My acne started showing up when I was 13 or 14 if I remember correctly. I never really took it that seriously. Sometimes I'd touch it and pick at it, and it just grew. I didn't really take any steps to prevent it until I became a junior.

By that time, it started scarring, and was getting really bad, but I still didn't take it too seriously. I always thought that somehow, some way, it would clear up itself by the time I hit college.

It didn't. I've been through my first year of college and it's still just as bad.

I've followed a lot of advice and none of it's really helped. The most it will do is clear it up for a day or two and then go right back.

Here's what I've tried/do so far:

Not touching my face (I still don't do that)
I'm on my third prescription antibiotic.
Proactive.
Tanning.
Washing my face twice a day.
Not popping whiteheads with my hands (I use a sterile needle)
Changing my razor and cleaning it regularly.
At least 5 prescription acne cremes.
Using a special facial soap thats free of oils.
Not stressing over it (which didn't help at all actually)

Anything else I'm missing here? I've been through 2 or 3 dermatologists already.

It doesn't bother me too much, it's not killing my self-esteem or anything like that. I'm just sick of it and want to get it cleared once and for all.

have you ever used Differin before?
Pro active kinda sucks ass but their refining mask is a really good thing to put on at night, do it straight for a week and im sure you'd see improvement.

have you ever used Differin before?
Pro active kinda sucks ass but their refining mask is a really good thing to put on at night, do it straight for a week and im sure you'd see improvement.

Never used Differin, but I did use the refining mask (as well as the other stuff) for at least a month. It was good for my skin, but no noticeable changes in the acne.

How did you apply it? just cake that shit on so its literally like a mask. For me it dries it all up aswell as reducing redness for me.

How did you apply it? just cake that shit on so its literally like a mask. For me it dries it all up aswell as reducing redness for me.

I used the amount it told me to, and it was enough to visibly cover my face.

Like you, I tried Proactiv and had no luck with it. Then I tried
Arbonne Clear Advantage, and I love it.

http://www.arbonne.com/index.asp?lang=eng

& if you sign up as an independent consultant, you can take
30% off your purchase order.

I use tea tree cream on my face before i go to bed.
It takes the redness away and cleared mine up quite a bit, also if you have long hair keep it out of your face especially at night while you sleep.

I did use sudacrem for a while, it's generally used as a nappy rash cream i think but you can use it for lots of things. I dont know if you get it in the states but go down the baby isle at your supermarket and see what nappy creams they have, if it says it can be used for your acne try it.
I put that on before i go to bed too, i vary between tea tree cream and that.

Medications never really worked for me so maby they might help?

- pull your hair back away from your face at night because the oils from your hair will go onto your face, causing acne.
- don't exfoliate when acne is present, it just spreads it.
- cleanse, TONE, moisturize

I also tried Proactive and nothing happened..
I like Biore though

Try Dermalogica , have the products tried out at an dermalogist. My big sister had the same problems as you, nothing worked til she came over those. Now her skin is clear and so pretty.

I also use them, my skin has never been better and they don't dry out the skin at all.

use benzaclin

well proactiv worked for my brother but not me
dermalogica is what cleared my skin

Go to a dermatologist and ask about orutane.

if your acne is THAT bad go to your current derm and ask about accutane
it is the most serious/helpful thing you can do to get rid of your acne forever
i'm on my fifth month and my skin is amazing for the first time in years.
and believe me i had more difficult acne than you do
but prepared for some crazy side effects

overall though i would say its worth it, again if your acne is really bad

You could try the skin ID site .