Acne sufferers- please help!

[tayl0r]

Since becoming pregnant by face is HORRIBLE!!!! it's so red and constant breaking out. My skin doesn't get a break. I've always had acne prone skin but I'd break out when I'm PMSing and that's it. Then my skin would be clear and good for 2-3 weeks. Now it's a vicious cycle and its all over. My chin is especially bad! And my cheeks!? I've never gotten them there before. Has anyone found a solution or anything that helps??? I'm out of ideas and it's making me feel so gross.

Sorry for being whiney lol

 

[Sarah1508]

Hey didn't want to read and run, both my sisters and my cousins suffered from acne and they used to put sudocreme on their face like cover it like a mask overnight sometimes and it would look a lot less irritated and angry in the morning

 

[tayl0r]

Ah awesome! Thank you!!!! I need to do something! It's driving me crazy!

 

[haleiwamama]

Im having terrible acne too!! Face, chest and back. I was also itching like crazy wherever there was acne. I went to see a dermatologist and he prescribed me Clindamycin, which is like a topical antiobiotic, and Finacea, which will take the redness away. Ive been doing that for a little over a month. Also, a couple weeks ago I started doing blue light therapy, in addition to the medication and Ive seen a lot of improvement! Im going to continue the blue light therapy for sure. And its cheap too, like $20 per session and you only do it once week for 15 minutes. Give it a try!

 

[Insomniash]

I have what I suppose would be considered acne, although they are fine bumps (almost rash like but not a rash) on my skin with dried oils in them. I stay really well hydrated and it does nothing the bumps are all over my face, neck, chest and there are even some on my back. I have tried different cleansers and moisturizers but I have just plain given up now. No idea what to do about it except put up with it until I give birth, as I am not interested in using any medications.

 

[Kassy]

I've been getting a lot of spots too. It's driving me bonkers as one day it's clear then I wake up with them everywhere.

I drink loads of water, I'm sure that it helps keep them from flaring up too much.

 

[coz]

Usually my skin is clear but since being pregnant the spots are driving me mad, i have loads on my back and chest too x

 

[mod19]

Ugh I've always had bad skin too. What I've been doing that seems to keep it at bay is this:

Wash, step 1: African black soap. Its a bar and only about $3
Wash, step 2: a fruit enzyme scrub. Ive been using the Mychelle one. It burns a little bit, but so worth it! About $18
Moisturize: coconut oil. Make sure it's unrefined extra virgin

And that's it.

I've also stopped wearing any sort of foundation. Only eye makeup for me these days.

 

[haleiwamama]

I have what I suppose would be considered acne, although they are fine bumps (almost rash like but not a rash) on my skin with dried oils in them. I stay really well hydrated and it does nothing the bumps are all over my face, neck, chest and there are even some on my back. I have tried different cleansers and moisturizers but I have just plain given up now. No idea what to do about it except put up with it until I give birth, as I am not interested in using any medications.

You should ask your doctor about the blue light therapy. It involves no chemicals and its literally just light. You know how the sun has UVB and UVA rays? Well, blue light is one of the spectrum emitted by the sun and its very good for your skin. Its not harmful to you or to baby at all. So i just sit in front of this light for 15 minutes at a time once a week and I already see improvement.

 

[Perplexed]

Ladies recently told me they're using aveeno cleansers for acne and they help.

I'm also suffering chin and cheek breakouts. Haven't tried aveeno yet waiting to finish what I have right now. I also use clarisonic every other day. Seems to make my skin recover quicker but there's always a new breakout starting...

 

[pgfairy]

For the textured bumps some of you are talking about if you get them normally and not just when you are pregnant I highly recommend the clarisonic range. It's not cheap and it's like an electric toothbrush but for washing your face. After I had been using it for about a month it really started to close my pores and get rid of those skin texture issues for me!

For the acne I've been finding some success with a self heating charcoal mask. As long as I do it once a week my skin seems to stay a bit clearer. Plus it's kind of a nice way to pamper myself once a week. I hear argan oil is also supposed to be good but I'm too chicken to try it, anyone else ever given it a go?

 

[mrs_park]

Pregnancy makes me break out too. Acne around the chin is associated with reproductive organs so it makes sense that you break out around that area during pregnancy. Heres what I found to help...

1) wash your face before bed.
2) use a cleanser that contains salicylic acid and/or glycollic acid
3) use a cleansing brush like clarisonic (there are many cheaper "copies" out there that are almost as good in my opinion).
4) don't be afraid to moistorise and use oils for your face like rosehip, maracuja or argan (these will also help with helping acne scars to fade)
5) sleep, lots of water and veges/fruit
6) a once a week deep cleansing mask containing clay
7) a good quality, oil free foundation that won't clog your skin

If all else fails, know that it is hormonal and it will pass soon.

 

[AndiAmsterdam]

Talk to your doctor to find out if it would be safe to increase your intake of Zinc. I am not sure what is the maximum amount you can take while pregnant, but if you aren't taking enough, I would definitely recommend stepping up your dosage to the safest maximum amount. After I stopped taking birth control but before I got pregnant, my skin was really freaking out. Increasing my intake of Zinc literally made a noticeable difference in 24 hours. I would recommend taking Zinc Piccolinate, as this form is one of the more easily absorbed forms of Zinc.

Also, you may consider trying organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, diluted with water, as a toner. It really smells terrible, but the results are worth it. ACV is quite strong so I would suggest only using it every other day and definitely don't forget to dilute it with water.

I hope you find some relief!

 

[Diana3]

Pregnancy makes me break out too. Acne around the chin is associated with reproductive organs so it makes sense that you break out around that area during pregnancy. Heres what I found to help...

1) wash your face before bed.
2) use a cleanser that contains salicylic acid and/or glycollic acid
3) use a cleansing brush like clarisonic (there are many cheaper "copies" out there that are almost as good in my opinion).
4) don't be afraid to moistorise and use oils for your face like rosehip, maracuja or argan (these will also help with helping acne scars to fade)
5) sleep, lots of water and veges/fruit
6) a once a week deep cleansing mask containing clay
7) a good quality, oil free foundation that won't clog your skin

If all else fails, know that it is hormonal and it will pass soon.

I just wanted to say that salicylic acid and glycolic acid are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

 

[mrs_park]

^ do you have any links or information?

I have been researching it and cannot find anything to say glycolic is unsafe during pregnancy. Most sources I've read say that oral salicylic acid is a "no no" during pregnancy but the small amounts in a cleanser (that is obviously washed off) is not enough to soak into your body.

IMHO, there are far more worrying chemicals found in everyday skincare that should be avoided (and not just during pregnancy)

 

[haleiwamama]

Pregnancy makes me break out too. Acne around the chin is associated with reproductive organs so it makes sense that you break out around that area during pregnancy. Heres what I found to help...

1) wash your face before bed.
2) use a cleanser that contains salicylic acid and/or glycollic acid
3) use a cleansing brush like clarisonic (there are many cheaper "copies" out there that are almost as good in my opinion).
4) don't be afraid to moistorise and use oils for your face like rosehip, maracuja or argan (these will also help with helping acne scars to fade)
5) sleep, lots of water and veges/fruit
6) a once a week deep cleansing mask containing clay
7) a good quality, oil free foundation that won't clog your skin

If all else fails, know that it is hormonal and it will pass soon.

I just wanted to say that salicylic acid and glycolic acid are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

I agree! My doctor told me to absolutely avoid these two as well as retinoic acid. Both my OBGYN and dermatologist said the same thing.

Im doing Clindamicyn (for bacteria in the face) and Finacea (for rosacea) and doing once a week exposure to blue light. Today will be my third exposure and I already see improvement.

 

[pgfairy]

Most current research suggests that topical application of salicylic acid and glycolic acid are safe during pregnancy. The reason they've been black listed by the pregnant community is because of studies that showed that levels of these chemicals in concentrations WAY above anything you could absorb through diluted topical application, have caused increased risks in pregnancy in animal studies.

Studies on oral salicylic acid at low doses (still way higher than what you get topically) have shown that there is no increase in the risk of adverse birth effects.

There is very little research out there on topical use because nobody thinks it's worth looking at because the amount absorbed is so so low. Still, there is no data, so it's your body, if you want to avoid it then more power to you.

A review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114665/

 

[MamaLoCo]

Before I got pregnant, I found that Neem capsules worked wonders. You shouldn't take it internally while pregnant, but you should be able to find a variety of facial products at a natural food store that feature Neem, since exteral use is perfectly fine.

Alaffia brand makes one featuring neem and black soap which I'm going to try. They also have large bottles of liquid African Black Soap in case you need it all over your body. Organix South also has a bar soap called Theraneem that I would kind of mix with my tea tree soap.

For redness, when I had rosacea symptoms, sulfur worked wonders.

By far, my favorite beauty product is Aztec healing clay. It's calcium bentonite clay powder and you mix it with water or apple cider vinegar (for your case, I'd definitely recommend the acv) and it really purges your pores.

Before I wash my face, I use oil to remove my makeup - usually coconut oil or a face wash made by Skin by Ann Webb coconut water sensitive skin cleanser.

 

[mod19]

Before I got pregnant, I found that Neem capsules worked wonders. You shouldn't take it internally while pregnant, but you should be able to find a variety of facial products at a natural food store that feature Neem, since exteral use is perfectly fine.

Alaffia brand makes one featuring neem and black soap which I'm going to try. They also have large bottles of liquid African Black Soap in case you need it all over your body. Organix South also has a bar soap called Theraneem that I would kind of mix with my tea tree soap.

For redness, when I had rosacea symptoms, sulfur worked wonders.

By far, my favorite beauty product is Aztec healing clay. It's calcium bentonite clay powder and you mix it with water or apple cider vinegar (for your case, I'd definitely recommend the acv) and it really purges your pores.

Before I wash my face, I use oil to remove my makeup - usually coconut oil or a face wash made by Skin by Ann Webb coconut water sensitive skin cleanser.

^This. If you can get over the smell of neem it works wonders! All of these products are great. Just make sure if anyone tries the clay that you use it externally. It can be taken internally but is a detox, and you do not want to detox while pregnant.

I love the olive moisturizer by Skin! But since becoming pregnant have only been using coconut oil as a moisturizer.

And I honestly can't say enough about African Black Soap. The stuff is wonderful!

 

[haleiwamama]

Ladies!!