Teenage skin problems!?

by Ashleigh
(Canada )

So, I have a quite a combination of skin problems/issues actually! I am almost 16 and have had skin problems since I was 13. I have tried proactive, clearasil, clean & clear, prescription drugs etc. None have given me satisfying results- many have only made my skin worse!

My skin is anything but perfect- very dry, a bit of red on my cheeks, bumpy, blackheads- and completley unpredictable! I use a moisturiser but my skin feels itchy after. I have tried washing my face only with cold water, but it feels rough after.

I have to be careful about what I use on my face- it is "over sensitve" most of the time. I sometimes break out in hives too, mostly on my arms and stomach but sometimes on my face. I also feel that my face sometimes gets warm- like, feverish warm and I end up with red spots on my face( like penny to loonie size patches).

Its from irritation, but even when I go natural- without using a face products or commercial product- my face reacts. Where I live is very dry, it gets very hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. It is the worst weather for sensitive skin. I would do anything to not have to plug my pores with foundations, concealers and powders to try and cover up my skin- please help me find my natural beauty! :D

Comments for Teenage skin problems!?

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Feb 08, 2010
 Suggestions for Teenage Skin Problems
by: M Szymanel

Don't over clean or scrub, and don't 'pick'. La Pochay has some nice products for sensitive reactive skin, some with toleraine, but they might have products especially for acne, but the toleraine products work really well for sensitive, reactive skin. Wash your face once a day, and just rinse once a day with warm water only. You may need to use distilled, or purified water to get away from chlorinated water and the minerals in hard water. A filter can be installed in the shower head that will purify and dechlorinate the bath water. Even drinking dechlorinated water, purified water is a good idea. Use a Brita filter, or drink distilled water. I agree, stay away from makeup. When you begin to use makeup again, go with a mineral make up, but be careful to use just a little bit of mineral powder in the lid to swirl your brush in. There are two reasons for this: 1-you don't want too much powder wasted and tapped off of your brush or put on your face, and, 2- you don't want mineral powder swirling all through the air so that you are breathing it in. There has recently been some discussion about health concerns from breathing in small particles of mineral makeups. I have found though that since I tap such a small amount into the lid that all is taken into the brush, and there isn't powder floating into the air. (You also want your make up to last as long as possible, and not waste any from lavishing it all over the place.) Liquid makeups can clug pores and aggravate acne, and often have parabens, petroleum products, and other products that aggravate skin problems. Most dermatologists will tell you to stay away from strong benzoil perozide products, as they are very hard on the skin and very drying. They can ultimately be damaging in the long run, even though they are well known and well advertised. I struggeld with this issue for years, and then had 10 years of relief. Recently, I had what I thought was adult onset acne, and used a well known benzoil peroxide product without consulting with a dermatologist, and it really ruined my skin. It turned out my skin was reacting to toxicity of meds, and is now hyperreactive, and overly sensitive to soups, and makeup. Also, for contact dermatitis, Aquinil HC works well, to get things started healing. Using full fat yogurt is a great facial. See a gynecologist concerning any hormone imbalances. Sometimes this can be the root of the problem, and birth control can be a big help. This was my problem years ago, before doctors had an understanding of this. One of my daughters had this problems, and the birth control helped, along with proper skin care. Good luck, and hang in there, I know it can be terrible discouraging. M Szymanel
Feb 08, 2010
 Suggestions for Teenage Skin Problems
by: M SzymanelAnonymous

Don't over clean or scrub, and don't 'pick'. La Pochay has some nice products for sensitive reactive skin, some with toleraine, but they might have products especially for acne, but the toleraine products work really well for sensitive, reactive skin. Wash your face once a day, and just rinse once a day with warm water only. You may need to use distilled, or purified water to get away from chlorinated water and the minerals in hard water. A filter can be installed in the shower head that will purify and dechlorinate the bath water. Even drinking dechlorinated water, purified water is a good idea. Use a Brita filter, or drink distilled water. I agree, stay away from makeup. When you begin to use makeup again, go with a mineral make up, but be careful to use just a little bit of mineral powder in the lid to swirl your brush in. There are two reasons for this: 1-you don't want too much powder wasted and tapped off of your brush or put on your face, and, 2- you don't want mineral powder swirling all through the air so that you are breathing it in. There has recently been some discussion about health concerns from breathing in small particles of mineral makeups. I have found though that since I tap such a small amount into the lid that all is taken into the brush, and there isn't powder floating into the air. (You also want your make up to last as long as possible, and not waste any from lavishing it all over the place.) Liquid makeups can clug pores and aggravate acne, and often have parabens, petroleum products, and other products that aggravate skin problems. Most dermatologists will tell you to stay away from strong benzoil perozide products, as they are very hard on the skin and very drying. They can ultimately be damaging in the long run, even though they are well known and well advertised. I struggeld with this issue for years, and then had 10 years of relief. Recently, I had what I thought was adult onset acne, and used a well known benzoil peroxide product without consulting with a dermatologist, and it really ruined my skin. It turned out my skin was reacting to toxicity of meds, and is now hyperreactive, and overly sensitive to soups, and makeup. Also, for contact dermatitis, Aquinil HC works well, to get things started healing. Using full fat yogurt is a great facial. See a gynecologist concerning any hormone imbalances. Sometimes this can be the root of the problem, and birth control can be a big help. This was my problem years ago, before doctors had an understanding of this. One of my daughters had this problems, and the birth control helped, along with proper skin care. Good luck, and hang in there, I know it can be terrible discouraging. M Szymanel
Feb 08, 2010
 Acne and sensitive skin
by: Mashubi

Hello Ashleigh, and thank you for writing and sharing! Yes, it is a real challenge to find solutions for acne breakouts when you have sensitive skin! The best advice I can offer is to get to know your body and what it likes and does not like.

Keeping a daily journal of the foods you eat, the products you use on your face and hair, and how you were feeling that day will be a great start. (Yes, feelings certainly affect our skin as well)

To make things simpler, use just the basics on your face ... don't use makeup (I know that's hard when your face has broken out!) for a little while.

Then, when your skin breaks out, you can look at your journal to see if there were any new foods, new products, or stresses in your life that caused your breakouts.

There are some other suggestions also that may help.

1. If you haven't already, try our free natural beauty course which is an an eBook and will help you make positive changes gradually that will help your skin. The course walks you through a program that will help your whole body as well as your skin.

2. You may have already seen some of our recommendations here at our acne sensitive skin page which has a number of suggestions. In my own experience with acne, it was dietary changes that helped the most. There is information on this as well.

3. I have heard a number of people who have seen their acne clear up by using the basic four Cleure Hydrovive skincare products. The will ship to Canada.

This will be a good start, and please let me know how this goes for you.

Best wishes,
Mashubi

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