Adult Acne

[StuckInTheMiddleWithYou]

Any other sufferers here?

I'm 30 yet still look like a pizza, always have probably always will.

Can we have a support thread/general moaning thread?

I'm still suffering from adult acne and I'm 33.

Have you tried Zineryt, Isotrex, Panoxyl Gel? I've tried all these with no/little success so I tried Fucidin and it's currently working a treat (better and quicker than anything I've tried so far).

Alternatively, you could ask your GP to refer you to a dermatologist if nothing is working for you.

Wishing you all the best.

Oh I still suffer at 29... ChilledChick, can you buy those in Boots or do you need a prescription?

I'm 33. Two thirds of my life I have had acne. How depressing. It is not as bad as it could be though which makes me glad

Me. I'm 30 and have the skin of a hormonal 14 year old. I've had Zineryt and found it didn't make much difference. Not heard of Isotrex........I'm using Panoxyl Gel at the moment to see if it helps at all.

tlm.....Panoxyl Gel is available without prescription. I bought mine off Amazon (the 2.5% one). Zineryt is prescription only.

The problem I find with all these things is that they probably make a spot disappear a bit quicker than it would otherwise, but they don't stop me getting the spots to start with!

I'm thinking about giving oral antibiotics a try again soon. I haven't had them for about 10 years and they didn't work then, but maybe they might this time.

I always got any acne treatment from the GP. Sometimes they GP's will try a combination of oral antibiotics and an antibiotic cream/gel/solution.

As for the fucidin, again, I got it on prescription so, I'm not sure if you can get it over the counter but it may be possible if you speak to the pharmacist.

Isotrex may/may not work for you but I think it can only be prescribed by your GP. It can make your face go red and it dries your skin out a good bit (sometimes it can make it flaky).

Stuck Does your acne get worse on the run-up to your period?

is it acne or acne rosacea

Me!

I had no spots as a teen and now I am in my 30s I have loads. 10 on my face right now, and god only knows what is going on on my back.

I posted on the Liz Earle webchat and she gave some advice which I am going to try out. I have been known to use fucidic acid cream on my face (DD got it for infected c'pox) and clearasil to dry the spots up.

Tbh though I kind of think the only real answer is to go back on the pill since it is surely hormonal.

3-6 month course of oxytetracyclines,minocycline or zineryt is are all good.

me...

I've had spots since 12 or so. Now 30. God how depressing.

What's helped me (I have tried everything): Duac (benzoyl peroxide cream). Sunlight. Not picking. Not over drying my face with soap.

Oh and MAC concealer

As sapphire says though, none of these things (except sunlight maybe) seem to stop the spots appearing in the first place. Why oh why does my skin malfunction??

Go to dr and ask for a referral to a dermo. They should prescribe Roaccutane as long as you have no histry of depression.

Start another thread for Roaccutane! It worked brilliantly for my DD after years of faffing with ABs creams and tablets.

purple, I tried Roaccutane, didn't work. (Well it helped a bit, then stopped helping after a few months). And I got terrible cracked lips and nosebleeds.

Admittedly this was when I was 16, so I've thought about giving it another go, but I'm hoping to get pg next spring so it's probably not a great idea for that reason.

It does seem to work for lots of others, just not me.

minipie WRT Roaccutane - please do not take it if you are trying to concieve or are pregnant, as it can damage the foetus. Also, it's not to be used when BF either.

PS, I used Polyfilla now (gives my gob that smooth, airbrushed effect)

Exactly Chilled - in fact I won't be TTC till next spring, but even so I won't take Roaccutane now in case there would be any chance of any being left in my body at that point.

Can I ask, what is Fucidin? I've never heard of it, is it an antibiotic?

Don't want to depress you ladies, but I am 41 and still suffering, although it is a bit better in recent years (probably due to changing hormones).

I have tried the topical lotions, ABs, over the counter creams, Clinique etc. At the moment I am cleansing using the oil cleansing method and then putting benzoyl peroxide on. It has really helped clear up the large cystic spots I was getting (which were painful and didn't pop, so took ages to go away). I still get pimples, but not so many (back and chest still bad, but I just ignore them), and my pores are much more closed. Not sure if this is due to the benzoyl or the oil cleansing.

hth

I get spots a lot and I tried Dermalogical overnight clearing gel. I think its great. I don't use it the way you are meant to. I put some on the spots I get and it either gets ris of them next day or calms them down a lot. It is the best thing ever invented! I don't get severe acne though just 3 or 4 spots at a time so it might not be good for people who are worse than me

mimipie Fucidin is an antibiotic. It comes in the form of gel, cream, suspension, infusion, tablets and eye drops. I think the most usual form is the cream.

I meant to mention that a good friend had tried lemon juice instead of toner and it worked well.

I never suffered with spots until I hit my mid-20's and then have suffered ever since (am now 36). Only time I didn't have spots was when I was pg both times and for a few months after giving birth.

Anyway, I had enough a few months ago and went to my GP - I have been on antibiotics since the end of May and they have worked a treat. Still get about 1 a month but I suspect this is period-related. However my GP has said to take a break after I finish my current course of antibiotics and see if I am 'cured' - if not, it will be back on the antibiotics.

I can't believe what a difference it has made to my confidence - unfortunately my skin is still full of red marks from previous spots but I guess these will fade in time.

Interestingly, my GP said he didn't think I had a problem and definitely wouldn't get roaccutane as it wasn't bad enough - although obviously it was to me. I did only use to get 1 or 2 (big) spots at any one time but as soon as they cleared up, another one or two would arrive and so on...

I had clear skin as a teenager and since my mid 20s I've suffered to a great or lesser extent. Mine is definitely hormonal. I had beautiful skin with both pregnancies.

I probably didn't have full blown acne but many cystic type spots every month particularly on my cheeks, jawline and neck.

I bought the MD Formulation Adult Blemish/Acne kit and quite frankly I am totally amazed. I then bought the full sized products and have been using them since May.

The difference in my skin has been remarkable and I've even managed days without makeup. Blackheads have virtually disappeared too.

I know it won't work for all but may be worth a try for some. The initial kit cost something like £40 though I did run out of the moisturiser well before the other products.

The full size products are pricey but with the exception of the moisturiser they have lasted a long time. I'm only just about to replace the cleanser, clearing complex and continuous renewal. Have had 3 moisturisers in that time though.

Deux, what does MD stand for?
I'm 51 and still get acne!
I did feel that it had cleared up 2 or 3 years ago but had a Mirena coil fitted 18 months ago for heavy periods, and since then the spots seem to have reared their ugly head again, especially on one side of my face.Never had them on my chest or back. Does get me down a bit at the moment, but haven't done anything about it.
Have had spots since I was 14.
I don't know anyone of my age who still has big spots!! Although I don't think I look in my 50's either (maybe thats the spots!)
All I am thankful for is that my 2 sons (19 & 22) have never really suffered as I did and are lovely and handsome too. I once said to my GP when I was in my 30's that I would have them straight down to see him if they suffered anything like I did.
Also grateful for a lovely husband who has always been supportive of my spottiness and fancied me in the first place!

Its worth checking out whether you might have PCOS (or some other specific hormone-buggering condition). That turned out to be the reason why I was always prone to acne.

In my case its almost totally controlled by an appropriate oral contraceptive, in my case Marvelon.

Now I get rosacea instead but thats not so bad - less 3-dimensional so easier to hide if it flares up.

The only time I had totally clear skin was when DD was exclusively BF'd

Hi Bearcat

MD Formualtions is the brand. This is the kit I bought. I'm gutted, when I bought it from another site, it was £40!

This is the MD Formualtions web site.

When I was in my late 20s, single and had disposable income , I had some MD Formulations facials/peels and had completely forgotten about the brand until I read a rave review about their cleanser. That's how I got to using the products again.

Now, I wouldn't use anything else on my skin and on occasion when I have I break out. It just seems to get deep into the skin to stop the spots from happening.

I had a dreadful experience with Liz Earle stuff. Cleanser OK but moisturiser resulted in the worst spots ever and skin very greasy

I'm 45.

Deux you sound exactly like me - all my spots are always on my chin, jawline and neck. Not sure what cystic spots are but mine always develop into a large white fluid-filled spot - they are very painful to touch aswell.

Does that MD stuff really work then? Am just looking for alternatives to the anti-biotics - whilst they are working great, I don't really want to be taking antibiotics for the rest of my life.

Have also noticed my skin is much greasier than it used to be and is a bit bumpy and not very nice - would love something to make my skin look beautiful

Deux
I have gone for it and just ordered the MD kit.
I feel a bit like Ceebee and want to see if there is anything but medication that can help.
Heres hoping!
Amazing what you said re a day without makeup, I just can't imagine that. I even have foundation on to sit by a swimming pool on holiday, I have such a rubbish complexion.

Yep sympathise on the spot front, started getting n my early 20s and tried everything, except roaccutane, and spent a fortune on various things. The best thing that's worked though came from a visit to a dermatologist about a mole on my chest. She asked me if I had any other skin things to discuss in the appnt... Anyway after a ton of questions about health periods etc, she told me to stop using moisturisers & if I had to just use a tiny bit at night & wash with soap & water. I was a bit sceptical but it helped massively to clear my skin up. I still get the odd spot but use Witch Hazel treatment gel from the first aid aisle which works better than anything I've ever bought. So my skin is almost clear now & it only costs a few pounds a month after spending hundreds, maybe thousands over the years on dermalogica facials and products.
I love that dermatologist!!

Ceebee, maybe my acne terminology is a bit off! Mine generally didn't turn into fluid filled but were large and seemed to be almost under the skin. They didn't seem to really break the surface. Like icebergs! Painful to touch and they took ages to heal. And just as one lot healed I seemed to get another lot.

For me, yes the MD stuff really has worked. I followed the instuctions to the letter and was vigilant in using it 2x a day.

I don't think I have ever used any beauty/skin product and seen such a marked difference so quickly. (Well not unless you include my disappearing dark circles after an emergency blood transfusion )

Re the bumpiness, I was the same and it definitely helped. They do some peel pads and another peel type product which I'm going to try once I've replaced the full size products.