BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Beauty Basics skin issues+depression

hey im new here and i need help with my skin, im 18 years old and i have major self confidence issues and its because of my skin, its all different colours andits patchy some areas are dark and some a lighter than the rest its just so annoying i cant go outside without worrying about my face or looking at other girls flawless complexions, its beggining to take over my life, and its seriously not a huge issue i know i shold be thank ful because its not as horrible as im making it seem i just want my face one colour i have hyperpigmented areas of my skin their not that noticable becuase i can cover it up with makeup, i dont wear foundation or anything i just wear powder and then i dumb blush all over my face especially on my cheekcs because their a lighter colour from the rest of my face, i think its because of sun damadge and i just keep getting blemishes wchih leave dark marks all over i just hate it i cant look at my boyfriend anymore i stay at home and im really depressed becuase of this and i have tried so many prodcuts in the past that havent worked a bit, ive tried proactive whcih dreid my face out and made things worse im tried brightening prodcuts ive tried face masks ive tried everything and wasted so much money on things. Lately ive been wanting to try the body shop's brightening line becuase my face has alot of sundamadge and hyperpigmentation but i have no money. If poeple could just tell me how they keep their skin clear from this stuff it would be appreciated i also wear sunsreen spf 55 neutragina i wash my face with proper cleansers and moisturize nothings happening im ready to crawl in a hole and die seriously its just taking over everything my skin is just so dull and lifeless when i take my makeup off i feel like complete [censored]. sorry for the long post i know people might not read or reply because im a newbie, im just trying to get thigns out and feel better about it but help would be appreciated, thnks and take care.

Welcome Pop. I really feel for you. I've been battling with my skin for 16 years.

Here's what I've learnt - some of this might help you, I hope.

Firstly, dump the cleansers. Look at the label on the back and if it says it contains "Sodium/Ammonium Laurel Sulphate" or "Sodium/Ammonium Laureth Sulphate" don't put it on your skin. Those are detergents - floor cleaner. All it's doing is stripping your skin of moisture and irritating it. Save your money, save your skin. (If you want a conspiracy theory, I think the cosmetics industry does this to us so that we spend more money buying stuff for sensitive skin and extra products to fix the dryness and irritation.)

Switch to one of the following:

- Natural soap that contains glycerin - but be careful, some soap manufacturers cheat and take the glycerin out of their soap to sell it back to you as body lotion! Others add sodium laurel sulphate in order to make the soap foamier. They will need to add it if they've taken the glycerin out.

- Visit a natural skin care or health shop and look for cleansers with one or more of "Sodium stearoyl lactylate"; "Glyceryl stearate"; "Behenyl alcohol"; "Sucrose cocoate" or "Glyceryl laurate". Those are all natural plant-based cleansers, which will clean your skin without stripping it or irritating it.

Secondly, look at your moisturiser. It's probably not as bad as your cleanser, but chuck it out if it contains "Propylene glycol" - this is an irritant too, it's a solvent similar to what you would use to strip paint.

Also avoid moisturisers that contain mineral oil or petroleum - these just block your pores and cause break outs.

Look for natural moisturisers that contain Jojoba, Macadamia, or Avocado oils. Sorbitol or glycerin are also good ingredients to have in a moisturiser.

Once your skin starts to heal from the irritation, you can start exfoliating to try and remove some of the dead cells that might be contributing to the uneven tone of your skin.

Again, I suggest you avoid shop-bought products that are laced with chemicals and look in your pantry instead.

Fruit is the best exfoliant I've ever found - especially kiwi fruit, pears, peaches, strawberries - almost any fruit will do. Take about two or three teaspoons full and mush it up, spread it on your skin and leave it for no longer than two or three minutes. Be very careful with kiwi fruit as it is extremely acidic and can burn sensitive skin if you're not careful. Massage the fruit pulp into your skin and rinse well with tepid water.

The acid in the fruit will gently remove the top layers of skin and continued use will gradually reveal a fresh, and less and less damaged, skin layer.

Exfoliate with fruit NO MORE than two or three times a week or you will begin to aggravate your skin instead of heal it.

If your skin's feeling sensitive, but you still feel you need to exfoliate, try spreading a teaspoon or two of yoghurt on your skin (great too if it contains strawberry or peach or other fruit pieces). Leave this on for five to ten minutes and then rinse with tepid water.

Good luck!

I have been using the Neutrogena Advanced Solutions At-Home MicroDermabrasion System for a week now and I really like it. I get little white dots on my face that look like they would become pimples, but never do. I read that these could be caused from skin cells not properly shedding. The cream that comes with the system is a great exfoliant. I also use Acne Free which I buy at Target. I still battle with my skin but it looks better. I have tried the all-natural approach but my face just got out of control. If the all-natural works for you I would take that approach.

the only things i use are cetaphil, neutragina sunscreen, persa gel 5 for my acne, and vichy norma derm, vichy seems to be working well but thats about it and my skin still drives me nuts

Hi.. I don't work for Mary Kay, so I def. am not gaining anything from this. I personally can't afford everything from them, but I def. use their cleansers and foundations. My face had really cleared up... I am 45 and always had skin trouble... I went with a friend to a Mary Kay convention in my early days of buying... They had some awesome before/after pictures of what their products can do for those who have problem skin. The secret is to get someone who works for them that has been trained on how to properly apply their makeup. They have free facials, etc. so you can see if it works for you. Just a suggestions....
Good Luck... another product my sister uses is Proactive, but I have not used it... Worked wonderful for her...

Or if you want to go another route, one of our editors on here; Jeanne Daigle (who's the main forum moderator) runs a lovely online shop of handmade soaps and shea butters.

Her site is here: Eclectic Lady

She even has products mild enough for children.

As far as makeup goes - I've gone back and forth between using Physician's formula and the Makeup Minerals. I like both - I really like the minerals, but they take a little more work, and do cost more. But I have seen ladies with major skin conditions completely hide them so that you don't notice them at all. I however, have not gotten that good with them yet. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Hello pop,

Without talking about depression or any other issue, could you please tell me prescisely about what is wrong with your skin?

Do you have uneven pigmentation?
Do you have blotches?
Do you have colored patches?

what is your skin color and what is your problem? for last how many years are you having this problem? Did it arise after any treatment? please give some details.

thnks for replies everyone,
familyhistoryma: ive tried proactive and let me tell u it wanst for me at all, it was such a huge diaster, my skin started peeling! and it couldnt tolerate it, my skin did get clear but it was extremely dry to the point wheer i couldnt open my mouth to eat and if i did i would get white cracks everywhere and it would look flaky.

cdmohatta: Hey, my skin isnt all that bad, acne wise, its just every thing u mentioned i have it, uneven pigmentation, blochy skin, patches of discoloured skin, my cheeks are lighter than my face and its annoying cause i either have to wear bronzer or blush to cover it up, i saw a pic of me when i was oyunger my skin was flawless and it was one colour, my whole face was the colouir of my cheeks but i suppose being out int he sun has made that worse. I do get some pimples and thats about it, my main problem is skin discolouration its just annoying, i would love to have my face the same tone or evenly coloured all around and i dont want to use makeup to acheive that because makeup i sjust a mask to me. my skin is tanned and i suffer from mild hyperpigmentation i dont use any creams or bleaching creams on the areas that are pigmented because ive heard that it makes ure skn worse, such as using hydroquine (sp?, anyway if u can help me in anyway ill pm u and show u some pics?

Hello,

I saw your pictures. To begin with let me suggest not to share your photographs or other details with people you do not know on the internet. That is dangerous. I am deleting your message from my list and suggest that, unless you are very sure, don't ever share with personal details.

Coming to your problem, what i saw from your photographs, as you say it is a problem pf pigmentation. Without thinking of trying so many products, you need to see a good dermatologist. i don't see there is much wrong with your color. but it is always difficult to judge in photographs.

You are getting depressed because you are worried about this slight difference in color and you are getting obsessed with it. Please see a good dermatologist. That will end all your problems. I am sure about that.

When I saw the photographs of your face, I was surprised about -what was the issue? Had you not written about the discoloration around your mouth, I would have never noticed that. Does this tell you something? I have known teenages looking at a pimple for endless hours in the mirror and worrying about it.

You need to ask some friends, if they also see your discoloration as a problem? You must meet adermatologist and stop having ideas about what hydroquinone will do? If the doctor prescribes the creams, you should ask him/her.

You have a long and beautiful life ahead of you. You are very young. Why worry so much about something so small and get depressed? Why not set some goals and think of achieving them?

Here is another advice- Please stop taking advice from such forums for such skin problems. You must talk to somebody who is qualified toanswer. It is your own body and a bad product may put you in trouble.

As far as your depresssion is concerned, please let me know on this forum itself whenever it increases. I will send you reiki from distance and you will feel better.

You are much younger than my children's age and my heart goes out for you. Please stop worrying about this problem, talk to adoctor and pay more attention to your studies so that you can do something remarkable in your life. Focus on your mind, rather than your body. You have my best wishes. please consult a doctor.