Terrible acne help!

[Lancer87]

This last year my skin has taken a turn for the worst and has become horrid. I’d usually have hormonal acne around my chin ONLY and only just before my period was due. It would be like big lumps/boils.

the past 6 months it’s gotten so much worse. There is not 1 day that goes by where a new boil type spot doesn’t appear. They are always filled with puss and always leave behind red pigmentation scars so now my cheeks are covered in red marks.

it’s now spread onto my cheeks and my forehead (which has always been clear) is now covered in these tiny bumps everywhere. I have an entire album of images over the months of my skin, currently I have 4 big boil like spots on my chin that have broken open, like raw skin, can see the yellow puss under the skin and some have chunky flaky dry skin covering them. It looks absolutely horrible, I don’t want to wear makeup but equally can’t leave the house looking like this so I try and dab a tiny bit of concealer to cover them but it looks even worse!

I have tried everything in terms of skincare. Every product, routine, antibiotics prescribed by gp, diet changes etc. I am at a loss!! The gp referred me to dermatology for accutane (I had it as a teen and worked amazingly) but I’ve been waiting months, appointment keeps getting reschedule and I still have another 4 months to wait!

I can’t afford to pay privately but there’s no way I can wait 4 months breaking out like this on a daily basis.

has anyone experienced this? I’m late 20s and didn’t think I’d be dealing with this at this age.

No suggestions but hope you get seen and sorted soon

Have you tried duac? I was prescribed it by the GP and it really helped x

Teen ds is currently on Lymecycline antibiotics and a cream called “Aklief” which is a retinoid. Definitely seems to be helping, GP should be able to prescribe both of those.
A private consultation would be about £200 but lots of people don’t have a spare £200 knocking around.

I really sympathise. I had it badly in my teens and again in my 40s and it was horrendous. There were some days where I didn’t want to leave the house.

Antibiotics worked to some extent (but I can see you’ve already tried that) and then just totally pulling back on my skincare routine. I used LUSH ultra bland or La Roche Possay toleraine cleanser, REN ever calm moisturiser and Bare Minerals complexion rescue foundation (which gave me some confidence as it covered the acne to some extent) and nothing else.

To reassure you, there is light at the end of the tunnel; my skin is totally clear now.

If I was you, I’d go back to the GP and ask to try different medication. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. I’m not quite sure what I wanted from this thread as I’ve tried most suggestions but just wanted to vent!

so I’ve tried the duac gel, that’s quite a basic first thing they’d prescribe. Tried it twice and didn’t work and reacted badly.

i was on limecycline for 3 months with no improvement. Then changed to doxycycline with no improvement. I’ve tried topical tretinoin for 1 year and other retinoids which didn’t work for me at all, seemed to just make my skin really weak. I’ve tried practically everything at this stage.

I know I need the accutane again but the thought of waiting more months is killing me. I considered a private consultation but with a medication like that I’d need follow up appointments and I can’t afford that.

Have you looked in to an LED mask? Admittedly, it doesn't come cheap(!), but the Dr Dennis Gross mask really helped clear the acne that arrived with a vengeance in my 30s.

Sympathy OP, my skin is similar and I'm 28. I think mine is hormonal also but like you I've tried loads, both GP prescribed and not, and not had much luck! I currently have a spot on my cheek, not poppable, that has made all the area swell, its rubbish at our age. Hope your appointment is ASAP!

I'd avoid make up for now (I know it can be scary going without when your skin isn't clear) and personally not use any products until your appointment except water and maybe a gentle moisturiser.