At my wits end....

[loislaine]

.... With my skin. I get (hormonal?) acne - especially on my chin. NOTHING seems to work in stopping it. At times like this week (So many really painful, under-the-skin spots, awful peeling dry skin from trying to treat them) I really feel like I don't want to leave the house. It affects everything - I don't want to go to work, I don't want to see friends or family, do the school run, anything. I just want to hide at home.

I have tried everything my doctor can prescribe (apart from the vitamin A stuff which she doesn't want to do) I was on antibiotics for 6months, they didn't do anything. I've try every prescribable cream and lotion there is. Just when one seems to be starting to help control it, it stops working, like my skin has 'got used' to it or something.

Does anyone know of anything amazing that I can buy over the counter / on the cosmetics counters?

Thanks in advance.

Why doesn t your doc want to try the vit A stuff? It might help. Go back to your gp.

Have you been on the pill Dianette. It was great for me but can't take it anymore due to migraines.

Apparently it can have not so nice side effects.... I think. Also I think she knows I'm not on contraceptive and if you get pregnant whilst on it, it's not good. She says we have tried all other options :/ (also seems reluctant to let me go on pill - one which often solves hormonal acne - said they 'try not to prescribe the pill anymore' to new patients?!?)

Clara - I went on that in my early twenties, Doc said they don't prescribe it anymore, but there is another one, an american one that is supposed to work well, but she seems reluctant to put me on it?

I had the same, tried all sorts of medication, creams etc which didn't work so I tried treating it with diet, and cutting out dairy seems to make a big difference. I notice an improvement after a few days, although to see the full effect you need to give it a couple of months. Long term I'd find it hard to cut out dairy completely but if you can manage it for a couple of months and then keep consumption to a minimum it can really help. Worth a try!

Thanks northeast I did try that in my twenties.... cant remember there being a noticable differnce though. DS is highly allergic to dairy though - perhaps I am intolerant :/ might give it another whirl! (it was the soya in my tea that I hated!) :)

What about changing to one of the teas that don't need milk or soya? Green tea, Earl Grey, or one of the Chinese teas are nice.

Or maybe rice milk would have less of a taste in tea if you can't do without the old PG Tips.

Or if you persevere with the soya, you might find you get to like it. I had (brief) Vegan phase a few years ago, and I got so used to the unsweetened soya on my cereal that I can't go back to real milk now.

Onehandflapping Quite like the soya on cereal etc (sometimes the thought of cow's milk is a real turn-off isn't it?!), and love peppermint tea so could probably go without my other tea for a while. Might try two or three months dairy-free and see what happens. It does mostly seem to be around my cycle though (not this month however, this month it's just gone haywire)

Oh you

Sorry, I was on my phone and pressed the wrong button.

What I meant to say, was oh you poor thing. Acne is awful. I had it for years, lumpy pustules on my poor chin.

What fixed it for me was Chinese Herbal Medicine. Don't laugh. Honestly it was AMAZING. It completely rebalanced my hormones. That and acupuncture was fabulous for my skin.

I had tried all kinds of stuff from the docs which did work for a while but my skin always reverted to grim spotty type eventually.

Since the Chinese Medicine (and 2 babies and getting older) it's much much better.

It is $$$$$ though so not for everyone.

Also my skin was always heaps better when I exercised well and avoided alcohol and ate my greens etc etc. But I could never keep to that kind of regime long term.

I was on Roaccutane - the Vit A stuff. The only side effects I had were very dry skin, but this is temporary and I just used loads of moisturiser and lip balm. Really no big deal. Yes, you can't get pregnant whilst you are on it, and for a month afterwards. But my consultant didn't make me go on the pill, she trusted me to use other methods of contraception. Roaccutane was brilliant for me. very occasionally I get an almost-spot which clears up within a matter of hours.

If GP doesn't want to prescribe, then you can't make her. Is there another GP you can see at the practice? But, if I were you I'd ask for a referral to a dermatologist. You've tried everything else and you sound like an excellent candidate for Roaccutane.

It might not work it but its a cheap try if it does. I have really bad acne on my neck and chest at the moment and I bought some tea tree and witch hazel foaming wash, some witch hazel boots on ointment gel and some tea tree and witch hazel moisturiser which for me I have found works really well. It has at least reduced the problem. Good luck as I was very unhappy and am pleased its getting better, hopefully it might help.

I agree with cardamomginger -if your GP is out of options then ask for a referral to the Dermatology Dept at the hospital.

I am in a similar position - and am going back shortly for a check up.

GPs can only do so much - and their knowledge of skin problems isn't bound to be vast. It is better to see someone who knows what can be done.

I am currently usign Differin Gel from Derm department - not really doing much for me, but I said I would use it until this next appt.

HTH

Thanks everyone

shrimponastick - I'm using Differin gel - it has been really good up until now at keeping spots from getting really angry etc, I thought it was really working until this latest horrendous outbreak. (you might find it works quite well though - I was finding that it really calmed under the skin ones right down without burning my skin etc).

Think I might go fo referral. It has been years now of feeling really rubbish because of skin. Had enough :( cardamom - roaccutane, that was it. She doesn't want to prescribe, so perhaps see what a dermatologist says. Thanks.

Claudia - Have never been down the Chinese medicine route - I don't mind paying extra if it works, might give that a try in the meantime! I have had accupuncture before for something else, but the practitioner was a bit strange and made me feel a bit uncomfortable - I worry if I booked somewhere locally again I'll end up with the same person.....

IWanders - Witchazel is supposed to be good isn't it. Natural antibacterial etc. I have started to get them on my chest too :( Hope yours improves.

Lois I'm going to tempt fate massively here but I started a thread much like yours about this time last year. (I think it was called something like 'AIBU to consider spraying my face with iodine?') I felt I'd tried everything too, including Roaccutane.

I went to the doctors and got a short course of strong antibiotics, which helped, went on holiday and got some sun, sea and relaxation, which also helped, and renewed my prescription for Duac Once Daily, which I imagine is like Differin.

However, what I think has really helped was taking the advice of two separate MNers, one who said zinc had helped and the other who suggested cod liver oil.

So for the last year I've been taking a cod liver oil capsule (I got one with evening primrose on the basis that couldn't hurt either) and a zinc tablet daily, and I've had no really bad flare-ups at all. If I miss a couple of days of the tablets I tend to get a couple of little spots, which also suggests that taking them is doing something.

Obviously different things work for different people, but it might be worth a try?

LadyWellian - I also had Duac aswell which i felt was working quite well - it ran out, and now chemist are saying doc needs to re-do the prescription as the one they did was for wrong quantity or something (argh!) So - I'm still waiting for it.

I could try the supplements.... I was doing that a couple of years ago, but I think I started to get a bit ridiculous with it! I was taking evening primrose, starflower oil, zinc, and god knows, probably at least a couple of others! So the doc was a bit 'woah there missy!' and I stopped taking them.

What you have reccommended doesn't sound like too much though, and I can get from supermarket can't I? No harm in trying again....

P.s. I have asked GP to prescribe a week in the sun but she just. won't. budge. What is her problem?! (she also said a bit of sunshine wouldn't hurt)

P.s thankyou lady!

I had duac, it didn't work. The only thing that worked for ne was a tablet called Dianette. It's a contraceptive but apparently isn't supposed to be used as main contraceptive. Cleared my skin right up though.

I just finished my roaccutane a month ago. I will be 23 in a few weeks. It has cleared my skin up amazingly. It is a very strong medication- I had nose bleeds and my lips were so dry they became infected. I did have to stop taking it 4 months in due to some visual disturbances which is vv rare. BUT I am delighted with results. Goodbye acne!! I have suffered since I was about 14, tried everything. So so pleased, it does have very good success rates. I have the mirena coil fitted so wasn't at risk of pregnancy. Also, although the side effects can sound scary, derm reassured me the monthly blood tests they carry out over the course of treatment mean anything serious would be picked up on before long term damage. I say go for it!