About ten years ago I had quite severe acne and went on a course of medication called minocycline which cleared up my skin. I was then lucky to have clear skin for years until I came to Dubai 14 months ago and my face has been regularly flaring up again. Which massively dents my confidence :-(
I'm not sure if it's the weather, the water, the air con etc but I have a feeling that it is the continual use of SPF suncreams in this sunny climate. I used to use L'oreal solar expertise for the face and I loved it, but since it was discontinued (why l'oreal why?!) every sun cream I've used since has caused breakouts.
The latest breakout was the worse so far with ten painful spots on my jawline, cheek, nose and hairline prompting me to ramp up my blemish busting efforts with the below routine for the past ten days. (Apols for the pic below but this is before I started!):
My pharmacist didn't have minocycline but suggested I take doxycycline monohydrate which is an antibiotic daily tablet that works by killing bacteria that contribute to the cause of acne. (Ask your doctor if you think this might help you).
I changed my skincare routine to include Neutrogena oil free acne wash pink grapefruit facial cleanser. This gel wash smells absolutely divine, foams up and doesn't sting or make my skin feel tight. I have been using this every night and it makes my face feel fresh and clean.
I also started using La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo corrective and unclogging anti-perfection care before my moisturiser every night. This has a light citrusy smell and a serum like texture. It applies beautifully, doesn't sting or feel greasy. I only apply to areas where I have blemishes and it feels slightly tight as it dries but then feels weightless.
To remove heavy make up and foundation I used the Clean & Clear exfoliating daily wash (twice in ten days). This is a fine scrub that actually has a great texture that doesn't feel harsh on the skin and removes every last trace of make up. Gently and lightly rub it over the face for about 30seconds and then wash off.
I also used Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2in1 wash and mask as a face mask twice in ten days just on the area of spots and not over the entire face. My skin is generally quite sensitive so don't want to upset the balance on the areas which are blemish free! This mask has a clay based formula to draw out impurities and unclog pores. It goes on white, has a light smell and dries so the skin feels tight. Wash off after five minutes. I found it did a great job at drying out spots and didn't bring any new ones to the surface.
Directly on the spot I also used a remedy that has mixed reviews: toothpaste! I find dabbing a teeny bit of toothpaste on a new spot when it has just appeared and leaving on overnight dries it out and brings down the redness. Have a read here for some good tips: http://m.wikihow.com/Apply-Toothpaste-on-Pimples
And finally I have been drinking an extra litre of water to three litres a day. Supermodels swear by consuming gallons of water for clear skin and if it works for them....
After ten days my spots are not looking so angry and red and have definitely reduced in size. I've not had any new ones appear and these ten are slowly drying out and fading away. Fingers crossed for clear skin again soon!
*BTW this post includes products that were PR samples
