Budget Acne Guide For Oily Skin And Cystic Acne

Hey there, Reddit! I had really bad acne throughout all of high school. It was terrible for me. My senior year, I went to see a dermatologist, and a year later, I have been acne free for over three months! Not a single breakout. I've been to the dermatologist plenty over the past year, and I'd like to share with you all what I've learned. Acne is not something that anybody should have to live with. That's why I've put together this guide, with the help of my dermatologist. Just because you can't afford a dermatologist or expensive medication, doesn't mean you can't get the same results!

If you have oily skin and suffer from acne, odds are your biggest problems come from those buggers underneath the skin. This is the same problem I had. The acne is forming because the oil, combined with dead skin cells, cause infections. The solution is to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! You want to speed up cell turnover on your face. Here's how to do it, really cheap.

1. Use a St. Ives or generic peach apricot scrub as a cleanser, such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/St-Ives-Sensitive-Apricot-6-Ounce/dp/B00005IBW0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341903407&sr=8-1&keywords=st+ives+peach+apricot+scrub When you wash your face, scrub for 2-3 minutes with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel. ALWAYS use a clean towel. I use paper towels to dry my face because they are always clean and convenient.

2. Now that the dead skin cells are gone, the next step is to get rid of the acne causing bacteria. Facial cleansers do not get rid of bacteria. This is why dermatologists prescribe antibiotics and antibacterial face washes and lotions! However, there is a very cheap alternative, which is tea tree oil. This is very cheap: http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Tea-Tree-liquid/dp/B000ELP5KA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341902616&sr=8-2&keywords=tea+tree+oil What you want to do is mix 1 part tea tree oil with 6 parts water. Put the mixture in a container or something. After you wash your face with the scrub, grab a clean cotton ball and spread the tea tree oil mixture over your face. Let it dry. The tea tree oil kills bacteria and controls your skins oil production!

3. Moisturize. Always moisturize. Moisturizing will help control the oil production on your face. In the morning use an SPF 15 sunscreen such as this one or its generic brand: http://www.amazon.com/Neutrogena-Oil-Free-Moisture-SPF-Ounce/dp/B000052YP1/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1341902998&sr=1-1&keywords=neutrogena+spf+15 Be generous. The ingredients in sunscreen not only protect your skin, but give your face a matte finish which controls shine and oil on your face. It's also won't clog your pores! At night, use a moisturizer that contains salicylic acid, such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Oil-Free-Moisturizer-4-Ounce/dp/B000052YJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341903155&sr=8-1&keywords=clean+and+clear+moisturizer Salicylic acid is great at night because it will continue to speed cell production.

4. Never, ever, ever touch your face. This is critical! With oily skin, one touch, even from scratching, can spread bacteria to your face and it will seep into your pore and cause a breakout! Don't wipe your face with your hand, and don't even scratch your face. If you must touch your face, wash your hands first, or use a kleenex/paper towel as a barrier. It sounds a little extreme, but it is very important.

So there you have it! With those 4 products, you can simulate everything a dermatologist would prescribe to you, at a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the cost. Just be sure to do this day and night. It works so well, I don't even purchase my expensive prescriptions anymore!

Where to find: Peach apricot scrub at any Walgreens or Target. Tea tree oil at any Whole Foods or Trader Joes. Check the organic section of your supermarket. Or just order it online. SPF 15 moisturizer at any Walgreens or Target. Salicylic acid moisturizer at any Walgreens or Target.