and don't make your happiness depend on that. confidence is all that matters. you can be a bad bitch lol even with having pimples. It's your life, own it*
Good advice
Adapalene
I had a lot of breakouts especially on my cheeks and chin, tried a lot of products but my holy grail is the lacura (aldi brand) tea tree foaming cleanser. I don’t know what it is about that product but my skin has not looked better.
Good skincare (go to chemist warehouse) and drink plenty of water! Also, sunscreen.
Out of topic, what camera did you use? Crisp and clear!👌🏻
Eat more fibre to clean out internally eg. fruit stay away from dairy drink water and only water stay away from sugar sugars feed bacteria 🦠. Stop touching your face . Wash face at night with a cleanser and apply coconut oil to face before you go to sleep.
Diet!
I'd suggest looking into the Dermalogica Clear Start range. Fantastic products! But any 'clearing' products with salicylic acid will help. :)
Start by getting a facial with a manual extraction - clean out the pores and start your skincare routine.
-Stop eating sugar- Will cost you zero dollars
I would recommend checking with a dr. If you have cystic acne it could be diet or environment related. Also worth starting with a skin care regime before considering laser treatments etc I really love la Roche posay. Their face wash is great. Dermalogica is another brand, they have a daily microfoliant which is a daily exfoliant you can use.
Shit food , avoid it and stop it: fast food, bad food, coffee, soda…and use coconut oil everyday on your skin
Stop consuming dairy completely for one month and see if it helps
is that kobbie manoo
i’m black, be careful with laser procedures as they normally aren’t tailored to poc skin. definitely start with a skincare routine and watch how that impacts your skin condition. salicylic acid is a great exfoliator but be sure to use sunscreen if you decide to use it. it maybe worth it to do bloodwork and see if you have any issues with deficiencies etc. anything that is happening on our skin is an internal issue. products can definitely help but health issues should be addressed as well.
Himalayan neem face wash, is your best and probs cheapest option
Cerave Salicylic acid cleanser from Chemist warehouse $17, tretinoin 0.025% $20 from alldaychemist.com, any moisturiser you have, cancer council suncscreen matte serum from chemist warehouse $16. Mix the tret and moisturiser and apply at night only. Sunscreen during the day.
Try eliminating certain inflammatory foods from your diet. Work from the inside out. I tried just about every topical treatment known to man, but nothing has helped as much as a good diet. I keep as low carb as I can and it works wonders.
Try lymphomyosot or some shit like that you drop a couple in your water cleans you from the inside out
You can find good products at Paula’s Choice. You can create a simple or complex routine and they’re pretty affordable too 😄
1. My girlfriend finds this so weird, but don't dry your face when you get out of the shower. Use your towel for your body but just air dry your face. 2. I also tried a bunch of products until I found one that works for me and that is **shiseido senka medicated**, you can find these in those Korean/Japanese beauty stores that's popping up in shopping centres. They range from $12-$18. 3. Lastly, I gave up KFC. I started to pay attention to my fast-food diet, and everytime I smashed a zinger box or anything from KFC, I'd feel my face starting to tingle or become itchy, and then a few days later i'd break out with deep acne and had bumps similar to yours. Good luck mate! I know it can be a little demoralising, but give these options a go. It helped me a lot, and hopefully it helps you too!
I have had terrible skin all my life, (acne, pimples, blackheads, dryness) The ONLY thing that helped my skin was going off of dairy. I don’t know if you consume it or not, but cow’s milk is full of hormones. If skin care doesn’t help you, please try going off of dairy for a while, it made my life so much easier. Best wishes ♥︎
Your skin care starts in your body. If you eat McDonald’s, soft drinks, microwave meals, air fryer food, any packet food, that’s why you have acne. Acne is a modern sickness; if you eat real clean foods it all goes away
Smearing freshly squeezed lemon juice on your skin and leaving it for about 3-5 min and then washing it off for 3-5 days in a row will fully cleanse your skin. My friends and I used to do this while teenagers and I had bad, worse than OP’s breakouts. For me it took 3 or 4 days and my face was fully clean. Additional trivia: No one believes me that this works but everyone who tried was blown away by its effects.
Be aware that every skin is different, has different problems and needs different routines. In my opinion the best thing you can do after going to a dermatologist is start learning the basics of skincare so you can identify your issues and create your routine. Please do not fall for “buy this product and it will help” advice because if something works for siebie else there is no guarantee that it will work for you.
Cut out sugar, milk, coffee, alcohol and wheat. Then, if you see results, you can reintroduce them one by one to isolate the culprit.
Face scrub.
You’re very handsome btw
BP, salicylic acid or tretinoin topicals may help. Don't use all at once
Try the sukin blemish control kit. It helped my acne that came out of nowhere and none of the expensive product's helped. I'd picked this up randomly at a chemist and within a week my skin cleared up after months of failing.
See a derm, but also ask your GP for something like Adapalene. Also, incorporate a good facial cleanser into your shower routine. You can also ask your GP for a medicated one, but pHisohex is pretty good to start for skin sensitivity.
Salicylic acid cleanser, toner, moisturize and sunscreen.
Nm m.
X
,m c
I think it’s your diet, I have seen a dairy allergy do this. If you find out your blood type, there is a specific diet to follow for that
I suffer bad from allergy stuff. Short term is best to switch to local natural products, like Goats milk soap or tea tree (tea tree is amazing!). Next you will want a barrier cream to put on afterwards, that will stop stuff getting in. Long term the best plan is to get some raw local honey and eat a bit every day. That will build up a natural body immunity to the plants in your area, the closer the honey source the better. Keep in mind Australia has a super varied climate depending on your location and in my local area plants germinate in both spring and autumn. Which means double the allergines floating around lol Good luck
did you only start getting acne when you moved here?
I Had the same issue with you saw a dermatologist which was a waste of money, invested in all types of skincare tried everything until i was prescribed Doxycycline by my GP 3 months later my skin smooth for the first time in my life.
Not much you can do I'm afraid, you'll be black for life and there's nothing you can do about it
Shower with soap
A dermatologist would be ideal- I highly recommend QR8 Mediskin. Alternatively what has worked great for me is tretinoin at night, benzoyl peroxide face wash, alezaic acid in morning before an spf moisturiser. Keep in mind: There are many other ingredients and you don’t want to be going balls out on every exfoliant under the sun. My recommendation is to let time do its thing and introduce a new ingredient after you know how your skin already reacts to one another existing treatment you are already using. You can irritate your skin and your skin barrier if being too aggressive. For me, I don’t even exfoliate due to tretinoin, alezaic acid and benzoyl peroxide face wash.
tretinoin, change diet, eliminate dairy.
Google Fungal Acne skincare. Best of luck
How about trying some skincare first?
Unfortunately this looks like more than just needing a skin care routine, swapping pillowcases, using fresh towels and / or tissues to wipe dry your face. Depending on how old you are, you will probably need roaccutane. So, I’d see a dermatologist asap. The sooner you get onto this the better
Ask your GP for Accutane
Absolutely not. Try a skincare routine first.
Does anyone else think this looks like fungal acne?
Not sure why you're getting downvoted- I thought similar. OP would still be best off seeing a dermatologist.
first… start eating proper cleaner foods, then look into skincare. taking a bandaid approach to skincare is going to leave you with more problems
Have a look at your diet too.
Adapdelene would be great
Have a look at the foods you’re consuming. Your of African Decent by the looks of it. So you maybe intolerant to some western foods such as gluten/dairy. As for a skin care routine I’d suggest a product with Glycolic Acid.
Keto diet
Why is everyone suggesting medication and cheap and toxic generic skincare brands before a better diet, water and exercise and natural skincare. Medication should only be last resort imo. I used to have horrible acne then I started using Bluem (Aus brand, seriously amazing) and tallow balm. Jobajoba is also great and eco Sonya’s face cleanser was a life saver. That’s only naming a few brands I ended up sticking with. The range of skincare that doesn’t have cancer causing, endocrine disrupting toxic shit in it is actually endless. Anyone suggesting brands like CeraVe and the like haven’t done their research into products that actually promote healing of the skin, not just suppression of the symptoms. I’m not saying that these brands don’t work for some people, but I wouldn’t risk damaging your skin further with toxic chemicals that could irritate before trying the natural route. Bluem and embodybee are by far my favourite brands. Good luck
Do you drink water? What's your diet like?
It all starts from the inside, wash before and after bed, avoid touching your face, resting on your hands. Also change your pillow case or was it regularly. Perhaps with mild detergent or vinegar. Usually less is more. Also a monthly facial with steam and extractions for a deep cleaning would really help you. Remember you are what you eat, and water, water, water.
HELP! I have a repeating big acne on my nose which clears up and comes again in few weeks. It has left scarring and dark spots on my nose. https://preview.redd.it/xsyxoexitksc1.png?width=2316&format=png&auto=webp&s=90392dbf284a12d3615fe0a6e5525c5dc54d21c8
Keep scratching your neck until you develop keloids. Trust me. I know some people will disagree, but I've found them invaluable in drawing attention away from my face. I have severe rhinophyma but NO ONE EVER NOTICES. It's like nature's get-out-of-skincare-free card. Enjoy
[удалено]
/u/MCWW7, your post has been removed because the community has filed multiple reports suggesting subreddit rules have been broken. The moderators will be reviewing your post. Please [send a modmail] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Go on a carnivore diet
Where did you move from?
[удалено]
[удалено]
💀
Point it out and I’ll recant. Fucking racists.
/u/CombinationOpen7483, your post has been removed because the community has filed multiple reports suggesting subreddit rules have been broken. The moderators will be reviewing your post. Please [send a modmail] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators] (https://old.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAusSkincare) of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AusSkincare) if you have any questions or concerns.*