[Jinx23]

I seem to have skin that is prone to breakouts especially on my forehead and nose area yet these areas are also very dry and flakey. I have used tons of different products yet I've never managed to clear up the flakiness or the breakouts. I was wondering if I should exfoliate the areas with the breakouts or if this is just causing more flakiness. Also if anyone can recommend cleansing and moisturizing products I would be really grateful. I am 23 years old and these breakouts are really affecting my self-confidence.

Right now I am using the cleansing cloths from ponds that are made to moisutrize skin and clinique moisturizer. Thanks in advance

 

[sonia20us]

Jinx, you are about my age. I have finally stoped my break outs couple month back. I can't say that i have the same skin type as you do, but mine deffinately is not oilly.

Come to think of it, I did two things:
#1: I bought a microfiber facial towel. They are available in many store online. I bought it from a Ebay guy^_^. The towel basically exfoliate your skin ever time you use it. Or i should say it does a very very light skin peel to remove all dirt and oil each time u use it. RIGHT AFTER using it, apply a thick layer of oil free lotion to your face. I use olay, but u can use anything better as long as it's oil free.
#2. For the first time in my life, i swear that i will not eat anything spicy, fried or alcohol. If anyone tell you that diet has nothing to do with break out, THEY R WRONG. Years of experience tell me that eating anything above give me and my mom break outs, no matter the skin type or age.
These 2 r the main things i did. But of course, I'm a bit facial freak, so i like the mix facial mask with food. Cucumber is a very good thing for dry skin, as well as break out.
I have my own website where i have all my skin care recipes. everyone is welcome to visit. Sun Sweet Skin Homepage - Natural Skin Care Recipe
Good luck

 

[egoiste]

Don't exfoliate on acne areas as this can spread the bacteria and create more problems for your face.

Do cleanse your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser (no scent, less chemicals) such as Cetaphil. Thereafter, moisturize with an oil free moisturizer. Please discontinue use of the Clinique Moisturizer. Many of their moisturizers are very heavy and contain oil, even though it may say "oil free." Their Dramatically Different Moisturizer is one of the worst ever I've ever encountered. So greasy, thick and heavy.

You can also use a weekly mask for your acne (a sulfur acne mask) to dry up your acne/pimples and thus reduce pore size, acne redness/size and as well as absorbing oil, dirt, etc.

"Cetaphil There's no bells & whistles with this baby-mild product that even dermatologists swear by. So why is this $10 cleanser such a must-have? It's clean, simple & isn't loaded wtih chemicals or perfumes that can irritate the skin. It's just the best drugstore cleanser out there. Period.$
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser This cleanser contains shea butter, which leaves skin moisturized as well as cleansed. $$
Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream This cleanser smells like almonds & doesn't come with a lot of preservatives, so keep an eye on the expiration date. $$
Lancome Galatee Milk Cleanser This milky cleanser is very moisturizing. $$$"

 

[YorLooks]

Flakey and breaking out?

Breakouts: The breakouts could be due to harsh chems in your cleansers, use a gentle or baby cleanser.


Flakiness: To exfolliate try Neutrogena's VisiblyEven Enzyme treatment. Usually about $11 in most stores.
It does not require any rubbing, does not product heat, thought the tingling is a sign of the enzymes working.

Good luck

 

[Lulu]

You can use rosehip oil neat and see how that goes. Also, jojoba oil works wonders too - it's a wax rather than an oil. I use both these products in my creams. And yes I make a cream for your condition.

Taking a tablespoon of apple cider and vinegar in 8oz of water before meals helps all sorts of things. Lemon juice in warm water upon waking.

Not so big on exfoliation in your case. A very soft flannel with a natural cleanser can help - don't scrub, more "polish". You can rinse off with some apple cider vinegar in a basin of water and keep splashing!

And you can me about my cream too ...

Lulu

 

[Lulu]

oops - ask me I mean ...

 

[Spike]

Dry skin AND acne.....I'm sure that this is a sensitive problem for you.

In this case, your acne doesn't sound like it is being caused by a build up of excess sebum in the skin's oil glands plugging up the pores, Instead it is possible that it is entirely do to the dry skin. Dry skin causes itchiness and the flaking is dead skin cells that will clog up your pores and cause inflammation. What about any itching and the possible relief that you may find from scratching with your finger nails? You could be transferring bacteria and dirt from your fingernails to your pores and adding to the inflammation.

Here are several common causes of dry skin:

Environmental, i.e. excessive wind, low temperatures, sun, cosmetics, chemicals, cheap soap and alcohol based skin products will dry out the skin. If the oil glands of the skin can't produce enough oil to keep the skin lubricated, dehydration will occur, leading to the effects of dry skin. Even bathing or washing your face too frequently will cause dry skin.
Dehydration, if you’re not hydrating by drinking plenty of fluids on a daily basis this will also cause dry skin.
Plain old getting older, like me, causes the body to produce less oil to keep the skin lubricated.
Two common medical conditions, diabetes and hypothyroidism, cause dry skin too.
Finally a deficiency in vitamins A and D will also contribute to dry skin.

If you can pin point any of these as a cause, you are steps ahead of any skin care regimen to try.

Some people recommend coconut oil or other natural based moisturizers without any added fragrances or *junk* that might interact on your sensitive skin. Don't forget to let sunlight work on your skin too. Eat healthy foods as well.

If you are looking for some ideas in skin care products to help with moisturizing; I would look for something natural that has safe ingredients. Youthful Essentials has removed the parabens from their products and have inexpensive and excellent natural moisturizers, cleansers, toners and hydrators. One of the products that I have been using really successfully is
Hyaluronic Acid. It plays an important role in tissue hydration and is able to hold more water than any other natural substance. Its unmatched hydrating properties result in increased smoothness, softening and decreased wrinkles.

Hope this was helpful to you and others. Remember, most of the time, skin problems are because we are out of balance in another part of our body. The skin is an organ. Anyone can sell you something to *FIX* it, but that may just be masking another area of simple concern. Fix that area first.

 

[violet]

I work for a derm practice so I tend to advise seeing a derm before doing much to your skin...just to avoid doing the wrong thing and making matters worse. Some breakouts can lead to scarring, and that's just so sad if it can be prevented.

Tears and scarring can occur on a microscopic level too, so even if you don't see them, they can still be there...and you never want to compromise your first line of defense (your skin) against the environment and all the ickies that are trying to hitch a ride inside your bod via an opening in your skin.

My advice would be to find out why you are breaking out. As the person above posted, it could be related to something else going on in your body; and occasionally, something serious. Be safe and rule that out before proceeding with self-diagnosis and treatment. After that, you can go for what works for you!

Anyway....

Violet!

 

[heidi_n]

I seem to have skin that is prone to breakouts especially on my forehead and nose area yet these areas are also very dry and flakey. I have used tons of different products yet I've never managed to clear up the flakiness or the breakouts. I was wondering if I should exfoliate the areas with the breakouts or if this is just causing more flakiness. Also if anyone can recommend cleansing and moisturizing products I would be really grateful. I am 23 years old and these breakouts are really affecting my self-confidence.

Right now I am using the cleansing cloths from ponds that are made to moisutrize skin and clinique moisturizer. Thanks in advance

You could a do-it-yourself facial made with lemon juice and active dry yeast. This exfoliates without drying out your skin. Lemon juice is also a natural anti-bacterial - it has astringent and antiseptic properties. A friend of mine told me about this treatment and now lot of my friends swear by it!

I have a free website where I post natural skin care recipes and tips like this - if you're interested, send me a message and I'll send you the link!

 

[couture]

Dry skin AND acne.....I'm sure that this is a sensitive problem for you.

In this case, your acne doesn't sound like it is being caused by a build up of excess sebum in the skin's oil glands plugging up the pores, Instead it is possible that it is entirely do to the dry skin. Dry skin causes itchiness and the flaking is dead skin cells that will clog up your pores and cause inflammation. What about any itching and the possible relief that you may find from scratching with your finger nails? You could be transferring bacteria and dirt from your fingernails to your pores and adding to the inflammation.

Here are several common causes of dry skin:

Environmental, i.e. excessive wind, low temperatures, sun, cosmetics, chemicals, cheap soap and alcohol based skin products will dry out the skin. If the oil glands of the skin can't produce enough oil to keep the skin lubricated, dehydration will occur, leading to the effects of dry skin. Even bathing or washing your face too frequently will cause dry skin.
Dehydration, if you?re not hydrating by drinking plenty of fluids on a daily basis this will also cause dry skin.
Plain old getting older, like me, causes the body to produce less oil to keep the skin lubricated.
Two common medical conditions, diabetes and hypothyroidism, cause dry skin too.
Finally a deficiency in vitamins A and D will also contribute to dry skin.

If you can pin point any of these as a cause, you are steps ahead of any skin care regimen to try.

Some people recommend coconut oil or other natural based moisturizers without any added fragrances or *junk* that might interact on your sensitive skin. Don't forget to let sunlight work on your skin too. Eat healthy foods as well.

If you are looking for some ideas in skin care products to help with moisturizing; I would look for something natural that has safe ingredients. Youthful Essentials has removed the parabens from their products and have inexpensive and excellent natural moisturizers, cleansers, toners and hydrators. One of the products that I have been using really successfully is
Hyaluronic Acid. It plays an important role in tissue hydration and is able to hold more water than any other natural substance. Its unmatched hydrating properties result in increased smoothness, softening and decreased wrinkles.

Hope this was helpful to you and others. Remember, most of the time, skin problems are because we are out of balance in another part of our body. The skin is an organ. Anyone can sell you something to *FIX* it, but that may just be masking another area of simple concern. Fix that area first.

Great post, thanks for the info!

 

[Gisele]

Exfoliating may cause the bacteria to spread. You may try chemical or enzyme peels that will help with unclogging your pores and also help with the bacteria.

Treatments like light therapy or microdermabrasions may also help.

A great at home-treatment is a clay mask. That really clears pores.

Gisele