Hey everyone! I have dry yet sometimes oily skin that is sensitive and cystic acne/clog prone. I get lots of blackheads around my nose and have a slightly textured forehead. I play high-level water polo in heavily chlorinated pools, so that drastically contributes to the health of my skin. My acne was extremely bad a few years ago, so I went on birth control which helped for about a year. My acne ended up coming back despite taking the pill, which after 2 years I decided to stop taking. Now, my acne doesn’t really ever go away, but my skin is so sensitive that many products that should help burn like crazy. Even sensitive hydrating products for my dry skin can burn. I also struggle a lot with acne scarring.
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Hi! Thank you so SO much for your advice and recommendations!! I’ll do my best to switch around my products and try out those other ones, and I’ll let you know how everything is feeling asap!
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I’ve spent exorbitant amounts of time in chlorinated pools, as well. Attempting to treat acne topically in these conditions is very frustrating. A Derm prescribed Spironolactone for me at that time and it was life-changing. That and Cetaphil cream. I’ve heard from others with sensitive, dry, acne prone skin that Vanicream and B3 panthenol barrrier cream are even better.
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Spironolactone is great! however it will not help sensitivity from chlorine/ chlorine rashes! It is mostly given to patients with hormonal acne (around the cheeks, chin and jaw)
Vanicream is the OG safe skin barrier helper! As someone whos job is to test products and also suggest and help our cancer patients vanicream will never fail!!
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Hi Kenny and others with sensitive skin (and rosacea)
I'm already over 60 and have very sensitive rosacea skin, but some things I have noticed and found, might be helpful to you.
(I'm not english spoken, so sorry about possible mistakes 😬)
First my own list things to avoid:
*Benzoyl peroxide
*Fragrances
*Glycolic acid
*Lactid acid
*Linalool, linolene etc
*Oleic acid
*Parfyms
*Pine driven compounds
*Propylene glucol over 2%
*Sodium benzoate
*Sodium hydroxide
*Sodium methyl cocoyl
*Vaccinium myrtillis (blueberry)
*Wich hazel
*Over all plant driven compounds. Basic oils are ok, like helianthus (sunflower) oil
These found so far, but still many more irritating compounds not yet solved🙄
And surprisingly these can be also irritating:
*Cica aka centella aka tigergrass, maybe ok in small procentage, but then effency also low
*Hyaluronic acid, maybe irritating if over 1%? But if about 1% or less, dosen't moisturize? So I try to avoid HA in my skincare or have it only as small compound, in bottom of inci list.
And as it's humectant, needs to have also something to lock it. Same goes with all humectants
Here's why:
(copied from Ordinary Balancing & claryfing serum review here)
"This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sarcosine.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: acetyl glucosamine"
So if you don't lock humectant with some kind of emollient, it takes water from deeper layers of your skin and dryes it more, makes it more sensitive. And maybe makes oily or unpurified skin react more because skin tries to compensate water loss? Also I noticed that HA 1% or over makes my skin red and causes rosacea pimpels. Even with emollients.
I've tried numeros creams and serums and didn't find help with rosacea or dry, very sensitive skin. Not even rosacea targeted Avene Redness relief or Posay Toleriane AR etc helped, both made redness and pimples.
My struckle with skin is still going on, but after spending hours on this website and also elsewhere, found maybe products that are good for me. I decided to use very basic cleancer and facecream and then try one by one some serums along.
So far goodies:
*CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser (green label). This one, because I use makeups, but Hydrating cleanser can be otherwise enough.
*CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion, basic cream, short inci
*The Ordinary Balancing & Clarifying Serum. This I've used under facecream mornings and evenings 5 days and so far good. This is good for unpurified skin but these incredients got my attencion: ectoin and adenosine. Both moisturizes and adenosine has been proven to work on crows feet etc. and this serum has it enough.
In coming days I'll try more serums one by one and if they are ok, I'll mix them in other serums or my Cerave facecream:
*The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%. This is over all good for treating acne and in my case rosacea
*Revolution Skincare 10 % Niacinamide + 1 % Zinc Blemish And Pore Refining Serum. Niacin for me as extra moisturize with rosacea, but this promized to help also with pores and acne
And for targeting antiageing:
*Biovène Vitamin C +20% Facial Serum Treatment. For mornings. This has also HA, but when I mix this with facecream or serum, it won't be much. Has also aloe, which can irritate, but in my own compunds not much, think. Didn't found other inexpencive c vitamin serum with short inci and without HA or aloe.
*Nanoil Retinol Face Serum. I'll use evenings. Has Boerhavia in it and don't know yet is it ok with me.
My plan is to mix this products so that I have 1 cleanser, serum and facecream in mornings and same amount evenings and c vitamin belongs to morning and retinol in evening routine.
I'll update later how these go, if someone is interrested.
Hopefully this gives little more help what to use or not.
Ps. As supplement I use astaxanthin 4mg/day for rosacea. It is an antioxidant, good for overall skin and health.
And presciption cream for rosacea Soolantra 10mg. It's quite good as first aid. Just now don't need it.
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Hi! I react also to HA, at least if it's "strong" - like 1,5%-->. Hope I can tolerate that Biovene c vitamin mixed with other serum - haven't tried it yet.
Seems that also niacinamide irritates me. Tried it yesterday and got little red pimpels, think rosacea loves it and tries to bloom ;/
But so far Ordinary balancing serum has been great. It moistiurizes and needed under Cerave facial cream. Hope that this love lasts!
Hi Kenny, I agree with Seikku however I would remove all Hyaluronic Acids including Sodium Hyaluronate. No Vitamin C, especially Ascorbic Acid. Remove all silicones as well. Cystic Acne is tough, I had years of it and have scarring. You should see a dermatologist if you can get a recommended one in your area. Acne affects our psyche. The best moisturizer I found is Purito Dermide. Most cleansers have Sodium Hyaluronate. Pacifica doesn’t however it can be irritating because it has Calendula. E.L.F. Pure has SH. I use both. Niacinamide helps with discoloration however, above 4-5% can be irritating yet higher amounts can help with acne. Be cautious. No exfoliants. Wash your face only as soon as you get out of the pool and only once a day. Just rinse in the morning and apply the rest of your skincare. Find a toner without HA; try Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Toner. Unfortunately the one I’m using is discontinued (Etude House Soon Jung 5.5) and I will be searching for another one.
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Hello! Derm Gal here!
Chlorine rashes are very common and will make most "hydrating" ingredients feel stingy on the skin. My suggestion is to focus on hydration and healing the skin barrier for the next 6 weeks, then we can start adding products that will help with acne and texture. You should start seeing less breakouts from us adding moisture back into your skin too.
We should start with the basics during these 6 weeks.
here's some suggestions, hope this helps!
Gentle Cleanser: Glyenser by Prequel (target) or Gentle Cleanser by Alastin (Derm and Med Spa offices only)
Moisturizer: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel or Purito SEOUL - Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream and or Dr. Althea - 147 Barrier Cream (all can be found on yesstyle, amazon or olive young global)
last and most importantly sunscreen: SKIN 1004 - Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum OR Isntree - Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
*IF WE GET IRRITATION FROM THESE CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS: EltaMD UV Clear and Alastin Hydratint (tinted)
I suggested mostly Korean skincare bc we want to minimize all the chemicals we add to your routine considering you are in chlorine alot!
All the suggested have sensitive, acne prone skin friendly ingredients and will focus on healing the skin barrier and adding moisture back to the skin!
If you have any other questions or this advice helped you are welcome to email me! [email protected]