LARGE pores and crap skin

[Skinisawful]

In the last few years my skin has become awful, looks really dull, very oily and my pores are HUGE on chin (I also get cystic acne around my period) and next to nose. I’ve being using salicylic acid but it has made no difference.

Any advice please?

[Anotheruser02]

I have the same skin type without the cystic breakouts my spots surface quite quickly. I registered with dermatica (they are online dermatologists) about 10 weeks ago and my skin has improved greatly with their prescription cream. You send them photos of your skin and fill in their online form, they formulate a cream just for you. Mine has Retin A which makes cells turn over faster like when we were younger, niacinamide which helps regulate oil production and a mild anti biotic. I'm on my period now and it's the first month ever where I had zero new spots come to celebrate it. They charge around £23 a month with the postage and you would need a sunscreen to protect you in the day.

[lovescaca]

U can get all that stuff with the ordinary range 👍 very cheap and it's great x

[Anotheruser02]

The Ordinary is very good as over the counter skincare goes, but you won't get prescription strength retiniods (tretinoin), or prescribed topical anti biotics from a beauty company.
There is a limit to what you can do with over the counter products and cystic acne is a medical condition even if a some GP's don't take it very seriously (like mine). Skin & Me is another online dermatologist.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Drs appt, those spots are quite big and red & need prescription treatment.

[Pancakeorcrepe]

Oh darling, your skin is not awful, but it is congested and irritated.
In your situation, I would go to a doctor - general or dermatologist - and get it sorted out. You don’t want to make it worse by applying different over the counter products or let it get worse by leaving it untreated. I suspect it will get sorted quite quickly once a doctor prescribes you something but trying over the counter stuff may make it worse and lead to scars etc.

[Pancakeorcrepe]

Take lots of pictures over the month so that when you do have the appointment, you can show the full cycle of the spots even if you are in a “good skin” stage of your cycle.

[whatsbinhappnin]

Mine was similar for years up until a month ago, with cystic acne on my cheeks too (worse than yours!)

I started using Quinoderm cleanser (i double cleanse in the morning with this, and single cleanse at night) Pixi glow tonic (glycolic acid) in the morning, and Duac 5% from online doctor

My skin is TRANSFORMED!

I haven't had any new spots since starting this regime although hyperpigmentstion hasnt yet faded, I hope it will with time

My skin still gets oily, I wipe it a couple of times a day to remove excess. But it's no longer inflamed, bumpy and unhappy.