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sudden severe cheek acne

Hi, I'm 25 years old and up until about three weeks ago had very little to no breakouts. When I did have them it was never more than two or three at the most, large pimples on my cheek area, at a time. People were always telling me what "beautifull skin" I had.

About a month ago I noticed a handful of smaller pimples begin to breakout on my cheeks, which turned into large, painfull spots, which are most painful at the onset. I now am breaking out all over my cheeks, but nowhere else on my face or body, with many large pimples that just won't stop.

I've tried many things to help it. My diet is and has always been very good. I am a vegetarian who eats properly to get the right protein and nutrients, drink plenty of water and stay away from junk foods, preservatives and refined sugars. I'm slim, in good shape and have a consistant skin care routine. Nothing has changed really. I haven't been using any new products or been wearing any makeup. I've been changing my pillow cases often, and hardly wear any product in my hair. I've been celebate for the last six months, so nothing has changed hormonally. I've tried applying tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and benezol peroxide. I've also tried only washing my face at night and skipping toner. Nothing is working. The pimples will reduce in size when I treat them, but only for about half a day before swelling right back up.

I know it's probably not as "severe" as many others have it, but this has been a very difficult change for me. I've never had this, and really don't know what to do. I don't want to leave my house because I feel like everyone is looking at it, and my freinds innocently comment about it when I see them anew. I know it's only in concern and curiosity, but it still really bothers me. Then I get stressed and can feel them growing even more. I already have difficulty with depression and anxiety, so this is definately not helping. Please, can someone help me or give some advice?
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Avatar universal
Hi all,

I had a beautiful complexion until May kicked in. Since then, my cheeks has been flooded with painful acne. My case is different as I first develop whiteheads which then grow into huge pimples with yellow pus. Went to the dermatologist, took Doxymicin (still taking it), tried so many other natural remedies, stopped chocolates, nuts, dairy, oily food but it does not seem to reduce. Makes me worried! And I can't look at myself in the mirror anymore. Confidence level is plummeting. I understand how the rest of you feel too. Hope this does not last but with the incoming surge of acne, I am beginning to lose hope


-Shasha
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Avatar universal
I am late to this post, but wondering if any one is still keeping an eye on it. I have been struggling with acne on my cheeks since I was 22. I am now 25 and have tried EVERYTHING (dermatologist prescribed washes, topical gels, natural remedies like witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, proactiv, the list goes on forever) that you all have mentioned except for changing my diet as far as dairy. I have had a pretty clean diet with the occasional visit to a fast food chain, but overall healthy. I recently gave up ALL dairy, anything containing milk I stay away from. I am approaching week 3 of doing this and have already seen in huge difference in one cheek, a slower difference in the other cheek. I am confident that this is the reason that my acne was so bad, I would have milk regularly in tea and I LOVE cheese, I would eat cheese everyday. It has been tough to give it up, but if it clears my skin, I will do it for the rest of my life. I understand completely what you all have gone through, it's like this happened overnight. I never had issues with acne before my early twenties. I currently use a wash from Sephora, morning and night, I use the Foreo the exfoliate at night and I use a moisturizer from there as well. I do believe that the natural washes, cleanses and scrubs help some people, but hey did not have lasting results with me. I think in my case, it was all from the amount of dairy I was consuming and the extra hormones that added to my body. I hope this helps someone out there, I've read this feed top to bottom and can relate to you all and I hope you find your answers soon!
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Avatar universal
Dear Morenasian,

Did you use rose water that consisted of rose oil and water or pure rose water? I wonder if there's a difference in the effect each have on the skin.

Also for the witch hazel, what brand do you use? I found that Thayer's is popular but it usually has stuff added to it.

Thanks,
Vee
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Avatar universal
Im 27 and I recently have stopped uses alcohol and drugs and ever since just my cheeks are  breaking out They are not like a regular pimple they are under skin and when they raise they are extremely painful and they will not stop once one starts to go down I get two or three more Ihave severe anxiety and a lot of stress right now and this is really affecting me mentally emotionally and physically I have never have acne let alone like this I have an appointment Monday with a dermatologist I just cant take it any more I tried proactive and it made it so much worse I think I may be allergic to benzoil peroxide I was wondering if anyone knew what I should ask for prescription wise when I go im desperate
thank you
kyle
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Avatar universal
it's been almost a year since i found this page. i started out in january with lemon juice, acp, and rose water as my face washing regime. in july i switched to washing my face with just honey (occasionally exfoliating with baking soda...and about the same i time i cut out gluten. i'm uncertain as to which of these changes contributed to my skin improvement but it has gotten sooooo much better since then. i hardly break out now and the old marks are slowly fading.

the honey makes my skin very soft (and it tastes good!). i use the mychelle sun shied if i'm going out. otherwise i use rose water to moisturize.
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Avatar universal
I have suffered from acne since I was 15, now 37!  I use Jan Marini  products which I have found to be quite effective, and this is after a lot of trial and error with many different acne products.  I have had hormonal issues my whole life, which each month makes my acne go from manageable to horrible. I am working with the Aust Menopause Centre atm to sort my hormones out, which seems to be working.  Oestrogen dominance causes my acne, and most adult females will find that their acne is also caused by this.  I have intolerances as well, so have eliminated gluten and dairy from my diet, it does help a bit but my hormone imbalance is the main cause of it.  Start with healing your stomach and intestines, go see a good Naturopath who can help you with this.  Too much internal inflammation will cause external inflammation.  Heal your gut which should help balance your hormones, and a good Naturopath can give you tablets to aid the process.  I have been to so many Drs and been prescribed countless antibiotics, have done so many different diets and detox's, have seen many Naturopaths too, so it pays to find a good one.  I am still figuring my hormones out, early days but it is definitely changing my severity of breakouts.  Hope this helps :)
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Avatar universal
Hello!  

I would love to know the name of the treatment you're uses now, as I'm starting to get pimples on my cheeks and not too sure why.  I am willing to try anything that may help.

Thank you in advance!

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi! I was wondering how your progress has been?? I am in a similar situation right now.
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Avatar universal
I'm 22 and everything you described is me! I'm in good health and slim, I exercise very often and eat healthy and stay away from junk food and preservatives and I don't wear makeup. I also tried many products where they work for a bit but I then get more acne or they inflame again.  And i also feel ugly and embarrassed to go out since i never in my life had acne until now.  But another thing you posted is that you stress and go through depression and anxiety ... That's the problem you need to find ways to relax and stop stressing over it or other things . And try not get as mad for anything. Lately I noticed I've been getting angry over things that aren't so big. So I think that's going to be a challenge for the both of us.
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Avatar universal
I'm 36. Around the time that I turned 35, I also moved (very stressful). For over a year now, I have been dealing with acne on my cheeks. I have tried Proactive, beauty control, Mary Kay Timewise, Mary Kay Velocity, oil cleansing method...no success. I also take myocin, 1 cap each day. Please, please, please give me some more options. I have always had digestion issues and now wonder if it is gluten related.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had the same problem! I turned 22 and my skin began to break out terribly, small red bumps that often scarred. Now my skin color is uneven and blotchy (dark brown from the scars and red from all the acne). It comes and goes in waves, and some months are more severe than others but it makes me crazy. I, too, am also vegetarian (soy free) but I have anxiety/depression problems and do not sleep well. My skin was always very clear before, which is why I think this is especially stressful.

I have very sensitive skin so many treatments are ultimately too severe, my face eventually gets very dry (and then my eczema flairs up).

I recently got back on birth control, hoping it might help the acne. I also switched from a high thread count pillow to a low thread count pillow. While the quality is better on the former, it always felt oily to me no matter how often I washed it. Both of these things seem to help, but it's only been about a week. I will report back!
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Avatar universal
Just came across this post and am thrilled to know I am not cursed. 27 F. Vegan for over 2 years. Vegetarian 1/12 years before that. Don't use any drugs and am pretty health conscious. I have been experiencing breakouts specifically along my cheekbones for about a year now. Before that my skin was clear more or less.

@ morenasian
Thank you for your post! I have started using your recommended regime 2x per day and I can already see improvements. Less breakouts and the redness has diminished a good deal. I was wondering if you rinsed after using either the lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. I rinse just very briefly after the lemon because it feels too strong to just leave on my skin and also i usually get a little in my eyes.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi morenasian,

I have a first try on your regimen and my skin feels really refresh and clean. However I can't find rose water and use pure aloe vera water instead. Do you have any recommedation for good rose water ? Thank you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My name is Bobby & I'm 31 years old.  I started to develop acne around age 20. Since then I've tried dozens of treatments: Differin, oral anti-biotics (thanks for the stomach aches), Proactive, Accutane, Green tea masks, chemical peals, facials, etc.  My adult acne ended up causing scarring on my cheeks.  Now that I've hit my early thirties, the acne has slowed down a little but the scarring, blemishes and clogged pores were still there. I am newly engaged and once I realized what was soon to follow (engagement photos, the wedding, wedding pics, etc.) I decided that I needed to get back into looking for something to get rid of my acne AND scarring.  My fiancé is newbie attorney who was approached with a business opportunity to get involved with a new company. Low and behold the company was created by the same dermatologists that created Proactive.  I loved Proactive, with the exceptions that it dried the crap out of my skin because it was made for teenagers and not grown men and it did nothing for my scarring.  I was happy for her to branch out with the new opportunity, but I was mostly excited because this new company created an ADULT ACNE regimen that addresses acne AND scarring! AND me being half italian/half assyrian, it has a separate oil control product that allows me to use it specifically to my need.  I'm not the type of person to go around recommending the things I like to my friends and family.... but after suffering with adult acne for +10 years and knowing the stress and embarrassment that comes with it, I will tell EVERYONE who is looking for help about this product line. Within 72 hours of use, all the bumpiness on my forehead was GONE, I haven't had a pimple, blemish or whitehead since I began using it. AND AND AND... the discoloration and scarring on my cheeks is diminishing. Anyone is welcome to send me a message via this site or just reply to this post.
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Avatar universal
hey starfish72, I think your input base on experience is very helpful  for I've read a while ago that stomach problems is a possible cause of cheek acne. For the past month or so i've had unusual stomach and abdominal noise, the causes are unknown. I'm willing to try the "Arbonne Herbal Colon Cleanse" but i couldn't find any for sale anywhere. Could you recommend another plz. thanks in advance
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I found that my cheek acne popped up within a few weeks of taking diflucan (anti-fungal) and doxycycline (antibiotic).  It took me a whole year to figure this out, so I hope I can save some of you time, energy and money, if you think your problem is like mine.  I prefer to use Arbonne products, but I am sure you can use alternatives.  I just find it easier to buy everything in one place online.

I tried the following with no success:
benzoyl peroxide - ended up with a worse breakout and  bad scarring
salicylic acid
tretinoin
clay masks
exfoliation
changing pillow cases every night
cleaning cell phone everyday
clean diet (no sugar, dairy, alcohol, etc.)

The breakouts would improve a little and come back regardless of my cycle.  I read a post on acne.org where one guy found his cure, so I tried it out and created my own version.  Here's the regimen:

Internally
1. Arbonne Herbal Colon Cleanse for 5 days - drink lots of water
2. One serving daily of plain yogurt with honey (I prefer Fage) with one packet of Arbonne Digestion Plus
3. Balanced diet (no sugary/fried foods)
4. Absolutely no sodas (with or without sugar)
5. Fresh veggies and fruits daily

Topically
1. Wash with salicylic acid wash (I prefer Arbonne Clear Advantage Wash)
2. Use a gentle scrub daily or every other day (I prefer Arbonne FC5 New Cell Scrub) I do this in the morning in the shower, very gently.
3.  Use a anti-aging serum (Arbonne RE9 Advanced or Revelage Night Serum)
4.  Apply day cream with sunscreen (Revelage Day Cream SPF 20 or FC5 Oil Absorbing Day Lotion SPF 20)  I like the Revelage to help fade dark spots...and it feels super creamy, but I only use it when my skin feels dry.  Not great for oily skin.  The FC5 works really well for oily/combo skin.
5. Apply spot treatment (Arbonne Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment).  I spread a layer over my acne area on each cheek and let it absorb.

At night, I just use the Revelage Night Serum all over my face and Clear Advantage Spot Treatment on both cheeks.

I have gone from having 15-20 pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads on each cheek to having one or two very small papules (currently only on 1 cheek and not noticeable).  The key to the cure is the Colon Cleanse and the Digestion Plus.  This has been a miracle for me!  I hope someone reads this and benefits.  The products may seem expensive on the Arbonne website, but I can show you how to get them for 20-50% off.  I truly hope this helps...I know how hard it is to deal with acne, especially as an adult.
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3902703 tn?1348528364
hi

just a quick question, i was told my a friend to try the lemon option as well, but i was told to rub the lemon on my face or simply squeeze it into a glass of water and drink it each morning; have you ever tried these options ? or  should i just wash as you suggested simply because i'm from the Caribbean and our climate is usually hot .

thanks
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Avatar universal
If you want to remain a vegetarian, how can one cut out all these greens ?

Almost every staple of a vegetarian diet has phytoestrogens! so hard
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Avatar universal
Why this is so weird! I just had to sign up here and make a comment. Ok I have been reading excessively about what may cause this problem because I also have this exact problem that all of you are speaking about. Which is how I cam across this post. So I am younger than all of you ladies, this problem started in my junior year but before that sophomore year-nothing, my skin was clear, I didn't even wear makeup, and I don't recall buying it either. Then all of a sudden in the middle of my junior year I had this stubborn problem, where the acne on my cheeks only wouldn't reside. I try to stay active except as a student the balance is tough, but I eat healthy and I always eat homemade food. Now I am going into my senior year and have to keep up with the amount of foundation I need to cover up my cheek areas, I know that it is a build up of dead skin cells on my cheek but I can't get rid of it, I exfoliate with a salicylic acid wash every single day and rub on my cheeks and the problem stays the same or seems to get worse. I know that I sleep on one side of my face because I sleep on my stomach so now I watch out for what fabric I sleep on and try to sleep in a different position so the pillow doesn't touch my cheek. I have tried many products, I am now getting an oral pill and I just recently bough three products from botanics which is an all organic skin care product line. However, the dark spots on my cheek seem permanent and I don't know when they will go away. I hope the problem will go away before I enter college because the face routine I go through everyday is too time consuming and it makes me not look forward to getting ready to do any thing because I know I have to spend a lot of time on my skin.
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Avatar universal
Also if you are going to use makeup or moisturizer make sure they are organic and as natural as possible.  Do some research to find out which products have the least chemicals.  Also if you can find it, eat more organic foods.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You are right in your diet but are you using a probiotic too and digestive enzynes?  Also try apple cider vinegar (Braggs with the mother) and apply on your face.  My son uses colloidial silver soap too.  My son had the worst facial acne.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
I started suffering from acne after my freshman year at college (I was 19 when it started). I became a vegetarian when I was 17 and had perfect skin all through high school. I started to notice more outbreaks during my freshman year of college and thought nothing of it. However, the summer going into my sophomore year my skin exploded! I broke-out with painful cysts on my cheeks and small pimples all over my forehead and chin. I hated leaving the house, and was horrified with how I looked. My self-esteem plummeted and I felt extremely ugly.

This horrible acne lasted for about a year until I came across an article regarding high levels phytoestrogens, which your body can mistake for estrogen, in soy and soy-based products.

I was still a vegetarian at this time, and in an effort to get enough protein, I was consuming a lot of soy-burgers (boca burgers/morning star burgers) and tofu on a daily basis. I knew my acne was hormonal, I just didn't understand what was wrong with my hormones. Finally, I found the answer to my problem; I was estrogen-dominant as a result from consuming soy pretty much everyday for the past three years.

I immediately stopped becoming a vegetarian, at the age of 22, and eliminated soy (as well as other "high estrogen foods" from my diet). Surely enough my skin became back to normal. I finally feel healthy, happy, and confident in myself.

I hope this helps. Just remain positive, your acne will not last forever. Let me know how your success goes!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There's a great product I use called aknicare that actually works to regulate the sebum that your skin produces, is worth a shot. Is on 3 for 2 at the minute too :)
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Avatar universal
Im 21 and this has started happening for me too! No change in my diet, drugs (prescription), life style or stress level; just out of no where I am waking up with new acne every day. No one seems to care because I have had good skin my whole life my friends and family are honestly telling me it's karma for having nice skin growing up! I'm freaking out and it's making me so anxiety ridden that I cant leave the house.
I hope the lemon, apple cider vinegar, and rose water works because it's the only thing I havnt tried.
But seriously what is happening to all of us?! We are healthy and doing the right things and it's so sudden for all of us! I just don't get it. :( good luck everyone!
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