AF has arrived and I have the ACNE to prove it - help!

[Rantmum]

Every month at the time of my period I get an outbreak of spots all over my chin. I am 31!!!! Am I destined to deal with this for the rest of my child-bearing life? Does anyone else have this and, more importantly, has anyone else found a solution? They clear up for the couple of weeks after my period and then they return. Didn't get them at all during pg, so I am sure they are hormonal - have tried vitamin supplements (help, but do not eradicate) and almost every cleanser on the planet.

Can anyone help? (this may sound vain, but having AF is bad enough with the bloating and the cramps without the added nuisance of a face like a pizza)

anyone?
bump

Can't help but can sympathise - I get them too on the same patch on my chin every month; i alos didnt get them when pg. last month i started using a face wash/scrub from dermalogica - expensive but it worked - called microfoliant or something?
will watch out for any helpful answers!

I am wondering if I ought to see a dermatologist about it. It is so frustrating and I dealt with it through my 20s and figured it would eventually settle...Haven't tried that particular facewash, though - anything is worthwhile!

I get this too. There's a thread somewhere (might be in health) about hormone related acne. I seem to remember the doc telling me that spots on the chin and around the jawline are especially related to hormones ggrrrr.

Not sure there's much that can be done tbh.

After 5 years of acne after dd was born I started using Dianette pill about 6 months ago and my skin has totally cleared up. I know it's not an ideal solution but I can honestly tell you it is now really unusual for me to have a small spot whatever time of the month it is. Previously I had tried every cream, lotion and potion know to woman as well as antibiotics which worked really well but only while I was taking them. Think it is worth speaking to your GP about your options if it really makes you feel miserable.

Rantmum

Before you see a dermatologist I would consider seeing a gynaecologist.

You may be offered an internal ultrasound scan; this will determine whether your ovaries are polycystic (i.e with multiple cystic follicles on them. If they are this is the underlying cause of your acne).

You may have a condition called polycystic ovaries (a dermatologist may not check for this). I also note that you had this problem in your 20s; that to me is another clue.
Many women who present with adult onset acne have this particular condition. Dianette is often given to women with PCO as it has anti androgenic qualities.

At the very least PCO needs to be confirmed or ruled out.

Hi Rantmum. I'm 35 and still suffer with spots as well. Had them in my teens, then was on various contraceptive pills or preg for most of my 20s and 30s. Dianette was very effective, others less so, but after 2 two year courses of Dianette my GP made me come off it because of increased risk of blood clots. I am now on strong antibiotics (something called Lymecycline) and awaiting a referral to a dermatologist. I'm still waiting for the antibiotics to start working (apparently it can take 6-8 weeks before things improve) but am seriously considering a course of Roaccutane to get rid of the spots once and for all.

If you are not TTC and have never tried Dianette it's worth asking your GP about - it will almost certainly help for a couple of years at least.

I would say that if the underlying cause of the acne is polycystic ovaries then Roaccutane may not be the complete answer either. If PCO is the cause then the acne may well return even after taking that drug treatment.

Hey Attila - I think we've had this conversation before (was Sugarmagnolia) and I'm pretty sure I don't have PCOS. I'm sure that may be the problem for some people but sometimes adults just have acne.

Thanks folks, I did wonder about polycystic ovaries, but I don't really have any of the other symptoms - my periods are VERY regular - every 27 days (and I havent been on the pill in years) only heavy for the first day and I have almost no period pain at all since I had ds 2 years ago. Still I guess it is worth having my hormone levels checked, because I do get quite bad pmt before my period along with this spot outbreak. I am quite reluctant to go on a pill because I used to get headaches when I was on it years ago and tbh I would like to start thinking about ttc dc2 in the near future. Thanks for all of your advice - I will definitely see my gp!

Around one in five women have polycystic ovaries. This term describes the appearance of the ovaries when they are seen on an ultrasound scan. The polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) us the name given to a condition in which women with polycystic ovaries have one or more additional symptoms. So not all women with PCO have PCOS but all women with PCOS do have polycystic ovaries.

I remember you from before Supermagnolia - how are you these days?.

Even now I get the occasional spot and I'm nearly (ahem) 40. I was diagnosed with PCOS some years ago so I know the underlying cause of same. Not all people with adult onset acne have PCO but that possibility should be investigated in any event.

Oh my typing is appalling - a thousand apologies Sugarmagnolia for the misspelling of your name

sorry, but 1000 isn't enough, maybe if you made it 1001.