Thre is a thread in the forum with pic's of Battlestar Galactica actors in very high-res pic's, one is the pock-marked guy, Olmos is his last name. I work with a woman who is in her 30's, beautiful features, but must have had amazing teen acne which has left her facial skin looking not too different from his. Even now, she has outbreaks...is this hereditary, and what can one do about it as a teen and later in life?

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

A dermatologist would be best to anser the question. He/she could prescribe medicine to help with the breakouts which would probably be the birth control pill.

Thanks
David

__________________
_____________________________________________

2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

_____________________________________________

I had severe acne too. My brother had it bad, my dad did, and so did my aunt when they were young, other family members probably did too, so I'd say it's hereditary. I'd tried all of the antibiotic pills, topical creams, and face washing regimens out there, but they didn't work. So, my dermatologist had to pull out the big guns and gave me Accutane. My skin was so oily, that all of that washing and such didn't help, as soon as it was washed, it would get oily. From what I understand, Accutane stops or reduces skin oil production, which in turn stops the acne. I saw a difference in a month.

The thing is, Accutane is expensive, even with insurance, and in some people it causes depression, though I didn't experience that. You'll get severe lip chapping while using Accutane and dry skin, mine was so bad that if I smiled a little bit sometimes, my lip would split and bleed. I eventually found a particular type of Blistex lip treatment that worked well. I've been off of the treatment for about 2 months now, and my face is much better, if I'm not up on the washing like I need to be, I'll get small bumps, but no more of those big, cyst like bumps that'll scar ya.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

A friend of mine was on accutane 20 years ago, it seemed to help, but the poor SOB couldn't go out in the sun for any length of time, had a tough time shaving because his skin was so dry, he wasn't so sure that the cure wasn't worse than the problem.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Believe it or not....if I forget to recharge my watersoftener (I have it on manual override), I start to break out.

I never knew hard water caused zits.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

diet is a very large part of the puzzle and docs will tell you that.

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Ja.... Iodine is known to cause acne - either use non iodized salt, or cut back on it. Some people claim that pizza and chocolate cause acne - If that is the case, too bad...I'm eating pizza and chocolate anyway.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

She doesn't eat meat, shops at the natural foods store...and has an amazing behind too.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

My ex girlfriend had severe outbreaks, in desperation she ordered that stuff from the TV infomercials; now it's promoted by Jessica Simpson and that girl that won American Idol. Sorry I forgot the name of the product, but it did miracles for here, it slowly disappeared and never came back.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

You're talking about Proactiv. I tried that too, and it made matters worse!

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

That's it, it did wonders for my ex.

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

I believe it is a combination of a few things. Overcharged hormones for one. Large pores seem to follow these cases and it seems become the breeding compartment for some wicked bacteria to grow. I have never had an acne problem but I have known some ppl with some horrific acne outbreaks. It seems the more stuff they put on the acne, the more aggravated the problem gets. Worst of all, it seems it does permanent damage to their self-esteem. When I was younger, I knew a teen that battled this condition. And being naive and somewhat stupid, I attempted to make him the butt of his acne when as he was telling a joke I noticed a zit the size of MT Rushmore. I let him tell his joke I winced my eyes toward his face and asked "what is that?" As I neared the zit, I took my finger and pressed it with lightning speed and then commenced to get a second wind to all the laughing we had enjoyed. He screamed so loud and it was then that I realized this was not a joking matter, I apologized and NEVER even made eye contact with facial blemishes after that...Was I sorry? absolutely. Did I ever do it again...NOT on a bet.

__________________
1993 300D 2.5L 240,000+ miles

I would guess it is hereditary. My dad is in his 80's and still gets zits. I've gotten zits throughout my life, never very bad but pretty consistent. I've noticed some patterns over the years. If I eat a lot of almonds I'll get zits to the r or l of my nose within about a i inch distance. If I drink a lot of milk or cream, I'll get zits along my jawbone within about 1 inch of either side. If I eat a lot of citrus I'l get zits around the perimeter of my mouth. This is pretty weird. Why do certain foods produce zits in very well defined areas?
But even acne in general is strange. Why don't we get zits on the back of our hands or top of our feet? If oil and dirt cause them, why don't we get them on our feet which are often oily and dirty. Why are zits predominantly featured on the face and back? Are zits related in some evolutionary way to our attractiveness for sexual reproduction? Are zits related to some process in the skin which sends sexual signals? Faces are pretty important in sending sexual signals, feet (usually) not that important. Any body read anything about this? I know there is speculation that hormone levels in milk produce zits.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My dad (dermatologist) used to take care of one of the (not famous) women that is on the commercial for Proactiv. It was Accutane that made her skin look good, not Proactiv.
I have used Accutane before and swear by it. My acne was not terrible, just persistant and it really worked well. There are other products that work well, but if the acne is so bad you're worried about scaring, then it's Accutane you're after.

Peter

I bet she does!

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".