To be fed up of still having skin like a teenager?

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I’ve had acne since being a teenager. Looking back at photos from when I was in my 20s it looked so much better than it does now that I’m in my mid 30s. I tired a couple of rounds of antibiotics in my late 20s and was on a contraceptive pill (I forget the same) that was meant to help for a couple of years. However, none of these things ever helped.

I have a consistent skincare routine and have tried multiple lotions and potions that are meant to help.

Has anyone else experienced worsening skin with age? It seemed to get even worse when I got pregnant. I’m too embarrassed to go out without makeup and I’m totally sick of it. I hate wearing makeup.

My face is permanently red and when I get out of the shower or go to the gym I look like I’ve got serious sunburn!

Tropic Skincare regime is helping me immensely. My adult acne is horrid... not too dissimilar from the lady who posted a photograph above. The improvement has been amazing. I spent just shy of £100 on the full kit, and it has lasted for two months so far (with a lot left to go). It all works well together, but the game changer for me has been the fruit peel serum, which I use at night time. My acne is so very improved, and even old acne scars are fading. I would be lying to say I am totally clear-faced now, but it has only been 8 weeks and I went out without full, thick makeup on today! I used to use stage makeup because it was the only thing that could cope with my acne. I so completely understand how you feel! I even get acne on my neck, chest, back etc. Tropic Skincare is all natural etc... and has really soothed the angry redness, which stands out so much on my pale Irish skin. It's not perfect yet, but I'll post photos to show you the improvement.

If you imagine I started out with pretty deep cystic acne like the lady above, the first photo here is after a month using Tropic Skincare. Obviously still got some spots, but improved so much from originally. The second photo is today at just under 8 weeks of using it. You can still see some little bumps, but again... much better. I think I could be totally clear in another month or so!

I’m in my late 30’s and have struggled with my skin for the past 10 years (I have PCOS). Doctor prescribed me Zineryt - a roll on antibiotic, which was fine for a while. I only used it as and when, which was perhaps once or twice a year (once mixed it’s only good for about 6 weeks but pharmacy started giving it to me unmixed so I always had some available to mix as and when I had a flare up). Anyway, last year I started to get a flare up - a really bad one, literally spots were just appearing all over my face and even with applying Zineryt they weren’t getting any better or going away like they had done previously. Full of despair and embarrassment about my skin, I went back to the Doctors and was prescribed Duac gel. It’s a white cream-like gel, which you keep in the fridge and apply once a day (I do it at night). Since I’ve been using that I’ve hardly had one spot - it’s really changed my skin for the better so I would highly recommend you giving it a try too 😊

I'm not going to offer suggestions because if you're anything like me you've heard it all before. I'm just posting to let you know that you're not alone, I'm in the same boat. Adult acne is absolutely shit. You have my sympathy. Go and get yourself a glass of wine OP x

roaccutane cleared up my best friend's adult acne 13 years ago and while she still has dry lips now, she's never looked back.

I am breastfeeding and have started Differin Gel, it is promising so far

The only thing that worked for me was shelling out for a dermatologist. Having had cystic acne which left me with rolling scars, I went to see a super fancy dermatologist (Harley St) who put me on azelaic acid and a prescription retinoid.

For my rolling scars, I got subcision and fraxel laser. Laser wasn't worth it but am absolutely thrilled with the results of the subcision. Not 100% better but about 80%, so better than I was hoping for.

Happy to discuss more details by PM if people are interested. Acne has been the bane of my life, looks-wise.

Christ, some of these are bad! You have my sympathy. I've always had greasy skin, always redness, but no spots, so can't comprehend how awful adult spots can be.

If you cant use roccutane then I second Paula's Choice stuff. I use the Bha and AHA it's changed my skin completely. It worth speaking to their customer service team as they'll recommend a skincare routine for you.

I’m in the same boat op, I’m 35 and haven’t had clear skin since I was about 12. Have been on and off contraceptive pills to help combat them but they just make it slightly milder.
Those of you who’ve used someone mention a 16 week course I think? Does that provide a long term solution or just the period you are taking it for? And do you get it from the doctor or a dermatologist? Thanks

I was prescribed differin gel and long term antibiotics. It really helped. My skin isn't perfect, I still get spots but it's nowhere near as bad as before. I just use the gel for a few days and it clears up again. Luckily I have very minimal scarring.

It's very drying so I have to use a good moisturiser. I also have to wear sun cream because it makes your skin incredibly sensitive to sunburn (finding one that doesn't make spots worse is a battle!)

Ah it’s horrible. I totally sympathise. I have been on lymecycline for a few months now and it really seems to be working. I know there will be a limit to how many courses they prescribe though so clear skin may be short lived.

I found all the acne products were useless tbh.

I now use soap and aspirin masks. I find they work as well as any expensive products.

Roaccutane, but you have to try a lot of other things first. Well, you do here.

I am on a month's break from them, then ill go onto my last month.

Even on my month's break I have not had one single spot.

Roaccutane really is the only thing that can cure it (for most people). antibiotics are OK until you come off them. I did have some luck with spironolactone though. It made a big difference but I was still getting too many outbreaks.

I have hormonal acne caused my pcos - I'm on roaccutane after trying everything for over 10 years and it's the only thing that helps. I think treatment us usually up to 6 months, but your total dosage depends on your weight so it varies person to person.

You cant breastfeed or get pregnant on it but you only have to wait 5 weeks after finishing the tablets before you can get pregnant with no side effects.

Skin problems are the worst thing ever so I really hope you can find confidence in your own skin and manage to find something that sorts it for you x

Please go to your GP OP.

My DD has just started roaccutane, after working her way through a variety of treatments - Duac, Zynert, Lymecycline and Differin off the top of my head. Your GP can help and each person reacts differently to mecdication, so Inthink she has just been unlucky not to find one that works.

She is on a 16 week treatment of roaccutane as the dermatologist said that they prescribe it to those with severe acne or, as in her case, moderate acne which hasn't cleared up on other treatments. With regard to pregnancy you can't get pregnant for five weeks after the treatment has ended so if you're looking at becoming pregnant in six months, this could still work for you.

@Bunbunbunny do you have roscea- have you had a diagnosis? Join roscea rescue on fb. Apparently invermectim kills off the mites that causes roscea type 2. It is found in horse dewormer - apply to face once per day for -12 weeks. There are some pretty impressive results on there.

I sympathise. I have Polymorphic Light Eruption and rosacea. My skin goes haywire in heat.
Only started when I was 50.

Yes I had rosacea which is getting worse as i get older. I had a round of antibiotics which got rid of the spots but not the redness. It can’t be taken longer term though.

I have a derm appointment in about three weeks which I’ve been waiting for for about 9 months, so it should be possible for those who are a lot worse than me. I actually took this pic earlier, before and after fake tan as I want to stop wearing make up so much. Husband says I don’t look orange but I feel it! This is Bondi Sands matte tan make up and Daniel Sandler watercolour blush in Gentle. For those of you with rosacea this might help. For skincare I use bland balm cleanser, cetaphil to wash and child’s farm moisturiser. I do use an acid every week or so as physical exfoliants are not good. My skin isn’t reactive to products though mainly agitation.

I’m 36, have probably had rosacea since I was a young teen as I’ve always been red and had uneven skin tone. Sorry all this isn’t helpful to you but it’s cathartic for me.

To those who have PCOS, you need to get on Inositol. It used to be Vitamin B8 but has since been reclassified. There have been many legitimate medical studies into Inositol successfully improving PCOS symptoms, and for me it’s been a game changer. I perhaps have one spot every three months, whereas before I was prone to a a flurry of cystic ones right along the jawline.

Another sufferer here.

I get so tired of all the suggestions people make. Did you see the thread recently about the OP who can’t go to the gym without a new acquaintance making repeated “helpful” suggestions about her skin.

Honestly, I must have spent a fortune over the years on all these lotions and potions other people find amazing. At worst I get nothing more than what I call well kept spots or expensive looking acne. At best, my skin gets somewhat better but the improvement is really fragile and I find myself religiously wedded to a regime I come to resent.

I was nearly at the roaccutane point too OP but also in the midst of conceiving etc when I came across some info in B vitamins (I think it was an acne.org). I’d had my first child and after breast feeding when my periods returned I got the most horrendous cystic acne. Huge lumps around my jawline, literally changing the shape of my face. I just wanted to hide. Tried all the topical things then read about Vit B5 (Pantothenic Acid). Tried the mega high doses recommended on various sites and sure enough it cleared up. I was worried about taking such high doses, especially of a single B vitamin -it’s better to take a broad spectrum of B vitamins and once I got it under control I switched to a high dose vitamin B compound (www.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/Solgar-Formula-B-Complex-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00024D6CS/ref=sr_1_12?s=gateway&crid=EQRDUS0LYTN&keywords=vitamin%20b%20complex%20high%20strength&sprefix=Vitamin%20b%2Caps%2C194&qid=1555849166&sr=8-12%29&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-3564148-To-be-fed-up-of-still-having-skin-like-a-teenager" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/Solgar-Formula-B-Complex-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00024D6CS/ref=sr_1_12?crid=EQRDUS0LYTN&keywords=vitamin+b+complex+high+strength&qid=1555849166&s=gateway&sprefix=Vitamin+b%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-12) and have continued. I don’t know why it makes a difference but it does. When I take these my skin is good. Minor flare ups or excessive oiliness are dealt with easily with freederm gel (also a B vitamin -nicotinamide) or acnecide (mile benzoyl peroxide).

I have spoken with dermatologists who’ve really been impressed with freederm gel for rosacea and adult acne, as well as age related redness.

Sorry I know it’s rubbish just getting even more suggestions but if this works for you, it’s cheap at least.

In addition to asking your doctor about inositol, you may want to ask abut CoQ10 for PCOS support.

What is inosotil is it just a brand name for a vitamin?

I think you should REALLY focus on your diet. Cut out sugars and go dairy free for a few months and see how you get on. Every person I know with severe acne saw vast improvement when they changed their diet.