To ask for your adult acne help?!

[Peachyk]

So in the past few months, for seemingly absolutely NO reason, I have developed awful awful skin. Full blown cystic acne at age 31, that makes me not want to leave the house (and has made me cry... yes i know how pathetic.)
Its all around my jaw, on my cheeks and over my neck. At last count i had 30 spots....THIRTY.
I've made a gp appointment....the next available is in july so that's pretty crap. In the meantime can i ask for your miracle cures?
So far i have tried sudocream (just seemed to irritate) The Ordinary retinol in squalane (created a lot more spots though I'm persevering) and a topical freederm stick....pointless.

I have a healthy vegetarian diet, limit dairy and drink about 2.5 litres of water. I wash my pillow cases x3 a week.. why do i bother?!

Also are you on the pill? That can be the cure for a lot of hormonal acne. I had it exactly like you on the jaw and neck. It was horrible and painful. Mine was during pregnancy due to hormones.

@parkinssheet oh BLIMEY that's a list and a half! Mind you, I'm probably needing a more tailored approach. My children, work and wine have aged me. I reckon a trip to a clinique counter is needed. Getting old is so expensive isn't it? I'll have a look into that retinol as the one i have does nothing other than give me a slick of grease.

@Lou780 no I'm not! I was for years then came off of it for a break maybe a year ago.. It's only been the past few months the acne has started.

Like most have said, i guess i knew the gp is (most likely) the only way to go. Still, it's been rather eye opening seeing what others do. Makes me feel like I'm not the only spotty adult- finally!

I honestly think Clinique is over priced crap. I have tried it and it is no different to many of the products you can buy from Superdrug for half the price. I can’t stop you but you just need simple very soft and gentle no fragrance no gimmick products to avoid damaging your skin more and a GP visit
Oils and serums will make it worse!

Try TCM SCAR AND ACNE MARK REMOVAL GEL OINTMENT....abkut A fiver from Amazon...really good product

About

I take lynecycline that I got from doctorfox.co.uk and acnecide from boots

Ok If this has come on suddenly and isn’t related to obvious hormone changes such as a pregnancy/ breastfeeding. It is likely to be a hormone change - what contraception are you using? Have you been using it a long time, it may be time to look at a different form of contraceptive pill. Lots of new generation contraceptives that are great for acne.

Another culprit for sudden onset of cystic acne is sensitivity to a product you’re using. Take it back to basics... oil free cleaner & moisturiser - Dermalogica and la Roche posay are good for these sorts of products. And possibly one benyzol peroxide based product such as acneside (though this will be more irritating that helpful for many) but give all these things time. Don’t chop and change products. You need to treat your skin as though it is very sensitive (it is!)

Micellar water made me break out every time I used it!

I have no advice about your acne but just wanted to say that I’m angry on your behalf that, on 9 May, you cannot be seen by the GP until July. The NHS is in a disgraceful state.

I find it annoying I don’t think anyone actually understands cystic acne like this

You can’t clog it with more things and a £29.99 foaming cleanser in a posh bottle will not help

Cystic acne is very deep in the epidermis and not on the surface which most of these cosmetic creams are designed for spots. When I had cystic acne my entire chin was just one yellow liquid filled bubble. Sometimes it’s a bacterial infection that spreads around your face. Sometimes it is hormones which cause your body to over produce oil/sebum which clogs hair follicles and pores and dry skin becomes trapped above the oily pore, the cysts have nowhere to drain and spread out across other pores often a cyst will involve multiple pores. Then the pores are stretched and get clogged over and over. creams like acnecide will out the sebum and cause the skin to flake. Antibiotics usually are the main thing that will tackle the yellow liquid that your body is producing if it’s red and infected

Clinique will not do any of this

*dry out

Mine was caused by Rosacea and only anti-biotics will clear it up

Stop spending all your money on pointless face crap that wont work. Put your money towards a private dermatologist appointment. The GP will make you try loads of things that may not work before referring you to a dermatologist and you'll then wait months for an appointment. Skip all that and go straight to a private dermatologist.

Oh I sympathise, I had adult acne for years it was miserable.

1. IF it is normal acne, what worked for me was Paula Begoun's advice. You need two things: a cleanser/toner with salicylic acid in it (and preferably no alcohol and no glycerine), and you need benzoyl peroxide. The benzoyl peroxide is available OTC at pharmacies. It is not expensive. YOu can usually get 5 or 10% strengths. The stronger, the more effective, but it can also sting more.
2. You can do the above while you wait for your appointment. If it is cystic acne, you may need a prescribed systemic or topical treatment, but they often take a long time to work
3. You may find that it is rosacea, as this can look like acne, but it is a completely different condition. This can be helped with sensitive skincare ranges, but will need systemic antibiotic treatment.

Avoid Clearasil and the like - way too harsh.

OP I went to the dermatologist regarding my horrible adult acne which had gone from a few spots before my period because of PCOS to my whole face destroyed with red sore areas, sore spots, white heads cystic acne all over my temples, cheeks, jaw and neck. Turned out its caused by rosacea. I was making it worse trying all sorts of creams and potions. It was so reactive that she couldn't touch it at all. I had to get rid of everything, take antibiotics and just use a really mild milk cleanser and leave my skins alone for a month til she could have a proper look. Its a lot better now, I still have to go back as I am left with a lot of scarring and still have a lot smaller spots left but the huge sore ones with the red weeping areas have calmed down a lot. I would recommend a visit to the dermatologist over the clinique counter, you will be just throwing money away. I've been there myself.

Roaccutane but it's only prescribed by hospital consultant so you'd need your gp to refer you to a dermatologist.

Acnecide is really good, but use it every night. I find a mild cleanser best and remove all make up. I actually find an oil cleanser.

Kate Mciver Secret Weapon has had marvellous reviews. She developed it while she was having chemotherapy for breast cancer. Sadly Kate died a few weeks ago but if you google the site it shows people’s skin before and after treatment. It seems to help acne and reduce scarring. I bought it because of having spotty skin and my skin is much better. I have no connection with the company btw. It is vegan, so no nasties. Ring the company and see if they think it will help.

Roaccutane rightly should be last resort no good derm would give it without doing at least 4 months on a cycline type anti biotic to see if it’s bacterial

Also roaccutane isn’t really the answer for hormonal cystic acne as esp adult women have their hormones until menopause so like me it’s more likely that over time the sebum production increases and all the cysts come back. I have taken it twice in 10 years as last resort (next resort would be spironolactone maybe). I’m left with extensive melasma now but the scarring has gone. I had it all over my back too

It is shit you can’t see a GP till July but what about a private GP they are often cheaper than a consultant?
Or go into a pharmacist and discuss with them they may be able to help you

I have bad acne made worse the last few years by stress and hormones (45) gp prescribed many anti biotics that didn't work but am currently on roaccutane although side effects not great my skin looks the best it has done for years I honestly think that is the only thing that will control my skin.

It’s the only thing that controls mine too. I didn’t tolerate a dose higher than 20mg so it took nearly 2 years to get to the 10,000mg total dose!
Invested in a lot of dandruff shampoo

I would be cautious of roaccuntane, having been on it and had depression pretty much on and off since.