Breaking Out A Woman’s Guide to Coping with

merlot on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 3:46 am 



great book on acne in women
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I like it because it’s not biased towards certain products. The author took the best of all dermatologists and skin care professional research and presents it in a well organized manner. Some of the information isn’t rocket science but there are thngs I learned and good solid explanations. The cost of the book definitely justifies the value especially if you’re like me (I’ve suffered with acne for the last 5 or so years and I’ve tried everything). For me research is key and this book has helped me be more prepared to address my skin issues.

Claregirl17 on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 5:29 am 



Excellent reporting, great information
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As a newspaper reporter who covers health and fitness, and someone who’s had acne-prone skin for 20 years, I’m impressed with this book. Preston did a lot of research and covers all the bases. It’s clearly and concisely written, with a lot of little tidbits of information that help us to make informed decisions about our skin care. For example, many of the benzoyl peroxide products on drugstore shelves are 10 percent strength — but for most of us, 2.5 percent or 5 percent gives the same acne-fighting benefits without all the dryness and redness and irritation. There’s a great appendix in back detailing what products contain which ingredients. Preston has suffered from acne herself, and her writing reflects that. I was left with the impression that she knows exactly how you feel — which is very comforting. A very helpful and reassuring book.

C. A. Blend on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 7:49 am 



Medical knowledge and personal anecdote
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book is a no nonsense, plain speaking and extremely comprehensive account of the physical and emotional aspects of acne. It addresses the many different options of preventative and reparative treatment while maintaining the heartfelt narrative of someone who really knows what it is like to suffer with this condition. In reading this book, as an acne sufferer, I found out many things I did not know and after finishing it was armed with new ideas and many new perspectives onold ideas. Ms. Preston is not afraid to come down definitively on the side of products that she has tried and recommended and holds little faith or respect in the many myths and rumours that surround this subject. The book is enjoyable to read, funny and poignant, showing Ms. Preston’s talent as a writer and also delivers straightforward medical analysis of the subject with no statistic left unanalyzed and no term unexplained, showing her huge knowledge and experience of the subject. This is an essential text for women who suffer from any sort of acne, not only for the reasons above, but because it strikes such an empowering tone.

M. Mills on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 8:30 am 



This book saved my skin!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book is a no-nonsense, common-sense approach to learning about which kind of acne you have, and then finding the most effective treatment options for YOU. The author wades through all the marketing hype and consults hundreds of doctors and dermatologists to give you accurate, unbiased information about a variety of OTC/prescription products and virtually all treatment options currently available. She describes the common level of effectiveness for each product and tells you how to use it correctly (you may be surprised!).

One of the best things about this book is that the author understands what you’re going through: to get rid of her own adult acne, she went to several different dermatologists and ended up taking Accutane. She knows your frustration, embarrassment, and despair; her tone is one of empathy.

The information I learned from this book has made a huge difference in my complexion. After 12 years of moderate acne and having tried the gamut of OTC/prescription treatments to no avail, my skin has now been consistently clear for six months, ever since I started one of the treatment plans recommended in this book. Sometimes I can hardly believe it myself when I look in the mirror.

Before reading this book, I had never thought of using more than one product, and — this is key — using them in the right concentrations at different times of the day. If you’re curious, I use Ecco Bella’s Leave-on Invisible Exfoliant & Blemish Remedy (low-pH 2% salicylic acid) each morning, and Earth Therapeutics’ Clari-T Acne Serum º5 (5% benzoyl peroxide) at night.

Good luck, Reader! Don’t be embarrassed to check out this book from your local library (or buy it here on Amazon) — your skin and your self-esteem are worth it.

** Update, Nov. 17, 2008: My skin has been clear for 10 months! I was in a LUSH store a few weeks ago, and the sales associate was telling me about one of their facial masks and said, “Oh, but this one’s for people with acne, and you obviously have clear skin…” And I looked at her, shocked, and responded, “No, I really DO need that mask! I use zit medicine every day!” It just goes to show you that 1) the treatments in this book work, and 2) you are your own harshest critic.

70's Girl on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 8:37 am 



A Must Read for Anyone Needing Acne Knowledge!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My daughter has moderate to severe acne and I have been struggling to understand. This book has been a Godsend. It has filled in all the blanks and given me all the information I need to know. The best thing? It is all in one place and easy to read. I finally understand exactly what her prescriptions are and exactly what they do…This book is a must read!

Stacey R. on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 9:01 am 



Fantastic resource
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After years of dealing with my acne issues, both on my own and with a dermatologist’s arsenal of treatment options, I’d still found myself frustrated by my persistant skin problems. This book did a fantastic job of explaning how and why each type of medication/treatment works so now I finally understand the best way for me to utilize drugstore and prescription treatments.

After less than a month of following the author’s advice, my skin is already clearer than I can remember it being, basically since puberty! I can’t stress enough the value of her explanations of HOW medications like benzoyl peroxide work, so that you can understand how you need to use them for them to be effective.

Definitely worth the money!!

C. Kantner on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 1:02 pm 



Recommend this book anyone you know with acne
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had acne all my life, now my teenage daughter also has it. ?She knows that this might not be just a phase she’s going through. ?Because of her, I’ve been doing research and am so happy to have found this book. ?It really gives so much information, much more detailed than other books I’ve checked out. I’ve learned that there is help for me as well as things that can work for my daughter. ?Really informative and well organized.

Thank you so much.

Happy Mommy on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 5:48 pm 



Very Informative
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This book is very well-written and informative. I learned so much about acne and found a few things to try on myself. After multiple trips to beauticians and dermatologists, I found a regimen that had me looking much better in a couple of weeks! I’m impressed and have shared the book with my three sisters. I wish she would have covered the role of acne in pregnancy and nursing more thoroughly; that would have been an improvement. Also, it is a little outdated on the products available, but as soon as the book was printed it was outdated, so that didn’t affect the review. I feel this book is well worth the price.

Anonymous on Thu, 17th Sep 2009 6:10 pm 



The book I’ve been waiting for
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been trying to find a book that could help me, and I finally found it. I love this book. It’s very clearly written, packed with interesting and helpful information. It doesn’t give you any one single cure or prescription that may or may not work for you. Instead, it explains ALL the different acne treatments out there – benzoyl peroxide, Accutane, retins, diet, hormones, etc., etc. – you can really understand how they work and how to use them – then make informed decisions for yourself. Also, some of the other books on the market are written by doctors who have their own line of products to promote – not this author, so the book is very balanced and unbiased. Finally, if you’re like me and have acne and scarring, there’s a long chapter on acne scar tratments a subject that most other books treat very superfically.

L. Delacruz on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 12:41 am 



Great Starting Point to Understanding Acne
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I LOVED this book. Lydia uses tons of references and provides the reader with varying opinions on acne. She readily admits that there isn’t one universal cure for acne and her research is extensive. I recommend this book to all of my clients who suffer from acne. There is a comprehensive bibliography as well where you can find books with more in-depth information.

Arlene Orengo on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 5:58 am 



Great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have battle acne since I was 13 now 26. I was expecting to know everything about acne and I was wrong! really great information especially for adult woman. I read this book in two days very easy reading and informative.

Member of the Colbert Nation on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 7:09 am 



A must-read for acne sufferers
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As woman in my mid-thirities, I’ve suffered from adult-onset acne for the last 15 years. With the help of my dermatologist, I’ve run the gammut of treatments from her office, from birth control pills to Acccutane. But still, I have acne. I finally quit going a few months ago to sort out what I wanted to do and to educate myself better. One trip to my library found this gem, “Breaking Out”. It is easy to read, no nonsense, and thorough. More importantly, the author doesn’t have an agenda to sell me products. I read the book quickly, and feel educated and empowered to know exactly the course I want to take with my skin and my body now.

Anonymous on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 9:12 am 



very informative and educational
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I haven’t read any other books about treating acne, so I can’t compare this to “Clear Skin”, “Unblemished”, “The Acne Cure”, “Acne Rx”, or “The Acne Prescription.” But I felt like this book did a really good job at showing all the treatment alternatives and letting you make your own decisions (with or without a dermatologist). It doesn’t push one method or treatment or any products. And I felt like this book was also extremely helpful in discussing options for acne scars. Some readers may be left overwhelmed or confused by all the information, but I found it very helpful to have different dermatologists’ opinions and advice. Sometimes, it’s contradictory, but I think that’s the point: No one treatment is going to work for everyone. Your skincare regimen has to be adapted according to the severity of your acne, your tolerance for side effects, your patience for results, and any other medical conditions that you are treating.

Cupcakeaholic on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 9:14 am 



Good Introduction
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After finding myself trying several OTC programs which didn’t work, I stumbled across this book. I had no idea that I had been using BP all wrong! FYI, BP is not a spot treatment for pimples with white showing. I also had no idea that salicylic acid products had to be of a pH between 3 and 4 to be most effective. I wish the author would have tested more salicylic acid products for the appropriate pH. Only a couple of the ones she tested had the requisite pH. I would have much rather had a large list of products with the recommended pH than a large list of products without it. Also, I agree with a previous reviewer that pictures would be most helpful, especially in describing the formation of acne and what the different kinds of acne look like. Overall, I found that this book is a good introduction to the world of acne, but definitely not a place to stop learning.

Nadja von Neumann on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 9:29 am 



I thought I knew something about acne…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Do you believe that if a product dries out your face, your skin will overcompensate by producing more oil? Do you think a special scrub can unplug your pores and help free you from blackheads? Or maybe you cherish the belief that you can sweat your pores clean of acne-causing dirt or toxins through vigorous exercise or steam treatments? If so, you need to read this book.

I have never realized how poorly I understood acne, and I am amazed how many myths I let myself absorb from “informative” commercials and advice given by well-intentioned editors of numerous women’s magazines. I am immensely grateful to the author for teaching me what acne is – really and exactly – and for doing so in an accessible and friendly manner. Just the chapter “Understanding Acne” alone is worth the money I spent on this book, because it’s hard to fight the condition without understanding it, and because it simply feels good to know for once what is going on with my skin.

Greg Estrada on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 11:19 am 



Excellent!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Very thorough–very well written–clear practical info on how to handle acne and it’s subsequent scarring from a writer who’s actually lived through it all herself…

and *finally* someone in the skin industry publicly gives Accutane the credit it deserves-it truly is THEE miracle drug of this century.

Besides the book’s utilitarian merits it’s actually a fun read–full of personal anecdotes-take it to the beach–well–put a brown paper bag bookcover on it first…

Mrs. Diana L. Grawey on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 1:01 pm 



The Best Book on Acne Yet
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had enough acne to worry about coping with it for years and when I found this book and started reading it, I knew I wouldn’t need any other book about it again! From letting us know that we should put benzoyl peroxide on our faces each night to help prevent breakouts rather than putting it on places which have already broken out to different types of products that are best to use on which type of skin to different types of laser resurfacing and options that are available in order to remove acne scars, this book has it all. In addition, it gives a chapter for helping children with acne, which I know will be beneficial when my daughters get older since most children have acne if their parents do, as this book states.

Mama RB on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 2:23 pm 



Unbelievably helful in controlling adult acne
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had cystic acne since I was a teen. I’m now 42 and there are no signs of it going away. I see a dermatologist regularly. I have tried literally hundreds of skincare products.

I purchased this book, read it cover to cover, and changed my skincare routine in response. I am using products I already had – a mix of OTC and prescription items – I just didn’t have a good plan for using them.

To my amazement, I have now gone six weeks without a cyst. This may be the longest cyst-free period in my adult life.

Lydia Preston, you are my hero.

UPDATE: Three months, no cysts. I could seriously cry!

C. Shie on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 3:40 pm 



She understands and openly knows others don’t
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I felt supported when I read this book. Everyone close to me in my life has always said that they don’t see my pimples or skin my problem. When I press on and tell them I like to hear the truth of the matter, they go on to say, “so what you got acne – it shouldn’t keep you from being happy.”

And then the reality of how people feel comes out. People without acne see a person with acne as being lazy with ill-hygiene and an unwilliness to be socially confident. People without acne don’t empathize with us. They don’t understand that it is a handicap we carry and did not ask for or do anything to get.

If you have acne you know it’s a big deal. And this book gets that. The first part of the book is healing to say the least. The second part of the book explains all the medications and the best way to take them. In fact, I used the right stuff once – but I used it the wrong way. Then, for the past 8 years I have tried countless fad ways to change. From going on and sticking with low-sugar diets like “the acne diet” to light therapy to strong medications from the dermatologist. Nothing ever kept me on a straight line.

The author points out that if you get acne as an adult it runs a course of about 20 years and if you don’t take notice then you will go along a path that destroys your skin and become possibly disfigured.

I have hope after reading this book. There isn’t a cure, but there is a way to use medications from the drugstore or from your doctor that really will keep your face in check. Like a diet – it’s not a one time fix. You got about 20 years of staying on the plan, so it’s a daily use plan. And the nice thing about it is the author doesn’t have an everyone follow this program approach – she gives you the facts about each type of product, tells you how it works, how it fails and allows you to draw up your plan by way of your skin – since you know your skin the best.

She even pinpoints why things like Proactive helps so many people and how to get the same treatment by going to the drugstore and paying much less for it. If acne is an average of a twenty-year long adult disease, I don’t want to follow an expensive plan.

I really appreciated this book. It’s not a fad book. The author didn’t set out to write a series to make lots of money. Lydia Preston wrote this book with an obvious investigative heart with the intent to simply share knowledge and to prevent further pain cause by acne.

After two months on my new plan, which cames from notes and facts from this book, I’m happy to say my skin is looking great. And I feel free because of clear skin. Once you have the confidence in your appearence, it’s amazing how much focus you suddenly have to give to other areas of your life. It’s very fullfilling to be in control.

Kelly Garbato on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 5:16 pm 



Comprehensive Guide to Acne Treatments
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As a teenager, I was plagued with the occasional flaming red pimple. Although my skin was usually clear, I didn’t fully appreciate this until my mid-20s, when – to my surprise – I started to have more frequent and severe flare-ups. Like many people, I assumed that acne was a “teenager’s problem,” so I was both puzzled and frustrated when my acne only worsened with age – despite the inordinate amount of time I devoted to skin care.

Over the previous six months, the situation has become intolerable. Now approaching 30, the periods of flare-ups far outnumber clear days. Objectively, I know that I don’t have it “that bad,” but it’s bothersome nonetheless. I decided to take action and map out a plan of over-the-counter treatments before turning to a dermatologist for help (a last step for me, since, in my experience, dermatologists seem to overcharge and under-deliver!). At first, I tried to locate advice on the Internet. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a site with comprehensive and consistent information; for example, home remedies ran the gamut, from lemon peels to shaving cream to tumeric. There are literally as many “folk remedies” as there are acne sufferers!

Rather than try to sort through this information overload, I instead turned to my local library. The most recent book on acne treatments they owned was “Breaking Out,” so I checked it out right away.

I have to say, I think I hit the jackpot the first time around! “Breaking Out” is a comprehensive guide to acne treatments. Preston covers all the bases; she discusses acne myths and truths; OTC treatments that work (as well as those that don’t); various prescription remedies; and even more drastic therapies, such as Accutane and hormones. A longtime acne sufferer herself, she’s definitely done her research – and she also addresses her audience with empathy. She features interviews with a number of prominent researchers in the field, but the discussion is never dry or boring. Rather, she manages to break down the science behind acne causes and treatments so that it’s easily comprehensible to laypeople.

After reading “Breaking Out,” I drew up a plan to deal with my acne: a facial wash containing 2% salicylic acid (twice a day), together with a 10% benzoyl peroxide cream (again, twice a day), and an oil-free moisturizer with sunblock (as needed). When I went to my local grocery store, book in hand, I was able to tackle the five mini-aisles of cosmetics with ease: I knew exactly what I wanted, and what products/ingredients I should avoid. Although it’s only been a few weeks, it already seems like I’m getting fewer pimples (though I suppose it could just be my imagination!). Best yet, I feel confident, empowered to solve the problem, as opposed to sitting back and passively accepting the advice of clueless dermatologists.

Even though the guide is directed at women, men might find it helpful as well – particularly the chapters on various treatment options. I’d also recommend the book to men whose partners are afflicted with acne. Preston addresses the emotional aspects of acne, and her advice to women might help men understand how acne affects the emotional health and well-being of their partners.

Kharabella on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 6:34 pm 



Know what you are putting on your face!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great resource for the price! This book helped me understand acne and the kinds of chemicals and treatments that are used to treat acne. As I get older (late 20s), I get more and more acne. I tried to treat it using over the counter products, and my skin would just break out in ugly, itchy rashes. This book helped me to learn for myself about the chemicals used in acne-treatment products and moisturizers. It clearly illustrates the types of acne and the how chemicals in the products work to clear, or to damage, skin.

The book was easy to read and to follow — the best part is probably the appendices in the back. They list skin care products by name, along with the active, acne-fighting ingredients. There is also a very helpful index and a bibliography.

MusicNut on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 9:12 pm 



A complete and well-researched guide to all things ACNE!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
(As with anything you read or buy, it is wise to take the information provided with a grain of salt. Be sure to cross-reference facts and compare opinions with known professionals and experts in the field in question to be sure what you are getting is indeed accurate.)

I’ve been coping with acne for nearly all my life and it has certainly been a source of major aggrivation for me. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why my struggle continues is due to a lack of information and understanding about acne. After some basic searching, I came across this book. “Breaking Out” is a clearly organized and well-put-together book that conatains a wealth of information about acne causes and treatment options. Author Lydia Preston covers all the bases including the different categories of acne to over-the-counter treatments and prescription drug options to dealing with scarring and other acne-related skin conditions. Preston collaborates with several leading dermatologists to provide detailed information on prescription acne medications as well as different forms of skin therapy used in the treatment and prevention of acne.

This book is definitely geared towards the adult female acne sufferer but also contains relevant information pertaining to the treatment of acne in teens and children. Overall, an excellent supplement to any acne treatment and a thorough source of information presented in easy-to-decipher terms.

Preston seeks to inform the reader about treatment options and takes great care to emphasize that there is no one acne treatment that works for everyone. If you’re frustrated with your current treatment regimen or want to find out more about the ins and outs of acne then definitely check out this book!

*Also includes great list of resources and several helpful appendices.

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!