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General health

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Original poster

So when you're edging closer to 40 and still getting teenage spots....wtf do you do about it?

24 replies

QueenEagle · 01/02/2007 13:03

I always seem to have 3 or 4 blemishes, oh ok then blardy great whiteheads and a couple of blackheads. When I get rid of them they go to a faint red mark for aaaages.

I moisturise daily, wash face thouroughly, use a face scrub, drink water, use spot treatment, all never work.

I'm sure it's hormonal as with each pregnancy I have had beautiful skin. I am tempted to go on the pill purely for that reason.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:05

I'm going to see a GP b/c my acne's gotten so bad I think I might have a hormonal imbalance.

The only pill they'll give you at your age is the mini-pill, so if you break out due to progesterone, the mini-pill may make your skin a lot worse.

It certainly did mine!

foxinsocks · 01/02/2007 13:07

yes, I get hormonal type spots

I would ask for creams from the doc rather than the pill I think (there are some good ones about apparently)

have found the Garnier A cream for imperfect skin (not called that but something along those lines) has been quite good for my skin but it hasn't got rid of all the spots/blemishes

Original poster

QueenEagle · 01/02/2007 13:08

What hormone is it you have an excess of when you're pregnant?

I'll have some but without the end result!

(I'm almost 37 btw so not quite 40 yet)

OP posts:

jabberwocky · 01/02/2007 13:09

Are you sure it's not rosacea?

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:10

Mine is DEFFO NOT rosacea.

jabberwocky · 01/02/2007 13:10

rosacea

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:10

Mine is cystic acne.

Original poster

QueenEagle · 01/02/2007 13:11

No, they are definitely zits.

OP posts:

BellaLasagne · 01/02/2007 13:11

Same problem here...huge and very sore lumps, I'm 41.

My GP put me on low dosage Erythromycin (anti-biotics) and they disappeard within a week. If I forget to take them they come back within a couple of days so it looks like I'm on them long term.

brimfull · 01/02/2007 13:12

I thought it was testosterone that was resposible for spots and oily skin?

Do you have an abnormally randy libido aswell??That would be a clue ,or a pair of bollocks.

Sorry I jest,on a more serious note I wouldn't recommend too much face scrubbing as it can cause over production of oil.

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:12

I've tried anti-biotics. Didn't work for me.

Also, I don't think that's an acceptable long-term treatment for acne.

Thrush.

Also build up the level of AB resistance in the body.

Original poster

QueenEagle · 01/02/2007 13:13

Bella - dd has those, mind you she was completely covered with zits on her back and face. ds1 is likely to need some too I reckon.

Mine aren't bad but, you know, when you get older you just don't need zits, do you? Might be an idea to see the GP next week.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:13

Androgens, particularly progesterone, can cause acne in adults.

So can other hormonal imbalances and diseases, however, such as PCOS.

Original poster

QueenEagle · 01/02/2007 13:14

ggirl - dh reckons I have more balls than a lot of men, so I think you could be on to something there!!

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 01/02/2007 13:14

oh yes it's a right pain. You kind of expect to have gotten to this age and put all of this behind you!

scatterbrain · 01/02/2007 13:17

Freederm from the chemists (meant for teenagers but Hey-Ho) seems to work on mine ! Haven't found anything else that does !

jabberwocky · 01/02/2007 13:22

My secret weapon is using witch hazel as toner. A friend who has/had terrible adult acne tried it and is now converted

PoppiesMum · 01/02/2007 13:30

Pg is great for your skin isn't it - mine never looked so good!

I use Zynerit (sp?) from gp - roll on lotion that you use after cleansing. Keeps my spots at bay!

Abdnquine · 01/02/2007 13:32

A tea tree gel face mask and or a soap containing tea tree and lemon grass may be helpful.

meanscottishbint · 01/02/2007 13:43

I went to a dermatologist about 8 years ago and was prescribed a mild retinol gel called differin. It was very good, it's a weaker form of Retin A the Vitamin A super strength cream. It worked after about 2 months or so, it seemed to treat the skin deeper down so I had to wait to see an improvement - I actually had normal skin afterwards. I've had acne for years it has subsided a bit with age I think it is worse at the moment because sunlight definately helps in the summer.
Doesn't Posh suffer from it? I'm sure taht's why she always has those huge sunglasses on..

expatinscotland · 01/02/2007 13:48

Posh has PCOS.

meanscottishbint · 01/02/2007 13:59

expat, I agree ab aren't a long term solution. I use Vichy products for acne - something derm. green packaging. also somethimes use garnier pure facemask for acne/oily skin. It is a sauna type mask. I really think it is the lack of sunslight that aggravates it.

lilibet · 01/02/2007 14:02

I still get spots and I'm nearly 44!

They go so beautifully with the extra thick chin hairs

suedonim · 01/02/2007 14:24

I didn't have many spots as a teenager but developed acne-type spots in my 30's. I plucked up courage to go to the Dr eventually, where I fully expected to be told off but she was in fact v sympathetic. She put me on AB's for three months and that did the trick. I still get an occasional spot but not those monstrous painful wens that I had before. The Dr said that sometimes your skin can be colonised by bacteria and a longer course of AB's is needed to kill the bugs off.

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