PICTURES of my face...look @ blemishes & melasma/hyperpigmentation!

[Poohbear]

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Hi Poohbear....I have been where you are. And MegonW mentioned Neutrogena. I have been using it for years and I now have my son(16yrs) using it as well. Go to Wal-Mart and try the Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Complete Acne Therapy (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_259.asp) If you don't like it after 2 weeks....return it. I have just bought their new Visibly even Moisturizer (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_253.asp) it's to help even out skin tone. If you're not allergic to hydroquinone(like I am)...try a skin lightener with 2% hydroquinone it it like Black Opal. (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?CATID=100304&id=prod391217) They have tons of products that work. They even have products w/out hydroquinone for people who are allergic.

This is exactly what I use:
Oil Free Acne Wash (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_18.asp) Morning & Evening
Acne Elimating Gel (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_181.asp) Morning & Evening
On The Spot Acne Treatment (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_20.asp) Evening only. I put this on after the gel and "Only" where I need it.
Visibly Even Moistrizer w/ SPF 15 (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_253.asp) Morning...you should "Always" wear a sunblock to prevent further pigmentation and it's good for overall skin health.

HTH...if you need anything just pm me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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Thanks for the helpful info! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I used to have a Neutrogena skin care regime when I was in middle school and early high school. I used that exact oil-free acne wash you posted, the clear pore oil-controlling astringent, and this moisturizer that had an orangy color. My face stayed pretty clear.

I was thinking about going back to Neutrogena products but they have so many products to choose from. I'm waiting to use up the products I have until I decide on other products to buy for my face. My derm had recommend Cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer, but I've also had my eye on Aveeno so I gotta check out the ingredients and decide which products to get after I use up the products I have.

I've tried the Neutrogena Visibly Even (it wasn't the new Healthy Skin one that you bought) and started not to like it. My face would get oily sometimes after using this and it started to have a funny smell and change colors. Is it okay to still use even if it turns yellow to a mixture of yellow and brown? I also didn't see a difference in my skin tone after weeks of using it. Is the Healthy Skin Visibly Even different than the one I used??? /forums/images/graemlins/look.gif

I have been using Noxzema Exfoliating Cleanser which I decided to give a try after I used up my Noxzema Cleansing Cream which I have used faithfully for years. I think this exfoliating cleanser has been too harsh on my face. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Right now in the mornings, I've been using these samples of Purpose cleanser which is very gentle and is clearing up my face. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I might buy this as a cleanser or go back to my Noxzema cleansing cream. I'm using Dr. Fred Palmers Skin Whitener for the dark areas on my face. I'll use this until the Glyquin I ordered comes in the mail. Im using Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF45 as my moisturizer. I know sunblock might make your face look greasier than a moisturizer, but I only use it sparingly and I want to keep my face protected from the sun. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
At night, I use either Retin A Micro gel or Mint Julep Masque on acne spots & blemishes. I also apply the skin whitener to the dark spots. So far so good! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[aqualung]

Lindy, I just noticed this last week when I resorted to some Proactiv lotion.

Benzoyl peroxide makes my acne dry and flatten FAST, but there are dark spots left afterward.

Retin-A Micro is a bit slower, but the skin color is even after the acne is gone.

[Champagne_Wishes]

Maybe you need to give Accutane a second time around. It looks like I might have to again *sigh*.

[Poohbear]

The acne isn't big or all over my face...I just have acne blemishes on the sides of my face. The rest of my face is clear. Now it's starting to clear up. I bought some Cetaphil cleanser that my dermatologist recommended and it's very gentle too like the Purpose cleanser. Every night I either put Retin A Micro gel on my face or Mint Julep Masque on just the acne spots. I don't want to spend a lot of money with Accutane again...plus I don't want to lose a lot of hair like I did right after taking it last year. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Honeyhips]

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My daughter has problems with her skin, similar to yours... she's under the care of a dermatologist - she uses a lot of different stuff and her face was ok up until she started using Triaz facial cleanser (benzoyl peroxide) every day... her face dried out TERRIBLY, and she started getting these dark/light areas on the sides of her face. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif She's also using RetinA Micro (the stronger percentage) and some other cream that I forget the name of...

She's going for another appt. at the dermatologist next weekend... I think the problem is the benzoyl peroxide... I think I read that it can cause darkening of the skin... /forums/images/graemlins/look.gif

[/ QUOTE ]that is interesting b/c triaz was the bomb for me.

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Maybe it's because she's using it along with the other two prescription strength medications... I think it's just too much for her skin - especially now that the weather is getting cold... /forums/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif

[/ QUOTE ]could be. My skin did dry out when I used it w/ my other prescription.

pooh have you been to a dermatologist? PC did not work for me at all. IT actually made my acne worse.

[Honeyhips]

[ QUOTE ]
Lindy, I just noticed this last week when I resorted to some Proactiv lotion.

Benzoyl peroxide makes my acne dry and flatten FAST, but there are dark spots left afterward.

Retin-A Micro is a bit slower, but the skin color is even after the acne is gone.

[/ QUOTE ]It made my marks dark too. My dermatologist told me it was b/c I was black. I didn't like him so I'm not surprised if he was just trying to tell me something to make me leave hisoffice faster.

[Poohbear]

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pooh have you been to a dermatologist? PC did not work for me at all. IT actually made my acne worse.

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Honeyhips, the derm told me to use Cetaphil cleanser and Cetaphil moisturizer for my face and Hydrocortisone 1% for the burn from using that expired mud masque. I only bought the Cetaphil cleanser and it started to dry out my face making dry patches, almost cracked. /forums/images/graemlins/perplexed.gif I checked that EWG site on potential personal products that have health risks and Cetaphil cleanser had a high risk rating because it has ingredients that posed a risk for cancer, it contained harmful impurities, penetration enhancers that increase risk to exposure of carcingens, untested ingredients, and allergies. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I returned it immediately back to the Kroger store along with my Noxzema Exfoliating Cleanser which was too harsh to my face and went back to my original Noxzema cleansing cream.

Now I just use Noxzema cleansing cream and Glyquin-XM day and night (and occasionally use MaryKay Blemish Control Toner just for the day). Also at night, I use Retin-A Micro gel or Mint Julep Masque for acne blemishes. My face is doing much better now that I simplified my facial care regime! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Country gal]

Go to a derm. I do want to point out that you should use a moisturizer with spf in it. I read somewhere that it helps reduces your chances of getting black heads after the pimples go down. It really helps out a lot. Drink plenty of water. I don't care what people say, diet is so key with skin care. I notice when I drink sodas and eat candy my skin starts to loose it's clarity. Right now I have a rash on my chin from eating too much candy.

[Country gal]

Black skin is prone to scarring. So I try to avoid getting pimples in the first place.

[Poohbear]

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Go to a derm. I do want to point out that you should use a moisturizer with spf in it. I read somewhere that it helps reduces your chances of getting black heads after the pimples go down. It really helps out a lot. Drink plenty of water. I don't care what people say, diet is so key with skin care. I notice when I drink sodas and eat candy my skin starts to loose it's clarity. Right now I have a rash on my chin from eating too much candy.

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sbaker,
i did talk to a derm. she suggested cetaphil which made my face dry and crackly. i think u r right about the sugar. i've been eating reeses peanut butter miniature cups like crazy. Starting now, im going to eliminate candy and sodas from my diet and drinking more water. thanks for encouraging me.

[Poohbear]

face improvement (looks difference because this was taken with my camera phone instead of a digital camera):
http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL287/2119764/5546393/72434442.jpg

[Country gal]

Pooh- anytime, sweetie.

[MizAvalon]

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Poohbear said:
Hey Lindy and honeydrop215... thanks for letting me know about the benzoyl peroxide because I was thinking about trying products that have benzoyl peroxide in it (like Neutrogena On-The-Spot treatment). When my cousin used Triaz cleanser in the past, I tried hers once and it dried out my face as well. I didnt continue using it for it to cause dark dry patches of skin on my face. A few days ago I bought Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (not expired /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif). I used it one night and my blemishes were gone the next morning! I plan on using this masque three-four days a week.

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I usually don't have much nice to say about drugstore products, because I think most of them are just mediocre. But that Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask is the bomb-diggity! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Honeyhips]

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Poohbear said:
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Go to a derm. I do want to point out that you should use a moisturizer with spf in it. I read somewhere that it helps reduces your chances of getting black heads after the pimples go down. It really helps out a lot. Drink plenty of water. I don't care what people say, diet is so key with skin care. I notice when I drink sodas and eat candy my skin starts to loose it's clarity. Right now I have a rash on my chin from eating too much candy.

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sbaker,
i did talk to a derm. she suggested cetaphil which made my face dry and crackly. i think u r right about the sugar. i've been eating reeses peanut butter miniature cups like crazy. Starting now, im going to eliminate candy and sodas from my diet and drinking more water. thanks for encouraging me.

[/ QUOTE ]girl go to someone else. Keep trying.

[Honeyhips]

Your face is looking good Pooh. I second the water advice. Doesn't sugar and caffiene cause inflammation?