Acne thread

I just ignore the small amount of acne I have.

Oh look, the classic nature vs. nurture debate, except only here, people blame the former because they refuse to claim responsibility for their decisions.

If you have this "genetic problem" that causes you to have acne, then you should wash your face more than twice a day. It's not that hard to feel when your skin is oily. Your face is just as washable in a sink as your hands are. You know... just apply a little bit soap on your hands, rub it across your face, and then get rinse it off with water; it's not tremendously difficult.

Almost all people get acne. It's just that some people wait until it grows into some severe disease before they decide to do anything about it. Then, they blame it on genetics because they're too conceited.

Eh, washing the pimple (twice a day) before it turned into the yellow lump didn't exactly help. What do you suggest I have done, then?

Eh, washing the pimple (twice a day) before it turned into the yellow lump didn't exactly help. What do you suggest I have done, then?

Ask Daniel. He fancies himself to be an "expert".

Oh look, the classic nature vs. nurture debate, except only here, people blame the former because they refuse to claim responsibility for their decisions.

If you have this "genetic problem" that causes you to have acne, then you should wash your face more than twice a day. It's not that hard to feel when your skin is oily. Your face is just as washable in a sink as your hands are. You know... just apply a little bit soap on your hands, rub it across your face, and then get rinse it off with water; it's not tremendously difficult.

Almost all people get acne. It's just that some people wait until it grows into some severe disease before they decide to do anything about it. Then, they blame it on genetics because they're too conceited.

1. Where did I not claim responsibility for my decisions? I said, in my second comment as to why I personally, as an anecdotal example for lots of people in general, still have acne is because I'm not as consistent with face washing and product usage as I should be. I claim responsibility for my actions, but also recognize and understand my genetic predispositions, as discussed with my dermatologist, family members, and researched extensively by me. Aka, you have no idea what you're talking about and should do some of your own research into links between genetics and acne.

2. There's a HUGE myth you're promoting in your post that I want to clarify as such to everyone reading this thread in general now before they do the wrong thing: do NOT wash your face more than three times a day.

Here's the information breakdown on why (Harrison, you'll love this being a student of chemistry): your skin is, like most biological systems, in constant, balanced equilibrium, or trying to regain its equilibrium when events occur that shift it from a natural balance. Washing your face is, believe it or not, one of these types of natural events, as washing your face, along with removing dirt, grime, and other impurities, also removes the oil from your face. While this would seem like a good thing, it's important to note that skin naturally produces oils as a measure of protection and moisturization. In most cases the levels of this oil production is of a "normal," "average" level that doesn't require much attention and doesn't negatively affect the person by clogging pores with sebum, creating anaerobic environments conducive to acne bacteria growth (ie. the suitable setting for breakouts). However, in people with very oily skin (again, due to genetics and other factors), their sebaceous glands produce excess oil to what the skin needs, and it's this excess that clogs pores much more easily than usual, helping to increase the probability of environments conducive to acne bacteria growth, and, therefore, pimples.

When you wash your face you remove all of the dirt, grim, impurities, and oil, leaving your skin off-balance and needing to find its equilibrium again. So what does skin do? Start producing oil to bring the moisture level back to its specific norm, whether that be a normal level on average or an excess level for those with very oily skin. Your skin achieves equilibrium within a time frame where washing your face twice a day does not disrupt this natural readjustment to an insane degree.

However, washing your face more than twice a day does. The logic is simple: if you strip your face of all oils multiple times a day, its sebaceous glands will have to work harder to achieve equilibrium again faster, before the next cleansing. This means a greater quantity of oil and all the aforementioned in a shorter time frame. On top of all that, your skin isn't the best at timing with regards to slowing oil production, so it doesn't always stop when it reaches that level - it can continue to pump out oil, resulting in, if you wash your face 3+ times a day, oiler skin than usual.

Skin is smart, and it learns. It responds to cleansing as an equilibrium disruption, and learns to respond based on how frequently said equilibrium is disrupted. Dermatologists agree that people need to wash their faces at least once, at max twice, a day, depending on their skin type, for which reason being everything I just said: understanding and responding to oil control.

And I can personally corroborate all of this considering this is what I used to do to my skin my entire freshman year last year right before going on Accutane. I would deep cleanse and exfoliate my skin three times a day, and my oilyness and acne just kept getting worse. Right before I started Accutane I met my professional esthetician, who had a look of horror on her face when I explained this daily regimen. She then proceeded to tell me all of the above, saying why my conditions were exacerbated when I thought I was helping was because I was hitting my skin too hard, too frequently. The ultimate rule of thumb is that you don't need to much with skin, that less can be more, but also that you need as much as your skin needs (with regards to product usage and frequency of usage), done appropriately.

3. Harrison, I'm exhausted and am going to bed, because sleep deprivation is also detrimental to skin and can increase the chances of acne breakouts. Before I go, I'll say this: I know what the pineapple I'm talking about, and have demonstrated such knowledge extensively in more text than I'd imagined over all of my posts in this thread. I've also typed all of this posts off the top of my head, without needing to reconsult anything because I know the information so well from so many nights of late night research, trying to find answers to why this condition that I so vehemently despise was still lingering in my life. So please. Don't sit here and tell me I'm conceited or act as though I'm uninformed, because clearly I know my pomegranate.

I'm pretty annoyed, Southperry. As most of you probably know I'm extremely attractive however I'm having issues with these PIMPLES appearing near the MIDDLE OF MY FOREHEAD particularly inbetween my eyebrows. This is by far the most obnoxious spot to have a pimple and even though they go away after a few days of washan, they end up getting replaced by a pimple that appears in another area of my forehead. It has been a long time since I had a perfectly clear face.

I mad...

I hate. I'm so self conscious about it. I've tried alot, but it doesn't really help. These marry kay whipes seem to have been better than most, but I can't get those often.

I get it on my forehead, chin, back/shoulder, and a few on my chest even. It's so disgusting, I try hard to keep it away too. My family just has extremely oily skin. ><

clearly I know my pomegranate.

I didn't say you didn't know what you're talking about. All I'm saying is that the "genetic predisposition" is a silly excuse.

your skin is, like most biological systems, in constant, balanced equilibrium, or trying to regain its equilibrium when events occur that shift it from a natural balance.

Yes, washing out your face disturbs the equilibrium. However, in theory, the equilibrium constant should not change despite how much you wash your face. The goal of washing your face isn't really to keep your skin dry. It's to wash out all the crap that you absorb from the atmosphere/environment that gets trapped under your oils. If you're afraid that your body overproduces oil, you can manipulate this by applying Vaseline to areas that you've rid of natural body oils.

I didn't say you didn't know what you're talking about. All I'm saying is that the "genetic predisposition" is a silly excuse.



Yes, washing out your face disturbs the equilibrium. However, in theory, the equilibrium constant should not change despite how much you wash your face. The goal of washing your face isn't really to keep your skin dry. It's to wash out all the crap that you absorb from the atmosphere/environment that gets trapped under your oils. If you're afraid that your body overproduces oil, you can manipulate this by applying Vaseline to areas that you've rid of natural body oils.

You're right that you should apply a moisturizer to your face after cleansing, as it helps your sebaceous glands in establishing an equilibrium and producing less oil. You're also right about the goal of washing your face, except to add to the "crap" to wash away would be excess oil. You can't, sadly, wash away excess oil without washing away all of the oils, though, which is why everything I said above occurs.

Also, since you're still riding the idea of "genetic predisposition" as an excuse:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/29/acn...index.html (read Facts About Acne on the left-hand side of the article)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12566802 (quote from the Abstract: Postadolescent acne is related with a first-degree relative with the condition in 50% of the cases.)

http://www.nutritionmd.org/consumers/int.../acne.html

And a quote to finish with:

"Genetics, not junk food, is the main cause of acne, according to a study by the Twin Research Unit at St Thomas's Hospital, London. The findings, based on more than 1,500 pairs of identical and non-identical twins, showed that 80% of susceptability to acne is tied to genes. Factors such as the Pill, diet and smoking had no significant effect. Isolating the key genes responsible for spots should lead to better acne drugs." (quoted from REAL magazine 15-28 July 2003)

I have relatively bad acne, I guess. I just really need to get myself to start taking the stuff I have for it consistently... :x

According to our biology teacher, people with acne will get less wrinkles when they age and therefore look younger. Like, the skin gets thicker somehow.

Unless you have it so bad, that there will be scars of it for the rest of your life.

At any given time there are three pimples on my forehead under my hair. Every twoish weeks I get one on my face. I know it's around every two weeks because it usually coincides with every other shaving day. I haven't shaved for three weeks now (fk up, it is the playoffs and I damn will sport a hockey beard) and I haven't had a cheek pimple. Strange.

At any given time there are three pimples on my forehead under my hair. Every twoish weeks I get one on my face. I know it's around every two weeks because it usually coincides with every other shaving day. I haven't shaved for three weeks now (fk up, it is the playoffs and I damn will sport a hockey beard) and I haven't had a cheek pimple. Strange.

You have sensitive skin.