Perimenopause and spots?

[Tokyo2005]

I think I'm peri and have recently started HRT so far using oestrogen gel on my arms for a fortnight. I've had breakouts of spots on my face for the past month which I'm loathing but this started before the HRT, so my guess is that it's a peri symptom rather than a side effect of HRT?

Has anyone else had spots as a result of peri?
Will HRT help my skin or not?
Can I treat spots on my face somehow? It's giving me teenage memory nightmares.

Absolutely feel you, it’s horrible the stuff you go through but spots felt like adding insult to injury.

I have for the most part got mine under control (although it took a while) by using La Roche Posay gel cleanser, clarifying toner and duo moisturiser (effaclar I think).
I still get occasional whiteheads but no more hormonal boil volcano like ones.

Thank you. Do you have an idea of what ingredients seem to be working? What made you choose those products in particular?

Sorry no idea of the ingredients targeting the outbreaks, in all honesty I tried it after a friend in a similar position recommended using it.

For me diet, enough water and sleep are definitely major triggers too.

Hi Tokyo, I suddenly began coming out in spots when I was peri. Never been spotty before in my life. Tried changing make up & face products etc etc all to no effect, but finally, in desperation, I tried eliminating dairy products from my diet and bingo, 3 weeks later ALL the spots just stopped appearing. I was amazed because I’d never had any problems with dairy before. I’m still avoiding it now to keep my skin clear.

Also I’m not on HRT so don’t know if that makes a difference, and my GP prescribed Epiduo cream which works well if I inadvertently have milk in tea at someone’s house & get a resulting pimple the next day.

Yes, full on teenage acne was one of my first peri symptoms. Don’t think HRT has much effect on it. I was on prescribed antibiotic cream for a few months and that got rid of it, and I keep it (almost completely) away with Skinoren cream (azelaic acid) which I also get prescribed but sometimes have to buy from an online pharmacy as the NHS can’t always get it. I also find that using gentle cleanser and moisturiser (Cetaphil or the like) and always using sunscreen helps.

I had terrible spots from my late 30's until last year (43). Definitely hormone related for me.

The neurogena skin care range really improved things (it's the stuff in the orange packaging). I did do lots of research into the best products to use and these were recommended. Nice and affordable too.