Picking from Anxiety

Hi there! I was just reading your posts and first and foremost I want to congradulate you for making those first BIG steps toward a healthier, happier, pick-free life. That, in my opinion, is the biggest step you can take in a seemingly long road to recovery. I saw you mention that you recently purchased Proactiv and it made me shudder. I tried it once thinking that it would help clear up my skin and prevent me from picking... BOY WAS I WRONG! The BP in it is very aggravating to the skin, esp. wounded skin. This skincare system literally tore my skin apart and my face always looked sunburned and was very dry and flaky. This triggered my obsession further because I was constantly picking off flaky skin and my breakouts became more aggravated. It was a vicious cycle and I knew that Proactiv just wasn't for me. I can't say that your skin will react in the same way, but please research this product a little further ie: reviews on makeupalley and acne.org.... a lot of others have experienced the same skin reaction I did. I would just hate for you to use something on your skin that could potentially make it worse. I recently purchased Phisohex... It's a prescription antibacterial face wash that has gotten amazing reviews and the main ingredient is 1% triclosan so the cleanser deep cleans and kills acne-causing bacteria and helps to clear up acne without overdrying your skin because it doesn't contain any harsh ingredients. I also use calamine lotion as an overnight facial mask or spot treatment. AND to keep me away from the mirror at night, I use makeup remover towelettes at night instead of washing my face at the sink. These things have all helped tremendously and I can't remember the last time my skin's looked this good. The makeup remover towelettes I use are the Equate Original Clean with Vitamin E, Chamomile, and Triple Tea Complex. I've been struggling with this for 8 years and had only just learned about our condition about a year ago. If there is one thing I've learned, it's that less is more. I used to use upwards of 8 different products on my face, thinking that I was treating it and healing it. What I was really doing was preventing my skin from healing because I was always messing with it and putting something on it. I never just let it "be" or "breathe". Now, I wash my face in the shower every morning and apply my Image Daily Defense Matte Moisturizer Oil-Free SPF 30 and my BareMinerals foundation and makeup. At night I clean my face and take my makeup off with the makeup remover towelettes I listed above and if I have any pimples, I spot treat them with the calamine lotion and that's it! I promise, your skin will thank you if you keep it simple and keep the ingredients you use on your face "light". I hope this helps, and should you decide to still give Proactiv a try, I completely understand. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you achieve the results you want AND deserve! :)

Great show of self-discipline! It truly sounds like you are well on your way to a healthier, happier you in every aspect of your life - I'm proud of you :) As for the products I mentioned, the Phisohex Antibacterial Face Wash can be purchased in the U.S. ONLY with a doctor's prescription, which truly sucks because I don't have health insurance. But, you can purchase it online from pharmacies in Australia, which is what I did. I purchased a 500mL bottle of it for $19.95 plus $7.95 shipping... Not a bad price overall (much cheaper than scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist and paying for both the appointment AND the prescription face wash). I'm still waiting for mine to come in the mail as well. In the meantime, I'm using Cetaphil Gentle Antibacterial Bar Cleanser. It only has 0.3% Triclosan in it and while it helps, I feel I need a stronger dosage of Triclosan to really see the results I'm looking for. The makeup remover towelettes are around $5.00 for 60 and I bought the Calamine lotion for $1.44. Overall, it's a pretty inexpenive skincare regimen. The most expensive product I purchase is my moisturizer and that costs me $32. Everybody has a moisturizer they love and that works for them and their skin... this one just happens to be mine. So, if there is one you're already using that works for you and it happens to be cheaper than the one I'm using, then I say stick with it - It's best to keep costs as low as possible when trying to find a skincare regimen that works best for you :) I truly hope that you are one of the rare few who's skin can handle the Proactiv regimen and that it ultimately works for you. Please keep me posted on your results and I can't wait to hear more about your future progress. I hope you have a wonderful, pick-free day! :)

Sunny55, I just have to say you're doing fantastic! I'd be lieing if I said I haven't picked at all today... I picked at one zit on my chin but it lasted a few seconds before I forced myself to stop and walk away from the mirror. No major damage done so I'm happy. I've spot treated it with calamine lotion and I'm going to leave it alone from here on out. My hope is that by morning it will be visibly diminished and virtually unnoticeable. I'll let you know tomorrow what the outcome ends up being. When I read your post, I couldn't believe that you actually run 20-40 miles per week - that's SO admirable and something I could NEVER do. I've always envied people who could run long distances and enjoy doing it. I really need to get a workout routine going again. I've been eating a lot healthier as of late, but working out is a great stress reliever and has always made me feel good when I'm doing it. It's so great that you purchased new wash cloths as an alternative to the mid-day shower. Sometimes it really does help to break daily routines that were a part of our picking lifestyle and to start new ones to help us form new habits. I used to shower upwards of 2-3 times a day just so I could wash my face and not have to be in front of a mirror while doing so. I felt like so much of my time was being spent in the bathroom STILL, the only difference was that instead of picking, I was in there to AVOID picking... It sounds so bizarre and strange, I know. I can't make sense of my rationale and thinking either sometimes. Anyway, I got so sick of being in the bathroom that I just stopped washing my face at night before going to bed. Obviously, this wasn't working for my skin either and my complexion was worsening. That's when I decided to buy the makeup remover towelettes and use those at night instead - now it's a win/win situation for both me AND my skin. Less time in the bathroom + a healthier complexion = a happier me :) Well dear, it's late and I'm exhausted! I hope your new stress balls are helping keep your hands busy while studying. In closing, I just have to say that the ending of your most recent post was perfect and I couldn't have said it better myself - "one pick I can deal with ALSO!"