i had fantastic skin when i was a teenager up until about a year ago and i’ve been dealing with blemishes ever since… it’s calmed down a bit, so hopefully they’ll be going away soon. i’m optimistic, at least 🙂

I was very fortunate to have inherited my mother’s genes for porcelain skin — never had zits as a teenager and only occasionally have one pop up if I’m under extraordinary stress.

Unfortunately, my skin comes at a price. It is ultra sensitive to most skin care products, sun exposure causes hives, and I’m allergic to the emulsifiers that bind SPF to moisturizers. That said I have to live like a bat, but my complexion is beautiful. You’d never know by looking at me that I’m in my 40s because I avoid the sun at all costs.

It sucks having to buy 8 different skin care products to get my needs met and winding up with chemical burns every time I try a new product that gets rave reviews that my skin won’t tolerate. I am grateful to have my complexion though.

No I did not. It is only in my mid twenties that I can maybe remember 1 or 2 zits on my forehead. I have always considered myself lucky with my clear skin. (though it is quite dry during the winter)

i started differin two months ago and it really has made a difference!! it took about 6 weeks to show effects but it is definitely noticeable. The only problem i find is that it can be drying. Good luck!!

I’ve had acne since I was 10/11 and I’m in my 30’s. I’m extremely cautious of ingredients in facial products including makeup. No liquid or cream foundations. I take a quality vitamin, drink a lot of water, no dairy except yogurt due to the hormones. I use an asprin toner daily.

I did get facial whiteheads as a teenager. I’m in my late teens now and it’s gone from my face. I never used any acne products when I had facial acne. Now I get acne on my chest during summer. I was prescribed an acne bar soap for that.

I was just thinking about this, this morning – because I think the LM Translucent loose powder I’m trying out is making me break out! I didn’t have many skin problems as a teen, but at 25 when I went of BCP for a while, my skin went haywire! I’m back on a good BCP that is working for me, and for a while was taking abx every day (I know, not the best idea – I’ve since phased them out). So, (knock on wood) my skin is like 95% good on most days. Although I do need something to brighten my skintone…any recs? 🙂

I did have bad acne (is there any other kind?) as a teenager and it didn’t completely go away until I started on the pill. After that it was incredible skin on none to little work. Last year I took a break from it and had a trully horrible explosion of acne, including infection and all those goood things. 🙁 I started on the full Uriage line for acneic skin and some antibiotic (for the infection) and in 2/3 months got it under control again. I also went back on the pill faster than you can say acne! lol I’m now on another try out for a “pill vacation” and so far so good. I recently did a Darphin facial and oh. my. god what a difference! I looked like I had done a microdermoabrasion plus filler injections. It is very expensive, but so far totally worth it!

I used Differin, too, when I was in my twenties and it helped, without the irritation of stronger retinol products. I also used a mild oral antibiotic for flareups and regular extractions and exfoliation. Neutrogena anti-acne body wash helped tremendously with stripping sunscreen off at the end of the day so that I could use it without a reaction. In my late 20s, suddenly, my skin got super-dry, as in showers every other day in the winter or severe consequences!

I’m fortunate enough not to have acne during my teens, just an occasional zit around my PMS. I did experience cystic acne last year when I had poly cystic ovaries but it all cleared up when I took hormone replacement therapy.

My acne actually got worse in my 20’s & 30’s, it’s hormonally driven and I only break out certain times of the month.
I handle it by using a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide solution which works as well as stronger solutions but isn’t as drying. I also use Differin but it seems to help more with keeping my skin looking fresh (not dull and flakey) by helping cell turn-over.

Since I was 12 or 13, I have the occasional really big pimple or two. It was worse when I was in high school (maybe 4 or 5 zits at once), but now I’m in my mid-20s and I just get one or 2 at a time every couple months.

I had acne as a teenager but it got worse after 20. I tried a lot of things then finally accutane. I’m so happy I did. It was a long, pain in the butt choice of therapy but it seems to have worked! For me it was a last resort.

I still get acne, and I’m 31! It’s not bad, but I have a zit or two at least once a month. Mostly, it’s hormones. I mean, I know I have young skin, but for Pete’s sake! :p

Had it in my teens but it went crazy now that I’m an adult. I used BenzaClin and believe it or not, I’m considered too ‘old’ for Differin so my doc has to write a, “Yes she NEEDS Differin so give it to her” note every year. So long as I keep my face clean at night (I’m lazy about taking off my makeup), use facial washes with glycolic acid and keep up with the acne meds, I’m okay. So far so good.

FYI, brands like Murad acne and others don’t do squat for me. Philosophy Purity, Olay acne wash, Olay regenerist serum plus my prescription meds keep me clear.

On the bright side, I’ve been told I age very slowly. I just turned 40 but I look 30. And more often than not I get asked for ID.

By covering my face with a plastic bag thats how! lol. I was unfortunately cursed with acne for about four years back in my early teens but thankfully since than I’ve discovered how a gentle moisturiser every morning and evening and a regular moisturising routine can help!

I didn’t have much of a problem with acne as a teenager. (I’d get a pimple every now and then.) I developed a problem when I was about 25 or 26. I’d get 2 or 3 painful ones near the corners of my mouth and sometimes near my nose. I couldn’t use Proactive or benzoyl peroxide because they would turn my skin bright red, so I’d try to sooth and calm them down w/ tea tree oil. The dermatologist gave me Differin, which didn’t work for me, and then I tried the Murad acne system. It was the only one that was gentle enough for my skin. I also went on the pill because my acne would always flare up at that time of the month. Aside from the painful zits, the worst part was the red marks the acne would leave behind. They take forever to fade and they’re hard to cover up. 🙁

I had really good skin until I hit my thirties and my hormones went haywire. I struggled for a little over a decade with constant breakouts and ridiculously oily skin. I tried various acne-fighting kits from L’Oreal, Neutrogena, and Philosophy, as well as The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil line, before finally realizing that all of the products I was piling on were irritating my skin, causing more breakouts and increased oiliness. Oy.

I finally had enough, and asked my doctor for a prescription for Retin-A. I also started taking Biotin supplements, and scaled way back on the number of skincare products I use. I also stopped wearing mineral foundations, which were exacerbating my complexion issues. Within a month, my skin was clear and I no longer looked like I’d just had a close encounter with the Exxon Valdez. I still have oily skin and get the occasional zit, but my complexion is in very good shape these days.

I will say that the one advantage of having oily skin, is that I have no wrinkles and look much younger than my age. I’m forty-five and everyone thinks I’m thirty! 😀

I had it then and still have it now at 27. Most times I can keep it in check. I am using the Clean and Clear acne system now. I usually switch items every year or so because my skin becomes used to the products. The only other items I’ve used that worked really well are Mary Kay Timewise, Mary Kay Velocity, and St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

I’m 17 and I get acne once every while but I get WHITEHEADS most of all! Ugh! Practically everyday there is a new white head! It’s so annoying!

I had occasional acne as a teen, and even during my college years, but it went away naturally.. now I’d still get acne whenever I’m stressed out or due to pms, but they fade out and I’ll just work on lightening the acne marks. I’m pretty much loyal to skincare with AHA and BHA, and I recently tried Neutrogena, which works really well in making my skintone more even.

Ummm…Yes, it was bad, really bad but thank goodness it was not cystic acne, unfortunately, I wore a lot of liquid foundation to try to cover it but it only made my acne worse. When I went to college and could no longer afford my Estee Lauder foundation, my skin cleared up and although I have a break out every now and again, I am happy to report that my “pepperoni pizza face” days are in my distant, distant, distant past.

I’m 17 right now and I break out so bad! It’s really sad and I feel like it ruins me. I hope it goes away when I’m in my 20’s cause it seems to get better then. AHHHH.

Yes I did! But it took a turn for the worst right after my 18th b-day. It became cystic and painful, and began around my jaw line. Within weeks, it’d spread up to my cheeks and the rest of my face. My face was hot to the touch and not one part of it was smooth. The acne cysts were huge, some as big as pennies in diameter, and of course they were swollen and painful. I looked like an alien, it was terrible! I finally dealt with it by going to a dermatologist who explained to me that at 18 or so, hormonal changes cause your body to not be able to fight certain types of bacteria as well, that my acne was basically a giant bacterial infection in my skin. She gave me an oral antibiotic, an Rx for various topical antibiotic and BP cremes as well. She also told me to buy an antibiotic OTC cleanser that has since been discontinued. Finally, she told me to quit wearing liquid foundation and buy Mac Studio fix Powder for my makeup, as it will not cause further breakouts. That was 14 years ago, and what started my obsession with Macs! As for my acne, it was gone within 4 weeks and to this day, I use an oral and the same topical antibiotic she prescribed to keep my skin clear.

Turn 20 on the 12th, and still breaking out. I was pretty clear until this past summer, and have broken out badly since. I’m currently giving not cleansing a try. In fact, I’m not using any skincare, body care (except for antiperspirant), or hair care products, just water. Washing my face every night by rubbing my wet face down with wet hands to help break down sebum. I’ve been doing it for less than a week, although before this I went about a week washing with a washcloth daily, which broke me out (and irritated my skin, I was super flaky the whole time!) I tried this in the summer, but I didn’t wash at all, partially because I was too sick to even shower, let alone wash my face. And my inflamed acne healed waaaay faster.

Medications just irritate my skin. I didn’t develop acne until I started using skincare products and makeup, so I’m thinking most of my acne is due to ingredients and irritation, not from hormones or genetics, so I am hopeful this works. If anyone has had success, I’d love to hear your story!