OMG!! Am I 14 Again?

same thing happened to me, but breakouts were around my mouth...I started using a 3 step neutrogena system (their version of proactive) and it worked for me. I had tried other things though and that was the first thing that helped. It's a lot of trial and error (and money) until you find what works for you, sadly!

for what's it worth, I've had problem skin my whole life and just started breaking out again. I've been using Neutrogena grapefruit acne cleanser and it seems to be helping! smells great too!

For me, changing hormones did it. I started breaking out like a teenage boy! Ugh. Anyway, I finally ended up at the dermatologist, and long story short, ended up on a 6-month course of Accutane. My skin is beautiful again! Hopefully you don't have to resort to Accutane, because it is a difficult medication to be on (although it does provide a permanent solution to acne), but a dermatologist wouldn't be a bad first step. I only say this because I spent a lot of money (before going to the derm) on drugstore remedies. All that did was aggravate my skin and make the problem even worse! Plus it cost a lot. Even if a cleanser or lotion or mask only costs $10, if you end up buying several different kinds, there you are $50 later with more acne than ever, and a cabinet full of stuff you'll never use. :-/ My vote is, see the professionals first, for what it's worth!

Same thing happened to me. I think stress for me is it. I bought one of those new Nuetrogina (sp) Waves. They work so great! I got one for $10 and it came with the exfoliating scrubby pads and everything. My dermatolgist told me that using face scrubs like St. Ives aprocot scrub is bad for you face because it leaves tiny scratches in your skin, and lets in all the bad stuff so not to use it anymore. Since I stopped using that and started using the "Wave" my face has really cleared up.

You are 14 too! Hehe!

My bf always says I am 14 not 41 when I tell him how much I love him and have big crush on him.

When people here have face break out we wash with soap and water and clean face cloth over and over morning and mid day and mid afternoon and mid evening and before bed. But not scrub so much you make more problem. Do not be in bright sun and do not cut or scrape or pick and cause scar. Stay away from greasy food and if you eat then wash face so chin face is cleaner than clean. Maybe use crush aloe plant if sore or irritated. Ponds cold cream is good wash too if face goes dry but you do not want greasy cream.

We have druggist medicine and special facial wash for this, but soap and water helps dry up too much perspiration and oil.

Hi T.,
What great answers everyone has given & the dreaded hormones are the cause :(. Chin acne is a dead giveaway... What I always recommend to my clients is getting on a natural balancing cream. This will help regulate your hormones. And stay away from products with mineral oil #1 reason for breakouts. Using an acne line (which most are primarily for cystic acne) will dry your skin making it "rebel" as one lady said. It basically drys your skin out and your skin is smart & produces even more oil trying to get the moisture back & causes more breakouts. Using a good line without mineral oil, dyes, fragrances, animal bi products etc. Is key. I am a mommy of 5 & the prolief (natural balancing cream I call "happy" cream :) has been awesome! If you have any questions I'm happy to help. You can email me ____@____.com a great day!

Sounds like a hormone issue. Usually high testosterone causes this. You can tell if that is what it is because your libido will also raise. If its estrogen that is low then you will have vaginal dryness. Low progesterone typically causes depression.
Adrenal stress can cause too much testosterone to be released. Things that will calm you down will help with this, as well as a little extra vitamin C and B-complex (particularly b-6), omega 3 fatty acids, and the herb holy basil.
Good luck!
J.

I had this happen when I was around 37 or so. I never even had acne as a kid so it was quite disturbing. Needless to say I first tried ProActiv and within a couple of days the breakouts were GONE! I was so happy until I continued to use it and after about a month or so I had bumps all over my face. It was horrible. I figured it was just too drying and my face rebelled. Ultimately, I found that ProActiv is a good short term solution. Then I started using Arbonne and voila it was gone again. I haven't had a problem since.

As far as what causes this? I could be; stress, hormones, environment change, cleansing changes, etc.

Good luck!

Have you recently gone on the pill, or started some other hormone based birth control? I never broke out as a teen but as soon I started birth control pills (at age 19) OMG :( It got better when I changed to a lower estrogen dose pill.

Stop touching your face. That is why I'm breaking out :( It's a tough habit to break.

Gotta love those changing hormones, huh? lol! I've had great success using Tea Tree Oil. It can be found at natural food stores like Whole Foods, or co-ops, or sometimes even at a regular store! Just dab it on and let it dry, a couple of times a day (morning and night is what I did).

Hope it helps.

Same thing happened to me! I spent a ton of money on facials, various cleansers and home remedies, vitamins etc. Finally went to a good dermatologist. I got an antibiotic for a few months (I forget what it was called! sorry) then I got Retin-A (sp?) which he recommended I use forever, it's VERY expensive, get it from CVS but only a drop a day, one tube lasts a year. This handled it.

Does your skin seem oily? I always had oily skin and get regular facials. One tip my esthetician taught me was to use baby powder on my face, especially on blemishes. She would put a handful on her hands and rub it into my skin. (just don't breathe it into your lungs or nose!) It really helped dry out blemishes and helped with redness too. When I had some down time on the weekend, I would wash my face and rub baby powder on just like she did during the facial and leave it on all day to let it "soak up" excess oil. I would often use it under my makeup too. I would put on my foundation, then mixed baby powder with my loose powder to set. Hope this helps!
A.

My SIL said acupuncture helped her with a similar issue.

Same thing happened to me when I was about to turn 40. I tried Mary Kay acne treatment and it cleared up and hasn't returned. Its only about 7 bucks. I didn't even get through the tube before it was gone

I like the St Ives Olive Cleanser. And Aveeno makes a Perfectly Clear Moisturizer that is not greasy at all.

If nothing has changed, it sounds hormonal. Balance your hormones and the acne will no longer appear.