STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin.  I have oily skin and it works really well for me.  I've been using it for about 5-8 years and I've never had a problem with it. 

If your skin isn't what you want it to be, I'm a HUGE proponent of seeing a dematologist.  I had problems with my skin since my teens and this is the first time in over 10 years that I haven't had acne.  A derm will be able to help you identify problems and she'll know how to best go about treating them.  The initial cost of seeing a derm beats having to search around for the best products and deal with the hassel of products that don't work for you.  Just my two cents. 

NCshopper wrote:

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I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin.  I have oily skin and it works really well for me.  I've been using it for about 5-8 years and I've never had a problem with it.  If your skin isn't what you want it to be, I'm a HUGE proponent of seeing a dematologist.  I had problems with my skin since my teens and this is the first time in over 10 years that I haven't had acne.  A derm will be able to help you identify problems and she'll know how to best go about treating them.  The initial cost of seeing a derm beats having to search around for the best products and deal with the hassel of products that don't work for you.  Just my two cents. 

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Elle and lynnie--sorry I didn't see your posts sooner! 

I randomly selected a derm that my insurance covered and she's been AMAZING.  Seriously.  I've dealt with acne since I was 12 or so and I'm 24 now and FINALLY my skin is in good shape.  I used to have acne around my t-zone and my upper chest and back.  To the point that I wouldn't wear anything revealing or most tanks. 

My derm has me on all prescription stuff.  It can be pricey, but I figure it's worth it to have nice looking skin, and I probably spend less now than I did before trying to find a miracle product.  She recognized the need to treat acne before it starts (internally) and existing pimples (externally). 

The first thing we did was switch my BC.  I'm not on Estrostep, which is a BC with acne indication, so it helps treat the acne from the inside.  What's nice about it is that it's not an antibiotic, so it doesn't screw with the effectiveness of the pill, which is what a lot of acne meds can do.

The second thing was the external stuff.  She prescribed a face wash called Rosaderm, which is sulfer based, so it tarnishes the hell out of my silver jewelry, but whatever, it's a small price to pay.  And unlike Proactiv, it doesn't bleach my clothes.  In the morning, I use a topical prescription (I can't remember what it's called off the top of my head, but I'll look and post for you guys when I get home) and then just use my regular moisturizer on top of it.  I really like this stuff because it doesn't leave a weird film on my skin.  At night I use Retin-A.  At first it peels off all your skin and you have gross flaky skin for like a week, but now that my skin is used to it, it looks great.  Even my boss has noticed.  And my chest and back acne has COMPLETELY cleared up. 

Seriously, my derm is like my idol.  I her.

The only complaint that I have is that when my husband gets really close to my face after I've put the Retin-A on, he says I smell like pickles.    Weird.  I can't smell it though.

ETA:  If you have any questions, feel free to ask or just PM me.

Oops, it was a typo.  I meant to say:

"The first thing we did was switch my BC.  I'm not on Estrostep, which is a BC with acne indication, so it helps treat the acne from the inside.  What's nice about it is that it's not an antibiotic, so it doesn't screw with the effectiveness of the pill, which is what a lot of acne meds can do."

Estrostep is a birth control pill that also treats acne.  A lot of plain acne medications can screw with a pill's effectiveness (umm...no thanks) so it's nice to have a birth controll pill that can treat my acne too.

Does that clear it up? 

I have a Murad one that I like, it was $35 I think.

-gd