If it's something that makes you that uncomfortable and embarrassed, I would go see the dermatologist immediately. I know exactly what you're going through and I feel like at the age of 25, I should be done with acne.

Lately, I've found some products that seem to be working, but watching your diet can help and DEFINITELY give up smoking! Not just for your skin either.

But, really, if it makes you that uncomfortable and whatnot, go see a doctor and get it taken care of.

I'm with you hon! I'm almost 22 and although I don't have as much acne as I did when I was a teenager, I still get a some here and there that turn out to be those long lasting, annoyingly frustrating ones when I do get them! (esp around the time my period is going to start..pms phase I guess you could say?)

I have a good washing routine because my skin has been pretty balanced and healthy looking for a while now, except when I get those random pimples. They ARE very frustrating as an adult and I feel the same way about work too! (although I'm not a middle/highschool/college teacher, I'm a facilitator for a school, and I'm already viewed upon as young because of my age-- acne doesn't helpmuch either!!!)

I say DEFINITELY see a dermatologist for your problem~ I wouldn't keep trying different things at home because your skin has a deeper issue (maybe allergies or sensitivities to certain products or something?) and you don't want to harm yourself or get marks or scars or anything....they can definately help with treatments and routines for you! Good luck!

I had this problem when I was just about to turn 21 (I am turning 23 in a week) and I 100% understand your frustration. What I did was I saw a dermotologist and he prescribed some topical ointments and a medication I was supposed to ingest. My advice...try the topical creams but give a lot of thought and consideration to any medication you would have to ingest because it made me very sick (I know it doesn't happen to everyone but I feel a need to tell anyone who might consider taking pills to cure acne). I couldn't even have a glass of anything alcoholic because I would vomit (even when I didn't finish the glass) and I also developed C-Diff which is a not so pretty thing to deal with, especially when you want to go out and have fun on your last semester of school like I did. I was sick for a while but thankfully I am OK now. I am just telling you this to be safe and to tell you to give everything a lot of consideration before making any decisions. In no way am I writing this to scare you.

Luckily birth control worked for me (I take Yasmin) and I use Neutrogena oil-free face wash (I only wash my face with it at night to remove make-up and just water in the morning) and Aveeno face lotion (the clear complextion one). I also regulary change the covers on my pillows and ALWAYS remove my make-up at night.

I hope something might help. If you need anything send me a message!

I have had acne forever. I am now 26 years old and still suffer. People with acne can tell you that no matter what you eat or what you use for products nothing works. The only thing that has worked for me is an intense treatment from my dermatologist. I have been seeing the same derm since I was 16 and it has taken a lot of trial and error to find the right meds to work for my skin. Currently I take doxycycline (an oral antibiotic) and use a moisturizer with clyndomycin in it and also Retin A at night. As Dearsugar said, nothing works overnight. This has been an ongoing battle and a lot of trial and error and took about 4 years to get under control. Good Luck!

i agree that you should go to a dermatologist. it might be that you are allergic to something that is aggravating your skin. could be topical or what you are eating.

I'll keep those tips in mind too. I know when i'm under stress I get some pimples and stuff but they come and go and I shouldn't complain i guess...

I went through the same thing and tried so many different products, routines, etc, etc.

Finally, I went to a dermatologist and I eventually tried accutane. It is the only thing that really worked for me and other than dry skin I didn't have any side effects (other than clear skin!).

So, I definitely recommend seeing a dermatologist. You may not have to go the extreme route that I did with accutane, but a dermatologist will help.

I know how you feel- I've been through all the treatments as well, and nothing OTC will work- you have to go to a dermatologist. Products with salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide will most likely dry out your skin and make the blemishes worse.

A good dermatologist will work with you to find the right combination of medications for your skin. Topical sulfur, topical clindamycin, retin A, and maybe even Accutane are all options that your dermatologist can discuss with you, as well as pointing you in the right direction with moisturizers and cleansers. However, I noticed a lot of people here talking about using tetracycline, doxycycline, and other oral antibiotics and this is bad, bad, bad. It screws with your stomach, wipes out your natural flora and replaces it with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Additionally, the bacteria that are causing problems on your face will eventually become resistant as well and then you've really screwed yourself over.

Also, be careful about what shampoos and cleansers you're using. Many people have an acne like reaction to formaldehyde releasing preservatives like polyquarternium. If you've changed products, you might want to take a look at the ingredients.

And totally don't give up on being on the pill- even though all BCPs help skin, some are drastically better than others. One good one to ask your doctor about is Yasmin, which contains a different kind of progesterone related to a compound called spironolactone, which is antiandrogenic and can help control hormone related flareups better than your typical BCP.

facin8me - AWESOME Information!!! That was a really great comment! As someone who gets a urinary tract infection everytime I look at an antibiotic, and also has EXTENSIVE pharmaceutical allergies, I could NOT agree more with your statement!!!

I agree with what everyone has said, but would also like to add that you have to be really really really careful to not dry out your skin!!! That can definitely make it worse.... I use Proactiv and it works really well for me, but I also kind of grew out of it. It was REALLY bad in high school, now I just have a few spots here and there around PMS time. I also use Neutrogena's foundation with salicylic acid and SPF 15. It works really really well.

I know what you mean. Mine started at 17 and when i was 20 i went on accutane. It totally works. I still have a few occasional break outs though which is very annoying so I might go on it again because it does clear up your skin and I've never had it bad again. Going on accutane is an annoying process, but it works and my dermatologist said using it once more for a few months should completely clear everything. Talk to you dermatologist asap.

I had such bad acne in high school that I had to take oral medication and use retin-a. Since high school it has not been as bad, but I find that using the Proactiv skin care and Stila make up keep my skin fairly clear.

Zitty Zara - It is time for you to choose a new name becuae I think I have the answer to your acne problems. I have battled with acne since high school. I went on Acutane when I was 20 and it cleared up my skin perfectly with little to no side affects. However, I started breaking out again in my late 20's and did not want to risk Acutane again.

Well, I got lucky again - I stumbled upon a book called "Don't Go to The Cosmetics Counter Withou Me" which has some information about how to deal with acne, but also points you to another book from this author which deals specifically with skin issues - I can't remember the name of the second book because I never bought it I just went to Barnes and Nobles and spent a couple of weekends there reading it. Anyways, the books tought me alot about makeup and skin care and what product are worth buying and which products are just a lie. I also learned that in order for some active ingredients to work they must be at there optimal pH, which is something most products lack which is why there active ingredients don't work.

Another thing I learned and that changed my life is people with acne prone skin probably don't need a daily mosturizer, this is just something that is the media has ingraned in our heads, but it makes sense because the reason we break out is becasue our skin is producing too much of its own natural oils "moisturizer". I also learned about not washing your face with warm water and then splashing it with cold because both temperatures shock the skin and irritate it. So, once I cut my moisturizer out of my routine and started washing my face "only" with "tepid" water and not hot or cold my face started looking better and breaking out less - seeing these good results just off her advice alone lead me to try her product and I couldn't be happier! The author has her own line of skin care products called Paula's Choice that you can find at cosmeticscop.com. Now I never breakout and if I do feel a zit coming on I use Paula's Choice 5% benzoyl peroxide solution and the zit never comes. I also use her 2% Beta Hydrozy Acid liquid every other day and I use her skin balancing toner every day. I use Cetaphil to wash my face but a friend at work with Rosacea uses her daily cleanser and says he likes it better than Cetaphil. All her products are free of any irritants and are at their optimal pH. Good luck to you!

I use retin-A and it does wonders for my skin and even erased scars I had from before. Though it does take about 4 weeks for your skin to get used to it and begin to do it's wonders and makes your skin a little more sensitive than usual - being that it thins out your skin a bit, it's well worth the results.

I also use Pro-Activ during the day, which has benzoyl peroxide in it. Sometimes during that-time-of-the-month, I will use a larger dosage of benzoyl peroxide with Stridex's benzoyl peroxide pads, which are hard to find -they've recently been out on the market for the first time as the first over the counter benzoyl peroxide pads. Sometimes though when I use that I will skip a night or so of the Retin-A so my skin doesn't get overdried and red.

With all that stuff, every now and then, especially during cold weather of course, my skin DOES get kinda dry, so my dermatologist recommended Johnson & Johnson's Purpose cleanser and moisturizer. It's very mild and gentle, but it does the job.

I'm just throwing out my ritual to give you some ideas, but I would definitely recommend seeing a dermatologist. Good luck!

something that really worked for me: microdermabrasion. it cleared my skin up after just two or three treatments (and I think I only did five total), but you could totally see the difference after just one (even other people noticed after just one). it not only cleared my skin up, but evened out my skintone (i'm a redhead, so every little flaw is apparent on my super pale, super thin skin).

i didn't do it long-term, which is recommended, so my face is kinda iffy again (two years later). i'm actually considering doing it again...

One of my friends suffers from bad acne and she and her sister both have chemical peels. She figured out that in the long run they're cheaper than all the medicine she was on (antibiotics, birth control, and topical ointments) and had been taking since she was 14. She's now 25 and her skin has never looked better. Oh, and her face gets pretty red after the treatment (think Samantha on Sex and the City) so she has them done on a Friday so she's fine by Monday.

I'm with leenie. Acutane worked, but the side-effect FAR OUTWEIGH the results. I posted something a while back to deter people from using Acutane.

If you tell your dermatologist that you don't really like the idea of taking medication, there are tons of topical prescriptions that may work, like Retin-A. Keep in mind, all this stuff makes your skin MUCH more sensitive to sunlight, so stock up on sunblock!

My dermatologist also had me go through acid facial peels. He said I was lucky because women pay hundreds of dollars for them to get rid of wrinkles, but my insurance covered it for acne.

good luck!

use Arbonnne Acne Treatment.. I know how you feel.. This will bring up everything from the inside out.. it will get worse before it gets better, but trust me on this. Use this.. It will work.. This was the only thing that worked for me.. The ONLY thing..

You've gotten some awesome advice! Something else I would tell you to do, aside from the dermatologist, is to switch cosmetics. I used Clinique and Prescriptives for years, and was on Accutane 3 times, as well as birth control (tried every form), and Retin-A, etc. You name it, I did it. And nothing helped.
I finally went to see a dermatologist who put me on a simple antibiotic, as well as a hormone-balancing drug (am no longer on that), and a topical lotion and pad. He also recommended trying either Lancome or Estee Lauder. I use Lancome for foundation, powder and makeup remover (which also helps A LOT), and I hardly ever have anything.
I also had several friends who were either performers, or who did pageants, where your makeup can get beyond cakey, and until they switched to Lancome, they were constantly breaking out.
I hope you find the help you need-I completely understand your pain-I started breaking out when I was in 3rd grade, and it didn't end until I was 24!

I was in the same shoes last year- getting ready to start my first year teaching, petrified that I would look younger than my fourteen year old students... I know it's been said, but go to a derm! I was put on antibiotics and several prescription creams. It took some time, but I'm completely clear now, and actually look like I can teach, rather than be sitting at one of the desks!!

I agree you need to see a Doctor!

You MUST see a dermatologist. I always had crystal clear skin, and then one day my chin broke out like crazy. It was insane, and nothing worked. I went to see the Dermatologist, and he gave me antibiotics and MetroGel, which is basically a topical antibiotic. My skin was perfect again in less than a week, and I only had to take the antibiotics for 3 weeks.

I was really hesitant to go, because I don't have health insurance, but I just was upfront with him about it, and said that while this was important to me and I was going to find a way to cover the costs, anything he could do to help would be really great. Well, he GAVE me all the drugs. Doctors get tons of samples in their offices. The only thing he charged me for was the office visit (which was very reasonable actually). Anyway, GO GO GO!! They will really help you. You should start your professional career with confidence and security. Teaching is scary enough without being worried that the kids wont respect your authority because of bad skin!! Good luck. Love, VSugar

I saw a great Dermatologist in LA and he actually prescribed me some oral antibiotics to "detoxify" me internally and a topical antibiotic, clindamycin, to use twice a day. Retina A or Tazorac also helps to keep your skin from becoming so oily and trapping dirt that will inflame your pores.

you should suggest this treatment to a dermatologist and see what he/she thinks. I used it after Proactive stopped working for me, and it helped me out a lot!

Waren mentioned going on Acutane.. well i went on something similar called Roacutane.. Now i saw some people complain that pills can cause problems like vomiting etc.. well i was on this for 6 months and i drank, and felt fine.. It does say NOT to drink.. but i drank anyway.. and i felt fine.. The pills didnt make me feel sick or ANYTHING.. and my skin cleared up for good.. Never had problems again!

It does cost a bit.. but seriously.. its worth it... it boosts your confidence SO much! It completley clears away and blemishes, prevents blemishes and like exofliates from the inside-out so it gets rid of scars.. its really amazing stuff.. i would suggest it.. ACUTANE!

I also have trouble with my skin. I found a website: skinstore.com
I ordered Topix Gly Sal 10-2 cleanser for $16.00. this website is awesome. You dont need to use much because a little goes a long way. I have been using it for 4 weeks and have noticed a lot of improvement.
Hope you get the help you need.

Even though this was from days ago I feel compelled to respond! I struggled for years with my cystic acne and tried everything but Accutane(to scary for me). Finally a friend who used to have acne told her mom to talk to my mom about the treatment she used. I was mortified at the time but now am soooo glad she said something. It's called LumiPlexion and it works! They have a great line but they also educate you on all the myths about acne and the things that cause it; chocolate won't give you acne but stress, hormones, genetics and poor sleeping habits will. Their clinic is located in Walnut Creek, CA. but they have a website with all their products. Hope you find something that works for you, just remember that in order to keep your acne in control you have to be strict with yourself about staying on your program!