So when do you stop getting spots, then?

[ThePopsicleKat]

I've had the usual moderate skin problems during my teens. However, I thought it had gotten better with age - until I stopped the pill just over 3 months ago. Now my skin is worse than ever; as soon as one unsightly spot fades, it seems another 3 pop up elsewhere .

When will this go away? Or should I just go back on the pill to try and salvage the situation? (I'm 21, if it's relevant).

[ThePopsicleKat]

The pill in question was Microgynon 30, as far as I know not one that particular helps with skin problems.

[PuppyMonkey]

I'm 45 soon and I still get them.

[ThePopsicleKat]

Bugger.

[iliketeabutprefercoffeetoday]

I expected to wake up on my 20th birthday spot free, 14 years later, I'm still waiting for them to disappear.

Sorry.

[fivegomadindorset]

Never had them.

[Happyfinnish]

Spots and wrinkles, me.

[Insomnia11]

My skin has got better since I came off the pill - Femodene. Don't think I've had any spots since I've had the copper coil fitted.

[bucaneve]

Are you a student OP?

I only ever had one or two at the time as a teenager, then it got worse at uni (all the late nights and rubbish food), and since I've finished uni I've had close to none.

I'd say give it a year or 2 still, most of my mates are mid 20s and hardly any still have spots.

[emsyj]

Mine still trouble me (at age 32). My sister has bad acne and is 41!!!

Is there any reason why you wouldn't go to your GP? I have had some effective treatment, although I do find that if I don't take something fairly regularly (e.g. a course of antibiotics every year or so) they flare up again.

[ThePopsicleKat]

Have finished uni and moved back home around the same time I stopped the pill and skin went to shit, bucaneve. Eating much better at home (I was on a constant silly diet at uni), so it makes no sense.

emsyj - I didn't even think of the GP! I suppose I assumed they would just tell me to go back on the pill, which I'd rather not at the moment. Might go and ask about antibiotics, thanks!

[chocolateteabag]

I am still getting them (35) and so is my mum (65) however - she also looks about 50-55 (IMO). Oilier skin ages better I think - she is much less wrinklier than her friends.

The older you get, the less bothered you are about them though. I know that's patronising you and I'm sorry - but it's what I would say to my 21 year old self.

[emsyj]

I don't feel like that chocolateteabag - I feel very very self conscious about my skin, possibly less than I did when I was 15 but certainly bothered enough that I want treatment. I now also have wrinkles and spots. ((sigh))

[HerbWoman]

When I stopped eating cheese.

[emsyj]

Have you ever actually suffered from adult acne, HerbWoman? I suspect not.

If you found that stopping eating cheese made your spots go away then it was coincidental. Spots are caused by hormones, not by cheese.

[millie19]

Had them right thru teenage/uni years but kept under control on & off with Dianette pill(didn't like being on it for years on end so would try and give myself a break) and was petrified coming off that when started trying for dd. Was surprised skin wasn't actually that bad before and during pregnancy and then the odd flare up while bf dd which didn't surprise me - all those hormones! Then stayed (what I would class as!) actually quite good thru pregnancy with ds (so I didn't find those rumours that your skin gets worse/better with a boy/girl) to be true. All been fine and then decided to get a non-hormonal coil fitted and all fine for 7-8 months and now I get proper "monthly" spots - admittedly only 1 or 2 (but boy can they bet corkers!) but when you've lived with spots basically since a teenager (am now mid 30s) it's seriously depressing. Keep looking at my ds and dd and hope to god they take after dh and not me when they get to teenage years

[millie19]

Chocolateteabag is right though - you do age better with oilier skin! I've been told by several facialists that I have good skin despite the (fortunately now only odd) spots (they must have been blind or trying to sell me something at the time!) but I have virtually no wrinkles and look a lot younger than many of my perfect skinned friends! Oh and the Olay Rengenerist Serum helps!

[ThePopsicleKat]

Well, that's something I suppose. I am a one-woman oil factory. Or at least I used to be, not quite so much now I am a sophisticated grown-up...

[TigerseyeMum]

I stopped the pill and within 6 months my skin went bonkers. Worse than when I was a teen.

The following things so far have helped me:

A topical antibiotic from my GP to calm things down
A dose of edible vitamin e oil every day
Decleor Ylang Ylang oil plus toner

Actually, cheese can be a really bad culprit for spots - my BiL had the worst skin, really reactive and pustular. He did some tests and they came back as severely allergic to cheese. Cut cheese from his diet and his skin cleared up. If he has so much as one morsel of it he will break out again.

[SansaLannister]

I'm 40 and get them.

[Ifancyashandy]

I never got spots. Am now in my early 40's and I get them on my jawline and neck! Horrible. They're kind of headless red spots. Any suggestions? Not on the pill. I use an Origins spot killer product but still they last for days.

[mollschambers]

Roaccutane.

Worked for me. Clear skin finally (at 35) after 18 years of plooks. Used tinted moisturiser instead of foundation this summer!

I think people can underestimate how much bad skin can affect your confidence. I wish I'd had it sorted years ago.

[Vizzini]

I went to the doc last week as I've developed jawline acne since stopping BF. It was awful - bright red and painful.

He gave me Zineryt roll on antibiotics and I'm seeing a great improvement already (today is the first day I have felt confident enough to not wear make up in months).

I'd definitely recommend going. I left mine for ages thinking it'd go on its own, but it didn't. The longer you leave it, the more likely it is to scar too.

[theginganinja]

I suffered with acne for years, the only way to cure it is (imo) to see the GP or a dermatologist. On the plus side, if your skin is excessively greasy then you will not suffer so badly with wrinkles later. And whatever you do, avoid Clearasil and the like, nine times out of ten they don't work.

Fwiw, I am now going through a premature menopause and that's done wonders for my skin. Am permanently flushy and sweaty but my skin looks great.

[angrywoman]

Looking forward to being less wrinkly than my lesser spotted friends! Seriously though, I am going to have to give up cheese and consider the pill again. When pregnant my skin was much nicer.
I sigh now at my innocent belief that I would be spotless by 21. Sorry. 37 now and no change....

[HerbWoman]

OK, whatever emsyj, thank you for your patronising response. However, yes, I have had adult acne which did indeed finally clear when I cut out most dairy, particularly cheese. Obviously different people will respond to different strategies so this may not work for you. Bear in mind that dairy products contain hormones - maybe then it will seem less unlikely.