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what is causing these spots? please help me get rid!

21 replies

ShyGirlie · 08/02/2015 11:23

I feel like i've been battling spots for 20 years

  • teenager: very bad skin, did all the clearasil etc, lotions from doctor, tablets from doctor, roaccutane, dianette


eventually by my early 20s my skin had cleared up. came off all medication and used normal skincare products

  • late 20s: skin flaring up again, bout clinique anti-blemish 3 step products, used these religiously and skin cleared up fine.


  • fast forward about 3 years to present: still using clinique anti-blemish, but skin had got AWFUL over the past 6-9 months. Huge, painful, red lumps under the skins. All over my cheeks mainly. Never really come to a head, but look so red and inflamed - they really are BIG lumps.


my confidence is totally shattered. i don't know what to try. Don't really want to start buying a load of expensive products which may not work.

wondering if anyone can recommend something simple or natural solutions which i maybe havent thought of. should i just wash with plain water for a while?
OP posts:
Picastyle · 08/02/2015 11:36

The clinique DDML has mineral oil in it which a lot of acne skins loathe. They also changed the ingredients a while ago, I wonder if that coincided with your flare-ups? The clarifying lotions are too astringent and contain a lot of alcohol.

Might it be your make up? Mine hates anything with shea butter.

Check out carolinehirons.com. There might be some things there that help you.

I do empathise, when my skin is out of sorts I buy and try loads of different things and end up in a real mess. Have a look at Alpha H range on QVC and read the reviews, it might help.

Greengardenpixie · 08/02/2015 12:37

Just a thought but maybe hormonal and nothing to do with skin products? Maybe arrange to see the doctor and see what is advised?

GothicRainbow · 08/02/2015 12:42

I think your best bet would be the doctors and take it back to basics with products.

My skin is always terrible (sore angry red spots) after I've used makeup - doesn't seem to matter which brand I use or how clean my brushes are.

Last summer I made the decision to stop wearing makeup and now I only wear it for special occasions and my skin is so much better for it!

lurkingaround · 08/02/2015 12:44

You have my sympathies, cystic acne can be soul destroying.

You're in a relapse phase of acne which isn't uncommon. (Especially if you had cystic acne from teenage-hood). If I were you I would see your dermatologist again and start the medical route. You may need another course of Roaccutane. The good news is that you might need a smaller dose this time around and so, the side effects won't be so pronounced.

I don't like to dampen your hopes for a 'natural cure' but there isn't one that will work for cystic acne.
Low GI diet might help a bit
Cut down on sugar intake (including fruits)
Consider a dairy free diet
All these might help, but are unlikely to rid you of the problem.

It sounds like you're really fed up with it. It is horrible. Hopefully you'll get on top of it soon.

ItIsntJustAPhase · 08/02/2015 13:36

I get these if I eat gluten or even just rubbishy food. Sad

MatildaTheCat · 08/02/2015 14:29

Huge sympathy but back to the doctor. Almost bound to be hormonal and no skin are product will clear this.

I've suffered all my life on and off and recently noticed it worsening, although not to the extent you describe. I've had good results using Duac cream from the GP. Might be worth a try before embarking on Roaccutane.

emmelinelucas · 08/02/2015 14:59

OP- you have my sympathy. I am old (menopausal now) and have had acne from age 14.
I still get spots.
I have had every, every treatment and nothing worked for longer than 2 weeks.Dianette, lamp treatments, ground up eggshells nettle soup/ fullers earth packs/sulphur water/antibiotics.Lotions/potions. All acne topical treatments

At 18 I noticed that white bread, sugary pop and citrus fruits made me flare up.
I Cut them out, and then - cheese, milk and anything with wheat in were taken out and the acne abated. It was hit and miss, I tried foods and within 30 minutes my face was hot and itchy.
It is mainly under control now and make-up is better at covering than it used to be.
It's horrible Sad
But I don't think it's true that diet doesn't affect it.
Miriam Stoppard says that, but I disagree.

emmelinelucas · 08/02/2015 15:20

I have posted elsewhere to try and find something for you OP. It is a topical lotion that helps. Not a cure, but was the best I tried.
Smile

Clarabumps · 08/02/2015 17:22

I also recommend Caroline HIrons blog, It totally changed my skin. I had clinique anti blemish and after a while it burnt my skin. I don't know what is in it but it was awful on my skin.

I get spots when I have sugar or alcohol. Also around my chin during the time of the month. Although they have massively reduced since finding my own skincare regime(thanks to the CH blog)

Her cheat sheets are a really good place to start.

iwantgin · 08/02/2015 17:27

I suggest a trip to the gp. Also as suggested above, keep the beauty regime simple. I used to use the clinique 3 step system - and it is harsh - well the toner is.

currently am under a dermatologist as have had acne in varying degrees since being 12, and am now 47.

I find that a little make up as possible is best, I wash using just Cetaphil, or a soap free boots skin wash (if I have worn make up). Moisturise only if I feel it is necessary.

If your GP doesn't take you seriously, then you should request a referral to the dermatology department. Again, some of those are better than others - so do your own research in advance too.

Good luck. Bad skin sucks.

ShyGirlie · 08/02/2015 17:53

aww thank you so much everyone, it really helps knowing that i'm not alone in this. Thanks I scrutinise the skin of everyone i see and everyone seems to have lovely, clear skin!

im going to take everyones advice of trying the medical route again, as i feel so reluctant to start faffing around with different skincare brands - i have neither the time or the money to waste. adult acne seems to run in my family, my brother and i both suffer from it and my dads skin is very badly scarred from having it years ago.

Whist waiting for a gp appointment and dermotology referral, should i stop the clinique anti-blemish? Something is making me feel i should try just washing with warm water, but maybe thats just nonsense!

also, this is a bit of a wildcard, but does anyone know anything about benefit's benetint / posietint etc cheek stains? received a surprise set of them as a christmas gift, and i feel my cheeks have got particularly bad since then? it was already quite bad, although it has definitely got worse. maybe coincidental, but i'm going to stop using it anyway.

OP posts:
ShyGirlie · 09/02/2015 08:28

just bumping for any other ideas..

OP posts:
flanjabelle · 09/02/2015 08:40

Apparently Isotretinoin (Roaccutane Sp?) is a good drug to try? Would you be interested in trying a drug or would you prefer not to?

flanjabelle · 09/02/2015 08:41

So sorry just seen you have tried it before. Unfortunately you May need it again.

RawCoconutMacaroon · 09/02/2015 08:42

Cystic acne - possibly a sign of issues with Gluten containing grains, or with highly processed, high gi foods in general. There are a number of ways these types of food trigger skin problems if you have developed sensitivities. If you have any reason to think you might have coeliac, don't go GF until you have a blood test (symptoms such as headache, bloated gut, ibs, low vit D, b12/ anemia, brain fog etc).

Maybe time to consider an exclusion diet to see if that helps? Marksdailyapple blog is a good source of info on grain free, exclusion diets is you want to give to a go. Obviously it won't be the answer for everyone but if the problem is coming form the inside (from your diet), then drug treatments are going to be of limited value. They will help but are not going to sort out the cause :)

celestialsquirrels · 09/02/2015 08:44

Shy girlie- could it be your hair products? My skin went disastrously bad when Pantene changed their formulation. Unbelieveable zits and whiteheads the likes of which I had never had before. Took me 6 months to work out that's what it was. Swapped to silicon-free everything (shampoo and conditioner) and it was like a miracle. Back to normal in a week. Such a relief!

Worth a try?

Shonajay · 09/02/2015 15:30

Could it be rosacea? Makes the skin around the spots very bright red? I developed something similar since I started swimming every day a month ago, and think it's the chlorine. I now use vaseline as a barrier cream. I look fabulous?!

RedRaw · 09/02/2015 17:15

I had the same, and changed my makeup remover to Micellar water (garner) and foundation to Bare minerals powder, as well as taking both zinc and rose hip supplement, and my cystic painful spots cleared. Still occasionally get one burnout eat as as. Hope it clears up for you x

iwantgin · 09/02/2015 17:36

Hmmm - shonajay could have the answer.

Rosacea does present as spots without a head. Does your face feel hot andtight too at times ?

You could be about the 'right' age for developing Rosacea. Have a read up on it. There are a few threads on mnet. A friend has it, and just one 3 month course of Lymecyline seems to have cleared it for now.

ShyGirlie · 09/02/2015 20:49

thanks again for all replies, i don't think its rosacea going by the google images! will def go back to doctor when i'm off work next. have heard of micellar water but don't have a clue what it is! will also look into silicon free hair products.

OP posts:
Saurus72 · 09/02/2015 22:07

La Roche Posay Effaclar transformed my spotty, hormonal skin into clear skin untroubled by spots, after having had spots for over 20 years. Seriously amazing stuff.

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