Ask anyone in their thirties and they’ll tell you, adult
acne stinks!! It’s true. I have struggled with skin issues ever since I was a
teenager, but they really seemed to flare up once I had children. In fact there
is a picture of me and Hushpuppy when she was a newborn and I have a zit the
size of Raleigh on my chin from the hormones starting to fluctuate. Every so
often I get an outbreak on my chin or worse near my mouth. I have googled and
googled trying to see why I break out in these places. I even posted a pin on
my Pinterest board that explains why breakouts occur where they do.
Since I had my ankle surgery (more on that in another post),
I checked out a book from the library to pass the time called Brown Skin: Dr.
Susan Taylor's Prescription for Flawless Skin, Hair, and Nails. In this book it
gives information on how to care for African American skin and hair. I didn’t
pay much attention to the hair part due to the fact that I pretty much have my
hair under control. However I did get into the skin aspect of the book. I would
describe my skin as oily. I used to think it was combination and in high school
and college my skin did lean towards that direction. However the older I have
gotten the greasier my face has become. Dr. Taylor recommended for oily skin a
cleanser that would break down the oils on the skin as well as a toner to
remove any excess oil and dirt. Finally she recommends using an oil free
moisturizer to hydrate without adding back and oil to the skin.
After reading the book me and Lovey ventured out to Walgreen’s
to find the Neutrogena Transparent Cleansing bar that was mentioned in the
book. I read that while this cleansing bar cleaned the skin of excess oil and
dirt, it also had glycerin in it to keep the skin from drying out. I have been
using the bar for almost a month now and I can say that it does do the job.
After cleansing, I follow up with a clear pore astringent from Dollar General
that is comparable to Clean and Clear. Then I moisturize with a dual action
moisturizer that moisturizes but also contains medication to clear up any acne
blemishes and help prevent new ones from forming. It is also comparable to Clean
and Clear and it is made by Wal-Mart’s Equate line.
One other thing that Dr. Taylor recommends in her book for
oily skin is a clay mask at least once a week to exfoliate as well as absorb
excess oil. What I have been using for that is Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Mask.
I have been using this mask for over 10 years and I have to say that it is the
best in the world. It does the job and leaves my skin smooth and tight. One of
the claims in the mask is that it draws out impurities as well as blackheads
that may be in the skin. I’m not quite sure it does that but I don’t notices as
many small blemishes after using it, so maybe it is drawing all the bad stuff
out.
In conclusion, if you are in the midst of breakout city like
I am, feel free to give this regimen a try. Or look into reading books that are
geared towards your skin type. Once I get back to work and get some money
together, I may see about seeing a dermatologist and having a thorough analysis
of my skin done to see if I am doing the right thing. Of course if you are
still in a rut about what to do about your skin, I would recommend you do the
same.
Until next time...
