Aibu to ask you how you got rid of adult acne?

[Troton]

Specifically there’s a lady I know through a friend who has always had moderate acne the whole time I’ve known her. It’s cleared up lately and she looks radiant and im desperate to know her secret but I know it’s be so bloody rude of me!

So im going to ask on here instead - how did you get rid of adult acne?
I’ve just started my second round of roaccutane. I bailed on the first round and only did three months so sadly the effects didn’t last long. I’m hoping to stick it out this time but I’m only on a low dose and worried it’s not going to be a permenant cure. That said I’m reluctant to up the dose as I’m scared of the side effects.

After I had my son I had a bout of acne. Clinique acne range worked for me. I think a face wash, moisturizer and spot treatment. Used it religiously for few months. It's not their 3 step range it's specific for acne.

Just looked up name it's Clinique anti-blemish solutions. I only needed for 4-6 weeks.

I had awful acne throughout my 20s. I had planned to take roaccutane once I had completed my family because I was worried about side effects. But having children completely cleared it up. I still worry about it coming back though. The same happened to my mum, except she had kids earlier.

userofthiswebsite get some Carmex for your lips,a decent moisturiser for your face and some proper hardcore hand moisturiser. My hands ripped like they were made from paper so I needed what amounted to lard for my hands. It really is worth it. Yes my liver was unhappy, my cholesterol rose very high but to get rid of the pain of infected, pus filled lumps on my face was worth it. Unless you've felt that kind of pain in your face you just can't imagine what it's like.

I’ve just ended my 2nd round of roaccutane my skin and hair was greasy again within about 2 weeks.
There isn’t really a cure I don’t think for hormonal acne except the menopause

Place marking for tips!

I'd love to know. Going to be 50 next year and still get breakouts!

Oh and dermatologist prescribed me Skinoren after roaccutane - which I cannot seem to obtain in the U.K. from a pharmacy as the company have put it on hold. Derm said he would see me again if it comes back and give me something else. I am so over 20 years of acne

Two weeks into 20mg a day of roaccutane and the spots have vastly decreased and my skin is less oily but still pumping out oil
With avengeance. So doubtful that this is going to work long term for me :-(

I have suffered terribly since I was 13. I finally found some relief at the age of 34!! Something terrible happened to me though and I suffered a blood clot. I was started on aspirin therapy and after taking this daily my acne cleared up. I also started using dermol lotion as a face wash. Worked wonders. I guess you have to find what works for you. Change of diet etc. It’s tough though. I wouldn’t recommend aspirin without doctors say so!!

Gosh Applecrumble sorry to hear about your blood clot. Hope you are now well. I believe aspirin reduces inflammation so that would make sense re reducing acne. But like you say I won’t try that without doctors advice!

Roaccutane.
Not had anything more significant than a tiny pimple since (i had cystic acne and had to have a steroid injection into the last big boil which refused to budge through the roaccutane)
Interestingly now I’m in perimenopause my skin is much better re blackheads as well. I’m just wrinkly and knackered looking but my skin is clear!

Dianette cleared mine up within a few months, noticed a difference in the first month then by 3 months later it had gone. Still get a couple at ovulation but nothing like the break outs I used to get.

For those of you taking spironolactone, is it being prescribed by your GP or a dermatologist? I’ve been taking it for several years (it’s one of the only things that works for me after 2 failed rounds of accurate), however I moved to the UK from Canada this summer and heard that it’s notoriously difficult to get prescribed here (from both GPs and derms). Hoping that was an exaggeration. I brought enough to see me though to March, but that’s coming up quickly.

‘@Loncan’ Spiro is prescribed off label (is that the term?) for acne. GPs generally will not prescribe it for this reason. I also don’t think it’s on NHS guidelines for acne treatment. It will be derm visit for you I think.

However, as you are already on the med it may be worth discussing with a GP in case they can prescribe based on existing condition/treatment.

The only thing that worked for me was finding the right contraceptive pill, after a lot of trial and error. I was not getting loads of small spots, but a few huge blind lumps on my jawline/chin/around my eyebrows/side of nose. Painful and so unsightly! Nothing I used on my skin helped that much, though Quinoderm cream dried spots out well (and bleached every pillowcase).

Now been told I'm too old and have to come off my pill so back to growing second heads every month it is...

mintbiscuit Thanks, I’ll have to make an appointment to ask about that. I have private healthcare through work so I’m not too concerned if I have to go through a dermatologist, but It would be nice if I could avoid that hassle.

I had acne from the age of 9 until 41...a couple of courses of roaccutane in my 20s did help but it came back. But then three years ago I went low carb and cut out milk as part of that (I did still eat cheese) and my skin totally cleared up. I used to suffer terribly with cystic acne on my jawline and it all went and has never come back. I now don’t eat low carb (I should, but I’m too lazy) but have never gone back to using milk and my skin is still fine.

I've suffered with bad skin for years (not acne) I've just started using charcoal soap it my skin has improved so much!

Duac cream gets rid of my breakouts. Prescribed by GP.

Occasionally I’ve had antibiotics over the years.

Hope you find something that works, it’s horrible not having control over your own skin!

Dianette for many years but now on Spironolactone.

I'm 50 so am hoping that soon I'll be able to stop taking it without the oil slick on face, back,, chest and shoulders returning.

locan i saw a dermatologist privately who kindly wrote to my his gp sufgedgimg they refer me to a particular NHS derm who specialises in adult acne. She was lovely and listened to my concerns. She prescribed Spironolactone and then passed it on to my gp. So I get repeat prescrtiptoms from my gp now. It works very well for me with no side effects (that I have noticed).

My acne wasn't cystic but I was just so fed up and embarrassed to still have to cover up and conceal spots in my 40s.

legolimb Thank you, that’s really helpful to know. Fingers crossed I can come to some sort of similar arrangement with my GP in the new year.

@Loncan

I can’t get my GP to give it to me either.
When my dermatologist discharged me after 2nd roaccutane round I specifically asked whether I could come back and get that drug if this round fails again. He said yes and it’s too early to know if I will need to but the oil is back in full force
I’ve had my androgens tested a few times and nothing seems to jump out at them enough. Despite being able to grow a beard and full body covering, excessive grease and acne for years. Really frustrating. I can’t take the pill

DD had acne badly up until she was 21. We'd tried every natural treatment going, but the only thing that cleared it was antibiotics, which she took for 3 months alongside taking a good pro-biotic.

3 years later still no sign of acne whatsoever. So although I'd always been very against antibiotic treatment it was the best option in the end.

Try silver serum www.skinshop.co.uk/silver-serum it worked wonders for me. Just used an Avon face wash and this twice a day.