HELP! Lots of small pustules

tgates209 · Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

You know when you go to get a facial and they squeeze your pores and the small amt of stuff come out of each pore? Not a pimple, but oil and stuff comes out. I have very oily skin and these are visibly all over my face particularly around my nose and chin. I mean, tons of them and they fill up quickly and heavily. Many years ago I used retin-a for treatment of cystic acne and these small things were non-existant. As soon as I came off of retin-a they returned.

My question is does anyone have any recommendations for preventing these from building up so much w/o having to go through the agonizing retin-a treatment. The thing with retin-a too is that it made my complexion very sensitive and blotchy at times. I guess the retin-a was turning over the skin cells so rapidly, it prevented these from building up. I guess if that's the only solution, I will go back on it. Oh, I am half asian too, in case that helps.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!!

010081 · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

Either avoid or use less oily creams,when necessary choose a lotion/milk form.Wash frequestly but gently with small amount of normal soap (which doesnot contain glycerine)or face wash (5.5 PH),twice ot thrice daily,Washing only with water will not remove the oily secretion.

Reducing oiliness will gradually reduce your problem.Don't squeeze it,which gradually cause inflammation and later leaves scar.Let them dry gradually,it will take some more time.
Source: dermatalk.com

orangehrzn · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 1005

Frequent washing doesn't reduce oil production, it just aggravates the skin, and it's not a solution to acne at all.
Retin A aggravated it too, that's why it became blotchy.

You can try low doses Accutane, 10mg/day. It's a dose 5-10 times lower than regular prescribed doses and it has virtually no side effects except dry lips which you have to moisturize with vaseline or they will crack. It is VERY effective in reducing oiliness and clearing up the skin, takes a few months of treatment. After stopping it, oiliness comes back but hopefully not that severe nor the skin will be that problematic.