help with dry, flaky blemish–prone skin

Hello––
A very occasional poster chiming in to ask some questions....
I'm a mid–40–ish woman who has had acne pretty much all my life, except when
I was very very young (before 12) and in my prime childbearing years
(something about the hormonal aspects of being pregnant 3 times in my 30s, I
think, but my skin was flawless back then).
Though in the past I've had acne all over my face, when I hit 40 it pretty
much settled into my perioral/chin area. Being (through my misfortune) an
"expert" at these types of things, I keep my skin clean, my hands off of my
face, and anything that touches my face (telephone headsets, etc.)
scrupulously clean. So, I don't think it's an external bacterial issue,
though I don't know for sure.
Anyhow, the treatment of my acne has been exacerbated by dry skin in recent
years. One of the absolute worst skin combinations, in my opinion, has to
be dry skin with acne, because the treatments for each condition aggravates
the other condition. I.e., deeply hydrating treatments can clog pores, and
most anti–acne products can cause severe skin flakies, which I detest.
So...my questions:
1. Anyone else suffer from this combination?
2. If you do, what are your treatment strategies?
3. In your opinion, what is the most deeply hydrating, most hypoallergenic
oil–free moisturizer that doesn't aggravate acne? I'm talking anti–flaky
hydrating, not teenager hydrating.
4. Are there internet support groups or forums that discuss acne treatment
options, especially for women/men of a certain age?
5. Any other tips, tricks, etc., you want to share???
My "best practice" treatment cocktail these days consists of the following:
– Hypoallergenic facial cleanser (I use Neutrogena)
– Bi–weekly mild glycolic peels
– spot treatments with Duac acne gel (bogarted from my teenage son)
– Origins Never Say Dry face cream
The Never Say Dry is my holy grail these days––just enough moisture to keep
things plump and glowy, and it doesn't exacerbate my acne. But I'm always
looking for a better product, so I'd appreciate your insights.
philosopher
~~part of the top–posting, signature–sporting reform movement~~

Use products with tea treee oil. It heals blemishes.
philosopher wrote:

In article <EWxDd.175256$ye4.64...@twister.rdc–kc.rr.com>, "philosopher" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
Yes, similar circumstances to yours. I had oily skin when i was young, and
drier skin now in my late 40's (and post–meno). Still, some acne, often
cystic. I've had good luck with oral antibiotics in the past to control it,
yet the side–effects of long–term antibiotics are bad and it's just not a good
idea to use them constantly.
I found that taking an echinacea capsule once a day has almost completely
stopped the acne! I tested a couple times by going OFF it and yep, got a
new zit! Not sure how it works, or if there could be a topical way to use the
echinacea... My derm also suggested using something called "Gly–Sal" pads
(glycolic acid – like the chemical peels, and salacylic acid) ONLY directly on
the blemishes that occur, and it seems to help speed them up.

"kelly" <ke...@some.com> wrote in message news:41DEAF04.2020...@some.com...
Yeah, I'd suggest using tea tree oil products, but anything with clove or
eucalyptus or Witch Hazel heals blemishes and absorbs oil, too. For dryness,
I've found that products that have grean tea (or else steaming my face with
lipton green tea bags in the T–Zone area) is very helpful.
(Don't use clove or euc. by itself, though. Make sure it's blended with
other much milder ingredients...)
JN

Since it sounds like for both posters that the acne is hormonal, have ya'll
tried any masques? I mean
to spot treat the area with masques right before
or during your periods? In other words if you use the
masque before your before period, you will be taking
a pre–emptive strike against the blemishes.
Or just spot treating the area with products that you
have found work, instead of applying all over your face
causing the peeling and de–hydration it sounds like
both of you suffer from?
And have you seen a gyno to get blood work for hormone levels? Maybe just going
on the right brand of the pill might work since again it sounds hormonal?
Taking the pill works in some women, not all. Or even trying to take Evening
primrose oil capsules daily?
I have 2 friends who would get wicked cysts around the time of their periods,
they started taking Evening Primrose oil capsules every day, after every meal
and it helped them alot.
Also why not try an oil free hydrating masque to combat the flakiness and
peeling.
Just some thoughts and suggestions,
Cindi

Hi there –
This is a long post because I want to share my whole experience, in case it
will help you. But if you don't want to read it, my #1 suggestion is to get
a cortisone cream from your doctor and use it as directed. Read on for more
detail...
I too have (adult cystic) acne on my jawline and flakey, peeling skin. I
think the acne is hormonal, and the flaking and peeling started as a side
effect of retin–A when I was 14, but it has continued for more than ten
years after I stopped using that product, which didn't seem to help my acne
at all.
Ever since Retin–A, even when my skin was very oily, if I don't put
moisturizer on my face after I wash it, my skin gets really tight and the
top layer will start drying up and peeling off immediately! I think the
flaky skin is worse than the acne.
WHAT HAS NOT HELPED ME:
Salicylic acid exacerbates the peeling and flaking, I am totally convinced.
Tea tree oil is nice, but it doesn't cure this skin condition. Thinking I
might have some type of sebbhorheac (sp) dermatitis, I tried washing my face
with various dandruff shampoos, which didn't help at all.
WHAT HAS HELPED:
When I first started using ProActive, I had a very pared down routine and
the peeling and flaking all but ended (it significantly helped my acne too).
However, after adding other products into my routine, as I am apt to do, the
peeling returned with a vengeance.
So I am now really trying to not use too many products, particularly beta
hydroxy acid (salicylic), but what really has changed my skin for the better
is a prescription for Tranmcinolone Acetonide Cream 25% . It is some kind
of cortisone cream, so I can only use it every other week because it thins
the skin. By the middle of the week that I use it, my skin stops peeling,
but the peeling returns the next week, when I am not using it. My doctor
prescribed 2 tubes and I am halfway through the first one. I hope finishing
the treatment will be the end of this problem for me, but I am not getting
my hopes up.
I used another prescription called Diaprosone (sp) on little flakies on the
sides of my nose when I first started taking the RetinA. It was prescribed
to me by an ear nose and throat doctor and it worked really, really great.
It was a miracle for me. But when my dermatologist found out that I was
using it she thought it was really horrible that I was putting it on my
face, whatever it was, and she directed me to discontinue it. My face skin
has been peeling off ever since! At least until this new prescription.
I am going to try the Echinacea suggested by the one poster to this thread.
HTH. IF YOU FIND ANYTHING THAT WORKS FOR YOU, PLEASE SHARE.
Thanks!


"philosopher" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
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