To ask if there is anything I could do with my skin (photo)

[ConfusedZebra]

I'm 26. I have pcos. And this is how my skin looks on my face. It's awful. I feel so uncomfortable. I hate wearing make up but have to to cover it up. I asked the GP to help but they just want to put me in the pill(I can't because of migraines and also don't want to). AIBU to ask if there is anything I can do? Or should I just accept it? Went through a bunch of products before but nothing made a massive change. I just want my old skin back like when I was 17 😢😢 before pcos and stressed life.

Sorry to say Yasmin cleared my skin in weeks and also entirely controls my PCOS. I appreciate this isn't helpful as you can't take it. Before this, I had some oestrogen tablets when they were trying to shrink a 14cm cyst. It had a massively positive affect.

Losing weight and eating really healthily and drinking lots of water helped.

Being pregnant seemed to help for a while but skin started getting bad again after several years.

My skin has really cleared up in the last few years (I'm now in my forties). It seems much less oily. I have been using exfoliating hair removal pads on my facial hair and I have much less of a problem with ingrowing hairs.

Besides that I've been using gentler cleansers on my face. I think I had been using too much abrasive chemicals in the past.

Stress makes my skin flare up. Swimming in chlorinated water helps clear it up.

I tend to use a tinted moisturiser rather than foundation.

Everyone says I look very young for my age and I think the extra oiliness of my skin in the past has helped keep my skin young looking.

I was given salysilic acid soap in Dubai. But it's vicious stuff. Clears skin but doesn't help with weight or hair loss

simpleskincarescience.com
Good website to get started on skincare and easy to read. I found the advice on food really helpful and I think it has made a difference to me.

How long have you had it? If it's been a good few years and nothing else has worked I'd insist on referral to dermatologist for roaccutane. I had adult acne in my 20s, the pill made it worse, topical creams and even antibiotics only helped very temporarily and superficially. Roaccutane was a miracle.

I'm 56 kg and 5'7... not really worried about my weight although I'm definitely not living a fit lifestyle. I try to have a 20-50minutes power walk every day but that's about it 😳
Have experienced some hairloss but don't have bald patches and I have a lot of hair . My periods are regular as well. It's just the skin... I just need clear skin. I will check out some tinted moisturisers but honestly hate wearing any kind of products on my face. I like my evening cream after a shower and that's about it. I don't know. I'll try to get a water bottle that's marked the amount of water you should have by the time of the day as I think I don't drink enough but surely there must be something else I could do

Talking about one of these.

You need Roaccutane. Get your GP to refer you to a dermatologist (you'll probably have to go through a few other acne meds before they let you have it though)

I don’t have PCOS, so I don’t know if my advice will help at all and I’m sorry if it doesn’t, but I have had years of very bad and scarring adult acne. I tried EVERYTHING, dermatologist consultations, loads of different creams, specialised regimes, all the very expensive skin clinic treatments, acid peels, three different types of antibiotics and was told my only other option was roaccutane which I really didn’t want. I ended up trying acnecide gel from boots...and it worked! I honestly can’t believe it, but it really has changed my skin. I use it once a day now and haven’t had a cystic spot in months.

I have pcos and giving up sugar totally got rid of it. I didn't have skin problems so not sure if it will help but I would try it see of it eases your symptoms at least.

Oh dear yeah sugar... I need to work on my sugar intake 😂 @Raver84 how did you manage to give up on it. Any tips ?

It was really hard actually. I went cold turkey and it took around 3 days of feeling awful before I turned a corner. If you get a copy of jamie oliver everyday super food that will help hardly any sugar in the recepies. If I wanted something sweet I'd have fruit or some honey. But only tiny amounts.
It totally change my life I conceived naturally where my other three children had been after fertility med. My periods returned to bang on 28 day cycles whereas I normally had 3 periods a year.

I was referred to a dermatologist and managed to get a course of Roaccutaine in my 20s. There can be side effects, and if you Google there are lots of stories about depression and suicide. This did worry me, so I made sure that I told people close to me about being on it and to look out for me. It really did help my skin, mine was a lot worse than yours. After a while of not being on it it did start to come back, but nothing like before. Good of luck, I know how horrible acne is x

I'm going to do that. Go off sugar or just very minimum. I used to have 3 sugars in my coffe now I only haven one and drink tea without sugar.

Please please get referred to a dermatologist at the hospital OP. GPs really know very little generally about skin. You need a specialist. I had appalling acne and finally saw a dermatologist who said she feels heartbroken when she sees people with painful skin and acne because it’s unnecessary and can be cured. They will help. I am now free and have clear skin. From a do-it-yourself perspective, I highly recommend the oil cleansing method, but your skin isn’t dirty or bad but this method will help settle it and is gentle. You can’t overstate the importance of having clear skin and feeling comfortable in it. Best of luck OP. See your GP for a referral asap.

I’ve taken 20mg of roaccutane for 1 year now and another 3 Months to go as you need 10,000mg in total but 40mg made me feel ill
My skin is acne and acne scar free (just now ridden with huge melasma patches!) and this is my 2nd course in 13 or so years. First time didn’t seem to last longer than 3 years.
Both times great results only have fingers crossed it lasts this time until my menopause but I am not yet 40...

I wouldn’t hesitate to do roaccutane again and wish I had done it sooner than wait another 10 years feeling shit

I don't have PCOS so this might be off the mark, but have you tried any Retinol products?

It's used to treat skin damaged eczema, acne, burns, other kinds of wounds, and has been off prescription for several years. I have large pores, acne scars and other marks on my face, and using it three times a week, it does work to reduce the marks and pores.

The down side is that you need to protect the treated skin from sun damage; I use an SPF åin sunny weather.

It's worth a try, this is what I use, the Granactive Retinoid 2% which doesn't irritate me at all, but there are other products available, Boots do a retinol product as well.

dammit, ain = in.

You can get retinoid topical cream from the GP now too

Please look up inositol and PCOS. I am 41, and have had acne since I was 12. You need something that blocks androgens. After all that time, for the last two years I have flawless skin after finally tackling the root cause of PCOS acne: androgen excess.

Saw Palmetto is effective at blocking androgens and can help stem hair loss as well.

Spironolactone is a prescription medication that blocks androgens. I’ve never tried it, but it’s supposed to be excellent for hormonal acne.

I am taking inositol and it has been a game changer for me. It has been medically studied in women with PCOS at helping normalise cycles, and also tackles other PCOS issues, such as hirsuitsm and acne. Zero side effects and it isn’t expensive.

Following as, whilst my skin isn't as bad as that, I do get acne and have marks on my skin that I can't shift.

My spots are getter since double cleansing, second time with a hot cloth cleanser and using a glycolic acid pad as a toner then moisturise. If I get lazy and stop doing some of it, I start getting spots again. It's got it all down but I can't get rid of it completely and I still have red marks all around my nose and chin.

I’m surprised your gp won’t give you antibiotics, I was prescribed topical and systemic a/b’s when I had acne, which worked for a while. Ultimately I had a course of roaccutane which cleared up my skin and I’ve never had acne since (I had moderately severe cystic acne)
Roaccutane is amazing if it works but I’ve subsequently met some people who have had life changing side effects so it’s not to be taken lightly.
My skin is significantly thinner as a result of taking it but when I remember how awful my acne made me feel it’s a small price to pay.
I’d ask for a referral to a dermatologist (or if you can afford it pay for a private consultation)

Dermatologist.

I have a friend who's PCOS symptoms have been helped massively by following a ketogenic diet.

Dermalogica daily micro foiliant works miracles on hormonal acne. You can also ask for antibiotics to give your skin a bit if a break but I wouldn't advise it, they are quite bad for you and have no long term effect.