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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect NOT to have massive spots at the age of 37?

45 replies

iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 17:36

every month without fail i get a massive painful spot, usually on my chin, just after my period. My skin is pretty crap at the best of times, but this puts the tin lid on it. FFS, i'm in my late 30s, i was expecting lovely clear skin by now!

Any advice for combating (combatting?) hormonal acne? i presume that some hormone or other is either dropping or peaking at that time and that's why this huge BOIL / CARBUNCLE appears on cue every month? Any dermatologists or doctors got any ideas... is there a supplement i can take or anything i can avoid?

Yes, i wash my face regularly and use a light non-oily moisturiser, don't use much makeup (unless trying to disguise the zit) and always remove before bed. sigh

OP posts:
GandTiceandaslice · 07/06/2011 17:38

Ugg. It's our age. I am also 37. I've always had lovely skin. Never got spots as a teen or anything.
Now my chin highlights each month when I have my period. [cross]
I shall be watching this thread in the hope someone has an answer.

Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 17:39

well i've always had erratic skin... sometimes clear, other times hideous. mainly to do with hormones. Oh, and i'm not on the pill or any other hormones, which i should've mentioned in my OP.

OP posts:
roz1982 · 07/06/2011 17:53

oh god I totally emphasise - Im 29 and have had bad skin all my life - the only thing that sorted it out was medication - dianette for 5 years and lymecycline until I found out I was preg and had to stop taking it - this horrified me b/cause I KNEW they would come back - and they have with a vengeance. The terrible thing is, it IS hormonal, so most skin products do sweet F.A. You probably won't be prescribed anything if it is literally once a month though, just invest in a good concealer!!

SixtyFootDoll · 07/06/2011 17:56

I have the same, every month a boil on my chin. And I am nearly40!
I have switched to dermalogica skin care and have seen an improvement.
I took dianette in my 20s and 30s that was the best my skin ever was, but am too old now Sad

YankNCock · 07/06/2011 17:59

My skin has never been great due to PCOS, but dianette definitely helped. If I weren't most likely too old and thinking about another baby, I'd go back on again. I seem to get it mostly on my back now at least.

omnishambles · 07/06/2011 17:59

why are you too old sixtyfootdoll - I am back on the dianette at 36.

diabolo · 07/06/2011 18:03

I've always suffered from adult acne (something to do with too much oestrogen I think) and pills and potions have never worked (even prescription stuff).

Since Christmas I have been eating only fruit, veg, wholemeal stuff and a little lean meat, lots of oily fish etc and I've barely had a zit in months.

I can't swear that chocolate, crisps and other savoury foods were the cause, but even around my period now, I'm spot free.

I know people say that what you eat doesn't affect acne, but it seems to have done for me.

Matekiddleton · 07/06/2011 18:04

Imagine Brian Cox going on tv after the Icelandic earthquake last year. 'Earth is a living planet' (in his accent). Your spots are a sign that something is still going on.

perrinelli · 07/06/2011 18:12

I also was hoping to have some gap between worrying about teenage acne and about getting wrinkles, but I don't think it is to be!

I'm 30 and have also found dianette the best help, but the side effects aren't great and you're not supposed to take it for more than 18 months at a time or something. (Pregnancy also agrees with my skin but not looking forward to The Return of The Spots in a few months after DC2 comes shortly!)

The only skin care routine I found to work is featured at acne.org which seems to be this genuinely not for profit American website. It basically consists of keeping irritation of the skin to a minimum, cleansing with a really gentle cleanser (I have found Cetaphil to be the best available in the UK) and then applying 2.5% Benozyl Peroxide cream which you can buy over the counter here as Oxy on the Spot. If you just get one spot a month it might not suit as I think you need to do it daily for the effect to build up, but thought it might be helpful for others to know. I also find Benozyl Peroxide cream is the only thing that does really seem to dry out those yucky boil-like pimple ones and it seems to be widely acknowledged on the internet as the best over the counter remedy.

beesimo · 07/06/2011 18:13

No teenager in my family has ever had a spot as we nettle their faces every 6-8 weeks. When your grown every 3 months or so it also keeps yer skin firm

beesimo · 07/06/2011 18:14

DO NOT DO WHEN PREGNANT!!!

Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 18:16

I was on Dianette for a while and I think it helped, but it was a long time ago ... I'm not really keen on going back on the pill though. I should probably drink more water as I seem to live on tea and coffee and squash. My back is pretty bad at times but at least you can cover it up! Also my "decolletage" (!) is always pimply... really attractive.

Will look up Dermologica, thanks for that SixtyFootDoll. There is a product in the US called ProActiv which I used for a while... it did seem to work but was quite harsh. I'm wondering whether I need to get some decent skincare like Clinique, but I can't really justify it with our finances at the moment. At the moment I use Simple face wash and scrub (alternating them), and Nivea moisturiser and occasionally a Clinique one that was a freebie. i used to use toner, but can't be arsed now - perhaps that would get rid of the grease a bit more if it was a mild one.

diabolo that's interesting about your diet. I do eat quite a lot of refined sugar, in fact i'm probably addicted to it, which probably doesn't help. But also have no willpower and three children! Often a chocolate digestive just keeps me this side of sane Smile. Must try to drink more water and eat more fruit and veg - that's been my New Year's Resolution for about 15 years now!

OP posts:
perrinelli · 07/06/2011 18:17

Oh, and you have to moisturise after the Benozyl Peroxide because it can really dry out your skin - again I find Cetaphil moisturiser very good and non greasy. (Perhaps I should buy shares?)

Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 18:18

8"nettle their faces"*??? What's that? It does not sound like fun!

OP posts:
Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 18:23

Your spots are a sign that something is still going on.

Great! So I'm not menopausal, but need to wear a yashmak for five days a month Hmm I'm sure when people talk to me they can't take their eyes off it!

OP posts:
Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 18:28

perrinelli thanks for that... I will go and get some Oxy - can't hurt to dab a bit on! I do find that these whoppers do go down after a day or two of being really painful, but it's always when I'm meant to be going somewhere nice or having my photo taken. Gggrr. I really envy women with lovely clear skin. Envy

OP posts:
create · 07/06/2011 18:32

I'm the same and still get terrible spots on my back.

I find that diet makes a huge difference. When I follow Rosemary Connolly's diets religiously there is a marked improvement in my skin (and moods, but that's another story) This basically means very low fat, and lots of fruit and veg - no butter, cheese, choc, sweets. And lots of water.

What on earth does "Nettle their faces" mean?

Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 18:34

I just can't follow diets. I have no self-discipline - and as soon as I think "right, I can't have that" it makes me want it ten times more. I am going to try eating more fruit and veg and cutting out the sugar though.

I am imagining poor teenagers having their faces thrust into stinging nettle patches! Ouch.

OP posts:
redflagsahoy · 07/06/2011 18:37

Iwanttoseethezoo I get a big sore spot on my chin without fail every month and have done since I got my period. I know its hormonal and in my experience nothing gets rid of it... :(

Bessimo whats nettling your face? Putting nettles on it? Does that hurt? Or is it something different altogether...I'd be interested to find out :)

Original poster
iwanttoseethezoo · 07/06/2011 18:37

nopimple.blogspot.com/2009/11/nettle-for-acne.html

apparently it's a natural remedy in tea or tablet form.

OP posts:
beesimo · 07/06/2011 18:42

I am not going to tell thee now as you might do it wrong and I will get the blame!

Yous will just have to stay spotty!

create · 07/06/2011 18:45

I'm the same re diets iwant. That's why I have to follow it religiously - that way it's set out at the beginning of the day/week exactly what I will eat/buy (which is actulally quite a lot, as long as it's the right stuff) If I just say I'll cut such and such out, that never works.

beesimo · 07/06/2011 18:50

Do what nopimple suggests but no longer than for three days, if you are not on the pill your woman time will be controlled by the moon so take cure week before moon full that is week before your period due.

Deaddei · 07/06/2011 19:03

I am 51 and get spots on HRT.
At the moment I also have about 10 bumps under my skin from a suncream allergy...not good, as spot cream won't work. THey will take days to fade.

KoolAidKid · 07/06/2011 19:12

I find washing my face with a really hot clean flannel works to some extent - use very hot water, as hot as you can bare.