To want clear skin?

[meanmrmustard]

Had hormonal acne that started when i was 12, disappeared during my late teenage years when i took antibiotics for it, but now back with a vengeance. Seems to be especially bad the week before AF. Tried every skincare product I can get my hands on. Anyone got any miracle products that can help with adult acne? I’ll try anything!

@meanmrmustard

Excellent! Just remember is takes a couple of months to work so don't be put off if you don't get instant results! Good luck

I originally used one from Holland & Barratt - I think it was just their own brand and I'm not sure it's available any more.

But really you just need any pure, cold-pressed oil, with no other additives. I am currently using one from Aroma Labs that I got on Amazon, something like £13 for 100mls but you only need a couple of drops each time so it lasts for ages. Honestly it's fab stuff!

I think you will be wasting your money. You need to see a dermatologist. I used Roaccutane in late 20s when absolutely nothing worked. I too tried so many creams, potions and diets.

I have a similar story to yours. I had awful skin in my late teens and early twenties, but it was alleviated by the pill which I took up until 35 but had to stop due to migraines. From the moment I stopped taking it my skin plummeted and I was stuck with spots and lots of texture too. I saw a private dermatologist and was prescribed Roacctutane and took it for five months. The change I’ve seen is phenomenal and I now have the skin I’ve always wanted but didn’t think was possible. I too have a Dermatica subscription and now use that for pigmentation marks I’ve been left with post Roaccutance.

@ThereWillBeSnacks

Thank you!

Dermatica is a dermatologist. Not available without prescription

Tropic blue lagoon is fantastic and really helped my skin. That's definitely the best product I've ever tried. You can buy a mini bottle on ebay to try it. Brilliant stuff!

I use skin & me prescription but the main thing that has worked for me is DIM Supplements. After I had to stop taking the pill due to a blood clot, I found out about these pills and they’ve helped me sooooooo much. Game changer and I’ve been a spotty wreck my whole life. I get them from Focus Supplements. You have to give them about a month to get into your system and start working. Read the reviews!

DIM supplements - from cruciferous vegetables! And what is sauerkraut made from..... Cabbage! A cruciferous vegetable

My skin only got better a couple of years ago and I'm 39. Either it was due to get better or it was because I started using la roche posay effaclar 3 step system. So trying that might help. I still use it now.

Please please please before you try these expensive treatments and before you try roaccutane;

Go to boots, buy a tube of acnecide and some cetaphil cleanser. total cost about £10.

Week one, cleanse your skin at night. Apply a small amount of the acnecide on your spot prone areas - about a 5p size blob. Spend ages rubbing it in slowly until it is all gone - this is very important - it will work best if you massage it in. careful not to get this stuff on black t-shirts or good pillowcases though, it can stain.

Use sunblock during the day if you need to - it can make your skin more sensitive.

Week 2, increase the amount of acnecide, use twice as much now - put it on every night in the same way.

By week 4 your acne will be no more - cost of £10, no intensive drug treatments.

This helped me get rid of acne I'd had till I was 28, it has never come back. It has also helped multiple mumsnetters who followed my acne thread many years ago.

3 decades of hormonal acne here. Have tried most things. Dianette and Lucette (pills) worked perfectly on the acne but extended use caused chloasma. Lymecycline (antibiotics) worked well for about 6 months then became less effective. Alongside drugs have tried benoxyl petoxide and 20% azaelic acid. I'd definitely choose the azaelic acid out of the two simply because it doesn't dye everything in sight and doesn't completely dry my skin out. Now on month 3 of spironolactone via a dermatology referral and it is absolutely bloody perfect. I'll stay on it for the rest of my life!! Oh and also on HRT patches but no idea if they are really doing a lot but live in hope of rediscovering my libido so will persevere !

just to add - the important ingredient in acnecide is benzoyl peroxide. Lots of people try benzoyl peroxide and find it too strong so stop using it (the doctor prescribed me 15% which burnt my skin) - acnecide is good as it's 5% strength. Also people slap it on for a few days and it doesn't work. You have to have a routine, and you have to rub it in slowly.

Spironolactone!
Honestly, I've battled with acne since I was 12, tried so many prescribed and non prescribed treatments. The only time I've had naturally clear skin is when I've been pregnant. Dianette was fantastic for a while but when I had to stop taking it at 35 my acne came back with a vengeance.
I reached breaking point last year, my confidence was in tatters and I was depressed. I went to a private dermatologist with a view to beg for accutane. Instead she prescribed spironolactone and my skin is fantastic now! Instead of deep, painful cysts I get one or two tiny surface pimples around my period and the rest of the month my skin is clear. It hardly has any side effects too (small risk of kidney problems that you have blood tests to check for).

The 2 photos I've posted are taken 6 months apart, heavily cropped for anonymity, the acne was all over my face 😔The clear skin photo is from December, my scars have faded even more since then 🙂

I’m the same! Had it all my life. Went on roaccutane at 25 and it cleared me. But then it came back a few years later though not as bad. I’m 36 now but kinda given up/stopped caring. My make up hides it pretty well. My skin cleared again when pregnant, it honestly looked amazing. I’d had a loss before DD but knew I was pregnant when my skin started looking well and clearing up! It’s back now though 2 yrs in but not to same extent. I get flare ups if I drink lots of alcohol so stopped drinking almost at all- I don’t miss it anyway. Also fizzy juice esp if I’ve had a break from it then start again. Proactive was ok but helped with redness more than breakouts. I find mud masks twice a week help a lot as well but I don’t always have the time. I should give dermatica try when I feel I care enough again.

What make up do you use @TheNinny? I'm finding it so difficult to get good, lasting coverage.

@2020nymph I use bare minerals original which some people don’t like due to coverage not being enough, but I get less breakouts from it and it lasts the day for me.

Bought some jojoba oil and used it last night. This stuff is lovely!

I haven't read all the replies but yes I think trying Dermatica could help you.
Had anyone given you a referral code?
You get the first month for £2.90 and the 2nd for 25% off.
Here's mine if if haven't been sent one.
www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/V3WPNY

roaccutane has been the only thing which has totally cleared my cystic acne, I went privately as long waiting lists here and it was affecting my confidence in a client facing job and socially. 4 months later I’m completely acne free for the first time in years (mine is hormonal due to pcos) the dermatologist has given me some heavy duty topical gel if I get any flare ups. I’m 40 now but had roaccutane in my late teens too and I was spot free for ten years afterwards. My skin started to worsen again in my 30s after having IVF and then babies. The side effects are a bit miserable but worth it for me. Good luck