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.

Yes when you are a teenager you think it will go away soon. But to still have it in my 30s is really knocking my confidence.

Try la roche posay's range, I use the physiological gel cleanser with a clean face cloth and effaclar duo+ cream.

It's made a massive difference, I've been low carb for 2 weeks and had no new spots.

Read Caroline hirons cheat sheet for acne too, she was a sufferer too. I can't afford the products she advises but the techniques she uses and methods are free and she changes how you treat your skin.

Wow 2 weeks of no new spots, you must be happy with that. Will read up on Caroline Hiron, thanks alot

That simple range is harsh, it's worth investing the money in proper skin care. Would you consider trying the no7 protect and advanced serum ( the one for younger skin) it has salicylic acid in it which helps clear up spots, my friend finds it great.

You need to use moisturiser and make sure it suits your skin. If you have out breaks of spots does this mean your skin is normally oily? If so and you're using a dry skin moisturiser because of the drying effects of dual, then you are putting too much oil back on your skin. Also try the no7 spot remedy stick, I think that what it's called.

Yep - need to get Adapalene on prescription, but it's great stuff - not sure if all GPs know about it! I had no side effects either, not even any redness, and I used it for ages.

I've taken antibiotics a few times and they have worked for me. You could try Zineryt - its topical antibiotic and anitinflammatory (not sure if that is the same as duac).

I've always thought it was nothing to do with diet but, as I don't want yet anothr course of antibiotics, I felt I couldn't rule it out any longer. I've been doing a paleo diet (basically eat meat, fish, eggs, fruit, veg no dairy or grains) for 3 weeks now and it has had a big impact. I'm actually able to wear a sleeveless dress and show a bit of chest and back for the first time in absolutely ages and ages. Actually thinking about that astounds me, I can't tell you how bad the skin on my body has been in the very very recent past. I don't think diet helps everyone but for some it does and might be worth a go. I've been a bit relaxed about it and have had the odd glass of wine, cappucino, sandwich etc and have still noticed a big difference.

I also noticed my skin was great on a low carb diet- plus great hair and nails as well.

I don't have bad bad skin, just a collection of pimples around the neck, lower jaw and chin, plus the odd one on my forehead- but it is annoying when you are in your forties and had less spots as a teenager.

The things I've found that work are- the no 7 protect serum mentioned above seems to moisturise without making things greasy, their face cream of the same range however brings me out in loads of spots as do nearly all moisturisers. I also agree with everyone who says give up doing two lots of cleansing with Simple every day, you are really over-aggravating the skin like that and it's fighting back- I wash once every two days with a cleanser with salyalic acid in it and that's it apart from the odd bit of moisturiser/serum to stop it really drying out.

On the spotty areas I use Sudocream which is zinc oxide and it's incredibly effective. I put it on my chin and neck and forehead every night and only a tiny bit in the day (as it is very white and you end up looking like a ghost). Since I went from moisturising this area to using Sudocream instead, I've had two spots in about two months, which is unbelievable compared with before when I was using cover-up all the time.

However it won't affect the look of existing skin and it's a bit drying for cheeks- but it appears to affect sebum production and dry out spots, so if you have some in the cupboard from when your kids were little, you could try it for a week on the problem areas.

It may be you need something with more welly, though, and long-term antibiotics or Roaccutaine may be the way forward.

Sudo has been good for me but I think I'm drying out my skin too much. I know I need to stop the Simple cleansing. Dh is looking for some Cetaphil and I need to use the moisturiser.

Snow I don't use it all over, it definitely is drying on the cheeks, but it may be fine to dry it on the chin/neck/problem areas- I think you have to divide up the face a bit with acne and treat different areas differently as you are right that slathering moisturiser over a very greasy area won't necessarily help (or it doesn't with me anyway).

Try just using Sudo on the problem areas, and not too much, then getting the cleansing/moisturiser right. I can hardly use any moisturisers- they are all too rich for me, but over the years have used serums quite effectively to do the same job.

My face wash is a Nutrogena one with salyalic acid in it- it was £1 in the Pound Shop!

And- if it is beyond all these products, I'd go back to the drs and ask again for a referral or different prescriptions as it is starting to affect your life, make that very clear.

OP, I am very impressed with La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, which I bought after seeing it recommended on here.

It really has rebalanced my skin and cleared up the blemishes. I used to get a few nasty pimples around my chin and jaw just before my period every month. The two months since I've been using Effaclar Duo, I've not had one.

I also use the steam room at the gym 2-3 times a week, and I notice the difference when I keep that up.

YANBU at all to feel upset. You sound like a lovely person, and your skin makes no difference to that.

Oh, and with the Cetaphil (or whichever cleanser you use): get a stack of cheap face washers from IKEA or somewhere (I bought 20 at once). Use the same one a maximum of twice (once in the morning and once that night) for gentle hot cloth cleansing, then throw it in the wash. Change pillowcases regularly, too.

It is scary to start using different things on my skin because I dont know what is the right thing to do. I really don't want to make my spots any worse but I'm loosing the fight. If I don't moistuise then my skin gets really dry, if I do put any on, I seem to get spots there. I'm going to try the ibuprofen gel some one else suggested instead of the sudo. I was only putting a small amount on individual spots but I still think it's too drying for me.
I think going back to the doc is the only long term solution for me.

Roaccutane changed my life. After years of trying everything this was the only thing that worked for me

Thank you Koala, I hope people can see beyond my skin :) there has been lots of lovely people trying to help me, I am very grateful. I will start changing my face cloth more frequently and will have a look at La Roche, thanks alot.

You may think too much moisture isn't good for your skin but it's usually the opposite that's true. Please stop using Simple, from what I've read they are anything but. Insist on stronger help from your GP or see a different GP.

I get spots on my chest and shoulders rather than my face, due to hormones, I've found zinc tablets really help to calm it down when its bad

When my daughter had acne (antibiotics didn't work, she had to have roaccutane), she was recommended Cetaphil for cleansing and moisturising. (You can buy online) It's very reasonably priced and very, very good.
Yes to changing face cloth daily and you must moisturise, even though you are over-producing oil.

And if you want to cover your spots, Estee Lauder Double Wear works a treat.

But do get your doctor to a) try antibiotics (if it is acne) and get referred.

I've had spots / acne / cystic acne and 10 other combinations since I was about 10 - I'm now 28.

I've been on almost every pill, lotion, cream, ointment, antibiotic, face wash etc from the doctors as well as spending hundreds on every toner, cream, gel, etc that is available.

The best results I have ever had is at the moment after years of trying.

I drink a lot of water. I used to roll my eyes and think 'yeah yeah' when people said this but I now KNOW it really works.

I use only bare minerals. I use their face exfoliator and cleansing face wash morning and night and only use their make up on my skin.

I also drink homemade vegetable and fruit juices and have a relatively healthy diet.

Good luck Hun. I really do know how it feels so please don't lose hope.

La Roche Posay is brilliant, I love the whole range and have heard really good things about effaclir duo for acne so do look into that.

I had bad acne when I was younger and my GP put me on antibiotics which completely cleared it up. I'm very surprised your GP hasn't suggested this already so it might be worth you seeing a different GP.

With regards to cleansers my niece has been using Murad clarifying cleanser. It's not cheap but the difference in her skin is amazing. It's totally cleared it and given her so much more confidence so I would definitely recommend it

Mine was hormonal (PCOS) The thing that completely fixed it up was going on Spiralactone (it's an antiandrogen.). I couldn't believe the difference it made. I had to have a coil fitted (I see OP already has one) as it can cause horrible birth defects if you get pregnant. I had no side effects at all, and skin cleared up, and, even after I went off it a few years ago (TTC) things never got as bad.

Yes I'm really trying to drink lots of water. I used to drink lots of fresh orange juice as well but Ive cut it out because I'm sure it was making my skin worse. I'm realizing that there are so many things out there to use, people have suggested loads of things to me. I thought I had tried nearly everything but I haven't even heard of bare minerals, will look it up thanks so much. It's nice to know they do make up too :)

I have been on antibiotics at different time over the years, xici. But while they may help for a bit, as soon as I stop the spots come back. A lot of people have said don't use the simple range, I think I have been drying my skin out too much. It's nice to have recommendations for cleansers thank you.

Orange juice is full of sugar, there is a theory that sugar increases the amount of testosterone due to an increase in insulin - google insulin resistance and acne...

OP have you ruled out Rosacea as a potential cause of all this? I got diagnosed in my 30s - by a private dermatologist specialist as the GPs I saw we're not very sympathetic to me saying I couldn't face anyone due to how my skin looked. They will need a 30 min consultation which is a lot cheaper than spending £££ in Boots on different creams lotions and stuff thatight make it worse not better.

Were not we're - stupid phone!