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Original poster

Acne at 30 why?!

30 replies

leopardtigerlion · 25/03/2022 10:54

No idea where to post this!

For around 8 years I've suffered with facial spots/acne. Sometimes my face is quite clear but others I tend to get about 6 spots come up at once. I've tried spot creams and they just never seem to go. I never had spots during my teens so it's like I'm suffering for that now!!

Does anyone have any tips on how to get rid of them or even any ideas as to what's causing them please? I feel so embarrassed having breakouts at 30!

OP posts:
TrickorTreacle · 25/03/2022 11:23

I'm in my 40s and I still get acne!

I find that Acnecide helps, over the counter from Boots, Lloyd's etc, but I have to stay on it otherwise the spots come back.

Quincunx · 25/03/2022 11:29

get tested to rule out gluten or other intolerance, check if it gets worse when you eat dairy or drink alcohol, in any case eat large amounts of dark green veg and alkalizing food and drink water.

YoYoYoYoSup · 25/03/2022 11:30

Read the book "Skin" by Caroline Hirons. You probably need a change to your skincare routine.

MissNothing1991 · 25/03/2022 11:31

@Quincunx

get tested to rule out gluten or other intolerance, check if it gets worse when you eat dairy or drink alcohol, in any case eat large amounts of dark green veg and alkalizing food and drink water.
This exactly. In recent years I've had the same (fellow 30yo)... In recent months I thought about how I'd been trying to work more dairy into my diet to encourage my toddler with dairy. Cut all dairy out, used dairy free alternatives for several weeks and I can already see a difference. And to be honest I prefer the butter 😂
Indoorcatmum · 25/03/2022 11:36

Cerave hydrating cleanser, wait until face dries, Paula's Choice BHA, then Paula's choice Niacinamide Booster then Azelaic acid from Dermatica paired with Cerave moisturiser. I'm 29 and have been struggling for years. No change when going keto etc, but this routine has finally worked! Good luck

StrangeCondition · 25/03/2022 11:37

48 here and still get acne

Chikapu · 25/03/2022 11:41

52 here and really struggling with acne! I've tried so many I've completely lost hope of ever having clear skin again 😩

Chikapu · 25/03/2022 11:41

Many treatments*

RubyFruitSunday · 25/03/2022 11:45

I came on to say limit Dairy too, and also Paula's choice. It doesnt take much for my skin to flare up (think its hormonal) but its mostly at bay with these two things.

ComDummings · 25/03/2022 11:50

I wouldn’t waste money on buying stuff that may or may not work, I’d see a dermatologist either through your GP or privately.
Skin & Me and Dermatica are online dermatologists and I know a few people who have had success through them.

Blackopal · 25/03/2022 11:51

OP you have my sympathy, it's really not fun.

I never had spots in teens and then as an adult I suffered badly with it.
I was able to manage it some extent but the only thing that has stopped it is taking HRT, to treat the hormone imbalance that was causing it all this time.

I wish I had understood what was causing this issue earlier. Would suggest speaking to a dermatologist to investigate underlying cause.

Imabouttoexplode · 25/03/2022 11:52

@YoYoYoYoSup

Read the book "Skin" by Caroline Hirons. You probably need a change to your skincare routine.
More likely is hormonal changes. Its really demoralising to be told you just need to try this product/drink more water/change your pilliwcase/not touch your face when none of it makes a hot of difference when powerful hormones are running rampage.
housemaus · 25/03/2022 11:59

Dairy ruins my skin too - definitely try cutting down your dairy. I believe it's to do with the fact they give dairy cows hormones to increase production, which can mess with your skin?

Also, niacinamide and lots of water, with Duac cream (from GP) or Acnecide over the counter for worse breakouts.

And changing pillowcases often.

Xpologog · 25/03/2022 12:05

@Quincunx

get tested to rule out gluten or other intolerance, check if it gets worse when you eat dairy or drink alcohol, in any case eat large amounts of dark green veg and alkalizing food and drink water.
I found gluten was a contributory factor. Gluten intolerance won’t show up in a test but Coeliac disease will. I was told I didn’t have Coeliac’s so I cut out gluten for a month, absolutely zero. My stomach improved hugely and eventually I noticed a difference in my skin as I continued the gluten free diet. Skin is now normal. Another thing you can try is sun block on your face. Don’t even lean out of a window without it covering your face. 🙂
Gowithme · 25/03/2022 12:23

I have awful skin, breaks out at the slightest thing. Washing it with the horrible hard water we have here is really drying so I use Green people cream cleanser and a green people moisturiser.

Gowithme · 25/03/2022 12:25

The other thing I'd recommend is kefir yoghurt - so good for stomach bacteria and being able to cope more with dairy/gluten. I've found it works better than other fermented food/probiotics and is really good for my IBS (can even eat some onion/garlic now).

Superhanz · 25/03/2022 12:26

I had bad skin for years, I went on dianette in my early twenties which made a huge difference but I would still have got break outs and I found that tropic products helped. The blue lagoon serum and their smoothing cleanser and clear skies powdered cleanser.

If it's really bad and topical treatments aren't strong enough I'd recommend dianette. It really saved my mental health, my skin was so bad and painful and awful looking before I started on it.

Silver serum is brilliant too for clearing up acne, but it didn't help with my severely oily skin whereas I feel the tropic products do.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 25/03/2022 12:32

I second going to a dermatologist.

I tried so many products, some of which have already been mentioned, I removed dairy from my diet, tried different things in my diet, more sleep, more water, the pill made it worse etc but going to a dermatologist changed it for me.

I'm not going to recommend anything because different things work for different people and I have spent hundreds if not thousands on trying different products people recommended

Cornettoninja · 25/03/2022 12:59

Yup, biology is cruel - grey hairs poking through and acne!

I had medication for acne when I was younger and my skin has never been great except for when I’ve been on pretty strong medication which I tired of for various reasons over the years and learnt other ways of minimising outbreaks (diet, sleep etc).

One thing I do really rate is avons clear skin overnight green tea moisturiser. I don’t usually get on with their stuff but I really notice the difference when I haven’t been using it. It’s only a few quid so worth a punt.

bluetongue · 25/03/2022 13:06

I’m 45 and had to go to the dermatologist last year to get on top of my acne. It would break out just before my period. Then slowly start to improve before getting a week of clearish skin ( if I was lucky) before the whole cycle started again. After having acne off and on since my teens I was over it.

I now take spironolactone which reduces the impact of androgens. My hormone levels were tested and were fine it’s just that my song is sensitive to hormones. It’s taken months but I now have clear skin and it’s amazing.

My main side effect has been larger breasts. This may be a positive or negative depending on your body type Grin It is a negative for me but I’m willing to put up with it for clear skin. I also might be able to try a reduced dose soon which might help with the breast issue.

Original poster
leopardtigerlion · 25/03/2022 20:27

Thank you everyone, lots of good advice here! Obviously they aren't ruining my life, just frustrating that I always seem to have spots when others my age seem to have such clear skin!

In terms of hormones affecting them - what hormones could be doing this? Or is it just a general mix? Sorry for the dumb question!

OP posts:
Imabouttoexplode · 26/03/2022 12:06

Well there oestrogen, progesteron, testosterone and an imbalance of any or all 3 can cause all kinds of issues, cystic acne being one of them.

JudgeJ · 26/03/2022 13:09

@TrickorTreacle

I'm in my 40s and I still get acne!

I find that Acnecide helps, over the counter from Boots, Lloyd's etc, but I have to stay on it otherwise the spots come back.

I'm 74 and have just noticed a big spot on my nose! There's no justice in this world.
MintyGreenDream · 26/03/2022 13:11

I'm on Yasmin contraceptive pill which is also prescribed separately for skin problems

Blackopal · 27/03/2022 12:03

OP the hormone imbalance for me was dominance of oestrogen.
This caused other issue such as extremely heavy periods, fibroids and extreme anaemia.

I now take progesterone to create the right balance and my skin is clear. This is after my entire adult life of acne.

Interesting that you are 30, my hormonal issues really started to become symptomatic my 30s.

Assuming you are UK based-
Depends whether you have an supportive GP but generally tests for hormones are difficult to access on the NHS ,the support is just not there.
One area where I would suggest going private, at least for initial tests.