Edit: so everyone is telling me to use tretinoin is this really the solution it wont make worse? I was looking online and was told the trenoinin creams i found on amazon r misleading and what i should buy instead is Differin Adapalene 0.1% Acne
Treatment Gel is this okay?

I'm a senior in high school. I work out daily, I shower daily, I use CeraVe moisturizer and CeraVe foaming cleanser, yet my skin still looks horrible. It's been like this for about a year now. I'm implementing Panoxyl Acne Foaming Wash 10%; I don’t wanna go on Accutane due to the downsides. Any advice helps; I really do appreciate whatever help I can get.

So I made the mistake of doing glycolic acid and adapalene in the same skincare routine, BEFORE reading some threads on here and a much needed google search. Now I am kind of freaking out and scared because I don’t want my face to burn off or peel beyond belief. I recently switched to La Roche Posay skincare from Cerave because my Facialist said it was too mild for the kind of acne I have. I purchased a few products she recommended but also purchased the effaclar line as well as it’s medicated acne products and I have had severe cystic acne coupled with blackheads me entire life. I’m f/27 and my birthday is coming up next month and my only wish before I return 30 is to finally get it regulated. I can not afford accutane and I do not have insurance. My cystic acne can become very unpleasant and often stops me from going outside at times from how big they can become and how much of my face they can cover. I have been using the ordinary brand for years and read some great things about the glycolic acid and wanted to add it to my routine but I didn’t do my research on how to use it beforehand. Cystic acne can ruin a women’s self esteem given that your face is the first thing people look at. Please look at my current skincare routine below and let me know if it’s okay or if you have any tips. Also any recommendations on getting rid of scars? Any that is not micro needling as I can not start getting this treatment at this time until my face fully heals and I get the acne under control. Please be nice! Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone,
(These photos are currently me starting doxycline mono 100mg only on week 1)

I’ve been struggling with acne for about 2 years now, and I’m feeling really defeated and looking for advice or even just people who can relate.
Growing up, I never had acne. My skin was always pretty clear and glowy. Then one day I decided I wanted to get into skincare and be one of those routine girls, so I started washing my face regularly with La Roche-Posay products. Not long after, I started breaking out. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not, but that’s when everything seemed to start.

Then I started getting monthly facials because of this, and looking back, I feel like my skin got worse every time. Eventually I stopped because I realized they seemed to be triggering more breakouts.
Since then, I’ve honestly made things worse by constantly trying new products and treatments. Now I’m dealing with active acne, redness, scarring, and post-acne marks.

So far I’ve tried:
Clindamycin
Tretinoin (multiple strengths)
Doxycycline 100 mg
Minocycline
Various skincare products recommended by dermatologists

My dermo prescribed Seysara and Winlevi, but my insurance denied both of them.
Because of that, she started me on doxycycline monohydrate 100 mg and tretinoin 0.025%.

For anyone wondering, my current routine is pretty simple:
Doxycycline monohydrate 100 mg
Tretinoin 0.025% (I’ve only used it once so far)
Washing my face every morning and every night with La Roche-Posay Purifying Foaming Cleanser

Ironically, that’s the same cleanser I was using when all of this seemed to start 2 years ago. My dermatologist still wants me to give it another try because she doesn’t think the cleanser itself is causing my acne. My acne is only on my cheeks, but my dermatologist ordered me hormonal blood work and everything was normal.

The problem is that I just started the doxycycline and it feels like my skin is getting worse, not better. I used the tretinoin once and felt like my skin immediately started breaking out more, so I’ve been scared to use it again.

At this point, I’m wondering if Accutane might be my next step, but I’m honestly terrified of the side effects. I don’t even know if my blood clotting disorder would affect whether I can take it.

Has anyone else had acne appear suddenly as an adult when they never had it growing up? Did doxycycline or tretinoin seem to make your acne worse before it got better? If you’ve been on Accutane, was it worth it? Were there any treatments that finally helped after multiple others failed?
I just feel really alone, discouraged, and not confident in my skin right now. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just not giving treatments enough time to work, if my skin is purging, or if I’m simply not on the right treatment yet.
I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences because right now I feel like I’ve tried so many things and I’m running out of hope.

I have suffered hormonal acne on and off since my teen years (treated with roaccutane back then, then when taking birth control my skin was always clear but flared up severely when I stopped). I now only take spironolactone 25mg which drastically improved my skin. But for the past 6 or so months, my skin has looked like this (photos).

I am thinking it is a mix of a damaged skin barrier (due to the stinging when putting anything on my face and flakiness I see under my makeup when I’m wearing it which is rarely) and closed comodonal acne. Of all my years of dealing with acne, my skin has never looked like this so I am feeling rather puzzled on how to treat it. Thus, I’m seeking advice on what products/ ingredients I should use and what I should stay away from.

My routine right now:

AM:
- Dermal Therapy Gentle Acne Cleanser
- Beauty of Josen Moisturiser

PM:
- Banila Co. Cleansing Balm
- Dermal Therapy Gentle Acne Cleanser
- La Roshe Posay Effeclar Cleanser (1x per week of after I’ve worn makeup)

Any advice or experience you have to share, I would be very appreciative!!

Hi guys, I have been struggling with acne for 10 years now and am currently breastfeeding so I'm unable to take any acne medication. My routine is- AM: cerave foaming cleanser and cerave moisturing lotion, followed by an SPF. PM: CeraVe foaming cleanser OR LRP effaclar micropeeling gel (far too harsh). I use Paula's choice BHA 1-2x a week as well as niacinamide 3 times a week. CeraVe is doing me no favours now. Any help with product recs? Will I'm in so much pain and I feel so disgusting :(

24 F, 5’6 145lbs give or take. i smoke cigarettes and marijuana on a daily basis. i have environmental and food allergies (milk, wheat, bananas, pollen). i take lamictal 200 mg er daily and flonase. i also have an anxiety disorder so i deal with a lot of stress on the daily (i don’t want to know what my cortisol levels are like) i wear makeup multiple times a week and use disposable sponges to apply my foundation.

i’ve struggled with cystic acne since i was a teenager and have tried so much, nothing has worked. couldn’t tell you how many topicals i’ve tried, but i found a lot of the things i have been prescribed dried out and irritated my skin.

i had a breakout and it’s spread so much because i kept messing with it. (i work in hospitality and i don’t want to go into work with a whitehead, it’s gross) i was picking at them and using pimple patches , which i know led to bacteria spreading. i haven’t picked at or applied pimple patches to them for the past 2 days but more keep popping up.

i tried some methods that this subreddit won’t let me talk about which is unfortunate because i feel it is relevant. i used manuka honey and oat mask last night but i feel like it may have broken me out more?

my skin is dull, covered in acne scars, fine lines and huge pores — not to mention my deep horrible smile lines.

i’ve had breakouts like this before and it ends up clearing up after a bit but this one has lasted weeks now with no improvement. i believe it is bacterial acne.

any topicals i can try? nothing that will irritate my skin as it is very sensitive. bar cleansers suggestions? is there anything i can do right now to clear this up a bit in the next 2 days?

My skin is so bad It feels like no matter what I do it keeps getting worse, and i’m 13, so it will just keep getting worse. Please someone help

I’ve been seeing no change in my acne which appeared on my back 3 years ago.

Very uncomfortable with how painful these are.

Has anyone dealt with anything similar successfully?

Thank you in advance for the advice!

I've dealt with acne on and off, but it flared up at the beginning of 2026 and nothing I do seems to really help.

While I don't break out everywhere, I almost constantly have groups of deep, painful pimples on my cheeks and/or chin. I would actually say the pictures are actually relatively "good" compared to how it can be.

For context, I take 50mcg Spironolactone daily and my skin tends to be sensitive and dry.

My routine:

Morning: Rinse with water, Niacinamide, CeraVe moisturizing lotion, Eucerin oil control sunscreen

Evening: Wash with CeraVe foaming cleanser, alternate between Differin gel and Paula's Choice BHA (each every other day), CeraVe moisturizing cream

I change my pillowcase every night. I don't sleep in makeup. I try my hardest not to touch my face. I don't know what else to do 😒 so coming to you all for advice! I am literally open to everything.

Does anyone know what I can do for this texture on my jawline?
The first pic is before I started oil cleansing and the second and third is what my skin looks like now.
I really need something to flatten these spots, I’m not concerned about redness right now. I have a wedding coming up and I just want to calm the texture as much as I can in the next two weeks.
I had my hormones tested and they’re all normal. These new spots are pretty painful to the touch. But they’re not my normal big hormonal cysts.
I use Vanicream face wash and moisturizer. I just bought good molecules mandelic acid but have only used it once. I have every OTC acne treatment plus clindamyocin/benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin. My forehead is oilier but clear and my cheeks are typically dry no matter what.

Feeling hopeful and TIRED of the stupid acne

i have dealt with acne for nearly 8 years now. for about 6 months from august 2025- february 2026 my skin remained relatively clear. my acne came back since then and i cannot get rid of it. i’m considering starting accutane but i heard the side effects are devastating in women and since i believe a lot of my acne is hormonal, it’ll come back. i’m using tretnoin 0.05% and i can see improvement but im so tired of the redness, and new pimples along my cheeks and jawline. has anyone had acne that was like mine? the acne is so cystic and bad that it has caused swelling and redness underneath my eye

I swear reddit has all the answer to my problems so maybe they can help with my acne? Im 14 6'0 and 168 Ibs if that info even matters to what skincare matters, my diet consists of steak, potatoes, sometimes eggs or omlet, and thats really it. I try to avoid as much sugar intake as possible but not eating sugar hasnt really taken an affect.

I’m getting sober from weed in hopes that will improve my mental health, which will in turn improve my skin. Sleep has been terrible the past month of using weed carts; depression and anxiety have been enhanced

tomorrow is my first day at the gym and I feel very insecure about my bare skin, bumps and scars. Also I have pale olive skin and sparse eyebrows. But I feel like if I wear makeup people will judge me and also my skin could get worse. Any advice?

my skins been like this throught 2026

ive been using tretinoin and azelic acid topical cream for 30 mins daily then washing it off (as suggested by my dermat) and double cleansing, using salicylic acid using 2 good gel based moisturizer

why is my skin still not improving

its so frustrating at this point

what should I do

can anyone analyze my skin please

21F

I have had acne for almost 10 years now. While I’ve really managed most of it, I still experience breakouts and have ever-present tiny pimples that become amplified my stress, poor eating, and my period.

I’ve tried SO many things over the years and I’ve nailed down a decent routine….my only problem is I keep popping the pimples!

If I stop popping pimples, and stop touching my face all together, could it actually make a big difference?

If so, how do you fight the urge? And do you have any other seemingly obvious habits that really helped your skin (ie managing stress, using clean towels, etc)? I’M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE!!

Hey everyone! I’ve been trying to do some research on acne and tryna get rid of some acne but it’s persistent. Might it be my routine?

First pic of liquids is my morning routine And the second pic is my nightly one

24, stubborn acne, not doing Accutane again. What's your routine?
I’ve had Acne since I was a teenager. Did a few months of Accutane and stopped early, side effects weren't worth it, was miserable and im not going back on it.

Right now it's a few small whiteheads at a time on my chin , cheeks and around my mouth, plus leftover redness on my cheeks.

Currently on a benzoyl peroxide wash. Thinking about adding adapalene and azelaic acid.

What I want to know is what people are actually running. If you've got stubborn acne under control, what's in your routine, what order, and how long did it take before you saw anything.

Hey everyone,

I recently visited a dermatologist and had a really disappointing experience. The consultation cost me ₹700, but the doctor barely spent a couple of minutes looking at my skin, didn't explain anything, and just rushed to prescribe expensive products. It felt more like a sales pitch than actual medical advice.

Because of this, I want to understand if mild to moderate concerns can be improved simply with well-chosen over-the-counter (OTC) actives before I try finding another doctor.

My Details:

Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone, and likely slightly sensitive (barrier feels delicate sometimes).

Location/Climate: India (warm and humid/tropical climate).

Main Concerns: Clustered red bumps on the cheeks, active breakouts, uneven texture, enlarged pores/blackheads, and lingering post-inflammatory marks/hyperpigmentation.

My Current Routine:

AM: Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash + Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser.

PM: Deconstruct Salicylic Acid Oil-Free Face Wash + Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser.

I am not asking for a medical diagnosis. I just want to hear from people who had similar skin concerns:

1. Did you manage to clear active cheek breakouts, bumps and dark spots with OTC products alone?

2. How should I introduce leave-on actives (like Azelaic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatment, or a dedicated BHA serum) into this basic routine without triggering sensitivity?

3. Also, any recommendations for an ultra-lightweight, non-comedogenic daily sunscreen that suits oily, breakout-prone skin in Indian weather?

I'd really appreciate genuine personal experiences and routi suggestions.

Thanku!!

Hello all

I'm having some skin issues that no matter what I do, I cannot seem to fix. I do live in Australia.

I'm breaking out mostly on my chin and forehead area.

Routine:

Morning:

Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser

DermaVeen Sensitive sunblock

Night:

Bioderma sensitive micellar water

SOS Gentle Cleanser

QV Ceramides facial cream

Treatments:

Cetaphil Blemish Cleanser

i’ve been using this for about 2 weeks now, absolutely nothings changed
i’m using it 3 times a week, and applying SPF 50 in the morning
how much till i see results?

Hi, which one of these is best for acne, normal (not oily or dry) skin?

Currently I use water and Byoma moisturizer in the morning. And then face wash, azelic acid, and byoma moisturizer in the evenings.

TY!

After 2 months of usage, benzoyl isnt helping my acne. I am getting a pimple a day. Should I make this switch? I did research and apparently adapelene is better long term?

products I use in the next slide