Hormonal acne on my chin, what can I do?

[PrettyRicky]

I get spots on my chin a few days before my period every month. They're normally big, juicy yellow-heads which I can zap with tea tree oil and salicylic acid and they disappear after a few days.

However, for the last few months my hormonal spots have been lingering for ages meaning I've got quite a collection now. Most are little and easily covered during the day but I've got a fair few absolute monsters.

I've tried hot cloth cleansing, steaming my face, tea tree oil, salicylic overnight cream, sudocreme but nothing's working. What else can I do lovely ladies of S&B?

It's getting to the point where I'm embarrassed to go out. Tomorrow I've got a presentation to do in front of about 50 people and I'm dreading it because everyone will be looking a my horrible spotty face

Please help!

[AutoFillUsername]

Try cutting out dairy, that helped me. I had similar problems which had been fixed by going on the Pill (Dianette) but I didn't want to be on the pill any longer so I did the following which eventually made a difference:

• cut out dairy
  
• took evening primrose oil supplements and a multi vitamin
  
• drank loads of water
  
• used Paula's Choice products to cleanse and tone. Toner included salysilic acid
  
• used a high dose retin-A gel (prescribed by GP
  
• didnt over wash or treat despite the temptation to do so.

[PrettyRicky]

I'm not keen on going on the Pill. I've been reluctant to see my GP about this (I have seen them about acne in the past) because they always seem to suggest the Pill but I don't want to be on it.

I do drink tonnes of water (about 3l a day)

Thanks for the other suggestions.

Keep 'em coming ladies.

[Aria2015]

I had this and I tried everything. Changing my diet, cutting out alcohol etc... I too don't want to go on the pill but I did go to my gp and have been taking an antibiotic tablet called Lymecycline for the last 6 months. I didn't get immediate results, but after 3 months I saw a huge difference and now I don't get any spots on my chin. I've had no negative sides effects and I'm really pleased with this he results. I was just so fed up of my skin before, it's so liberating to not be self conscious any more. Might be worth discussing with your GP to see if it would help you?

[verystressedmum]

I went to the doctor about this (and my newly acquired chin hair ) as nothing had worked for me and was prescribed Duac cream which worked fantastically.
I had my hormone levels checked but they were fine. The doc said it's just one of those things as you get older. Great.

[anon97528996]

How strong is your salicylic acid? I buy mine pure from eBay, 20% is about £5. Most topical creams use 1-5% but the 20% stuff is amazing at drying up cystic spots overnight.

[rainbowduck]

Sudocrem?

[chaplin1409]

Do you just search salicylic acid on ebay?

[moreismore]

This may sound stupid but I have the same problem and have recently noticed that I touch my face a lot in an absentminded way. Esp if I am a bit spotty as I'm running fingers over the bumps. I think this is preventing skin from clearing. On the off chance you do this too then might be something to be mindful of! Also clean mobile and work phone regularly. And makeup brushes.

[brogueish]

I get hormonal spots too, they're beastly aren't they. If they're lingering beyond the hormonal "surge" though, try washing with Hibiscrub to clean up the bacteria. Wash your makeup brushes with it too to zap anything there. Take care to moisturise well afterwards, the hibiscrub is very drying.

[userofthiswebsite]

To the above poster. Lymecycline is great once you're on it and it has kicked in but from experience once you stop taking the course after 6 months it returns.

[pongopig]

Try acnecide 5% cream, you can get it from Boots. It was the only thing that worked for me, and I tried most remedies.

[jalopy]

Speaking as a long term sufferer of cystic acne and having tried everything under the sun, including prescription treatments, I found a simple chlorhexidine-based face wash works well for me.

I too suffer from constant chin spots so resorted to applying a small amount of this undiluted just to my chin area. I massaged it in for a couple of minutes and washed off with warm/cold water. I do this morning and evening. I use Cetaphil wash on the rest of my face. Within days it has completed cleared my skin. I also avoid applying oils and moisturisers to my chin area as this seems to help.

Something like this might help

[Snog]

The Bravura London exfoliating cloth helped me hugely with chin spots when no diet or cream ever did.

[PrettyRicky]

I was on Lymecycline some years ago for acne but the acne came back after I stopped taking it.

My acid is 3% overnight cream

I'll try some 5%

Thanks jalopy I'm in town on Sunday so might get some of this.

I don't actually use make-up brushes that much and not on my chin. I only use tinted moisturiser (Nivea CC cream, have been using it for years) and some concealer for my spots.

I make a real conscious effort not to touch my face moreis after these spots have taken up residence on my face. I too noticed how much I did this absent-mindedly!

[PrettyRicky]

jalopy Sorry, random Q but is that face wash just out on the shelf? Or is it over the counter?

[brogueish]

You will find Hibiscrub on the shelf in Boots, OP. As mentioned above, I just use it every now and then as a face wash.

[peppykoala]

Is the Nivea cream non comedogenic? If not, maybe look at switching to something like the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo tinted or Clinique Anti Blemish CC? Probably wouldn't solve everything but it might help!

[PennyLaneFlowers]

peppy I have no idea if it's non comedogenic. I don't really know what that means! I might have to switch

[peppykoala]

Non comedogenic basically means it doesn't block pores so it's less likely to cause breakouts. Looks like the Nivea BB cream is definitely non comedogenic, but I can't work out if the CC one is (sorry, not helpful...). Maybe check out some of Dr Sam Bunting's videos on YouTube (she's a dermatologist) - there's one with Caroline Hirons about hormonal acne, and a series on general treating acne.

[PennyLaneFlowers]

Thanks peppy I'm going to try Nivea BB cream I think. My local Boots doesn't do the La Roche that you suggested.

[splendidisolation]

My skin transformed from a hyper sensitive cystic mess to totally soothed and problem free when I started cleansing and remove make-up with roche posay and then using nothing but The Ordinary products

[Kelliem]

Pixi glow cleared mine right up

[GoldSpot]

I know alcohol in skincare is generally frowned upon, but I have used this for years and it really helps. I get hormonal acne on my jaw line, so I just swipe the area with a cotton wool pad before I wash my face. It is actually very mild.
Boot Tea Tree and Witch Hazel