Tried helping my boyfriend with his Acne..it didn't go away..I feel terrible

**belleisangelic** · 02-21-2011 11:28 PM

I don't know what to do anymore. my boyfriend suffers from Depression and Anxiety and being winter time..doesn't help at all. While I can't help him with his Depression the way he wants, one thing I felt I could really help with is his Acne..which is REALLY not bad at all...I mean..he gets like 4 or 5 pimples and considers that a " Major Breakout" and doesn't leave the house or want to see me.

I did the best I could to help him with his skin, I would give him facials ( steaming, washing, exfoliating, extracting and moisturizing with Aloe) bought him a Clinique For Men kit ( I used the 3-Step system when I had acne and it helped me) but it didn't work for him ( 50+ bucks down the drain!!

he's even had panic attacks before meeting my family because he didn't feel good.
now he's been complaining about his skin more than ever, wont leave the house for days at a time and refuses to see me because he doesn't like how his skin has turned out. He indirectly blames me for this and it makes me feel terrible. I've studied extensively on skin care and acne and how oils/dryness and diet and health affect the facial skin. This is a real blow to me because while I'm not a Dermatologist, I really thought I could help my guy..but now he's sitting at home, picking at his skin because apparently I told him to? this makes me as his girlfriend feel terrible...I've told him that but it doesn't seem to change anything.

I"m at a loss here, I feel like I"m losing my boyfriends trust because he really put his trust into me to help him with his skin, now he looks in the mirror and feels worse than before we even met....I"m so heartbroken and torn about this..my pride has been damaged...I just don't know what to do or say that will make things better.

**LucidEnigma** · 03-21-2011 03:40 PM

anxiety can make acne a lot worse due to the excess adrenaline production, it screws up the hormone levels in the body. Is he taking anything for anxiety/depression? Obviously good diet is important, so is exercise (raises serotonin levels in the brain), certain vitamin difficincies can cause acne, so I would recommend a whole food multi like Alive. I also found zinc to be extremely helpful ( I use optizinc brand by source naturals- 2 pills a day, 60 mcg).
Aspirin masks are great for immediate relief, take 5-6 aspirins and add a little bit of hot water, just enough to cover them, once they soften mush them into a paste and add a teaspoon of honey (preferrably raw), mix and apply to face for 20 mins, then rinse. When my skin was especially bad, i did it 2-3 times a week, it helps a lot.

**WildChild** · 03-21-2011 05:41 PM

Sounds like he has seasonal affective disorder. The best thing for that is natural sunlight and vitamin D3. He needs to take 1000-2000 iu a day. It made a big difference for me!

**Seeker_Advice** · 03-22-2011 06:51 AM

Exposure to sunlight will also improve his health, through vitamin D production and his battle with depression as there is a direct relationship to being out in the bright light of the sun and happiness.

I do not recommend staring at the sun or even looking up for that matter, but rather just be out when it's very bright (when you feel the strong need for sunglasses) and remain there for 15 - 20 minutes (without sunglasses). The bright light will reach the back of the eye (optic nerve) and send a signal to the brain to "be happy".

It's one of the most inexpensive and most effective ways to increase happiness.

FYI - toothpaste dabbed on blemishes is a good drying agent. It's "best" to do it just before bed.
remind him to increase his water intake in order to help "flush out" his system.

**hannahpet00** · 05-20-2011 12:23 AM

Chemical peels of tca and salicylic acid are te best for active acne. All purpose creams are good for the scars. Excel Skin Care has a great all purpose cream, can be used for stretch marks too. They sell on amazon too, look there for the best prices.

For the chemical peels, research a little more for what strengths to use.

**caterpillar79** · 05-20-2011 12:51 AM

Caution, caution....no self-promotion!

**D.D** · 05-20-2011 10:04 AM

i had acne 2 years ago, and i know how it feels like to just wanna stay home and never go out in public, this is very depressing, i ended up covering my acne with make up which made it a lot worse, and i felt like wherever i go people will be just looking at my pimples. you need to ensure your boyfriend that having acne isn't horrifying and nobody will judge him if he has pimples, plus he has you and you love him no matter whats on his face.
after making sure he's feeling alright about having acne, try suggesting a visit to the dermatologist. my dermato helped me a lot, it took almost a year for my acne to disappear, i took pills and other products, but i dont regret it, because now i feel so much more confident, the difference it made is amazing.

**perfectskin** · 05-29-2011 12:58 PM

I went thru a really bad break up and had hormonal, stress-induced acne for a couple years that left really bad scars on my face. A friend recommended a fabulous new product to me that I have been using for about a year now. It is a nightly breathable masque that rolls on and flash dries in about 5 seconds. You just roll it on, sleep, and wash it off in the morning. It took about 7 weeks to clear up my acne, and it did seem to get worse before it got better, but in addition to clearing up my acne, it also cleared up the old scars and is making my wrinkles disappear too!!! It is a remarkable product with $7.5 million of research behind it and IT WORKS!!! I don't know if I can name the product on here, as I have just started using forums and I'm not sure of all the rules. Sorry if this isn't the right way to do this, but it really has helped with my acne and my confidence!!!

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 05-29-2011 03:12 PM

What was the name of it perfectskin? You are allowed to write the name...

**stevedav** · 05-29-2011 11:56 PM

i understand how it feels like to just wanna stay dwelling and not ever proceed out in public, this is very saddening, i completed up covering my acne with make up which made it many poorer, and i sensed like while i proceed persons will be just looking at my pimples. you require to double-check your beau that having acne isn't shocking and no one will referee him if he has pimples, in addition to he has you and you love him no issue whats on his face.