Wedding Blog
(No, no, the other kind…)
Well, there is less than a month left to go until our wedding, and I am surprisingly more calm than I was at the six-month countdown mark. I think it must have something to do with the fact that I am too busy to think about anything right now. Although I may feel calm, my skin is worse now than it has ever been in my entire life. Boo.
When I was a teenager, I went on three consecutive courses of Accutane, which effectively cleared up my skin and scars (I didn’t have pockmarks or anything, just brown spots), and left me with clear skin for over seven years.
Now, enter sudden-death wedding planning.
Mega stress hormones (I’d like some extra cortisol with my planning, please!), combined with a sudden drop of birth control pills (mood swings and low desire, anyone?), has left my face bumpier than rice pudding. Mega boo.
I’m too far away from my beloved Vancouver dermatologist to do anything, and after hearing too many horror stories, I refuse to see any local doctors. So, right now, I’m covering up my bumps with extra makeup (which, no doubt, does NOT help). I’m also using witch hazel as an astringent, and applying copious amounts of Polysporin to the spots I’ve scratched (I know I’m not supposed to scratch!).
I’d wear mittens all day long if I could, but then my work and my blogging would look like thisaklakjldfhlkdfkla;lksadl;a.
Does anybody have suggestions for combating last-minute wedding breakouts?
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Share this post: Out, Out Damned Spot(s)!
I have also been on multiple courses of Accutane, so I know what it’s like to worry about break-outs…
I remember Ms. Peony posted this about her pre-wedding breakouts…maybe it will help you too:
http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/04/10/product-rave-feel-my-skin/
GOOD LUCK!
Proactiv really helped my skin. I’ve heard mixed reviews but I use only the cleanser (not the toner and lotion that the package normally comes with) and it’s perfect. If I use all three, I still break out! I ran out about 2 weeks ago and already started breaking out again. I need to get some more tonight, haha.
What do you mean by sudden drop of birth control pills? Changing the pill regimen can wreak havoc on your face…which you doubtless are discovering.
If you are experiencing inflamed acne, particularly in relation to hormonal fluctuations (like those around pms time) I can vouch for the helpfulness of taking an Aleve (naproxen sodium) once or twice a day. The use of Aleve has been studied in a laboratory setting and found to be of significant benefit for premenstrual acne. This message board on acne.org has more information and a link to the study: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Management-premenstrual-t88452.html
I know you said that seeing your derm was not possible, but maybe you could call and ask him/her about taking spironolactone and they could prescribe over the phone. I’m also a former accutane user, but it never completely cleared my skin. I’ve been on low-dose spironolactone for about three years now, and have had clear skin since about three weeks after starting. Seriously, it worked that quickly. Good luck!
Miss Shortcake posted about Ponds. I’ve been using it since then (Thanks Miss Shortcake) and my skin has really improved. I used to be on Accutane as well. It’s worth a try!
OH, sorry. Just realized this was Miss Shortcake. Now I’m freaking out! Am I going to start breaking out too!!??
haha.. just relax! Usually my complexion flares up when I’m stressed, and I’m sure your stress level is monumental. How about a glass of wine? Could help:)
(that was haha at the above comment- not haha you’re breaking out)
Witchhazel is not good for the skin and will probably make your face worse. I just moved to NYC and my face started on this horrific reaction. I just picked up some FACE soy wash from sephora and oil free moisurizer from peter thomas roth. it has done WONDERS to my face. Go to makeupalley.com for any reviews of products you might be also considering. they are very helpful.
take it from your neighbourhood pharmacist, polysporin will do nothing. buy some over the counter benzoyl peroxide product if you want an antibiotic effect, or call up your derm and ask for something like clindoxyl gel for something a bit stronger. spironolactone might help and you probably won’t have any side effects so it might be worth a shot but i think you have to do at least 100mg daily or twice daily. switching to diane-35 will do double wonders for acne and birth control, although i think it’s a terrible product because it can rarely cause fatal blood clots….and it isn’t even available in the US. i think canada has yasmin though…
also stop putting make up over everything if you can. do you want to look good now, at work or at the mall, or on your wedding day?
this literally sounds like my worse nightmare! I am currently on my last week of my first (and hopefully only) course of accutane. My derm said most people who break out again will do so around 6 months after stopping their meds. Ack! That’s like the month before my wedding. I’m hoping my skin behaves and doesn’t relapse!
What about Clinique? I love Clinique, it has done wonders to my complexion.
I highly recommend the Philsophy products - you can get them from sephora and amazon. I would recommend: Purity face wash, Hope in a Bottle (for congested skin), and then On a Clear Day Blemish Serum (seriously gets rid of pimples pronto). It is definitely pricey. But I think it is so worth it. Good luck.
well, it isn’t so great for your face, but I’ve been using hydrogen peroxide on my biggest, most stubborn zits on my chin and it’s really helped them from getting to the point where they’re huge and leave marks/scars. I figure the peroxide is better than that.
Also tee tree oil seems to help.
I found some magical stuff at Whole Foods. I believe the product name is simply “Acne Gel” and the brand is Nelsen’s. It has sulfer in it, which I think it what makes it work so well. Best part it is only $5. So if it doesn’t work for you it isn’t a huge loss, but it has worked wonders for me! It is on the bottom shelf at the store near me, so you might have to search a little.
Also I use only all-natural beauty products, when I made that switch I did see an improvement, even before I discovered the sulfer gel. BareMinerals, Burts Bees, Jason, etc. Hope that helps!
ProActiv, seriously. It’s pricey, but works better than any other non-prescription. The refining mask doubles as an awesome spot treatment for breakouts.
I too am concerned about breakout on W day…I don’t know the generic name, but I love tazorac cream (you’d have to call your derm tho…) it’s a REALLY strong topical that seems to work pretty well for me (so far). Miss Champagne might be on to something tho…must drink more wine…
I’ve been in a similar situation (two courses of acutane and i also have very sensitive skin) and have personally found that DDF (doctors dermatologic formula) Glycolic 10% Exfoliating Oil Control Gel has really helped my skin dramatically. I dont know if there are any Sephoras near you, but that is where i buy this stuff (its part of their acne line) and actually was first turned on to it after using a sample i got there when i was buying different acne medicine that did nothing for me. Maybe you can pick up a sample and see if it helps at all … i know everyone’s skin is so different, so good luck!!
I use Orgins “Spot Remover”. But keep in min - that if all else fails - your friends and family know how beautiful you really are - and there is always photoshop for the memories! =)
My skin has been perfect for our entire engagement, and then, two weeks before the wedding (Aug 23) it started breaking out. I was livid, sad, frustrated… everything! But I had scheduled a calm period before the wedding so my stress actually ended the Tuesday before my wedding, and by Saturday, my skin was fine. It will be okay. Don’t use too many products and overstimulate your skin in the meantime, but it will somehow all work out. Plus, I still had an unattractive nose zit at the time of the wedding (the last straggler) and between the make-up artist and the photographer, I had no reason to be so stressed. http://theanblog.blogspot.com/
I second the pharmacist as an (almost finished with nursing school) nurse! No polysporin! No witch hazel! There are so many anecdotes about these, but no research to show they do anything but mess with skin’s balance. I personally use a benzoyl peroxide cream (the 2 buck persa-gel generic) anytime I see the TINIEST of bumps. You could double that with a salicylic acid toner in the mornings for more coverage. Or, you could just use an aspirin mask - it’s cheaper and has the same acid in it I believe.
Get a salicylic acid (aka beta hydroxy acid) that does not have alcohol, such as Paula’s Choice (the gel is better for oily skin, I think) or Clearasil’s Blackhead Control Pads.
I disagree with several people who have said Proactiv does wonders– I was on Proactiv for quite a while, and all it did was give me cystic acne (even the gentle formula).
While I could add my two cents about quite a few of these products, let me instead add something I haven’t seen mentioned before: sleep and diet. I think we often forget that our skin is an organ– what we put into our bodies affects it directly. I assume you are doing so already, but remember to eat healthy, drink LOTS of water, and get at least eight hours of sleep 
Also, (in a related health-nut vein) I don’t know how you feel about vitamin supplements, but my mom swears by Vitamin B to reduce stress.
awww hun! well, during all my years in pharmacy, I honestly want to say just go and ask your dermatologist about your options. anything OTC is really like a russian roulette (minus the dying part) - for example, Proactiv works really well on some people. It did nothing for me and for alot of people I know. If you want to try a cheaper alternative, get to a pharmacy near you and get University Acne Free (similar bottle as Proactiv)…
Im currently on philosophy’s Acne kit, and i love it. At night, however, instead of the hydrogen peroxide cream, I use the benzoyl peroxide cream I get from CVS because I still need the harsh chemicals :o)
good luck! Im sure you’ll be fine!
Hi,
I did accutane as well, about 8 years ago. It totally cleared up my skin, but what I discovered while on it was that my acne was really bad because I had polycystic ovaries… so the ovary problem was actually causing the acne. I didn’t realize this until after I was done with accutane and my skin was clear. At that point, they put me on birth control to get rid of the ovary problem. Since then, my skin was fine. However - I did go off the birth control for the same reasons you mentioned, about 2 years ago. And as soon as I did - same thing, acne flared right back up. I think for me, I need to be on the pill to keep the ovaries - and skin - in check. It’s definitely a priority kinda thing (and being off BC didn’t actually change the mood swings/low desire for me anyway) - so I went back on and it cleared up again. Just something to think about, though everyone is different, maybe this isn’t your issue at all.
I’ve had acne since the 4th grade & been controlling it the last few years, but I broke out horrifically (no joke, it was like my pimples had pimples) when I came back to NYC after the summer. I agree with ladyjane suggesting healthy eats & water; drinking 4 bottles of water a day, exfoliating daily (I like Dermalogica’s Microfoliant, check out reviews: http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=8362/Daily_Microfoliant/Dermalogica/Scrubs), deep cleansing twice daily, and using the Queen Helene Mint Julep mask has helped my skin calm down.
Since your wedding is in less than a month, I’d be hesitant to try new products in case it makes you purge before it gets down to work.
I have been taking fish oil everyday. Supposedly it does wonders. I only started a few weeks ago and can’t say I am breaking out more which is good. I really hope it gets better as I know what its like to not feel comfortable in your own skin.
@chelseamorning: by ‘dropped’ I mean I stopped taking them after 7 years - and yes, I’m definitely noticing the difference! No pms, my libido is back, and…my face looks like a teenager’s! 
@pinklau325: oh! Thank you! I was taking those last year, and they really improved my skin! I totally forgot about fish oil! (inward shudder)
I have used Accutane and everything else out there short of blue light treatment and nothing worked for me like changes in my diet. DRINK WATER like crazy and really cut the caffeine- it can affect your hormones and make your skin worse. I do use neosporin - the cream kind- NOT the ointment on the spots that I’ve scratched when I can’t resist, but it won’t clear up the acne. It’ll just lighten the scars and speed the healing if you’ve already scratched. Also exfoliate 2-3 times weekly. Kiehl’s microderm line has an awesome scrub. Good luck and try not to stress. You’ll be GORGEOUS!
@Mary: really?? *puts down the witch hazel and polysporin, backs away slowly with her hands in the air*
Have you ever thought about trying to change your diet? Most dairy products contain a load of hormones that can make your face breakout, not to mention all the fat they can contain. Also cutting out other high fat foods would probably do more than any other topical tricks. Be careful about resting your face on your hand at work etc. the oils can cause a lot of acne. Hair products can also rub and cause breakouts. Just a few tidbits that could help. You could always resort to a major facial that does extractions. Be careful though because after facials you may have a breakout because the facials will extract anything currently lurking in your skin.
Try a face wash and oil free moisturizer with salicylic acid in them. I have used Biore in the past and it works very well! No picking, scratching, popping, it will all lead to scarring! Also don’t wear your hair in your face and no touching your face with the phone, etc. Wash in the a.m., and p.m., and right after you work out. Hope this helps!
Tazorec (sp???) is AWESOME!!! I did the several rounds of accutane. And I was clear for years…then BOOM breakouts galore. The derm asked if I wanted to go another round (it was winter and I already did a winter round once, too drying for the body also too many side effects). Finally someone recommended tazorec and my face is basically clear. If I run out, I call the derm office to ask for another script. So ASK!!!
I have had horrible breakouts since I was 11 years old, and have been on every medication known to MAN for the past 14 years, and the ONLY thing that has every completely stopped the breakouts is Proactive! For the first time in my life I am acne free! But, if I stop using it, the breakouts return… I know Proactive has had many mixed reviews, but it works for me! If you do try it, also get the refining mask.. it zaps those suckers without hesitation! Good luck and just relax You’ll be the only one who notices your skin!
My fellow on Orkut shared this link and I’m not dissapointed that I came here.
i think exercising more often than usual has helped me a lot, espcially in the weeks leading up to the wedding. the combo of eating lots of fruits and veggies (and skipping the carbs…), drinking 10-12 cups of water, and sweating for like 30 minutes a day allows your body to flush toxins out of your pores.
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Mrs. Shortcake, Vancouver
Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal Trainer
Engagement Date: August 7, 2007
Wedding Date: October 2008
Blogging Since:
Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country club
About Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.
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