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Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Infertility

Constantly bad skin due to infertility?

7 replies

Dot457 · 19/05/2020 09:55

Hello. Sorry if this should have been posted in a different area. I'm wondering if anyone has got any advice regarding bad skin due to infertility?

I've had bad skin since the minute I hit puberty, by bad skin I mean constantly spotty, very oily skin, dry patchy skin and really blotchy. It got to the point where I constantly wore make up to try and hide my bad skin but that made it worse obviously, it's a vicious circle. I've used so many "Recommended" brands in the past, but the minute my face gets a slight bit of moisture, I just break out again. My face literally seeps oil.

During lockdown I haven't been wearing any make up at all, my skin was a lot better but not perfect. The last couple of weeks my skin is getting really bad again, could be stress or hormone related! I have PCOS, Endo, a hormone imbalance, and other things like no tubes and only half a womb, but I'm not sure if that would affect my hormones.

Anyway, I'm just hoping that someone can actually recommend something as I'm guessing a lot of people have bad skin here too due to having hormone related problems like me! The only thing thats ever seemed to work the best is an antibacterial facewash which I use everyday.

TIA x

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Phoneshea · 19/05/2020 11:20

I sympathise. My skin can be very temperamental. I use tea tree products, that seems to have settled my skin down. Boots and Superdrug do a range of tea tree moisturisers, night gels and facial scrubs.

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Pinktruffle · 19/05/2020 11:51

Tea tree doesn't generally help - you need active acids to make a difference. I have PCOS and had awful adult acne. I no longer have acne, the odd spot and some permanent scarinf unfortunately. Two things helped with my skin - my fertility specialist told me to use Infolic/My-Insotol as a supplement to help control PCOS symptoms - it worked a dream with my skin and regulated my periods, I've been using it for nearly 3 years. The other thing that helped was using salycilic acid, I used Paula's Choice toner (the strongest one) every evening and it hugely improve my skin. I no longer use it during to being pregnant and completely stripping back my routine -I stopped using it about 10 months ago and my skin has kept up the results.

I would recommend looking up Caroline Hirons blog for information on products to use. If you are on Instagram, look up Dr Anjali Mahato - she is dermatologist who suffers from PCOS herself and gives tons of advice on looking after your skin

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Pinktruffle · 19/05/2020 11:52

Sorry Dr Anjali Mahto, no extra A

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Dot457 · 19/05/2020 12:26

Thank you @Phoneshea & @Pinktruffle - Both very helpful! xx

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Coreblimy · 19/05/2020 20:30

The only thing that's ever worked for me is DIM supplement. It's herbal but it messes with your hormones, so perhaps one to come back to when not TTC or going through IVF.

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ChatWithMe · 22/05/2020 20:41

I love this stuff as I get spots on my chin and cheeks especially one week before period or when I've eaten a lot of sweet stuff. The active ingredient is benzoyl peroxide - it kills the bacteria that cause acne and helps slough off skin that keeps sebum (oil) trapped in pores. Twice daily to affected areas. In stock near me so hopefully a branch near you sticks it too. Superdrug pharmacies too.

www.boots.com/acnecide-gel-30g-10187571

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SpyroC · 23/05/2020 23:56

I wish I had a solution for you. As soon as I came off the pill my terrible acne returned just as bad as when I was a teenager. Nothing seems to help. The best it has been was during my (failed) ivf cycle! However, ivf seems to have caused it to spread to my back-great no pregnancy, just more acne! I break out almost every cycle around ovulation and my period. Each time gaining at least 1 new scar. It makes infertility even more miserable. I have endo too but no pcos. I have elevated FSH so I guess it's a hormonal imbalance but who knows. I've adapted my diet to try and balance hormones post ivf so hopefully that helps. My consultant put me on to this site, it's actually for pcos: www.smartfertilitychoices.com/

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