To not want to look like a spotty teenager at 44?

[Jointhedots81]

My skin has always been pretty crap but right now it’s probably the worst it’s ever been. I’m in the trenches of perimenopause, my periods have been irregular for about 3 years now and I currently haven’t had one since January. It seems the longer I go without a period, the worse my skin gets. Sometimes my periods revert to being semi regular and then my skin isn’t so bad. So I’d say it’s definitely hormone related.

So far I have tried antibiotics from the doctor - a short course of these used to work well but I’ve just finished one and it did literally nothing. I don’t know whether I’ve become resistant to them but they just don’t work for me anymore. I’ve also done lengthy courses of treatment through both skin + me and dermetica, but if anything both times my skin has ended up worse than when I started.

I’m desperate to find something that will help, my face is a mess! Anyone who has successfully managed to get rid of their peri menopausal acne please give me your tips!

My GP prescribed Duac cream. It’s very drying so only applied to affected areas, and only alternate nights, or my skin would peel off! Worked pretty well. Once things settled down I even kept an old tube in the fridge for ages to apply directly to any spot that appeared.

how long was your short course of antibiotics? I've been on minocycline and idea is (unfortunately) to use it for several months to have the full effect.

I’ve tried Duac, sorry should have mentioned that. Whenever I get a course of antibiotics the doctor gives me some duac too. But it doesn’t seem to have done much other than dry my skin out.

They only seem to be willing to give me 3 months worth. Normally I see an improvement within a couple of weeks. But the last course did nothing at all.

My magic combination is lymecycline tablets and finacea topical azelaic acid but I had to see a private dermatologist to get the original prescription and then get the repeat on the NHS.

Those are the antibiotics I was on. Do you just take them long term?

I have no real idea of what I'm talking about for this but have you tried anything from the hormonal side of it?

I complained to my NHS dermatologist that I’ve tried everything apart from Roaccutane (which I have been offered, but I’d rather not take). He said he’d seen good results with light treatment, but that it is not funded on the NHS. I did a bit of research and ended up buying an Omnilux red light mask. It was several hundred pounds but has really been incredibly effective. I definitely recommend looking into red light or blue light therapy.

Could it possibly be rosacea caused by dermodex mites? Ivermetin for 12 weeks might be worth a go to rule that out? The Facebook Group Roscea Rescue has the proper info on this. Azalaeic acid (can't spell) it good too, really worth a go.

@Jointhedots81 I’ve been on and off them for the last 12 years. Thinking about my pattern of use (and it’s probably different for everyone) but I need to be on them for at least 12 months before my skins settles down. I tend to take them for 12-18 months and then I can be off them for 2-3 years before I need them again. Started my most recent round in September 24 after a 4 year break where I tried all the topical solutions under the sun (dermatica, skin & me, ZO, inkey, the ordinary, nip & fab, the list goes on) because I do get some digestive symptoms the longer I’m on Lymecycline but I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m better off on the tablets and eating to try and keep my gut healthy (fermented foods etc) than I am off them with the acne/cysts/open sores on my face which are getting worse as I age (also early 40s).
My experience says I’d expect you to see some improvement in 3 months on the tablets but I’m surprised you didn’t get a repeat to see if you need a bit longer to really see results

I’m very sympathetic. I’ve found benzoyl peroxide to be pretty good, but I think I prefer Finacea. It’s doing a great job of keeping my skin free of inflammatory spots (not helped those bastarding closed comedones though). I haven’t found it drying at all. I got mine from Boots online pharmacy.

I take a good quality menopause supplement but I’m not on HRT. I don’t really have many troublesome symptoms apart from the skin issues!

Thanks I’ll have a look into that.

I don’t know, I’ve never heard of that! I’ll do a bit of research.

My spots have never totally gone since being a teen (so much for it being a teenage thing!) but they’re much better when I’m on the pill. Eradicating my cycle tends to get rid of most of them

I had terrible adult acne for some time. The thing that worked for me was called N lite. It’s essentially blue light therapy. You do a course of 3 every two weeks (if I remember correctly!) and the effects last around a year. It helped so much with my confidence!

I know PP has recommended an at home light mask. My understanding is that they aren’t as effective as getting it done professionally because the number and power of the lights is much lower. They may be effective as a top up or for maintenance though.

Have you tried tretinoin cream? I found it absolutely brilliant. This is the stuff but don’t slather it on. Go gently as it’s quite potent www.relimeds.com/product/retinoic-acid-cream-or-gel/

Blue LED light has been effective for me. Over the years I’ve had various creams including duac - some were effective for a period of time but all had side effects that made me stop using them or their impact lessened with prolonged use. Some contraceptive pills also helped but I’m past the age of being able to use some of them (41). I use an Onnilux at home led mask after my wedding make up artist recommended blue light treatment. I have a blue light mask which is specifically for acne and I also use a red light one for inflammation, aging etc. There are lots that combine both lights in one mask. I got treatment at a clinic before paying for an at home mask so I was confident it would work, and it does.

My home mask has been a lot more effective than I anticipated. I have the really deep jawline cysts as well, and it does clear my skin by at least 90% if I use it consistently. The worst part about it is remembering to be consistent!

I've tried a million things, I have had adult acne from around 22 until the last 6 months (I am 33). All over my chin and jawline.
Deep, painful cysts paired with whiteheads and blackheads.

I was told by so many doctors that it was hormonal so they put me on several different pills, creams and antibiotics.

For the first time in my adult life I have completely clear skin and the only thing I have changed is adding two products to my skincare regime.

Dr Dennis Gross Intensive Peel Pads and Tretinoin (although I started with Cerave Retinol Resurfacing Serum).

I do night on, night off with those two. So I am always having a break day between actives as they are strong. The peel pads are expensive so I actually cut them in half and pop them back into the packet and seal with a bobby pin.

5 peel pads lasts me 5 weeks and I use it twice a week.

My skin is glowing. It is amazing. It hasn't just cured me of my acne, my overall skin condition has improved.

I use any oil cleanser, then any foaming cleanser. Then I use an active (the peel pads or tret/cerave retinol depending on the day) or I go straight to Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner and Moisturiser and then I top it all off with Vanicream moisteriser in the big pump tub from Amazon.

Thank you for all the replies. I’ve had a bit of a breakthrough, I had noticed how my skin was getting more and more sensitive, even just applying cleanser or moisturiser was making it sting. Which got me thinking that maybe I had damaged my skin barrier and that was why my skin was the worst it had ever been. I’ve always been doing something for as long as I can remember in terms of putting some kind of harsh lotions and potions to try and sort my skin out, and particularly for the last year or so treatment from skin + me and dermetica with harsh retinols.

So I bought some products designed to repair the skin barrier (I’m using Aveeno calm and restore cleanser, a soothing toner and moisturiser from Simple at night, and a repairing SPF moisturiser from Nivea during the day). And that’s it. All cheap as chips and the difference in one week is incredible. No new spots at all, and the ones I had have almost healed and gone. So my conclusion is that I had indeed buggered up my skin barrier and that’s what was causing my acne. Fingers crossed carrying on using super gentle products works and keeps the spots at bay. It’s a bit annoying as I also wanted to tackle the wrinkles with retinols but I think I’d rather take wrinkles than a face full of spots!