Products That DID Help My Acne

We’ve been on quite the acne journey, haven’t we? There are so many products and tips out there to help treat acne, it’s overwhelming. I’m going to share all of the products and lifestyle changes I’ve used that actually DID help my acne.

If you want to see all of the products that DID NOT help my acne first, click that link.

NOTE: I am not a healthcare professional. What worked for me, may not work for you. All of the supplements discussed in this post were with the help of a Registered Dietitian. Please seek medical advice before starting a new supplement regimen!

Supplements

The underlying cause of my acne came down to imbalances in my gut and a H. Pylori infection (full post, here). In order to get my skin under control, I had to get my gut under control.

Mastic Gum

This is not a skin-specific supplement, it was only used in my case for H. Pylori. An H. Pylori infection is typically treated with a triple therapy, consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, and antibiotics. Instead, mastic gum is a natural resin that has been seen to be effective in eradicating H. Pylori.

I consumed mastic gum supplements for around 3 months to get rid of my H. Pylori. And it worked! My skin began improving days after starting this supplement. Definitely work with a professional in regards to brands and dosing, as it’s very specified. Again, don’t use this product if you only have acne and no known diagnosis of H. Pylori.

GI Microb-X

My GI Map test also revealed that I had bacterial imbalances in my gut. GI Microb-X is a supplement used to kill off the harmful bacteria in the gut that can cause these imbalances. I also took this for around 2 months. This definitely did help my skin, but I think the mastic gum made the biggest difference for me.

Spore-Based Probiotics

The only supplement I am currently taking for my skin is a spore-based probiotic. Spore-based probiotics specifically are beneficial because they are highly resistant to stomach acid, which makes them more effective. Probiotics are highly individualized, so it’s important to find one that works for you!

Topicals

Cerave Cleansers

I’m a Cerave gal through and through. I use the Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser in the morning and the Foaming Facial Cleanser at night. Nice and simple.

Azelaic Acid Gel

This was prescribed by my dermatologist, so it’s not something you can get over the counter in high doses. It definitely does help my acne because it has anti-inflammatory properties.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair UV SPF

SPF is certainly a game-changer. This has really improved the texture and redness of my skin. It’s a bit pricy for sunscreen, but it lasts a long time.

Tretinoin Cream

This is another dermatologist prescribed-item. I will only use a pea size amount 2-3 times a week because it’s super drying. Definitely does help my acne!

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

I’ve been using this forever and love it. I’ll use it on the nights when I don’t use the Tretinoin since it’s more hydrating.

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

This product is great for hyperpigmentation, which is my main issue right now. I use it after the Tretinoin or Niacinamide.

The Inkey List Tranexamic Acid Night Treatment

Totally love this product for dark spots and hyperpigmentation! I will say that if you have active acne, you may want to hold off on this since it’s meant for post-acne scarring and doesn’t actually help acne.

Cerave Healing Ointment

This isn’t specific to acne, but it’s a holy grail for dry skin. It’s pretty much the same as Vaseline, but I love putting it on my eyelids and under eyes for extra hydration.

Skin Better Science AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads

My dermatologist recommended getting a chemical peel for my scarring, but I opted for this instead since it’s much cheaper. They’re definitely pricy, but it comes with 30 pads. I only use them 1-2 times per week, so they last a while! My skin feels amazing after using them and it’s helped with scarring a ton.

Lifestyle

When it comes to lifestyle, I really didn’t change much to help my acne. The only major thing I changed in my diet and every day life was removing gluten.

The reason I chose to go gluten-free is because my GI Map revealed that my body does not break down gluten well. I was strictly gluten-free for 2 months, then had some when I was away for spring break.

I notice a HUGE change in my skin when I consume gluten versus when I don’t. Even a few weeks ago I had a beer and my skin was breaking out for 3-4 days after. To me, it’s not worth it to eat gluten if it compromises my skin. This may change, but at least for now this is what works for me.

Acne is so personalized and different for everyone. It certainly took me a lot of time to figure out what works for me and what doesn’t. I hope that these products are beneficial for you and give you some relief and peace.

xoxo