A spot problem.........Advice needed please!

[sliverx2]

Hello!
This is driving me mad now i have, Bad spots around chin and mouth, a few on back and chest, driving me mad, I'm on treatment from the doctor which is called "benzamycin" gel, Doctor said give it 4 weeks but it's been 7 weeks and I've seen very little difference, I'm going back to the Doctor next week, but worried that it's going to be like this trying a treatment for a few week and nothing then on something else, and so on and so on.

I'm being tested for PCOS which bad skin is one of the symptom of having the condition, hair has been growing all over my face very very fine hair mind you! I was taking "dianette" which is for acne and act's like the pill which was fab and got rid of them in weeks, but trying for a baby for 16 months and spot have came back (may06), which I'm trying to fright not getting upset about, and dianette is not an option now!

I get up wash my face with "L'Oreal" "pure zone" deep purifying gel wash then wet face with lots of cold water as I cant use toner stings my face, I did use "L'Oreal" toner but had to stop! Then put on vit-e moisturising lotion/cream, then apply make up. I take off make-up with "boots" FF cleansing lotion with wet cotton wool, then wash face and apply doctors treatment for a few hours then wash off treatment, wet face with cold water and then apply "boots" "ACT" non-oily moisturiser, before bed! Were am I going wrong!?

Please any Advice?

Have not read al the threads, but I am just saying 'goodbye' to a nasty cyst on my breast which started from a spot (am 8mnths pg). I was applying talc in the vain hope it would dry out. Finally went to see GP who sugested sudocreme and it's been like vanishing cream. Hardly anything left. Why not try it on the spots on your chest and back first to see if it help?

Good luck

Just a note to say, I've been to the docs again who asked me to go back in for a couple of blood tests, one to check my thyroid and one to check hormone levels. Will let you know if something earth shattering comes out of it with a cure-all......

Loads of empathy here too! I've always had a greasy t-zone on my face and at nearly 40 I'm still battling zits, but mostly on my back and neck now, which I never had until pregnancy in 1999/2000. They have just got worse and worse, and I have only ever been able to use topical antibiotics (useless) because of being in a permanent (well, nearly) state of trying for no.2.

I must have spent a fortune on anti-acne remedies, including Chinese medicine (tasted absolutely foul).

I really like Liz Earle, have been using her cleaner for nearly a month and have seen a difference.

(Just reminded myself of something acne-related I can put on the Selling boards that's been gathering dust ...)

Afternoon all,

Still got that nasty cyst/stop on my chin, I am worried that it will turn into a bad infection again, It's really getting me down because if it went I would only have a few, not that you can tell with all the red marks . I have some "sudocreme" I will try ( thanks VanillaMilkshake ) that on my chin, next week. Buying some omega 3-6-9 and zinc tomorrow see if that helps, will let you know, also going to buy some "Bio Oil" as I've been reading some websites and they say its great for scarring and stretch marks, even old ones , and in a lot of case's even helps get rid of acne, I'm all for that, I will let you know how I get on with that too! Must admit I'm so sick of spending a fortune on anti-acne remedies, including herbs, vit's and stuff, but What can you do! Cant wait to go back on Dianette!

Sheraz I got my "benzamycin" gel from the doctor, and I only were it to bed but I have to have an old pillow case as it bleaches things, even facial hair !

"benzamycin" gel 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and 3% Erythromycin!

Hoping for us all to have clear skin very soon!

I have just got rid of "Eric" as in Eric the Red - an enormous spot/cyst effort on the side of my nose - I could actually see it out of the corner of my eye see it if I looked down and went a bit googly-eyed .... I got some witch hazel gel which seemed to do the trick - he was there for weeks !!

I am plagued with spots at the moment - I never suffered from them as a teenager so they are all bubbling to the surface now ..... I blame Oil of Ulay - when they said I'd have "younger looking skin" I wasn't expecting it to be that of an acne ridden adolescent

Hi need to ask if anyone has had a similar problem. I have small bumps not normal spots spreading down my jawline on one side of my face they started off as about two sort of hard pimple things near my ear but ive noticed them spreading and am getting scared. My mum keeps saying its causedby pregnancy,i am 34 wks. Just wondered if anyone else had something similar whilst pregnant ?

Hi Kellyvice. Have same problem but am not pregnant. They started soon after my baby was born (he is now 18 months) and I can not get rid of them. As you say, they are not spots as such. They just sit there, not looking very pretty. One eventually may go now and then but leaves a scar. I have tried squeezing one of them to see if that helps but it scars again. So now I am left with either pimple things and scars I have worse skin now than when I did in my teens Have no answers. Am watching this thread with interest though.

Kellyvice, I had similar when PG really grim and all on my chest too. Could be too much testosterone ( might be a boy) their hormines get into your system and can cause spots. I had two boys and bad skin with bot - well worse tah normal anyway.

Interesting theory about boy babies, Sheraz: makes me think mine might be a boy in that case! Having said that, my skin's been dire since I stopped taking the Pill to start trying to conceive. Since I became pregnant it's no better: probably worse. Can't wait until the baby's born so I can start taking the Pill again!

I've just been to the GP this morning and been prescribed Stiemycin (basically 2% erythromycin solution in alcohol). He was reluctant to prescribe several of the other erythromycin-based topical treatments as they also contain other things that can get into the placenta if absorbed by the skin and it's not known if they cause damage to the baby. I must admit I am very pessimistic as to how successful this stuff will be, but frankly as my back looks like a pizza I'm not losing anything by trying it. I'm just aiming for 'damage limitation' as my back is getting a bit scarred and I don't want to be restricted to high-necked t-shirts every summer for the rest of my life!

Afternoon Ladies!
Had a "break out" this week but AF did come so I think it's down to that. Stil on my treatment which is helping, spot aren't stay as long as they use to. I started taking Vit"C", Iron, Zinc and Omega 3 on Sunday, I didn't know that Omega 9 was EPO! I also got some "bio oil" Going to start using it soon! I'll let you know how I get on with them. Also got a Hospital Appointment this Wednesday for an Internal Scan and X-ray to see weather I have PCOS.

Hoping for us all to have clear skin very soon!

I've been using my Stiemycin since last Tuesday night and my back has definitely improved. Poor DH has to apply it for me as impossible to reach myself! He thinks there's been an improvement too - existing spots are drying up and I don't seem to have any new ones. My skin also feels a bit smoother on my shoulders and chest.

I have a lot of 'surface' scars (i.e. the red mark you tend to get when a scab drops off) so it's hard to tell if it looks much better, but the treatment isn't making it any worse so I will persevere. It says in the leaflet that comes with the Stiemycin that it can take several weeks to make a noticeable difference so it's still early days yet, but the signs are encouraging. If this can keep my skin under control until I can start taking the Pill again, I'll be happy.

Great news CB - am pleased for you. keep us posted. Am perservering with Zineryt and continuing with Pro Activ for face and using Boots Skin CLear Body Scrub (recommended by MNer on my antenatal thread) and Clinique chest and back spray for my ... chest and back! All this seems to be keeping things under relative control at the moment!

What a palaver though!

How pg are you CB? I am almost half way (20 weeks next week) ... so it may be the hormones settling down a bit too?

Doghouse, I was also using the Clinique chest and back spray - I liked it and it helped a bit for a while but I got to the point where I needed something with a more aggressive ingredient like an antibiotic. I seem to remember your doctor was reluctant to prescribe Zineryt - what was the reason for that?

My GP didn't want to prescribe it for me because it contains zinc and the effect on an unborn foetus is apparently unknown, although the patient information leaflet for Zineryt I found online says that there are no contraindications to use in pregnancy.

I'm 24 weeks pregnant so possibly hormones are settling down a bit, but I must say I didn't notice any improvement until I started with the Stiemycin so I'm not sure that's the case. I started getting the acne back again 5 months after stopping the Pill so I think my hormones are just really up the creek generally, pregnant or not!

Are you noticing any improvement with the Zineryt? As you say, it's a palaver - especially as I have to get DH to do my back every evening as I can't reach properly myself.

CB - I think the doc was just 'reluctant' to prescribe anything to be honest. The paperwork with Zineryt says fine (just not on chest if bf-ing) so I am going with it. Trouble with using so many things is you never know which one is working and which isn't! Still, hopefully it isn't forever!

Very true, Doghouse. I started taking Omega-3 capsules (which they've started doing with Sanatogen Pro-Natal vitamins) at about the same time I started using the Stiemycin, so not sure whether it's one/both of them making the difference.

Only saw GP last Tuesday and have already nearly finished the first bottle of Stiemycin (my prescription came as two 25ml bottles). Good job prescriptions are free during pregnancy as I can see myself going through a lot of the stuff! Trouble with having a spotty back is that the area the treatment has to cover is quite big, not like just having to put it on your face.

morning ladies!
My treatment seem to be working 100%, I've had 2 spots in 10days a few tiny ones but that's it, going from full acne to that, is a god send. I believe I'm well on my way to clear skin, lots of scars still, I'm going to start "bio oil" for them soon, let you know how I get on, just want to give myself a few more weeks on the treatment first. I'm also taking. Zinc, Iron, Vit "C" and Omega 3, as well as the treatment from the Doctor, so maybe there helping as well! I went to the hospital last week for my scan and x-ray, only to be told that I cant have them due to my doctor not carry out some routine tests first, so I wont find out till February if I have PCOS, so I felt down about that but like DH said time will fly by due to DS b-day, Christmas and new year and January sale's . I will let you know how I get on in Fab, due to if i have PCOS could be the reason why a have/get Acne.

Here is to us all getting clear skin and staying clear, very soon!

I have been taking EPO and zinc for over a month and my skin is a little calmer, still getting the odd small spot, but fewer big boils, which is an improvement. Keep us updated fellow sufferesrs

Have been using Stiemycin for two weeks now and my back is a lot better. There are fewer large, painful spots and the overall look of my skin has improved. It's still hard to tell how much better it is as there are a lot of red marks from previous spots, which I'm praying will fade before next summer so I'm not deprived of wearing sleeveless vest tops for another year!

The only downside with a topical treatment is that, unlike the Pill or an oral antibiotic, it can only treat the existing spots rather than prevent new ones forming. I'm reluctant to smother my back in the stuff every day because I fear developing an immunity to it, so now that the worst of it is under control I'm only really treating any new, angry-looking spots that crop up.

I have been taking 100mg of Evening Primrose and Zinc supplements for nearly 2 months now. Today I have woken up with skin the clearest it has been for a long time. Any new spots I get are a lot smaller than before. ...Joy of joys!

I've now been using Stiemycin for about 4 weeks and my back is significantly better. I'm getting far fewer new spots and the red marks from previous ones are beginning to fade slightly. I'm now only applying the lotion to any new spots rather than slapping it indiscriminately over the whole area. My skin also feels a lot smoother and less 'bumpy' which is a definite plus.

It won't really look clear until the red marks and scars fade a bit but at least it's much better than it was, and I haven't had any really huge, painful spots for a good couple of weeks now. Fingers crossed I won't suddenly become immune to the Stiemycin though as there aren't really any other options while I'm pregnant.

Sheraz, thanks for the update and glad to hear there's been some improvement for you too.

Hi all,
Its so comforting to read that you're all suffering with the same problems as me. I had shocking skin all through my teens and it settles being on the pill and ocmpletely cleared on Dianette too. GP started and stopped Dianette for about 8years, my skin always flared really bad after 4 months of stopping it every time. GP put me on Yasmin early this year as she reckoned Dianette was wicked stuff. Anyone loose their libido with this?? I've now been off the pill for 8mths a s TTC and yes spots are back yet again . I've been taking pro natal vits/EPO with Omega3 and seen no difference at all. Addicted to clinique toner and ACt products is the only survival for me. What is Stiemycin - is it available from GP only? is it any good - I'm getting desperate too.

BoJingles, sympathies. My skin completely cleared on Dianette but apparently it's now been declared evil and is only prescribed in exceptional circumstances and for no longer than 6 months at a time. My skin was fine on Yasmin too though.

But - exactly 4 months after stopping the Pill to TTC, my skin flared up big time. My only regret is spending so long trying various over-the-counter remedies rather than going to my GP straight away. I took oral erythromycin (an antibiotic) while TTC but to be honest it wasn't that effective - and is the only antibiotic that can be taken if TTC and/or pregnant as it is not harmful to the foetus. Once I became pregnant I stopped taking the oral erythromycin as although it's supposedly safe, I didn't want to take any chances. Skin was bloody horrendous for the first 5 months of pregnancy (fortunately not on my face, but my back, shoulders and chest were dreadful).

Have been using Stiemycin now for just over a month and it's been the best thing I've tried so far. It's again erythromycin, but in a solution with alcohol and is applied topically. It's made a considerable difference (and I was totally against trying anything topical as have had no success with these things in the past). It's available on prescription only. I just wish I'd gone for that sooner instead of trying Clinique chest and back spray and a whole host of other products that made no difference whatsoever. The worst of the spots have left scars all over my back and shoulders - surface ones, but it's going to take a while for them to fade.

I don't know if the improvement is all down to the Stiemycin or whether, in my 7th month of pregnancy, my hormones have finally started to level out. Whatever, I will be going back on the Pill as soon as I can after the birth!

Thanks for the advise currant bun I may ask the GP for this. I'm sooo worried that all those years of Dianette may have damaged my hormones etc as been TTC for a while now - what doyou think?

hi,quite new to mn and just wanted to say that I have been suffering from acne since having ds who is now 2.4. never really suffered as a teenager (am 22) but just been put on dianette 3weeks ago and have read on various medical websites its strong stuff and docs dont like prescribing it! is this true? have noticed my spots have started to reduce and skin is definitely less greasy but feeling quite nauseous and tearful at the mo. has anyone else noticed these side effects? wondering whether to change Pill! its scared me a little bit. thanks

BoJingles, I took Dianette for about 7 years continuously without a break and I managed to conceive successfully. So don't worry about it having 'damaged' your hormones - it won't have done. It can take a while to conceive after stopping the Pill so be patient - your GP probably won't offer any tests until you've been TTC for a year post-Pill so just try to relax in the meantime. If it seems to be taking a while you might find charting your cycles using basal body temperature helps - this was really useful to me because my cycle was quite erratic after the Pill (varying between 32 and 37 days) and it helped me find the 'best' time of the month to try.

Lou, it's true that Dianette is not the lowest-dose Pill on the market. In the past couple of years the recommendation has been not to prescribe it for longer than 6 months at a time, because of the increased risk of DVT. That said, if you are low-risk for DVT anyway (fit, not overweight, a non-smoker) it's unlikely to be an issue. I did find I got quite bad headaches a couple of days before my 'period' while I was taking it, and could be a bit emotional at times, but other than that I experienced no side effects. Yasmin is also supposed to be good for acne (mine didn't come back when I was transferred from Dianette to Yasmin) and is low-dose.