Pls help me with my infuriating skin!!

[SilverDragonfly1]

I have combination skin which is generally 'okay'- not luminous or silky etc, but it holds my organs in adequately, so I can live with that.

In march I ended up with an abscessed appendix, so had a couple of days of intravenous AB's and another ten days of tablets. Ever since then, my skin has been a nightmare! Very dry and very greasy and worst of all, loads of spots (cystic acne type). Mainly on my face but also (so embarrassed) on my thighs and bum :(

Boots tea tree cream is very good I've found, but every time one spot goes down another flares up. And when it comes to my face, any products that work on the spots also dry my skin even worse.

Relevant info, I'm 41. Appendix is still in situ until I get a date for operation. Also on a fixed income, so anything costing more than about a fiver is out :( However I'm very open to natural/home remedies!

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Not sure about the skincare, but wondering if you are drinking enough water, or you could increase your intake a bit? Might help flush the additional toxins out faster? Soz if you already on it!

[SilverDragonfly1]

Definitely not drinking enough water! I will try harder with that.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I think if it's cystic you should see the GP, are they leaving scars?.

[SilverDragonfly1]

Yeah? I seem to be at the doctor's so much (also have type 2 diabetes and clinical depression, though both are well controlled) that I'm a bit uncomfortable saying 'Oh, and also...' if you see what I mean.

They are not scarring my face, but leaving purple-ish marks elsewhere.

I am going to make a real effort to drink more water to start with!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Are your sugars well controlled? Low carbing reduced my acne. I'm prone to high blood sugar thanks to pcos.

Sometimes my sugars higher than dhs.

[WeeM]

I have been getting big huge spots lately-I've always had acne but these are something else. Can't really pinpoint anything that may have triggered it. I was recommend la roche posay effaclar duo moisturiser-I think it has def helped a bit but it's not a miracle cure. But I don't think anything is! It's good for mattifying too. They do a face wash etc too but I've only ever used the moisturiser. It's about £15 full price but I've had it on offer before.

[WeeM]

I should say it helps calm the redness from the scars too which I like.

[ThomasHardyPerennial]

I am also having problems with my skin after several courses of antibiotics. I thought it was just a coincidence! I drink litres of water a day, so can't be that I'm not drinking enough.

[SilverDragonfly1]

My sugars are all good :) I have them checked regularly and keep up with my medication.

I was wondering if it was because of my appendix, maybe I have extra toxins at the moment because of it? The antibiotics completely threw my system out, had a couple of bad bouts of thrush and upset stomach despite using probiotics once the course was finished.

[midnightmoomoo]

If you can stretch the budget I'd really recommend the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo cream. I put off trying it for ages because I thought it would be drying but it's not at all! Keeps spots at bay but also targets the red marks they leave.

[EnidButton]

When I get thrush I also get cystic acne on my jawline. It could be that. I'm not convinced about 'toxins' causing skin problems but candida certainly can.
Definitely cut out all refined sugars and start drinking more water. It'll help with your healing process generally.

[EnidButton]

And for your body acne try a final wash on the problem areas (not all over!) with hibi scrub. It gets a raised eyebrow when suggested but it honestly works wonders for some people and derms in the US prescribe it so it's worth a try. Over the counter in pharmacies, about £8 for a big bottle and you don't need much.