to think that 31 is too old to have this many spots?

[fastdaytears]

I look rough today and ridiculously it is getting me down. No spots for teenage years then Mirena about 6 years ago and skin has been dreadful ever since (I know everyone loves to blame the Mirena for everything and could well be co-incidence). Now on mini pill and have 5 proper big gross spots. I don't have greasy skin generally.

1. anyone else in my horrible spotty boat?
2. any suggestions for cover up that might last longer than an hour?
3. am I being totally vain and ridiculous to worry about this when am healthy and basically have nothing to whinge about?

Doesnt Roaccutane have a really bad reputation for scarring? Belle du Jour writer says her facial scarring is down to Roaccutane for her teenage acne. Brook Magnanti is her real name - you can see the scars down one side in a certain light, they are quite bad but she covers them well.

Never got scars from it, Sazzle but it did make my skin so dry it cracked despite constant moisturizing. It also turned me into a sobbing mess for three months out of the six I was on it.

Have you tried the copper coil? I had the implant and my skin was dreadful for the whole year. I had it removed and a copper cool fitted two months ago and my skin cleared within a week. It's the best thing I've ever done!

Wow thank you all. So pleased to hear that not alone or unreasonable. I think I will go to the doctor and not downplay it as it does make me feel crap about myself. Getting pregnant might be an extreme solution but I'll add it to the list. Lots of love for Benefit I see so I'll try that.

Can't do combined pill sadly and yes it's the dreaded cerazette (though nice to hear some positive experiences too).

I find it's a really vicious cycle of touching spots too much/over applying concealer and then making it worse.

I had some success with Mia electric face brush thing and dermalogica so I'll try that again after pay day. Dermalogica is so expensive (or I'm so tight)

I am a horror for refined sugar too so should cut back. anyone aware of a wine/spot link? Hope not.

Thank you all. Feel quite alone in this and if I'd been the normal spotty 14 year old would have had loads of friends to sympathise!

Best moment was lovely niece then about 6 running up to me on a packed train with "why doesn't xxx want to be your boyfriend any more and why do you have those spots I don't like them". Bless her

Sazzle I have never heard of Roaccutane causing scars. My side effects were tiredness and dry lips, but they were manageable as I was on a low dose. I didn't get any depression - I was so relieved that something was working!

I would definitely not recommend it lightly though. Best to look at other options first. I do think it is important to talk to GP as it is easy to get stuck in a cycle of trying one new 'miracle' product after another.

Toomanydicks I am such a wuss I still wake up crying re Mirena fitting/removal (I know) but I'd consider copper for sure. Have your periods got heavier?

I am still prone to horrendous acne, and (sorry you don't want to hear this) I'm mid-40s, however it is now controlled by Duac from the GP. It has made SUCH a difference to my life as previously there would never be a time I was spot-free, and I was always re-applying concealer and feeling miserable about it. Please try it if you haven't.

Don't take Yasmin. It dried me out so much my hair stared to fall out. When I stopped I became a walking spot. Worse then ever for a whole year

Had bad skin for years. Iv found dalacin t topical solution/lotion (depending on how dry your skin is) works well. Make up wise I always use Lancôme teinte idol as cover everything and stays put. Iv heard good things about cetaphil as its been used in America for years. You need a not too harsh cleanse followed by moisturiser. Tea tree is neat is great at night for dabbing on spots

I had mild to moderate acne (chin area) all my adult life but now I have perfect skin. All down to dalacin t (mentioned several times in this thread) - it's the topical antibiotic lotion containing clindamycin. I use it once a day and aged 40, I have better skin now than I've ever had. I am just so cross with myself I didn't start using it earlier - all those years where I'd been feeling self conscious.

If you have acne around your chin, hormonally linked (my skin was much better during pregnancy and breastfeeding) then its worth a try. I used to get it from the doctor but it's actually cheaper to buy it imported from ebay, e.g. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-15-ml-CLINDA-M-Stick-Clearing-Acne-Vulgaris-Clinda/180436761107

I'm 35 & still get spots (despite roaccutane at 19 yrs old ) not helped by the pill and antidepressants. Since January after reading a recommendation on here I've started using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo face serum and the matching face wash gel. It's finally almost cleared my skin up after years of spots. You do go through a funny couple of weeks where they get worse but then they are gone! I'd recommend trying it.

I'm 47 and still get spotty outbreaks, I've always had oily, spot prone skin. It was bad in my 20s, better in my 30s and seems to have got bad again in my 40s. I get huge lumps under my skin that take ages to properly come out. I think this could be cystic acne, it seems to come from deep within my skin. Its possibly hormonal as it gets bad in the week before my period, but then gets bad again the week after my period.

In the past I've had oxytextracycline antibiotics when it got really bad, which do clear it up but it always comes back.
I find its worse in winter, the cold weather seems to make my skin extra greasy.
About a year ago, I was on the brink of going back to the Drs as I was getting awful outbreaks, culminating in 4 huge lumps on my chin and loads of spots, I stumbled on quinoderm 10, now sadly discontinued, which cleared it up.
I use panoxyl 10 now, I think that's also been discontinued but ive seen it for sale on some internet chemist sites.
I don't really like using benzoyle peroxide on my skin, but it shifts the zits and keeps my skin pretty clear, though I still get the odd outbreak.
On the plus side, I look pretty young for my age and have very few wrinkles, so oily skin can have benefits.

Me too OP I'm 33 and have had acne for about 20 years! :o I have purchased everything that's ever been recommended on MN for it, but I still have it. Speaking of which, thanks for the link Neeps I have ordered some!

I have the Mirena, it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference. Double cleansing and acid toning have helped a bit though. I'm thinking about lazer but I need to do some research on which type - and I need to save some money!

Same here, totally pisses me off.

We're led to believe spots are a teenage thing, wrinkles are an older years thing, it's a cruel reality that I now have both at the same time!

I haven't used any of the other products reccommended on here, but I am terrible for touching my face when I have spots, so for me Quinoderm anti bacterial face wash and the cream work amazingly for me.

Inexpensive, and although the cream stings like a bitch, I always have better skin by the time I wake up when I apply before bed. Also makes a good barrier under makeup.

Can I mention bum acne.

Definitely hormonal. Really fucking painful.

I'm 40. Recently single.

I will not be showing my arse off anytime soon. Teatree oil seemed to work but the bastards have come back with a vengeance.