Im 35 and still getting spots. Why?

[pepsi]

I also seem to have spots, this morning Ive got three enourmous things on my chin and Ive always got blackheads on my nose. I wash my face twice a day, I tone, exfoliate moisturise and use good products that are not oily. I eat a good diet and am not under particular stress. At the moment I am using clinique soap, a body shop Vit C exfoliator, a lancome primoridiale SPF 15 moisturiser and lancome toner. Over the past 20 years Ive tried allsorts of products from cheap and cheerful to top of the range but Ive never seen any long term improvement. Im not overweight wouldnt say I get regular exerting exercise, sometimes I get on our exercise bike but I am on the go all the time with ds and dd, I dont smoke, drink very little and drink lots of water. Any ideas?

[aloha]

Spots are not very affected by external stuff or even really nutritional things. They are hormonally related and the way your skin works. Are you really bothered by them? There are other treatments available from dermatologists, such as Intense Pulsed Light treatments which do seem to work, though they are quite pricey. I think most women get spots - esp hormonally triggered spots - from time to time though. But it does seem unfair when you get start getting spots AND wrinkles!

[pepsi]

Dont even start me on the wrinkles.........now Im really depressed. The only plus has to be that if people see my spots that might think I younger that what I actually am!

[cockle]

You might be surprised at how sympathetic your GP would be. I was referred to a dermatologist, diagnosed with mild acne and given some really effective prescription-only treatments. They're the only things that worked for me. Agree about the hormonal thing. You have all my sympathy - it's no fun.

[JuniperDewdrop]

Are they really bad or just a few? I get them still at 36 even though I had roaccutane years ago (very strong meds) but they're a lot better than they were.
A mate of mine has been taking anti bs for a few months and hers have all gone now. She's in her 40s.
PCOS can cause spots but you'd be getting other symptoms too.

[pepsi]

Whats PCOS?

[JuniperDewdrop]

poly cystic ovary syndrome

[smellymelly]

Yeah I still get spots, still hormone related I think, as they get much much worse when I'm pregnant, but I have been taking Sanatogen multi vits (for pregnancy) and some very expensive fish oils, and they are so much better!

Nothing I put on my skin helps, so I will be taking vitamins for a long time after too. Also acupuncture helped me loads. I have been on Roaccutane twice - but as soon as I finished the course they came back...

BTW I'm 32

[pepsi]

What would the other symptons be then?

[JuniperDewdrop]

PCOS symptoms

[cockle]

Agree about fish oils. I found my skin improved noticeably when I tried eating oily fish 3x a week.

I've been using Origins Clear Improvement charcoal face mask once a week lately, and that's helped too

[Lonelymum]

I'm 39 and I get the odd one too, which lasts for weeks. I feel really cross that I should still be afflicted, but I don't think it can be down to anything I do wrong. Shall follow this thread with interest though.

[tangerinecath]

Also following this thread with interest, I currently have a belter on my chin which looks like I'm growing another head ! I've always been spotty though, they cleared up while I was pg but now they're back with a vengance (dd is 4.5 months)

[pixel]

I'm 38 next week and spots are the bane of my life! I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was having trouble getting pregnant due to having very infrequent periods.

If you are thinking this could be your problem, bear in mind that you may not have all the symptoms or they may not be immediately obvious. I have the spots and ovulation problems but I'm not especially hairy and although I weigh a couple of stone more than before I had the kids, I'm still a size 12 so not obese.p

[collision]

Am 33 and have PCOS. No trouble with fertility or periods, but am spotty and have a trunk like figure (sounds sexy!!) and am more hairy than an average person I think. Now I sound like a fat, spotty woolly mammoth!!

Once I have had the baby (due Fri) then I will sort my skin out as it is much worse during PG and I hate it. Dr said he can easily sort it out for me which is good.

[joash]

This is probably totally useless, but I do know that the skin of adults who are prone to spots due to oily skin (rather than some underlying condition) ages much more slowly than those who don't get spots...less wrinkles, less drying of the skin, etc, etc - so something to look forward to.

[tallulah]

I'm 41 & still have spots. I sympathise but no solutions. Tried everything. Nothing works.

[hunny]

I used to have beautiful skin and then when I became pregnant first time round got terrible spots. I've been trying to shift them ever since (over 2 years and another pregnancy later). One thing I've found recently which helps is dabbing neat tea tree oil on to each spot with a cotton bud at night before going to bed. This does not stop them appearing in the first place but I'm sure it makes them go away quicker and also helps prevent scarring. Don't have a solution for blackheads though.

[Catbert]

Never had spots when on the pill. But any time of my life when I have not been, since puberty I have had spots. They occur around a week before my period and last through my period and then start to clear up. I get about one week of spot free chin and then it all starts again.

I'm 33.