Acne scars and oily face

Hi, I'm Rhyan, from the Philippines. Well, I'm an acne sufferer.. 3 months ago, I was perfectly looking good, my face was clear, there was pimples but you could rarely see them on my face and they were getting healed naturally and fast. But now, everything turned upside down, I had breakouts that almost covered my entire face by acne in just 3 months! I don't know what I have done wrong with my body that it reacted this way, so I promptly consulted a dermatologist to help me figure out what's going on with me, and with my face! The dermatologist recommended me to use Benzoyl Peroxide,Clindamycin Solution, Sunblock Lotion,Adapelene Klenzit, and some kind of antibiotics (I'm not sure if they are really antibiotics) Tetracycline and Pednisone. So as instructed by the skin doctor, I religiously apply those chemicals onto my face and swallow Tetra and Pred everyday. After 2 weeks, it shows a very dramatic result, my acne are now all gone. The doctor told me to continue using Benzoyl Peroxide and the rest of his recommendations everyday if I want to keep my face from acne breakouts. And then the real deal walks in the drama, my face started to look so aged, dull, and oily. I'm only 21 but my appearance looks like I'm already in my 30's. My face is literally shiny and glistening with acne scars that made it hideously terrible. It makes feel like I have mutated to a horrifying monster. I just want to claim back the old Rhyan with a clear skin he used to have. Is that too much to ask for? Hlep me please =(

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For acne scars, topical treatments with acids and chemical peels can be effective but can take a while for the skin to totally revert to its normal color.  Microdermabrasion can also be done, but this might require several sessions.  Skin resurfacing using lasers is also an option.

Oily skin needs special cleansing with plenty of hot water and soap to prevent the pores from being clogged. Avoid harsh products that strip your skin of oil and encourage flakiness. They can cause a reaction known as reactive seborrhoea, where the oil glands work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils.

Avoid skincare products that leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. You can use cetaphil and make sure that the rest of the times you wash your face with fresh water. Avoid heavy greasy moisturizers and take a diet rich in proteins but restricted in sugar, fluids and salt. Drink plenty of quality water to keep the skin hydrated and flush out toxins.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.