I know I'm being unreasonable but I need help please!

[Snowwhite22]

I am 32 and I've had spots since I was 13. Some times it's better than others but at the moment I'm going through a really bad flare up.

We took the dc to their school fete this morning and we all got soaked. We went into the toilets to sort our selves out and I made the mistake of looking in the mirror. My skin looked awful and so did all the make up I've put on to try to hide the spots. My dh said to go home and get changed and then go back to the fete again(it's only a 10minute walk). Once we got home, I said I didn't want to go back and that anyone could stay with me if they also didn't want to go. Everyone wanted to go so I've just waved them off and quickly gone into the bathroom to wash my face and put my spot cream on.

I really wanted to be with my family but I just can't go back talking to all the other parents when I'm so embarrassed about my skin.
I double cleanse twice a day and put Duac cream on that I get from the doctors. I'm always asking for a referral to see a skin specialist but I'm told the spots are not bad enough.
I only drink water and don't eat chocolate. What else can I do? Can any one give me some ideas? I know it's wrong to hide away so please don't be hard on me, just really need help.

Maybe I should go back to the doctors and tell them my skin is really getting me down. I know roaccutane is my only hope. Is it as bad as reported? I've read about the really bad dryness.

I had acne and topical stuff never worked for me. My doctor put me on long term antibiotics for about 2.5 years which finally sorted it.

Now I- touch wood- don't get too many spots but when I do I have a fail safe method of getting rid of the bastards. Smother them in ibuprofen gel before bed (the cheap Tesco/pound shop stuff will do) and they go down overnight. The next morning smother them again in Bepanthan (to counteract the drying effect of the gel and also because the magic in Bepanthan seems to be good for your skin. Repeat each day.

I also only use bog standard soap on my face and moisturise with a big standard E45 cream. I don't put anything else on my face as a regime. All regimes have ever done is give me spots!!

Another thing that's really helped me is Boots own foot cream. Use with caution as I know this sounds like madness and might well really fuck up sensitive skin- but it's got lavender, mint and marshmallow in and is described as "antibacterial/medical". If I'm going through a bad break out using this as my moisturiser really helps.

You have my 100% sympathy OP. Acne is miserable and people act like it's no big deal.

Tbh your skin care regime isn't that great. I don't know how bad it is, but to keep my skin clear I used soap and glory face 'soap', lush tea tree toner, Clarins cleanser and a citrus lush moisturiser. Maybe start playing around with different products and see if that helps

Snowwhite Dermablend is amazing, I use it for tattoo cover up but it works with all most everything.

The symptoms are not as bad, but that's really dependent on the person. It didn't really affect me as much as I thought it did. The first month or two your skin starts drying out and you need to take care of it. Honestly you can try as many topical treatments but if the problem is internal, it will always be an issue.

yabnu. it's so sad to feel like you can't face people and are missing out on things due to trouble skin. I've dealt with the same and it affected my confidence on and off severely in my 20s. there are a few things that I have found to work fairly well, may be worth looking into. 1) microdermabrasion, 2) Peter Thomas Roth unwrinkle peel pads and glycolic acid 3% face wash, 3) salcura Antic face wash and spray. I'm sorry you're feeling this way though, its very painful.

I am so grateful for every ones advice, there are lots of new things I can try. I know what I'm using at the moment isn't working so hopefully changing products this may help. The cetaphil looks great, think I will start using that instead of simple range. Should I always moisturise?

Simple brngs my grown up dd out in a rash its rubbish imo the make up remover wipes made my skin itch the other dd uses witch hazel foam wash she likes it and shes tried them all

Yes always moisturize. Use the cetaphil face wash and the moisturizer. It's very gentle and light on your skin. I would hold off on using too much foundation or makeup, you don't want to clog up your pores too much. Hopefully you're able to go to a dermatologist and they will help you sort it out. Good luck.

Just wanted to suggest that if its hormonal, maybe, just maybe, acupuncture would work.

I'm just saying this because my daughter had a different hormonal problem and acupuncture was brilliant for it.

I'm a bit frightened of dermatologists after hearing about the very, very strong medicine that can prescribe.

Thank you coffee, you have been a great help. Will look into acupuncture, have never thought of that. Every one has been so helpful, you have really helped me. I find it too embarrassing to ask anyone else, only my dh knows how I feel.

Please ask your GP to prescribe you tretinoin or another topical retinoid.

And stop aggressively cleansing your face.

Google "oil cleansing method" and start doing that instead. It sounds out there, but please trust me it is the single best thing you will ever do for your skin.

My terrible adult acne was entirely cured by these two things. And tretinoin is anti-aging too.

If the condition is bad enough to stop you going out in public to enjoy yourself it is bad enough to try a different treatment.

Go back to your GP and ask that you are either given a different treatment or referred to a dermatologist. Their choice.

If the GP seriously feels that the condition isn't that bad you need to be referred for psychological help to manage your perception of your skin.

One way or another, if you are hiding in the house when you should be out with your family, you need some treatment.

Yes to always moisturising! You just need to find one that works without being greasy or oily. Your make up will go on better if your skin is moisturised properly too, so as well as it helping your skin, it will help you cover the spots better.

I'm a sufferer of adult acne, I can empathise with how you feel. Mine is triggered by hormones, usually before and after my period or when I'm stressed. I can't take hormonal contraception, they tried antibiotics but that flared up my IBD.

What I found help me was I changed my diet, cut down processed food, caffeine and ate foods high in zinc. I've also had to learn to deal with stress better, rather than internalising it until my body literally shut down.

It's helped, it hasn't stopped completely but they don't stay as long. I use Burts Bees facial wash, which I've found works best for my skin, but I had to try a few. Over cleansing can also bring the spots out. I use Quinoderm when it's really bad but only once a day.

I'm in a place where I am mostly happy with my skin, but I am still left with the scars so I will never be a bare faced beauty.

I hope you find a treatment that works for you too x

I think that where I go wrong, not moisturising enough. But I'm never sure if I'm causing more spots by putting it on! I really feel at the end of my tether with it all :(

I switched to a mineral powder foundation and it really helped.

Also a course of antibiotics helped, About six weeks worth. tricy..something

I tried lots of products and spent a lot of money, try washing just with soap and water, imperial leather one works well for me, avoid excessive scrubs

I also used Quiniderm when very bad, really rub it in for better results.

Hi OP, this might not help you yet whilst you get control of what is causing it, but I used to have terrible skin, caused by the contraceptive injection, I think. I died out the spots by putting talc prefer on quite thick at night. It worked for me, weirdly.

Once I stopped getting bad spots I still had bad scarring. I got microdermabrasion and the lady did it really quite aggressively, my face was stripey, inflamed and really red, but it was the best thing I ever did as she got rid of all the scarring. I will be forever grateful for that!

There are better retinoids on the market now than tretinoin. Have you tried Adapalene gel? It is a relatively recent new formulation retinoid and is fantastic, I didn't want to go on roaccutane but none of the other topical antibiotics or older retinoids worked for me. Adapalene cleared my hormonal acne completely.

I have been using quiniderm in the mornings and it does rub in lovely but it really drys my skin out. The family are back home now and my lovely dh is going to the town for me to get a few different things to try.

If you don't want to use a brand moisturiser try steeping some marigold flowers in boiling water. Let the water cool and use to splash on you face morning and night. Very soothing.

Also insist your GP refers you to a dermatologist. And don't hide. Most other people won't even notice or care. They are far more prominent to you. You are still a (lovely) person.

Do you get adapalene from the doctors?

Hi, I don't have much to suggest but just wanted to sympathise. I'm the same.
It never occurred to me as a teenager that I'd still have bad skin at 37.

Thank you bunchoffivesm I feel like all people can see is my awful skin :(