Folks on my Twitter and Facebook page timelines will know this, but I wanted to see what else others might have to say.
I’ve been fighting a breakout on my chin area for about a month or perhaps more. I initially attributed it to hormones – that dreaded time of the month does it to me. I might get a spot sometimes, but it usually goes away fairly quickly with the flow… as it were.
This time, I’m not just getting a spot. I’m getting spotS <- plural. A couple of them of the painful variety.
And its just on my chin. Nowhere else. I’ve scaled back my skincare (nothing new), hydrated the chin area till I swear its flooded, slapped on tea tree oil on the spot, tried various combinations of creams for acne skin just for the chin… and am turning up at a loss. The spots aren’t going away and have in fact multiplied.
For someone who thought that age has finally taken care of that darned spotty problem, its a big deal. So come on, help me out here.
Do you have a sure fire remedy to kill spots and pimples? Specifically on the chin area. Or perhaps you have a secret weapon for bazookaing away these large painful spots? Please share!
I could pledge you my first born if your remedy works, but as there’s no hope of that happening any time soon, you will have my undying gratitude instead.
Help!
Paris B
Note: I wanted to thank everyone of you for you helpful tips but its swelling! I didn’t want to bloat the comment box further so thank you each and every one of you for taking the time to share your tips. I will be implementing some of it and hopefully will see some improvements soon. Thank you! xx
try to slap on yogurt on your face! it helps to soothe them. im having horrible break outs and i put on yogurt on my face every night. it won’t reduce dramatically but it does improve them slowly.
don’t try retin a first, i did a lil research and the side effects sounds scary. if yogurt doesn’t help, try to consult a skin doctor. however don’t ever bother to take isotretinoin (one type of antibiotic), the side effects are just too much.
try not to moisturize too much now, don’t bother to put on facial sheet mask as well.
p/s: buy organic yogurt or greek yogurt, original or natural flavoured one. DON’T go for the nestle yogurt.
GOOD LUCK!
i used to hav the same problem. The best remedy is DON’T THINK ABOUT IT! The more u fret, the more stressed u will be, and more spots will appear!!
Yoga has helped me to destress after a long day of work. you dont have to spend hours doing it. Just pick one simple pose to clear of your mind. I like http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/yogabasicsession.asp
Acne may take some time to heal, so focus on other things. I picked up belly dancing, cake baking and Gossip Girl dvds to keep myself occupied. I noticed when you dont look at the mirror and think about the spots, they heal up faster!!
Facial steam (put your head over a hot bowl of water under a towel for 20mins) has helped me to decongest the affected area and destress. Always follow up with a moisturizing tissue mask.
I like dabbing Apple Cider Vinegar (diluted with spring water) on acne. But the smell can kill some people!
Lastly, try to visualize that you have a clear skin. When you think you have clear skin, you will have clear skin!!
Dalacin-T – give that a try. And go for a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil 🙂 Hope that would help. You can also try Queen Helene Masque – the mint one, just leave those green stuff on your pimples at night and wala – it will disappear in the morning! Awesome stuff!
Hi Paris. I really feel for you. I used to have blemish free skin all my life, even through my teens. And then suddenly, back in May/June 2009, both sides of my cheeks were like a pimple farm. I tried counting and lost count each time. And sometimes one would grow so close to an existing one. It was depressing. I tried many methods and honestly to this day, I do not know what was the cause of it and which was the super hero product that helped. But here are some stuff I tried and what I think:
Clinique Anti Blemish (Toner & Moisturiser)
When I first tried it, it really did reduce the pimples, and it was looking hopeful that it was going to clear. But sadly after 2 weeks, it just didn’t work anymore.
Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blemish stick:
Did nothing.
Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask
Didn’t help
Aspirin Mask
Didn’t help
Many OTC pimple creams:
Didn’t help
Finally, I came to this combination:
Face Wash: Day- Hadalabo BHA Cleanser
Night – Simple Face Wash
For sunblock removal – I used this Aloe cleansing cream from Skin Food.
Toner: Etude House Toner (forgot the name, but it was sprout something) And the description did say it is supposed to help. And really I think it did have some contribution. Its a thick/viscous type of toner, but I still use a cotton to wipe. I do not do the patting motion ala Hada labo
Moisturiser: Vichy Normaderm Hydrating Care
Pimple Cream: Kiehl’s Antiblemish something something. The one that is dermatologist solutions one.
Face Mask: Origins Out of Trouble. This mask smells bad due to the sulphur, but it really does help. Used it twice a week. You can also use this to spot treat at night. After mosituriser, dab a small dab on those darned spots.
I stuck to the above regime and finally it cleared.
That was really long and I am sure I missed out some stuff. But those I missed are definitely things that did not help!
Oh yea. My mom was very shocked to see me (I work outstation) when I got home. She went and buy coconut juice for me everyday, thinking it would cool me down and reduce body heat, so as to reduce pimples?
An Estee Lauder SA also told me to blend & drink fresh cucumber juice every morning with an empty stomach. I didn’t do it in the morning, no time. But not sure if this help.
Bottom line, every single person who saw me was in shock, coz I never have pimple problems and I am not so young anymore :p
But now, if I show people my pimple photos, they go like “Are you sure that’s you?”
Best of luck to you PB!
Found the Etude House toner i was talking about:
http://www.etudehouse.com/eng/product/product_view.jsp?prdtCd=215016001
Try this.. It is actually for the ingrown hair, but many people (myself included) use it for cystic acne as well. A combo of rubbing alcohol (Isocol), Witch Hazel and crushed Asprins, which is really cheap to make and this cleared my back pimples (how embarrassing)!
I’d the same problem few weeks back, that’s after using Clarisonic for 1 month ( No change in facial steps/ products). Mine was on the right cheek and slightly below the undereye area.
Same like you, I’ve been applying Tea Tree Oil, hoping it will go away, but after few days, it’s still there and worse….so I have no choice but to see doc.
Doc prescribed a cream, and after applying for 2 days, it recovered !
I’ve reduce the usage of Clarisonic from once a day to once every 2-3 days, to make sure it’s really caused by it.
I’ve done just this! I’ve stopped using my Clarisonic for now – I think its part of the problem which is a right bummer!
Hello! I heard that chin breakout might due to hormones, should be because of your period? Anyway, you might want to try Paula’s Choice BHA (1% or 2 %), heard it works! I saw someone recommending toothpaste, err personally I think it might worsen it, no offence. =X
Hey ParisB,
Do go to a good GP or a dermatologist. That’s the best thing I’ve done since having mild acne. I am no doctor but my GP recommended a new treatment from Galderma (the same pharmaceutical company which made Cetaphil and Differin) called Epiduo. Epiduo is a combination of both benzoyl peroxide and topical vitamin A. So basically it’s like Differin + Treitonin. As my GP told me, the benzoyl peroxide will reduce the inflammation, whereas the vitamin A will unblock clogged pores.
Personally, I find improvement as early as 2 weeks. Spots not only go away faster, but those oil plugs (nasty nasty hardened oil blocking the pore) is purged from the skin. Overall, my skin not only has reduced comedones but has also became smoother.
It is very tempting to spend so much money on those cosmetic products that provides so much promises because you’re desperate to find a solution. The best thing to do is to go to the experts like doctors and dermatologist. They may cost more upfront but in the long run save so much money. So if you like the results from benzoyl peroxide but want something milder while still as effective, do ask Epiduo from the doctor.
Hopefully it goes well for you.
For typical pimples, you just need from benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Anything else is snake oil. But if spots do not go away after diligently applying BP, you must consult a derm doc. There are various causes of acne, and BP only kills one type of bacteria. Your situation could be caused by another form of bacteria, and a derm doc can tell you what to do about it for sure.
Whenever I read/hear the word “painful” associated with spots, I automatically think of cystic acne. I used the Zeno machine to fight the under the skin, painful spots but regular pimples with white heads, I use the Nexcare Acne Patches. It sucks up the ugly white gush within hours and I’m left with a bumpless, slightly red spot that fades within the day.
perhaps it’s due to your clarisonic that is causing the spots. some people might have to suffer through a period of purging. it’s because the skin is experiencing cleansing that is so thorough that all the junk in the pores surfaced and caused those spots. this might continue for a month or so until all the junk has left your skin.
i had a bout of painful acne during May for a couple of years and my doctor said it’s normal for people who are in 20s. he prescribed me stieva-A and clindamycin gel which costs about 35SGD including consultation fees. stieva-A contains retin-A that reduces sebum production and effectively dries up small pimples. clindamycin gel is an antibiotic gel to kill bacteria that causes infection of the pimple. for about 4 months now i’ve been using both, my acne has subsided in a month and i only get a few medium sized pimples every now and then.
for the medium sized pimples, i use lavender essential oil to treat them. i cut a tiny part of the normal sized cotton pad, soak it with witch hazel and add a drop of lavender EO on it. then i leave it on the pimple overnight for 2-3 nights depending on the speed of drying up of the pimple. the pimple will usually flatten in 3 nights of treatment, leaving dried skin which is peelable. after which i treat that part with witch hazel with a drop kiehl’s midnight recovery concentrate.
after all the spot treatments, we are left with scars and peeling skin. sometimes i use st. ives scrub for consecutively 5 days to lighten the dark scars, but now i use oatmeal as a scrub and it’s gentle enough for daily usage. i hold it under warm water to soak it, and rub it gently for a min or so until i think it’s soft enough for facial use. i rub it in circles on my face and neck, focusing on areas with scars for two full mins before i rinse off.
stop taking dairy products, especially milk.
Dear, ParisB
I had really bad acne around my jawline and tried so many different products to get rid of them! Desperate, I decided to get a facial at Aster Spring. My best friend had a bout of acne and went there as well. They use Dermalogica products in all their facials. It really is working! I’m going back for my third facial this week. I also spot treat with Mario Badescu Drying Cream and try to wear no makeup, just sunblock to allow my skin to breathe. Better to just get to the root of the problem. I hope your skin has improved, if not do try them out! 🙂