To be bloody depressed about adult acne?

[NTHEN]

Posting here for traffic as I'm desperate, apologies.

I'm 26 and until this past year have never suffered with acne but I now have it horribly. It seems to have coincided with me having a baby 18 months ago and is getting worse.

I wash my face daily, use a mild facial cleanser from clearasil and never sleep in make up. I use a light moisturiser.9

I've been using acnecide which has slightly reduced some of the bigger spots but I still have new ones popping up every other day.

I don't wear make up unless I'm going out somewhere where I'll need to make an effort (2-3 times per month) so I'm not clogging my pores on a regular basis.

I applied tanning lotion last night which has only made it look 10 x worse.

I feel unattractive, unclean and insecure. I don't mean to sound so vain but it's starting to impact my daily life and I'm not wanting to go out.

PLEASE could you suggest anything that will help me / has helped you or others you know?

I definitely don't want roaccutane if I can avoid it.

Oh poor you. I really feel for you. I suffered with acne all over my legs and bum cheeks for years! The only thing that helped at all was covering the area with sudacrem over night! Not sure how you’d feel covering your face overnight. Do you change your pillow case every night? I’ve heard that can help.

I also get cystic acne in my chin which is definitely related to hormones! It can sap even the bravest person’s self confidence but I do believe that it’s not as noticeable for others. How often do you think about other people’s skin?

I’ve been there. My skin was clear as a teen, but I’ve had terrible cystic acne flares after having babies and after coming off the pill.

For me, inositol (google) has been a lifesaver. Vitamin B5 is good for clearing acne, too, and I also like to take Omega 3s.

Changing the pillowcase more frequently has definitely helped my 2 teenagers skin.

Have you tried the pill- Dianette?
Use non comedogenic products that don’t block pores.
Stay away from fake tan and bronzer, seems to highlight the spots.
I found using Liz Earle cleanser helped loads and I used the toner with a few drops of tea tree oil.

Thank you for the replies. I'm noting down all of the suggestions.

I could definitely try sleeping in a mask of sudocream, I don't like the feel of it generally but if if may help then I'm all for it.

I don't change my pillow every night no, but do change them often. I could definitely try that.

I'm relatively confident that this is hormonal or at least in part. I also get raging PMS now which I also didn't have before DD came along.

Truth be told I don't pay attention to other people's skin so it's probable that nobody notices mine, it's just fast becoming a deep insecurity of mine.

I have had acne since teens And the only thing that has helped is 16:8 Intermittent fasting. Since starting it at the beginning of lockdown, my skin is 90% clear for the first time in years. Apparently it affects the hormones and for me it is noticeable if I take any breaks in it. Google Dr. Fung xx

Crossed posts.

I haven't tried the contraceptive pill no. I seem to react bizarrely to artificial hormones (I've had the injection in the past) and I'm reluctant to take anything else that may worsen my mood/anxiety.

I will give it some thought though!

I know how you feel, I constantly have spots and at 26 it’s really draining me now. My skin is never clear. I may try a new pillowcase every night to see if that helps!

Intermittent fasting.. that's intriguing. I could do with losing a few lbs actually so perhaps that is something to try. Thank you

Acnecide 5% did clear my skin up, I use Clinique clarifying lotion twice a day after cleansing and it’s surprising how much dirt & make up is still there. I have to live with my skin being quite dry, any moisturiser seems to bring out spots.

@Moltenpink

Acnecide 5% did clear my skin up, I use Clinique clarifying lotion twice a day after cleansing and it’s surprising how much dirt & make up is still there. I have to live with my skin being quite dry, any moisturiser seems to bring out spots.

I'm really pleased it worked for you Molten, how long did you use it before you noticed a vast improvement?

I've only been applying it for maybe 2 weeks now so still early days. Whenever it looks as though it's starting to take effect on the bigger spots I'll have several new ones pop up in other places.

I've also developed particularly dry and flaky patches on my face where I've had to apply it the most.

Adult cystic acne sufferer here!

Have tried many, many, MANY things over the years. Daily exfoliation and a host of things from The Ordinary have been my best friends.

My back is a different story and I still suffer from terribly painful breakouts, and my back is covered with scars. A salicylic acid soap and a very hard back scrubber are starting to help.

I got rid of my adult acne with laser treatment. It used to be called blue light treatment, but it's probably something else now! Sometimes advertised as an anti-aging thing, as it stimulates collagen production, but it stops acne by destroying bacteria in the lower skin levels. It has kept my skin clear for over 15 years.

Ask your GP for the antibiotic called Lymecycline. It is brilliant at clearing acne. Takes a couple of weeks for skin to look a lot better. Cleared mine completely. You need to stay on it for a few months.

Have a look at the cream Duac from the doctors. It’s a miracle worker! Long time sufferer if adult acne and it’s the only product that’s ever kept it under control.

I really sympathise, it’s such a horrible thing to deal with

I suffered with acne for over 20 years. Having tried every lotion and potion available the only thing that worked was giving up dairy, especially milk. Give it a try.

Are we allowed to post links to websites ?

As soon as i hit 28 I started to get breakouts all the time. Every day or other day.

Prior to that I had the most amazing skin. Never had acne before or spots.

I found something that really works for me. 2 months on and I have my glowing spot free skin again.

Adult cystic acne here too. The only thing that really worked for me was the pill (yasmin) and then when I could feel some monster spots coming up I slathered them in sudocrem. I also used those blue light sun beds after a bout of awful skin last year to get rid of some of the scarring. (I know sun beds come with their own dangers though)

I would stick with the acnecide for a bit longer - 2 weeks is quite a short time for any skin routine. I have the same hormonal adult acne (much older than you though) and it has worked for me. I've been using it for years though and it took time at first. I know everyone says you NEED a moisturiser, but I would try skipping that step for a while until things get working.

It is awful. Could it hormone related, my good friend has had every treatment from chemical peels and laser to a nutritionist with no change unfortunately at times her face looks sore.

@Pizzatoast Yes please share.

You need to see your GP. Can you afford to see a dermatologist?

Acnecide (Benzyl peroxide) cleared up my skin but it took 8 weeks to work. It made my skin really dry and flakey and sore. Have you tried contact therapy where you leave it on for say 10 minutes and then washing it off? In medical studies that’s been shown to be almost as effective as leaving it on.

I suggest you start building up to leaving it on overnight very slowly, twice a week, then every other night. Apply moisturiser, then a tiny layer of acnecide then another layer of moisturiser.

Ask your GP for a course of lymecycline, that might help it clear up sooner. One study I read suggests that benzyl peroxide is more effective when oral antibiotics are used as well.

No cosmetics are going to work on acne, you need medication.

I see a previous poster has already mentioned it but I too gave up milk about 3 years ago. Previously I’d always had acne breakouts since about age 10. I’m 38 now. I didn’t eat anything containing milk or milk products for about 3-4 months. I’m not too strict about milk in products now but i don’t really drink milk. I rarely get any spots and can’t remember the last time I had any cystic ones.

Acnecide worked wonders for my son but it did take a while. He found the online acne clinic on the boots website really helpful to find the right treatment.