New to group. Help!

[KylersMadre]

I have been suffering from acne since i was 19. It  used to be very severe but it is still embarrising. I don't like my fiance to see me without make up or even touch my face. I don't want him to feel the bumps.

It really depresses me. I will not go out in public without makeup and even makeup doesn't cover.

I have tired a lot of OTC nothing has helped. I tried proactive but was allergic. I discoved I am allergic to Benzol Proxide. My face swelled so bad i had to be on steriods. I really felt ugly then.

I do not currently have health insurance so I cannot affored to be on a pill called menocyclin.

My acne is everywhere. I used Mabyline pure minerals. A water based liqid makeup. I have a lot of blackheads, white heads and cysitc as times.

Any suggestions??? We have a christmas party next weekend I hope to get it cleared up a little.

[eclogite]

There are a couple of things you do that don't cost any money but do require discipline.

Cut sugar totally out of your diet.  Eliminate any sugary foods including softdrinks and cola.  Caffeine also should be limited in your diet.  There is a link between high glycaemic foods and acne.  Often cutting this out will reduce acne by over 50% (Published Study)

Check your products for any of these ingredients.  If they have them in ditch them as they are causing more acne to form.

The majority of these results are sourced from a scientific paper done by Monroe Lanzet.  A cosmetic chemist from Lanzet Associates of California, USA.  Other results are from independent testing and personal experience that has resulted in acne forming.
Esters Isopropyl Linoleate            3/3 Isopropyl Myristate            3/3 Isopropyl Palmitate           3/3 Isopropyl Lanolate             3/3 Isopropyl Isostearate          3/3 Myristyl Myristate              3/3 Myristyl propionate            2/3 Myreth 3 myristate             3/3 Butyl Stearate                   3/3 Isostearyl isostearate         4/5 PPG 2 Myristyl propionate  4/5 Isocetyl stearate                5/5   Lanolin Derivatives Lanolin Alcohol                 4/4 Peg 16 Lanolin                 4/4   Hydrocarbons These are used in the cosmetic industry quite liberally.  Petrolatum                       1/3 Mineral oil, light                1/3 Isoparaffin C9-11              1-2/3 Isoparafiin C13-14             2/3 Silicones No silicones have tested to be comedogenic.  Which means they are safe for acne prone skins.
Surfactants Sodium Lauryl Sulphate 5% in water     5/5 Sodium Laureth Sulphate                     3/5   Oleic Acid and derivatives Oleic Acid                    3/3 Oleyl Alcohol                3/3 Decyl Oleate                2/3 Isodecyl Oleate            4/5 Sorbitan Oleate             2/3   Vegetable Oils The majority of vegetable oils are comedogenic to skin.  The sad thing is that most therapists do not even realise this.  All of the products touted as being natural and therefore inherently better for your skin are full of these wonderful oils which have virtuous properties but are disastrous for anyone with acne.   Coconut Oil                          2/3 Peach Kernel Oil                  3/3 Palm Oil                              3/3 Hemp seed oil                      3/3 Sweet Almond Oil                 3/3 Grape seed oil                      3/3 Rosehip oil                           3/3 Cocoa Butter                        4/5 Shea Butter                          3/3 Corn oil                                 3/5 Cottonseed oil                       3/5 Meadowfoam seed oil             3/5 Soybean oil                           3/5 Wheatgerm oil                       5/5 The reason these oils are comedogenic is because they contain a high amount of oleic acid as part of their constituents.  As you have learnt above oleic acid is severely comedogenic.   Botanicals Algae Extract                         5/5 Carageenan                            5/5 Red Algae                              5/5     Alcohols,sugar derivatives and Emulsifiers   Oleyl Alcohol                                 4/5 Isostearyl Alcohol                           3/3 Octyl Dodecanol                             2/3 Isocetyl Alcohol                              4/5 Cetearyl Alcohol and Ceteareth-20    4/5 Glyceryl-3-diisostearate                   4/5 Polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate             4/5 Laureth 4                                        4/5 Laureth 23                                      3/5 Steareth-10                                     4/5 Oleth-3                                            5/5 PPG 5 ceteth 10 phosphate              4/5 Glyceryl stearate SE                        3/5   Lactates Myristyl Lactate, 50% in propylene glycol   4/5   Fatty Acids and Glycols Oleic Acid                             3/3 Lauric Acid                            4/5 Isostearic Acid                       3/3 Hexylene Glycol                     2/3 Cetyl Acetate                         4/5 Ethylhexyl palmitate               4/5 Isopropyl Isostearate               5/5 Isopropyl linolate                    4/5 Isostearyl isostearate             5/5 Stearyl heptanoate                4/5 Decyl oleate                          3/5 Unfortunately treating acne costs money.  I have never found an OTC medication that worked on mine either.  I have also found that my skincare is one thing I can never skimp on.  If I was to go and use a cheap brand my skin would break out.  I have just accepted this and made allowance for it. Good luck with it.