There's no doubt about it and there's no way around it. Antiepileptic drugs and Epilepsy alone can cause a major amount of acne in even the oldest of adults. It isn't common, but it isn't uncommon either. You either do or you don't. You'd think the universe would outlaw a blemish to occur on the face of an 18 - 40 year old... But Epilepsy thinks otherwise... As usual.
Epilepsy itself screws with the hormones of anyone, anywhere. Male or female, any race, young or old. Hormones control many issues in which affect the skin in major ways. This is why you may experience frequent rashes, boils, weird unidentifiable bumps, acne, etc.
When you're on medication, things can get better or worse. Your medication could control your seizures, even out your hormones, and acne will then disappear. Or, your medication can add too many toxins to your body (in which come out through your skin in some cases) and disrupt your hormones even more due to uncontrolled seizures (which I know from unfortunate experience) leading to awful acne that wouldn't end until you stop taking the drug and find one that works... or develop a precise acne treatment system.
Sometimes, these breakouts - whether they be on the face, chest, back, legs, etc. - will only occur for a few weeks or sometimes a few months due to simply being introduced to a new medication, or taken off a medication in which you have been on for a long time. This happens because your body simply isn't used to this new state and is adjusting or re-adjusting. This is called "acneiform drug eruptions". PubMed.org says:
Recently, new drugs, mainly targeted therapy in the field of oncology, such as epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, have been associated with an increased frequency of this adverse effect. Disruption of the culprit drug is rarely mandatory in cases of drug-induced acne. Close cooperation between the dermatologist and medical staff in charge of the patient is an important challenge to achieve optimal management of the initial disease."
Epilepsy reminds me of one of those troublemakers I was forced to sit next to in high school. You know, the kids who get you in trouble because they're the ones talking when the teacher said to shut up? I remember getting my report cards and seeing behavioral marks - which I got totally grounded for every time - and it was never my fault. We get to deal with all the *joys* of Epilepsy, but we never once asked to!
I think out of all the side effects, acne pisses me off the most. Weight gain would be first, usually. But even if I lost weight, the acne is what is going to keep me from knowing I look my best. Especially since it is all over the most important part of my body - my face!
My acne is clustered around the left side of my face and my chin. My right side and forehead are literally clean as a whistle. I originally assumed it was due to me sleeping on that side. However, I've noticed that I don't sleep on that side of my face at all! So I have no idea what the deal is. The picture above is my face when my breakout began. Notice how swollen it looks, especially on the chin. A double chin I never even had until now, thanks to acne. It is also on my chest. You cant tell much, but in the area where the shadow hits my face was a thick area of acne where almost no white skin existed.
Thankfully, I am slowly, but surely managing to minimize and even get rid of (somewhat) my acne. It's funny how all I have had to do is make these little, tiny changes... Yet they make huge differences in the end! So, I thought I would share them with you. I know many others, of all ages, sexes, and races share this issue. After all, Epilepsy doesn't discriminate! A few of these tips are cool because I have never seen them anywhere else. I sort of got creative and made them up on my own in order to fix certain issues, and in the end they worked like a charm! So please, enjoy!
This picture is where I am now. The acne is evening sides of my face and is much less severe. Double chin due to swelling has disappeared, and so has most redness. Some holes in the skin are left over. I have counted three total, but they are sort of repairing themselves with moisturization and regular, gentle washing.
Alright - here we go!
1. Take care of pillows... They are the most important step because you spend 8 hours or more glued to them! You want to change your pillowcases every three days... All of them. But, not only is your pillowcase infected with germs, oils, etc... But your pillow, itself, is too.
Many people purchase new pillows every 6 months due to this fact. Since many pillows are basically flattened after putting in the washer machine - and either shrink from the dryer or come out smelling like crap - your best bet is to put a cover on the pillow underneath the pillowcase. This will lessen the germ/oil content in your pillow, and eliminate the transfer from pillow to pillowcase. In the end, you can keep that pillow forever, and kill your breakouts! There are a few options you have to do this:
~ Purchase a spillproof pillow cover. I have only seen these once and it was at Bed, Bath & Beyond. They were quite pricey, but in the end I assume it's worth the cost. You'll know you found the product if it feels a bit rubbery, and zips up around the pillow rather than sliding over it like a regular pillowcase.
~ Make one! Buy a shower curtain from Wal-Mart (the plastic type, roughly $6) and sew that material around your pillow. Trim the edges and cover with your usual pillowcase.
~ Simply cover the pillow with a trash bag, and then cover the pillow with your usual pillowcase. I prefer this because it is not only cheapest but comfier to me.
2. Drink more water. Water truly is important to flush toxins from your system, and being on medication means you need double what the average person requires. Try to drink at least 10 8 oz. glasses of water a day. I guarantee that this step alone will show a lot of improvement for your skin.
3. Find a gentle cleanser and avoid exfoliating products more than twice a week... Or altogether. My dermatologist let me know that many people make the mistake of using exfoliating products, or products with added medications, when all they needed was a Neutrogena Face Bar.
4. Wash ritualistically. Twice a day didnt work for me, but three was the magic number. Keep your washes as on-time as possible. Ex: If you washed on Monday at 8:00am, 12:00pm, and 7:00pm, continue that timing each and everyday.
5. Try washing directly after meals. A lot of acne breakouts can be due to food touching your mouth and hands. Therefore, washing directly after meals is very smart. Try to schedule your meals before the time you usually wash your face rather than adding various extra washes to your schedule - that will dry out your skin and just make things worse. Since most people are at work or school around their lunch time, make a purchase of facial cleansing wipes and use those at lunch. That way you don't have to get out the soap and scrub in a public restroom.
6. Avoid eating greasy foods, especially when you're on the go. If you know that you're not able to wash your face after lunch, stick to something fresh and healthy... Minus the grease. That way it isn't all over your hands and face. No one likes chin acne! Another great reason to diet!
7. Try your best not to oversleep too often. Since everyone sweats while they're sleeping, you're not only adding more grease to your pillow (yuck!) but you're also letting that grease sit on your face for an extended period of time. If you're absolutely too tired to get up and start your day, at least get up to wash your face on time, and then head back to dreamland!
8. If your face is extremely inflamed, skip out on makeup until swelling, redness, blistering and pain goes away. In the long run, makeup can cause your acne to get worse deeper down in the skin making blemishes reoccur constantly. Therefore, it's best to live by the rule of not using makeup on broken skin.
9. When using makeup, be sure to choose a makeup that is safe for people with acne. Neutrogena has a fantastic line of foundations specifically for people with acne. What else is cool? It even has Salicylic acid added to help clear the breakouts while you wear the products!
10. Never, never, NEVER sleep with your makeup on. Whether it be only eyeliner, or a full face of foundation, eye shadow, lipstick and mascara - take it off! When you let products like that sit on your face overnight you are literally asking for a breakout. Many girls cause their own breakouts and this is usually how.
12. Try lip stain plus a little lip balm instead of oily lip gloss. Breakouts specifically limited to the chin are usually caused by grease running down during meals, and grease from lip products!
13. If you play sports or workout, invest in a facial soap bar and take it with you to the locker room. Always wash your face after sports or workouts, even if it is out of line with your schedule. All that sweat cannot just sit on your face, and hot water alone will not remove it.
14. When washing your face, be sure to apply cleanser all over, including your neck. Don't avoid a spot because "it has no zits" or "it never breaks out". You will mess with your skin's natural balance and make breakouts worse. Treat every part of the face the same!
15. Where is your breakout located? If your acne is on one side of the face only, most of the time this means something! Not all people stand by this map, bur many in China do and several people in my famil do. To be honest, I didn't believe in this map until I really started to follow it! Let me walk you through theacne zones and let you in on some other reasons you may be breaking out in that area. Not all zones are acne zones, as you will see.
Zone 1 and 3 - These zones are on the sides of your forehead. Before we blame it all on how you eat and drink, do me a favor and look in the mirror right now. Is your hair touching that area at all? Do you find yourset setting your head in your hands a lot? Does your scalp itch causing you to touch those areas regularly? If you said yes to any of those questions, you probably need to stop touching those areas as well as doing the following. Pull your hair back with a headband, or keep it in a ponytail. Take two showers a day instead of one to reduce a greasy scalp. Not only are you in major need of some readjusting, but you also probably need to release major toxins and get some extra water intake. Try getting more exercise to sweat all that nasty stuff out of your pores, and make sure you are getting enough water sleep to ensure those workouts are not taking the life out of you. The magic number is "8". At least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day (and believe me, that is literally the minimum. At max you need about 15 glasses, like I said.) and at least 8 hours of sleep (again, having Epilepsy means you need more... Shoot for 9 or 10 if you can).
Zone 2 - This spot is tricky. Again, you want to make sure your hair and hands stay away from this area. I find myself itching this spot constantly in the early fall and spring, when the grass starts blooming. I am severely allergic to it and that area itches more than any other. It also otches around cats. After so much itching, I usually get a huge breakout less than a week later that lasts anywhere from two weeks to a few months.
Zone 11, 12, and 13 - These zones are a powerful one for women. It can tell you a lot about hormones. Hormones are not only affected by AEDs, but also Epilepsy itself. If you are not only noticing acne, but also unusual hair growth (women), this can be a huge sign of a problem. Try seeing your OB/GYN about trying a low dose birth control pill to regulate hormones.
If you are a male or female, you may also want to think "Do I lean on my hands a lot in class?" The chin is a very commonly touched facial zone throughout the day, whether it be wiping away food or falling asleep on your arms in class. So keep it clean and DON'T touch!
Zone 14 - You'll often get breakouts here in summer months from the heat and sunburn. Wearing sunscreen is a major key in avoiding pimples on the neck over the summer - interesting right? Be sure to choose one that is non comodogenic (doesn't clog pores) and is oil-free. If you are noticing breakouts here in other months, you may need to do simple things like:
~ Washing that hoodie you have been wearing for a week. Dirt and oil builds on clothes and fabrics very easily!
~ Pick jewelry carefully. Note, you are noticing an allergic reaction and NOT acne. Cheap metals can cause reactions that sometimes resemble a bad acne breakout. It can however allow for infection and result in some acne.
~ Moisturize in the winter. Neck skin can get dry in the cold and crack, allowing for dirt to enter the skin, resulting in acne.
~ Always remember to wash your neck and chest. Women and men alike get acne between the breasts as sweat builds up in that area (mainly for women, between the cleavage - but sweat does stick to hair, and if you've got a hairy chest you probably have acne there too!)).
Zones 5, 7, and 9 - If you smoke or work around smoke, remember that it clogs pores. Consider quitting, staying away from it, etc. and wash your face after being near it. These areas are commonly sunburned and as I mentioned with the neck, need to be protected especially with a non-comodogenic sunscreen that is oil-free. Otherwise you'll get burns that lead to broken skin, which then allow dirt and grime to enter the skin causing acne breakouts.
16. Try sleeping on the other side of your face (if you can) to give that other cheek a rest.
17. Do NOT touch your face! Ever! And if you must, use a napkin or soft towel over your hand.
18. Don't scrub your face or use a towel to clean it. It breaks the skin and allows for more dirt to enter the skin, making infection and harder-to-kill acne breakouts. Use your hands, splash water in your fae, or wash your face in the shower using the running water only. Pat dry, don't rub.
19. Never pop your pimples. It is hard not to do, especially for those with anxiety or boredom in which they commonly pick at their skin, or for those who see white spots on their face unattractive. Pimples that are "ready to pop" (get crusty with a white bump on top) are actually pimples that are almost healed and are close to falling off on their own. Its better to let them pop on their own then to try and do it yourself. Why? Because doing so causes mini infections beneath the surface of the skin - which will cause a pimple to return in the same area over and over. Get rid if them once and for all by simply leaving them alone.
20. Stress doesn't help. It should be obvious, but it isn't to most. Stress not only triggers seizures, but it can make you break out faster than pouring a whole bottle of Canola oil on your face. Avoid it whenever possible in all ways. This means you should tell those people who are bothering you to hit the road, you need to get your eight hours of sleep a night, and you need to work out and relieve the tension in your body!
21. Sleep! I just mentioned this, but I'd like to explain. Sleep helps our body function properly. It reduces stress brought on when our body can't do what it is supposed to and it relaxes us naturally. Nobody likes to feel tired and groggy.
22. Working out - another repeat, I know. Working out not only relieves tension and leftover stress in the body, but it also flushes toxins from our body through our pores. This means less toxins building up inside to create acne! Be sure to wash afterward!
23. Put good in, get good out. Eat healthy foods that will benefit your skin. Eating lots of preservatives and grease is not going to help us. Eat natural foods from the ground and help your skin be glowing and vitamin-enriched, not pimple-covered.
24. Be healthy in the sun. Sun has been known for sunburns. As I mentioned, this breaks skin and any dirt that comes in contact with that broken skin is basically a recipe for acne that comes back over and over again. As long as you wear a good non-comodogenic and oil-free sunscreen, avoid sunburns, then the sun can only help! Some dermatologists even say UV rays are good for acne because they fry the infection and help it heal!
25. If these tips don't help over a period of three months, consider seeing a dermatologist about an acne medication to help clear things up. Over time, acne can lead to deep holes in the face that rarely go away. You deserve to feel attractive without loading on the makeup. NOTE: Still consider seeing a dermatologist before using these tips if you feel your acne is currently at an uncontrollable point.
