I am 27 years old and have
fair to medium skin tone. I have combination skin; oily in the t-zone
with frequent breakouts on the chin, around my nose, and between the
cheek and mouth area, especially around my cycle or when I’m under
stress. I have mild breakouts, but they never seem to cease.I have tried numerous products along with making visits to dermatologists and even switching to a birth control pill that claims to help with acne breakouts. I am guilty of picking at those annoying little bumps and using alcohol. I have also used topical products such as benzoyl peroxide and products that contain salicylic acid.
My skin seems to have become less oily this year, but it still keeps breaking out! Since reading your book I have stopped wearing foundation, except to cover blemishes. I have stopped going to the tanning salon, started to drink lots more water, have been trying to limit the amount of sugar I consume in my diet, and have become better regimented about cleaning my face twice a day.
I am
including this email because I want to break it down and see if I can
clear up some important points as well as give you some solutions to
your problem skin.
I am 27 years old and have
fair to medium skin tone. I have combination skin; oily in the t-zone
with frequent breakouts on the chin, around my nose, and between the
cheek and mouth area, especially around my cycle or when I’m under
stress. This is a pretty standard description that I hear. She
has light to medium skin color, normal to oily skin, with occasional
breakouts during or around her period and usually under stress as well.
I have mild breakouts, but they never seem to cease.
That the breakouts are never-ceasing says to me that there is something
she is doing (ingesting or using) that is continually feeding the
breakouts, as mild as they might be.
I have tried
numerous products along with making visits to dermatologists and even
switching to a birth control pill that claims to help with acne
breakouts. Ortho Tri-Cyclen® is the birth control pill that is
advertised to help with acne. For some women this pill (or any birth
control pill) may help with breakouts, and for others it can cause
problem skin.
I am guilty of picking at those annoying little bumps and using alcohol. I have also used topical products such as benzoyl peroxide and products that contain salicylic acid. Picking, especially if done incorrectly, is not a good thing. Alcohol will not help the problem in the long run—or really even in the short term. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid aren’t the best things to use on blemishes and can be too harsh—depending on what kind of products they are in.
My
skin seems to have become less oily this year, but it still keeps
breaking out! Since reading your book I have stopped wearing foundation,
except to cover blemishes. I have stopped going to the tanning salon,
started to drink lots more water, have been trying to limit the amount
of sugar I consume in my diet, and have become better regimented about
cleaning my face twice a day. It sounds like she didn’t have a
very good or consistent routine, both in her skin care program and also
in her diet and lifestyle habits. She made a few common mistakes. She
used “acne control” products that are so prevalent out in the
marketplace, along with not drinking very much water, eating a lot of
sugary foods, and not being consistent with washing her face on a daily
basis.
And then there was the tanning salon. If you listen to the owners
or people who work at these establishments, you will think this form of
UV exposure is the safest thing in the world. Because of her acceptance
of the safety of tanning beds, I am going to question what else she may
be doing that is contributing to her skin problems that she also may
think is OK. All in all, if she just does the “right” things and cuts
out all the other stuff she has been doing, my guess is her skin will
reflect this better care, which up until now it had not been receiving.
 |
| In a word: NO! |
In
addition, I am concerned about all of the various products and
medications that I have used and cost is important to me at this time. I
would like to continue to make skin care a top priority. I
agree on all counts. There are so many products to choose from out on
the market, along with prescriptions available from doctors. I encourage
you to become a responsible consumer; know what you are taking and its
effects on your skin and body.
If you find products that work for you, money may become secondary. If you can stick with something that makes a difference, you will save money by not needing to experiment anymore. I think making skin care a top priority is a great choice. It sounds like change from the past is what she needs in order to have clearer skin in the future.
For more information, see:
If you find products that work for you, money may become secondary. If you can stick with something that makes a difference, you will save money by not needing to experiment anymore. I think making skin care a top priority is a great choice. It sounds like change from the past is what she needs in order to have clearer skin in the future.
For more information, see:
