I'm 43 and really tired of dealing with acne =(
I tried out Curology which is an online derm who sends you a formula based on pictures and what you tell them - its been 6 months and I still have acne ugh!!!
Want to try something else.
Anyone ever tried any of these:
Kate Somerville
ProActive
Rodan and Fields
Something else?
Trying to avoid an actual derm as my insurance wont cover it
clementine / 828 posts
I found differin gel (a retinol available OTC) helpful. It treats both acne and wrinkles. I had to stop using it due to pregnancy, but it really helped my acne without being overly drying. I also use benzoyl peroxide gel and salicyilic acid face wash, but my acne is pretty persistent.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Maybe you need to look into a low dose of an oral antibiotic.
ProActive is benxoyl peroxide, not sure of the formulation.
apricot / 430 posts
Life-long acne sufferer here.
Second rec for differin gel. It was what my derm had me on, but now it's OTC. Full disclosure: Like all retinoids, it will usually make things a little worse before they get better. Definitely read up on how to use retinoids if you're not familiar. Moisturizing afterwards is super important, even if you have oily skin. And damp skin can make them over-powering.
I've also had good luck with salicyilic acid directly on problem areas
https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Salicylic-Acid-Solution-30ml/dp/B072FJBVZP
kiwi / 662 posts
I second differin gel. I know most people balk at hearing this, but as a longtime sufferer, the *best* relief I ever had came from dropping cow's milk. I found that after a while, I could add it back in small doses when I really wanted some cheese and my skin did fine, so it didn't have to be permanent. It's also free!
kiwi / 500 posts
When you get acne, your skin is literally inflamed. So an anti inflammatory can help. Taking Aleve around the clock for two weeks helps calm my skin down a lot.
Sugar causes inflammation, so as much as I hate to admit it, eating lower carb helps too.
pomelo / 5628 posts
I’m 38 and have always had acne too and my mom still does so I’m basically screwed. I’ve done two things in the last 2 years that have helped but not cured my acne. 1) I use the R&F Unblemish line which is for acne. My skin can get really dry so I only use the step 3 med part once in awhile. But even the face wash, toner, and moisturizer seem to help.
And 2) I’ve been using an exfoliant weekly. I got the Kate Somerville one in the FabFitFun box and I love it. It did unearth a lot the first time! But now I feel it really helps.
nectarine / 2465 posts
Proactive worked for me for awhile, and then stopped. I tried differin, but it made it so bad (I know that’s supposed to happen) I couldn’t do it anymore. Now I use the Paula’s Choice extra strength clear kit (cleanser, exfoliate and acne cream) and I hardly break out, even through pregnancy which I was really bad with last time.
squash / 13208 posts
@foodiebee: I have been reducing cows milk and switched to a vegan protein shake - maybe I need to eliminate completely though
@Hypatia: oh interesting about the Aleve!
@mdf106: @BUNBUN: @foodiebee: I'll take a look at Differin - what the Curology derm put me on did make things worse for a few weeks then it died down but I figured by 6 months it would be gone and its not
@MrsKRB: Haven't heard much about Paulas Choice- I'll take a look
@Mrs Green Grass: I want to try R&F but the price is crazy! I have been using the Kate Somerville spot cream for zits and it works well but I look like I have chicken pox at bed each night - LOL
@looch: I prefer SA but maybe I can try BP
pomelo / 5257 posts
How do you wash your face and what do you use to moisturize? What were the ingredients in your curology? And what's your skin like, aside from the acne? Is it oily, dry, combo? I struggle with some breakouts, especially around my period, and here are things that help me (sorry if this is TMI, just want to be thorough! I know how stressful skin issues can be):
AM:
--Wash with cerave foaming wash
--Tone with Thayer's witch hazel
--Apply The Ordinary niacinamide (this has been a huge help, and it's so cheap, like $6 or $7!)
--Moisturize with cerave
PM:
--Use Julep oil cleanser on dry skin. This step has been crucial to getting ALL makeup or anything else off my skin.
--Then use water and the cerave face wash to wash off the oil.
--Tone with the Thayer's
--Apply my curology
The things I think have made the most difference: the niacinamide, the oil cleansing before regular cleansing at night, and the azelaic acid component of my curology.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
I recently stumbled on a blog post that goes into a ridiculous amount of detail about fungal acne, caused by yeast, and how many adult acne sufferers are actually experiencing a fungal infection. Since the yeast feeds on so many of the ingredients in traditional skincare products, it is very difficult to clear the infection. Worth taking a look at to see if you are maybe coming at your acne from the wrong angle. At the bottom of the post is a list of different products safe for use with this kind of acne.
https://simpleskincarescience.com/pityrosporum-folliculitis-treatment-malassezia-cure/
Personally, I've had luck with oil cleansing as part of a double cleansing routine. I use:
Banila Clean it Zero - oil cleansing balm
Neogen Green Tea foaming cleanser
Thayer's witch hazel to tone
Cerave Moisturizing Cream
pear / 1698 posts
I’m 36 and have had acne all my life I’ve tried everything except Accutane. The Acne line from Nerd Skincare cleared me up 100% which is amazing. Unfortunately they are discontinuing it right now and reintroducing a new acne product formulation in 2019. Hopefully the new version will work just as well. They do have the old formula on sale right now so I stocked up.
pear / 1992 posts
Another life-long sufferer of all types of acne. Mostly I was tired of the cystic acne I would get that would last for weeks/months in the same spot and cause scarring. It's genetic in my case, my mother also suffered/suffers from the same issues but even worse.
The only thing that's given me relief is Rodan and Fields unblemish regimen. I started out using the whole line but I can basically could drop down to only the Step 3 dual intensive treatment and manage everything fine. I really like the toner though, and the moisturizer is nice. I don't care for the sulfur face wash and instead really really love their Reverse regimen Deep Exfoliating wash.
It's pricey, but I don't often need to order on the preferred customer cycle, delaying by an additional month for each order or alternating single products. And honestly, the fact that I have not had a single cyst in TWO YEARS is priceless and life changing for me. No joke.
I've used a lot of the products and I like them but yeah, if I went bare minimum for keeping my skin acne free it would be Reverse deep exfoliating wash every AM, a good quality toner, the Unblemish intensive acne treatment (small amount), and then every PM I use micellar water wipes to remove makeup.
nectarine / 2243 posts
@kiddosc: this is pretty much my routine. I had terrible post partum acne with both kids. It persisted with my second. I was doing a lot of “anti acne” products and nothing was working so I dialed it way back. Oil cleanse with shisedo, a gentle foaming cleanser, the ordinary niacinimide plus zinc and cerave pm
After my skin dramatically calmed, I added a chemical exfoliant back into my routine and that has really made a lot of difference.
pomelo / 5621 posts
I’ve had acne my whole life and it was the worst after DS1. My face was at its best after DS2 and now it is back to normal.
I used proactive when I was younger, it worked but really dried out my skin.
I used the clearproof line from Mary Kay for quite some time and it worked great, cleared up the acne without drying out my skin.
Currently I use the time wise line from Mary Kay along with the pore clarifying lotion. I use microdermabrasion about once a week And the charcoal mask a couple times a week.
I hope that you can find something that works good for you.
persimmon / 1005 posts
What type of acne is it?
I’ve suffered from painful cystic acne for years and my life has been totally changed by a prescription for spironolactone. Spironolactone is used off label for this purpose often and it costs me $4 per month. Was prescribed by my regular physician. I tried many many many different products and regimens, and I also still use a retinoid, but instead of trying to heal these huge throbbing cysts I now just have the occasional “normal” zit.
persimmon / 1286 posts
I think you should spend the money on a one time derm visit (and maybe you can get in to see a nurse there for less $?) instead of products- I had what I thought was hormonal acne and in 5 mins at the derm she diagnosed it as rosacea and gave me a scrip for clindamycin. After 2 days it was 100% gone and now when I get a zit, or redness, the gel clears it up in 24 hours. She also gave me a scrip for generic retinol which was $5 and is stronger than retin-a.
honeydew / 7303 posts
@Mamaof2: the only thing that has helped my acne which i have had since a teen is oral medication combined with topicals rxd by a derm. Nothing over the counter works.
clementine / 948 posts
I’m not a consultant or anything but I couldn’t be happier w Beautycounter products. I started using them this last pregnancy when I had horrrrible acne - both cystic and superficial hormonal on my chin.
I use their charcoal bar and then the serum #3
Easy and so effective!!
honeydew / 7235 posts
@Mamaof2: Fellow adult acne sufferer over here 
The thing that really works best for me - is the birth control pill. I take a tri-phasic, and any time I've ever on it - my skin does great.
As for products --- I have tried Proactiv and Rodan Fields from your list. I'd recommend R&F over Proactiv. I didn't really like Proactiv and I don't think it worked that well. The R&F is really pricey, and I did like it - but I've moved onto a different solution now. I use the CeraVe face wash: Renewing SA Cleanser. Love it... I've been using Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner (mixed with distilled water so not too strong) it smells really bad, but its a good natural astringent.... I use a CeraVe renewing night cream at night before bed after washing my face a few nights a week too.
Also, I tried visiting with a dermatologist a few different times and they all just told me it was hormonal and to stay on the pill (or get not he pill) or recommended some antibiotics which I didn't want. So a DERM was really no help for me, but I probably just didn't find the right one.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
Things that have saved my skin from cystic acne:
1. Hormonal bc
2. Maskcara beauty Milk skincare line.
3. Cutting milk from my diet
4. Using animal collagen powder from Vital Proteins. I have MS and it’s helped my joints so much but the biggest pay off is my skin.
squash / 13208 posts
@MrsSCB: so you had good results with Curology?
I have been on a few different formulas - my last 2 were:
Azeliac Acid 8%
Clindamycin 1%
Niacinamide 4%
Zinc Pyrithione .25%
Clindamycin 1%
Niacinamide 4%
She was going to add back in the Azeliac Acid but I decided to quit.
All my cleansers and moisturizers have been cross checked against CosDNA - she had me using Zinc soap for awhile then I moved to my Ole Henricksen foaming wash.
I have combo skin -definitly worse during ovulation and my period but she said regardless Curology should help - it didnt.
squash / 13208 posts
@lioneyes: what % was your Clindamycin - my lotion had it at 1% - maybe I need stronger?
pomelo / 5257 posts
@Mamaof2: I really do think it's helped. My formulation has niacinamide, zinc pyrithione, and azelaic acid. It's pregnancy safe, so not sure if they would do something different otherwise. But I really do think the azelaic acid has been most helpful, because I'd already been using niacinamide. The curology seems to have helped with breakouts and also reducing some redness that I tend to have in my cheeks/around my nose.
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