how to get clearer healthy looking skin

I want to know how to clear blemishes and have healthy looking skin. I am male in his early 30's

Sat. Jul 14, 10:51am

My husband's skin has improved with a basic skin-care routine. I got him a men's facial scrub that he uses twice a day and he treats blemishes with a spot treatment. It took a while (2-3 weeks) for everything to really clear up, but now he's mostly blemish-free. If I could get him to use a moisturizer with a sunscreen, we'd be all set, but I am pleased with small steps.

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 12:50 PM

Change you pillow case frequently. Use something like Proactiv... if that doesn't work try a topical from your dermatologist. There isn't really any one thing but as you work at it you'll find things that work for you and things that don't.

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 4:47 PM

To the Op

Before you buy another product, educate yourself about what works and what doesn't. There is a link below that leads to a page of several articles about the how to take care of your skin no matter your sex or age.

Link

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 5:34 PM

Food for the skin

And according to the realage tip of the day that I received by email today, a diet that includes whole grains, fruits and veggies, and protein including low fat dairy will control the pimples. After 21 days you are supposed to see a difference.

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 5:38 PM

DHA and DHA supplements from algae and seaweed will work wonders. As will reducing sugar intake while increasing beta carotene intake. You need to try lots of things to see what works, but give this a shot. Taking a multivitamin along with reducing intake of wheat, dairy and other common food allergens may help as well.

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 5:53 PM

ProActiv

If you don't regularly wear sunscreen, DO NOT USE PROACTIV. The UV damage to your skin is far more terrible than any blemish could be.

I used ProActiv for three years. It worked to clear blemishes, but it was so incredibly harsh, and eventually it began stripping and chemically burning my skin. As soon as I stopped and just started using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, my skin not only cleared up, but it literally glows. Okay, maybe not "literally," but it looks incredible.

I don't know if that would work for men, I'm just putting in my two cents about ProActiv because I wasted so much damn money on it and it essentially wrecked my skin for years.

But overall, 5:34 is right; educate yourself on what products do and what would work for your particular skin type. You may also want to try www.neutrogena.com and take their little product quiz. They'll match up which of their products is best for your skin type. That's what I did, and their suggestions have worked better than absolutely anything else out there for me.

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 6:31 PM

Another comment on proactiv...I used it for about 6 months and saw some change in my skin, including severe dryness. However, it bleached out all my towels and pillowcases. A rather expensive side effect as I just got all new house stuff for wedding presents :-( So I dropped the proactiv and about a year later started dieting and added a lot of fruits and veggies, whole grains and loads of water and my skin began to clear up. A few months later I started taking a mutivitamin and that helped even more. I now only get the occasional blemish at that time of the month

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 10:04 PM

10:04

Benzoyl peroxide, which kills the bacteria that contributes to acne, is the cause of the bleaching. I use it and I wait until it dries and wash my hands before I lay down or touch my clothes.

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 11:57 PM

Singing the praises of my dermatologist

Go see a dermatologist! I finally went after years of trying lots of different products on my own, products that never worked. The doctor took a quick look at my face, and gave me a regimen that included prescription antibacterial cleaner and topical gel. I don't have problems any more. I've finally learned that consulting with a dermatologist it the best way to care for my skin. Good luck!

Sunday, July 15, 2007, 11:30 AM

besides the ever common, drink lots of water. And personally, I can't have clear skin and eat corn or any corn derivatives. If you never have success with skin care products, there is a chance that you could have a food intolerance that shows up as blemished. Corn and dairy are two common possibilities.

Sunday, July 15, 2007, 10:50 PM

6:31-- I'm confused. How come you say if you don't wear sunscreen, don't use Proactiv? I mean I am diligent about sunscreen everyday, but I don't get what that has to do with proactiv. Just asking b/c when I first read your post, it scared me a bit. I thought maybe you were saying proactiv has an affect on sunscreen but just want to be sure.

Anyway, I noticed 2 posters don't like Proactiv. Personally, it's the best stuff I've found for my skin. Sure, it's expensive. I think it's supposedly a 2 month kit? Well, I usually only have to buy at max, 3 kits per year b/c I only use it once a day (I think they say to use it twice per day) and use a little bit of it. I've been using it since I was 17 and I'm 21 now. All of a sudden when I was 15, I got really bad skin, and then I went to the dermatologist and took medicine and put on a benzoyl peroxide, but that did nothing for me. I also tried the creams you can buy from the store but that dried my skin out. Proactiv was the best for me.

Also, what I need to work on is my diet. I feel that I eat pretty healthy (fruits and veggies and I eat whole grains and such), but at the same time I also like to eat junk food. I have a sweet tooth! I'm sure changing one's diet has an affect too.

Monday, July 16, 2007, 2:29 AM

2:29 AM

I'm confused by part of your testimony. You said your dermatologist prescribed benzoyl peroxide and it didn't work. But the most important ingredient in the repairing lotion from proactiv is benzoyl peroxide.

Monday, July 16, 2007, 8:08 AM

2:29
I'm not 6:31, but if you look on pretty much all product labels that contain Benzoyl eroxide, they will tell you to avoid sunlight or wear a sunscrean when using it. This is because it makes your skin much, much more sensitive to the damaging UV rays. It basically strips away the protective top-layer of skin, so there is no natural protection.

It also sounds like you had results when using Proactiv, but not topical Benzoyl Peroxide. Although Benzoil Perozide is the top ingredient in Proactiv, I can see how that might happen. With Proactive, you have to wash and moisturize your face....with a topical, you don't. I think it was the washing that did it for you.

Monday, July 16, 2007, 9:04 AM

op here,

I am drinking lot of water
using the apricot scrub.
using olive oil.
using Neutrogena's Deep Clean facial scrub which has methyl gluceth20, sodium, Laureth Sulfate and disodium lauroamphodiacetate.

It seems to be working, thanks for everyone's help

Monday, July 16, 2007, 10:02 AM

6:31 here

9:04 basically made my point about the UV sensitivity, but I've also read a lot of information from countries other than the US saying that the intense UV sensitivity ProActiv causes has done irreparable damage to young girls' skin. I am only 21 myself and I used Pro-Activ AND high SPF sunblock combined for three years (not to mention, I avoid the sun as much as possible), and yet I am starting to develop crow's feet around my eyes. I don't have proof that the Pro-Activ caused this problem, but from what I've read and what I've experienced with the product burning my skin, I wouldn't recommend it anyway. Especially to anyone who may enjoy the sun, the beach, and generally being outdoors during the day.

And to the OP - Sounds like a great regiment! I'm glad it's working for you.

Monday, July 16, 2007, 10:21 AM

hopeless

Monday, July 16, 2007, 12:13 PM

8:08, I think maybe the combination of all 3 products helped me (the toner I bet created a balance in my skin). When my doc prescribed me benzoyl alone, it made my skin dry. And then I guess because it made it dry, it caused my skin to produce more oil...probably something of that effect.

9:04 and 6:31-- wow I had no idea! Ya know I'm very educated about health, fitness and diet, but I had no idea benzoyl would be a problem. So I guess what I'm going to do is try to find new products at the drug store. Maybe a cleanser that doesn't contain benzoyl will help and I'll get a toner to balance out my skin. Thank goodness I wear sunscreen. 6:31, what products do you use now?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 9:12 PM

6:31 here again

I use Neutrogena "extra gentle cleanser" and Neutrogena SPF 45 facial moisturizer. I sometimes will use the ProActiv toner I have leftover, but I avoid the cleanser and benzoyl peroxide cream. It's not bad to use at night, as long as you wash it off in the morning before sun exposure. But then again, with all the shit going around about sunblocks, what the hell can you trust anymore?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 9:47 PM

Thanks so much for your response! I should def try that on my skin and limit my Proactiv use. I pretty much use it at night tho and rinse my face in the morning with water and then apply sunscreen in the morning...so hmm, maybe I'm doing things right. I should do my own research about this topic to see what's really up. Thanks so much for your help!!!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 10:15 PM

acne

I have had acne for about 8 years now and I have tried everything under the sun almost except proactive, partly because I don't like to buy things from the tv. Most acne meds topical or pill tell you to avoid uv exposure without sunscreen, but even if you dont have acne you should always wear sunscreen at least on your face. The two dermatologists I have had didn't really help me at all, I am not saying that doctors can't help, I am saying mine didn't. I even have gone through extensive professional peels and microderms, and I am on a line of professional products now. Everyone has their tip for acne. The best I know of so far, and this is coming from someone still dealing with the problem, is DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE. It is so hard for me but I am trying not to, also only wash 2 times a day, change pillowcases weekly, use sunscreen and educate yourself about what acne really is. There are a lot of good sites out there like acne.org. Most also say that bad food doesn't cause acne, which many people will lead you to believe. The last thing I have to say is what works for one will not always work for another acne is a b*tch like that.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 10:23 PM

From some of the comments I see on this board I suggest that you all visit this website. i'm urging you to buy her stuff, but the articles are very helpful and even have the sources/footnotes at the end.

Link

Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 8:02 AM

op here again,

Thanks to whoever recommended olive oil it is definitely very effective.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 10:59 AM

Diet and a good moisturizer. Try to cut out all refined sugar from your diet (after I have a candy bar, my skin starts looking more red and blotchy within the next few hours!) and make sure you're getting the full RDA of vitamins and minerals. Try to stick to high-antioxidant foods such as strawberries, blueberries, salmon, spinach...

Sunday, August 05, 2007, 3:42 AM

green tea will help with inflammation and redness. worked wonders for me.

Thursday, August 23, 2007, 10:53 AM

Try putting a used tea bag (go green!)on the red spots (really!) for about 10 minutes to reduce the redness and swelling of the zits. (You can also use a drop of Visine--gets the red out--also works on zits). Eat lots and lots of lettuce and other leafy greens. Drink water, not soda. Minimize junk food. Eat fewer sweets and fatty foods. Everyone says that acne will happen regardless of what you eat, but I found in my teen years I had very little problem with any pimples, because I ate a lot of veggies, especially salads (without heavy dressing). I have more trouble now that I am older! I also like to use good old fashioned Noxzema. I use a toothbrush (soft, or childs) to zoom that stuff into my skin. My skin looks good, my pores are smaller, and the menthols in it help to get rid of the bacteria on the skin.

Thursday, August 23, 2007, 5:19 PM

cutting out sugar, dairy and red meat made my skin glow and helped me lose alot of weight, like with everything else diet is everything.

Thursday, August 23, 2007, 9:00 PM

acne treatment

A range of best acne treatment products are available in the market and these products cost under the range of normal income group people. The acne sufferer patients can also collect the useful information through internet.

http://www.treatmentsforacne.net/skincarebytype/Acne-Scar-Treatments/index.htm

Link

Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 1:53 AM

Retin-A has worked wonders on my kids.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 3:39 PM

Why you should wear sunscreen

The first thing that your skin is very sensitive to constancy. If you need to wash to plan an exhibition, so it stays fresh and loose, you must follow it. We recommend washing your face twice daily, morning and evening. If you interfere with the skin during an outbreak. It is also important as you wash your face. His skin may cause the oil in your pores and pimples. Soap is not only to remove excess dead skin itself. Washing with soap is the best way to exfoliate and remove dead skin. Many of these spots provide extra acids and so on, but I suggest you find one that is only a rough balls without chemicals. You are trying to get skin's natural detoxification.

Link

Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 2:53 AM

i <3 Proactiv

i tried everything.. and trust me i was scared to stand in the sun.. cuz my face was SO visible.. i couldnot see someone in the face.. i wont meet my bf for weeks .. waiting fro my acne to clear out.
i used EVERY possible thing.. EVERY.. al the medications and home made remedies.. everything that worked for everyone.. and then i had this crazy bad acne burstin out.. like REAL CRAZY.. then i used proactive.. and now my facial skin is visible!! like earlier it was that bad.. all my face had was acne.. one couldnot see my face's skin!
and really i love proactiv.
and i DONT ever use sunscreen !
and if it makes ur face DRY,,, then use the SECOND BLUE BOTTLE~ it helps mosturize ur face~!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 5:08 AM

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