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Original poster

Going to the GP about acne (again)

48 replies

acneeee · 19/07/2023 12:55

I'm 28, and have had acne on my chin and jaw for around 5 years now. I first went to the GP 3 years ago and since then I've been back 2 or 3 times (can't quite remember). I've tried:

  • Differin/adapelene every night for the last 3 years
  • Zineryt which worked well but I think you can't use it indefinitely as it's an antibiotic?
  • A course of oral antibiotics which didn't really do anything

I want to go back as the acne is still just as bad. My skin seems to have gotten tolerant to the Differin and it makes no difference anymore. My acne leaves red marks which means my entire chin and jaw area is red because of lots of scars.

I don't really want to go on the oral contraceptive pill as I have a few risk factors for blood clots (I'm overweight and have congenital heart disease) so I'm not sure if they would even prescribe it anyway. Is there anything else that can be done?

I'd say the acne is mild, but persistent. It's often painful bumps under the skin that never come to the surface.

OP posts:
Bicnod · 19/07/2023 12:56

Roaccutane. It literally changed my life.

LMNT · 19/07/2023 13:00

People never want to hear this but the majority of skin issues are from the inside out.

The location of your acne points to female hormone issues. Do you have regular cycle? Bad PMS.

Or IBS or similar digestive issues?

stevalnamechanger · 19/07/2023 14:54

I'd recommend going private and seeing Dr Natalia

spironolactone may be an option privately or Roaccutane as last resort .

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Skin conditions
stevalnamechanger · 19/07/2023 14:54

Dr Natalia Spierings

elbelx · 19/07/2023 14:58

I suffered with my skin for years, I had terrible acne on my cheeks. I tried every antibiotic going, every cream, every face wash. Nothing cleared it. In the end I tried skin&me, you fill out a form online and upload photos of your skin and they prescribe you a cream. It has cleared my skin completely and I haven't had spots for over 18 months now and I've had a baby in that time.
It gets worse before it gets better as your skin is 'purging' but stick with it and I promise it will get better. It honestly changed my life and for £25 a month it was worth it. If you go on roaccutane the prescription will cost you about £45/month and there's all sorts of risks that come with it. You also have to have monthly blood tests.

elbelx · 19/07/2023 15:01

Also my spots were under the skin, I even had nasty books sometimes.

elbelx · 19/07/2023 15:02

Boils*

Weightlosstipsneeded · 19/07/2023 15:03

Yasmin contraceptive pill. It cleared everything up for me.

Whattodowithit88 · 19/07/2023 15:03

Try giving up sugar and processed food.

Jongleterre · 19/07/2023 15:09

Hormonal acne may be relieved at times by topical lotions and potions but won't get rid of it and you're just wasting money.

Diet (cut down on sugar and dairy) and oral medication is the only way you will cure it.

www.health.com/condition/acne/acne-face-mapping

Weightlosstipsneeded · 19/07/2023 15:15

Sorry just read your OP regarding the contraceptive pill - I understand that.
I think they only really prescribe Roaccutane for severe acne and you have to have been through absolutely everything else to get there. You also have to be under Consultant/Dermatological review and it can't be prescribed by a GP. As far as I am aware it's a commitment financially and also having to go and do a pregnancy test every 6 weeks.
You have to tackle the cause of acne from within, it's either a hormonal imbalance or something that is happening that triggers your acne. Topical solutions only really mask the problem but don't get rid of it.
You could possibly ask about Tetracycline, they are usually prescribed for acne.

TheOGCCL · 19/07/2023 15:17

I agree with PPs that this is a hormonal issue so topical treatments are limited in their effect.

I'd give Skin and Me or Dermatica a go, Dermatica will give you clindamycin (antibiotic) which together with niacinamide and tretinoin helped my bad skin. But I've also needed the pill and now HRT to balance my hormones and I still get some issues.

Agree cutting down on sugar and potentially dairy and drinking spearmint tea may help. I found that out accidentally when on WeightWatchers.

Also make sure you aren't picking and your pillowcase and phone are clean.

ReadtheReviews · 19/07/2023 15:30

I've always had acne (now 42) due to inherited lack of protective barrier on skin. What I've found helps most is red and blue light therapy and layer of nivea soft over night. Occasionally backed up maybe once a year with antibiotics.
I'm very wary of the pill and roaccutane as was on Dianette for 10 years at significant cost to mental health. Roac has same side effects potentially.

Swamphag · 19/07/2023 15:31

A friend of mine is an NHS dermatologist, I've suffered with my skin for around 20 years. The best advice she ever gave me was to push the GP to organise a dermatologist referral. You have to remember GPs aren't specialists, they only have a little bit of knowledge about general medicine (hence the name)

What the dermatologist prescribed for me cleared up my skin but unfortunately I had to stop taking it because my blood pressure was a bit high when having a check up. My skins now shit again (hurrah)

I was offered roaccutane but I decided against it due to the horrible side effects.

TwilightSkies · 19/07/2023 15:36

People never want to hear this but the majority of skin issues are from the inside out.

The location of your acne points to female hormone issues. Do you have regular cycle? Bad PMS.

Or IBS or similar digestive issues?

Agree with this. You should fix the root cause, not just mess with chemicals and hormones to try and fix a symptom.

VampireHouse · 19/07/2023 15:37

See a derm and get Roaccutane, your skin will likely be clear for the rest of your life.

JustFrustrated · 19/07/2023 15:40

elbelx · 19/07/2023 14:58

I suffered with my skin for years, I had terrible acne on my cheeks. I tried every antibiotic going, every cream, every face wash. Nothing cleared it. In the end I tried skin&me, you fill out a form online and upload photos of your skin and they prescribe you a cream. It has cleared my skin completely and I haven't had spots for over 18 months now and I've had a baby in that time.
It gets worse before it gets better as your skin is 'purging' but stick with it and I promise it will get better. It honestly changed my life and for £25 a month it was worth it. If you go on roaccutane the prescription will cost you about £45/month and there's all sorts of risks that come with it. You also have to have monthly blood tests.

I can to recommend this too!

VampireHouse · 19/07/2023 15:55

My son was on roaccutane for 6 months and only needed 2 blood tests. Obviously there can be side effects but lots of people only have minimal ones. My son only had dry skin and lips which were easy to solve with a moisturiser and good lip balm. Having seen him spend a lot of time and money on other products including ones recommended here, which didn’t work very well, I wouldn’t waste your time/money and would go for roaccutane.

Clevs · 19/07/2023 15:56

Oxytetracycljne worked for me.

Original poster
acneeee · 19/07/2023 19:49

Thank you all. I know it's likely a hormonal issue but it seems like even women who are diagnosed with PCOS don't receive any form of treatment or help to address the hormone imbalance aside from the contraceptive pill. I do agree it's better to target the route cause rather than topical treatments, but on the NHS I don't think that's really an option?

OP posts:
LMNT · 19/07/2023 20:07

@acneeee you need a nutritionist or a naturopath to help balance your hormones.

With PCOS, sugar and carbs are the culprit. Start there and you should see a massive improvement.

Original poster
acneeee · 19/07/2023 20:45

I'll try and reduce my sugar intake as I do eat a lot of sugar. I've also started taking supplements containing inositol as I read that they may be helpful for PCOS? Are there any other supplements I could take?

OP posts:
Lira715 · 19/07/2023 20:50

I used to suffer with the horrible acne and bumps under the skin .. tried everything gp gave me .. now I order tretenoin online and never had one since .. it’s a little brutal to start with for the first 4-6 weeks my skin purged I had more spots and my skin literally flaked off but 2 years later and never had another under the skin spot get occasional little one that goes in a day it helps on signs of aging too wish I’d found it in my teens. Have a look online I pay around £25 for a tube and it lasts 3 months so it’s cheap too. Good luck op definitely feel your pain x

LMNT · 19/07/2023 20:51

Berberine is also an excellent supplement along with myo inositol.

Lira715 · 19/07/2023 20:57

Just to add mine hormonal too according to gp which probably correct as I was on dianette for years and would only get the under the skin ones every now and then .. since stopping that they came back more regular and worse. Until I started the tretinoin.