Obviously, a dermatologist’s diagnosis would be the only sure way to tell, but I have just recently had some red spots come up on my face. I do not have acne, and these spots are red, blotchy, slightly itchy, and I have little bitty bumps, very small and unlike pimples; more like a rash. I have noticed them on my forehead between my eyebrows and down the bridge of my nose, around my t-zone on either side of my nose, and a few blotchy spots surrounding my mouth. The only thing I know of that may have brought this on would be a visit to a tanning bed, which has never brought on anything like this before. I just turned 31, it seems to me like I’m a prime candidate, as I’m the right age and fair skinned. If this is the case, what can I do? I started using Clinique’s Redness treatment for daily face care, but it’s killing me; I’m also oily skinned, and my oil has increased since I stopped using salicylic acid face products, and started using the Redness relief stuff. Help!!

Well, I used it on my face and body and I’m 6 months pregnant but my main concern is that it contains Salicylic acid. Is the amount I used harmful?

I have severe acne that was pretty under control with a daily 3 step system (Clinique’s acne system, containing salicylic acid and benzol peroxide). After finding out I was pregnant, I stopped using it because I read that it wasn’t safe on an online baby website.

Soon after stopping the treatment, my entire face became covered with acne- every inch of it, worse than I’d ever seen on anyone in my life. At my first prenatal appointment, the nurse felt bad for me but said there really wasn’t anything I could do but use a plain cleanser and maybe some baking soda for a scrub.

Yesterday I had another appointment and I asked my OB if there was anything I could do about my acne. He suggested things like the 3 step system I had been using, and told me that so long as I was using it externally, I would be safe.

I’m so confused now! I do not want to take any risks, but at this rate, my complexion is going to be scarred for life. I don’t even want to show my face in public! I swear, nobody will ever see a picture of me from this pregnancy…or my wedding (getting married in a month). What on earth is a girl to do with all this conflicting advice?
Someone asked why I’m giving the internet so much ‘clout’…I’m not giving the internet any credit, just stating that as the reason I stopped using my acne treatment in the first place.

What the issue is, is that my OB’s nurse told me to absolutely stay away from anything with salycilic acid (one of many acne fighting ingredients she advised me to avoid), then my doctor turns around and says it’s okay to use it.

My OB has been wrong before about a few things (leading me to seek treatment for a condition elsewhere) which is the main reason I would have any doubt in what he says.

I’m trying tbsp of coconut oil a day now, and I just started yesterday. Any other ideas.

My skin is extremely sensitive, and thus, I only wash once at night with soap and no soap in the morning. I do not use any product on my face besides the soap at night. I have been doing this regimen for a few weeks now, and my face is still red. I also stopped using makeup a few weeks ago, because I’m trying to solve rather than cover-up the problem.

I’ve tried various products in the past which didn’t help:
egg yolk — helps for acne but does nothing for redness
erythromycin — irritating somewhat and doesn’t help redness
castor oil & jojoba oil — both together and alone; not very helpful
salicylic acid — too irritating
benzoyl peroxide — too irritating
proactive — too irritating
omega 3 — made flushing worse
switching soaps — anything besides the cetaphil bar soap makes me break out — and yes, that includes even the cetaphil cleanser
doxycycline — really helped, but i stopped taking it after 2 months because my stomach started hurting, and i know antibiotics are not safe for long-term use

Is there anything natural out there like doxycycline that helped someone with their rosacea? Preferably something internal, because pretty much everything topical is ineffective and/or irritating.

Thanks!!

So tell me girls, are there any restrictions as to what use for your acne during the pregnancy?
I use neutrogina, and it has benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. It’s a face wash and a mask.
What other alternatives are available. My skin is extremely sensitive and I know I will eventually start to break out again.

tnx
To clarify. Everything I use is external. No pills or anything.

i never had acne as a teenager…then i went to college and i started to get it…im 22 now and i still have acne. could there be some underlying cause to this??

its not severe, its just annoying because as an adult, i have plenty of things to worry about and i dont want my skin to be one of them.

any suggestions as to how to help my skin clear up a bit?? i was my face daily with a salicylic acid face wash. it helps to clear up the acne i have, but it doesnt prevent more acne from coming!!!
i tried proactive and it did nothing for me.

I’m 22 and still dealing with acne. It’s only on the face. It is not cystic; in fact, much of my acne is either blackheads or what I’m guessing is rosacea (red spots without a raised pimple).

I have tried many different products and regimes. I did see a dermatologist about 5 years ago; I was prescribed Retinal, which did not help, and the doctor got mad when I asked to be changed to a different medication and refused to see me.

I have since tried OTC products & birth control. I’ve tried ProActive, which didn’t help at all. I’ve tried L’Oreal and Oxy. I’ve had the most success with 2% salicylic acid (Clean n Clear astringent) and a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide cream (also Clean n Clear). While the acne has greatly improved, it’s still here and making me feel self-conscious.

Is there anything else, either regime-wise or product-wise, that I can try before making an appointment with a dermatologist?
I forgot to mention: I wash my face with cool water twice a day, pat it dry, then apply either a thin layer of the salicylic acid or a thin layer of the benzoyl peroxide over my face.

so Im about 13 weeks pregnant and I have a acne problem, I went to walgreens and bought their product of blackhead clearing scrub. [salicylic acid-acne medication]
gently exfoliates to life away dirt and oil.
is facial scrub bad to use during pregnancy or is it safe ?

ProActiv makes my skin dry.
So could I use Clean&Clear advantage oil-free acne moisturizer in the morning and ProActiv 3 Step System at night

I know that the Clean&Clear has salicylic acid used to get rid of acne.

I am really scared and panicking now. I am just over 15 weeks pregnant. I have been avoiding everything I should be, but gave no thought to acne cream I have been using. I am sure since I became pregnant up until about 4 weeks ago, I was using Clearasil Rapid Action Treatment Cream. It has in it Aqua, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, PEG-20 Stearate, Hydrogen Peroxide, Parfum, Sodium Hyroxide, Sodium Stannate. The thing I am worried about is the Salicylic Acid. I have read pregnant women use it still and oral treatment is only known form of harm, but I am still scared to death. I dont see my midwife until next Tuesday and will be asking her about it, but I am just so worried I have damaged my baby.
@ Zestysesky: No I aint kidding, this has been seriously worrying me, so dont be so rude.