Growing up, I really lucked out in the acne department. I never went through the "puberty acne" stage like my brothers both did. Maybe it was genetics, maybe it was because I was really good about washing my face every day and moisturizing on the reg, but I was always very fortunate to not have to deal with that. Sure, the occasional zit popped up now and then, but that's it.
But NOW?!
I've been getting more pimples than I have ever had in my entire life. Just within the last 6 months or so. I keep waiting for it to clear up, but then another one pops up!
But the interesting part is that they are only located on my LEFT CHEEK area. Always.
It used to be just around the time of my period, but now they've been sprouting up more frequently. Again, only on my left cheek!
See below (excuse my just-woke-up-rat's-nest-hair):
Okay, so it's kind of hard to tell in these photos, but main point is: I've NEVER had a cluster of zits in one spot before, so clearly something is up and I needed to figure it out.
So I did the only thing I know how to get accurate FACTS: I summoned the Google gods.
And guess what? There's a whole plethora of information out there on what your zits can tell you!
You want to know what the LEFT CHEEK ACNE is DIRECTLY correlated to?
THE LIVER!!!!
Do you want to know what organ I damage the most when drinking liters upon liters of that red wine I love oh so much?
MY LIVER!!!!
Immediately following my excitement for finding an answer to my new face friends, I then got really bummed out. Because, well, for obvious reasons:
1) I drink too much wine
2) I need to cut back on wine
3) I already knew this
4) But now I really need to if I want my face to be rejuvenated and youthful again
As I opened a bottle of wine and took a sip or two (true story), I did a little more zit fact checking because I wasn't quite ready to accept my new state of sobriety.
I answered a series of questions online, like:
Do you sleep on your left side? YES!
Do you have your hair parted to your left side? YES!
Do you change your pillowcases at least once a week? Er...uh... No. :(
Do you floss regularly? Is twice a week regular? No? Oh, okay... then, uh.....no. :(
(Apparently oral hygiene can also be linked to cheek acne! Who knew?! Probably everyone but me.)
Last night, I tried my best to stay on my right side. But guess what? I woke up in the middle of the night and found myself on my back, head to the left, with my HAND laying UNDERNEATH my CHEEK!
Here is a visual that yes, I took JUST for this post. You're welcome:
But anyway, come to think of it, I think I've been sleeping pretty regularly like that. (<-- Remember that post?) This CLEARLY explains the left cheek acne!
Which MEANS....it can't POSSIBLY be the wine drinking. Because if you think about it, I've been drinking pretty consistently since, uh... 21? And this newfound acne has only been around for the last 6 months or so.
So, it's settled then!
I need to:
A) Sleep like a normal person
B) Wash my hands before bed
C) Change my pillow case at least 1x/week
D) Floss, floss, floss!
E) Contemplate cutting back on the alcohol
F) Find some kick ass zit zapper cream that will banish them for all eternity. Any recommendations?
xoxo
But NOW?!
I've been getting more pimples than I have ever had in my entire life. Just within the last 6 months or so. I keep waiting for it to clear up, but then another one pops up!
But the interesting part is that they are only located on my LEFT CHEEK area. Always.
It used to be just around the time of my period, but now they've been sprouting up more frequently. Again, only on my left cheek!
See below (excuse my just-woke-up-rat's-nest-hair):
Okay, so it's kind of hard to tell in these photos, but main point is: I've NEVER had a cluster of zits in one spot before, so clearly something is up and I needed to figure it out.
So I did the only thing I know how to get accurate FACTS: I summoned the Google gods.
And guess what? There's a whole plethora of information out there on what your zits can tell you!
You want to know what the LEFT CHEEK ACNE is DIRECTLY correlated to?
THE LIVER!!!!
Do you want to know what organ I damage the most when drinking liters upon liters of that red wine I love oh so much?
MY LIVER!!!!
Immediately following my excitement for finding an answer to my new face friends, I then got really bummed out. Because, well, for obvious reasons:
1) I drink too much wine
2) I need to cut back on wine
3) I already knew this
4) But now I really need to if I want my face to be rejuvenated and youthful again
As I opened a bottle of wine and took a sip or two (true story), I did a little more zit fact checking because I wasn't quite ready to accept my new state of sobriety.
I answered a series of questions online, like:
Do you sleep on your left side? YES!
Do you have your hair parted to your left side? YES!
Do you change your pillowcases at least once a week? Er...uh... No. :(
Do you floss regularly? Is twice a week regular? No? Oh, okay... then, uh.....no. :(
(Apparently oral hygiene can also be linked to cheek acne! Who knew?! Probably everyone but me.)
Last night, I tried my best to stay on my right side. But guess what? I woke up in the middle of the night and found myself on my back, head to the left, with my HAND laying UNDERNEATH my CHEEK!
Here is a visual that yes, I took JUST for this post. You're welcome:
But anyway, come to think of it, I think I've been sleeping pretty regularly like that. (<-- Remember that post?) This CLEARLY explains the left cheek acne!
Which MEANS....it can't POSSIBLY be the wine drinking. Because if you think about it, I've been drinking pretty consistently since, uh... 21? And this newfound acne has only been around for the last 6 months or so.
So, it's settled then!
I need to:
A) Sleep like a normal person
B) Wash my hands before bed
C) Change my pillow case at least 1x/week
D) Floss, floss, floss!
E) Contemplate cutting back on the alcohol
F) Find some kick ass zit zapper cream that will banish them for all eternity. Any recommendations?
xoxo
I've been using illuMask and it's working! http://www.illumask.com/
ReplyDeleteI had awful acne in high school that was only tamed by Accutane. Then I had flawless skin UNTIL I had my son. It was all downhill awful adult acne from then on. I've tried every over the counter product I could get my hands on. I heard about this light mask and decided to try it before heading to the dermatologist for some intense acne meds. I've used it for 20 days so far and I can tell there is a big difference. It's even evened out my skin tone a little bit. I LOVE this thing! I got it from Walmart because it was cheapest there. It was $29.99 so about a dollar per day of treatments.
Good Luck!
It could also be your phone/cell phone. Do you only put the phone up to one side of your face? Try cleaning your phone with a Clorox wipe.
ReplyDeleteI def get adult acne but mostly around my chin. It's annoying and ugly. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI almost exclusively get zits on the right side of my face. The derm says it's because I sleep on that side. No need to quit the wine!
ReplyDeleteDang it! Amy up there beat me to it. I was hoping to be the brilliant one and answer all of your problems. So do you talk with your phone on that side?? If so that is the first thing I would clean and then try and be more intentional about not holding it right up against your face.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of elf Zit Zapper. Its a little roll ball tube that's clear and mostly odorless. I use it in the morning under make up and at night right before bed. I like that it's clear so you don't get that awesome "yes this is my zit covered in white caked on cream" look. It can be a little drying tho, so apply it directly to the zit and not all over the place. I've also been told that it's like $1 at Target, but since I live in Santa Barbara where the don't believe in Target's, I ordered mine on Amazon for $5 or something...
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Adult acne seriously sucks.
Mario Badescu Drying Cream! It's my go-to.
ReplyDeletexo. jenn @ hello, rigby!
Wow. I didn't know that your your cheek could connect to liver problems. The first thing that popped into my head was the pillow thing!
ReplyDeleteYour liver can put up with only so much drinking. Just because it's been great so far doesn't mean that the drinking isn't catching up with you and over powering your liver. Do a liver cleanse and see if that helps. Also, I used to get zits regularly until I switched make up to Bare Essentials. That has been the best make up ever for keeping my skin clear. I can give you a gift certificate so you can try it, if you want. Love you!!
ReplyDeleteYou should try apple cider vinegar as a toner! I've been using it for over a year now and my adult acne is completely GONE. I'm pregnant now & I don't even have hormonal ones, which is crazy. I have a blog post on how to use it...you start with it diluted & work your way up (depending on how your skin tolerates it). I use straight ACV now morning & night after cleansing and I swear it's amazing!!!! http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2012/06/best-skincare-item-i-have-ever-found.html
ReplyDeletetea tree oil! it smells terrible, but it zaps them right up!
ReplyDeleteUm... I never had acne as a teen either AND I was not very good about washing my face or anything. And here lately I too have been getting acne but mine is on my chin. While reading this I immediately began to wonder which internal organ I was slowly killing but now I'm thinking maybe I am sleeping with my hands on it too! I'm going to try to investigate that tonight!
ReplyDelete-Kate
www.theflorkens.com
You MUST try PanOxyl face wash - sold at most drugstores, but very rarely at Targets or grocery stores. It has absolutely changed my skin. It completely fixed my adult acne, and gives me a glow that nothing else has... and it's under ten bucks too. Be careful though, it does have a bleaching agent, so make sure you don't buy beautiful brand new towels and then wipe your face with them post-PanOxyl... I'm sure you can tell I've learned that lesson the hard way. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI second Mario Badescu. I use all of the acne line and my skin looks better than it has in years!
ReplyDeleteI would say wash the pillowcases! I have a good facial routine and whenever I have a big outbreak of zits, a wash of my pillowcases usually fixes it. Super odd but works well for me :D
ReplyDeleteElf zit zapper is amazing! It works so fast and is super cheap
ReplyDeletethanks alot for the amazing article. all these are good instructions to prevent acne from appearing. i also used a steam bath couple months ago and my acne started dissapearing .. i made a steam bath at home with thyme it was easy to use and to prepare..
ReplyDeletethis was the recipe:
Add 3 teaspoons of thyme or boiling water 2 teaspoon of thyme oil , and then steam your face for 8-10 minutes. Where it acts to lighten the pores of the skin , making it easier to remove blackheads . Thyme also contains some of the vital ingredients that help fight acne-causing bacteria effectively.
source : http://elegance-style.com/steam-bath-for-acne-at-home/
Hahaha, this post is comical. I agree whole-heartily...it can't be the wine! Wine is good for you!! :D
ReplyDeleteI have no luck trying to sleep like a normal person, I don't know if I could ever change that.
Lol I had a monster size zit on my right cheek for the past 2 weeks and thankfully it was decided to retreat. Adult acne is so not cool, I have a feeling mine is from holding my phone to my cheek. Bleh.
ReplyDeleteuse melaleuca essential oil - it kicks those zits! I'd been having crazy breakouts on my forehead, and I started using that and the breakouts are completely gone!!
ReplyDeleteHow you can correctly make use of the toner: Clean both hands having a mild anti-microbial cleaning soap before application.source
ReplyDelete