post birth control acne - need your experience

[HotCupofTea]

Hello All! So glad to have found this book and your site. Here is my story....I quit birth control after many years and since October have been struggling with sudden and uncharacteristic acne. I read Dr. B's book after trying many other things. I have read many great postings here and after considering those bought Aveeno ultra calming cleanser and moisturizer with 15 SPF and Pan Oxl BP bar (5%). I did not dare change too much more for now. My issue at present is that I started using the BP bar 1 x a day and then shortly after increased to 2x daily. Now my skin, esp. around the chin, is super dry and flaky.  I have discontinued the use of the bar and only using former cleanser (clinique mild liquid cleanser (PM) and Aveeno Ultra Calming Cleanser (AM)and Moisturizer ( AM and PM.) The clinique cleanser was not recommended in book but do not see any no-no's in the formulation.  What do you recommend to get myskin back to normal and then a plan to move forward?? Biggest concern after eliminating dryness is acne and then fine lines afterward ( I am 29) Is there a more hydrating cream I can use that is safe for acne??

[MediterraneanMaven]

Hello Hot Cup Of Tea and welcome to the forum,

I'm an OSNT and find that Olay Active Hydrating Fluid Sensitive Skin and the Cream version are both very effective without greasiness.  The Olay Active Hydrating Sensitive Skin line is not only fragrance free but also contains niacinimide which is the Holy Grail ingredient for me.  Niacinimide acts as an anti-inflammatory that soothes skin, improves the appearance of wrinkles and makes my skin very smooth, soft and clear.  I haven't experienced any breakouts from using either the Fluid (which I use during the day underneath my makeup) or the cream which I often use at night.

I think that your cleanser choices are probably irritating your skin and causing it to produce more oil than usual.  Having used the birth control for many, many years, I can relate to your skin woes.  Once your body completely rids itself of the effects and this can take months and even a couple of years, then your skin will improve.  In the meantime, try using milder products and you can spot treat your pimples with a Q-tip with Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or her newer version called Clear.

Hope this helps!

MM   

[HotCupofTea]

Thanks for the advice MM! I really appreciate it. YOu mentioned the cleansers may be irritating my sklin. Any nice calm ones you can recommend? I will look for the Olay Hydrating Fluid ASAP and order the pimple treatment. I must say that your skin looks terrific in your photo and cannot believe you are the age you have listed. Thanks Again!!

[MediterraneanMaven]

Thanks for the advice MM! I really appreciate it. YOu mentioned the cleansers may be irritating my sklin. Any nice calm ones you can recommend? I will look for the Olay Hydrating Fluid ASAP and order the pimple treatment. I must say that your skin looks terrific in your photo and cannot believe you are the age you have listed. Thanks Again!!

Thank you!  Believe me, I still think that I'm too young to be  47 but alas, it's true.  LOL  This picture was taken when I was 45.

Some milder cleansers to try would be:  Paula's Choice One Step Normal To Dry Cleanser; Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cleanser (these last 2 will not make your face oily - my skin is oilier than yours and it doesn't make my skin oily in the least just soothed and clean); La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser (available online widely in the US) ; La Roche Posay Toleriane Softening Foaming Gel Cleanser (this last one you can find on getcanadiandrugs.com - I can't find it anywhere else).  All of these are mild, fragrance free options.

The important thing to remember is that it's wise to avoid fragrances in your cleansers which can aggravate your skin further.

You can order samples of the PC cleansers online to try those out.  It's been trial and error for me as my skin is pretty sensitive yet still a bit oily.  So, it's a balancing act to keep it from freaking out with breakouts and irritation.  So, I feel your pain....LOL

Hope this helps!

MM

[HotCupofTea]

Once again- thank you! I looked online at the two lines and wish La Roche Posay offered the sample sizes that Paulas Choice does but due to reading about your struggle with her products in the past, I think I will give La Roche Posay a try for cleanser and stick with Olay Active Hydrating Sensitve Fluid as lotion until things calm down. I will be looking for the cream version of Oil of Olay Active Hydrating too since the lotion is a bit lighter than I prefer for night. I notice many people add things to their regimen at night but for now I guess I will stick to this to see what happens over the next 2 wks. Here's to hoping for less acne and inflammation. Thanks!!

[cbeggs]

Here's to hoping for less acne and inflammation. Thanks!!

You and me both HotCupofTea  .

[Redhaired girl]

Welcome to the forum HotCupofTea!

I just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I have a little bit oilier skin than you have and my sensivity-score is much higher, so I am not sure if I am the best one to recommend products to you. What I have learnt here, is to slowly introduce new products, one at a time (eventhough I am not always good at doing just that...!)

Could you use the BP-cleanser but less frequently or maybe try a BP-gel instead to use only at problem-areas? Benzoyl Peroxide is too tough on my skin so I do not have much experience with it. The thought about the gel would be to use a mild cleanser and then treat only acne-areas, maybe with a with a gel with low %.

Best wishes,
Anna

[HotCupofTea]

Thanks Anna,
I am trying to remind myself each day to take it slow and let each product work.  I am so inpatient and struggle with this, keep second guessing myself. Days feel like weeks....just got a new concealer and hoping the higher coverage will help my anxiety over this new acne and the SLOW healing process. My skin on the birth control was so clear, the best it has been in my whole life. To go from that this "mess" is frustrating. Its been 5 mths since quitting the pill and I'm over the hormonal fluctuations, I think, so now to the healing. So glad to have found the book and this forum. Thanks to you all for helping me out. Hoping Dr. Baumann comes out with a new book soon with updated product recommendations as some are already off shelves or really hard to find.

[HotCupofTea]

Anna,
I was just thinking about the BP and adding it back in maybe every other day since it was working to clear the acne. I think I used it too frequently. Might try again more sparingly. Do you know of any BP gels to use at a lower %, like 2.5?

[MediterraneanMaven]

Anna,
I was just thinking about the BP and adding it back in maybe every other day since it was working to clear the acne. I think I used it too frequently. Might try again more sparingly. Do you know of any BP gels to use at a lower %, like 2.5?

Paula's choice makes a blemish fighting solution that contains 2.5% benzoyl peroxide that is very effective.  It's called Clear Acne Fighting Solutionl and you can find it on www.cosmeticscop.com.

Hope this helps!

MM

[Redhaired girl]

Hi again HotCupofTea!

I have not used any BP-products myself but have read about it here on the forum. I had a memory of having read about Stiefel products here and I had a look at their US website. I insert a link to a page where they shortly describe their PanOxyl-products. Further down on the page, they have a 2,5 % gel for spot-treatment. They also seem to have several face washes in different strengths.

http://www.stiefel.com/productfamily.aspx?id=175

I saw that MM also recommended a BP-product here that she has used. That might also be something for you to try.

Best wishes,
Anna

[Josh]

I've used the Panoxyl Aquagel 2.5% and itwas very effective without being irritating. If you do try them ensure you get the Aquagel, not the Acnegel, as the latter is in a more irritating base and also contains a rather nasty pine fragrance.

[HotCupofTea]

Thanks All for your help and recommendations.
MM- After I posted to RedHairedGirl, I got the Paula's Choice acne gel in the mail that you had previously recommended and realized its 2.5% BP so thats perfect timing! I tried it last night along with my new La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser. So far so good! Really liked the texture of the cleanser- very soothing. What do you use for SPF? I am using the Oil of Olay Active Hydrating Fluid- Sensitive AM and PM, but it does not offer any sun protection and I feel I should wear some with my tendancy to wrinkle. I have the Aveeno Ultra Calming Lotion SPF 15 but its a little heavy for daywear and my skin is oilier using that vs. Oil of Olay lotion.

[MediterraneanMaven]

Thanks All for your help and recommendations.
MM- After I posted to RedHairedGirl, I got the Paula's Choice acne gel in the mail that you had previously recommended and realized its 2.5% BP so thats perfect timing! I tried it last night along with my new La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser. So far so good! Really liked the texture of the cleanser- very soothing. What do you use for SPF? I am using the Oil of Olay Active Hydrating Fluid- Sensitive AM and PM, but it does not offer any sun protection and I feel I should wear some with my tendancy to wrinkle. I have the Aveeno Ultra Calming Lotion SPF 15 but its a little heavy for daywear and my skin is oilier using that vs. Oil of Olay lotion.

I generally stay out of the sun and the most that I get is incidental sun exposure - from the parking lot to the office type of thing.  I use Josie Maran tinted moisturizer SPF 30 and a little powder and I'm good to go.  Or, I use Maybelline Purestay Powder Foundation SPF 15 which goes on quickly and smoothly with a fluffy brush like Smashbox  #19 Powder Brush. Neither of these 2 options result in oily or cakey skin.  If for some reason I anticipate greater sun exposure, then LRP Anthelios Fluid Extreme spf 50 goes on smoothly and no irritation.

Hope this helps!

MM

[HotCupofTea]

Thanks All for your help and recommendations.
MM- After I posted to RedHairedGirl, I got the Paula's Choice acne gel in the mail that you had previously recommended and realized its 2.5% BP so thats perfect timing! I tried it last night along with my new La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser. So far so good! Really liked the texture of the cleanser- very soothing. What do you use for SPF? I am using the Oil of Olay Active Hydrating Fluid- Sensitive AM and PM, but it does not offer any sun protection and I feel I should wear some with my tendancy to wrinkle. I have the Aveeno Ultra Calming Lotion SPF 15 but its a little heavy for daywear and my skin is oilier using that vs. Oil of Olay lotion.

I generally stay out of the sun and the most that I get is incidental sun exposure - from the parking lot to the office type of thing.  I use Josie Maran tinted moisturizer SPF 30 and a little powder and I'm good to go.  Or, I use Maybelline Purestay Powder Foundation SPF 15 which goes on quickly and smoothly with a fluffy brush like Smashbox  #19 Powder Brush. Neither of these 2 options result in oily or cakey skin.  If for some reason I anticipate greater sun exposure, then LRP Anthelios Fluid Extreme spf 50 goes on smoothly and no irritation.

Hope this helps!

MM

Yes, a big help. I love this forum- gives me some insight into my troubles skin. color]Thanks!