I can't leave the house looking like this.

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I'm at a point with this adult acne that I just don't know what to do anymore. I've stopped leaving the house, I'm so depressed. My skin is horrific. I was meant to have someone quote to fix water damage in our kitchen, I've cancelled, I can't have someone here looking at my skin and wondering if I don't wash.

I left my previous job due to anxiety and self esteem issues because of my skin. So many family/friends say only I notice and see it - but at work, after speaking to a customer, I heard them say to their partner, "is that scabies?!" I use to be a relatively confident and outspoken person, I've turned into a mouse.

I have a strict regime for my face, using cleansers toners and moisturiser as well as prescribed cream a couple of times a week. If I miss one AM or PM cleanse, my face gets worse overnight. I'm on Yasmin (OC) that hasn't really helped, they will not allow me to take dianette.

Has anyone had any luck with this? I'm about to turn 30, I'm tired of hearing advice like, I need to wash my face more/less, my moisturiser is to rich, my diets not right, I need more sun etc. I have tried all these things, (no dairy, no oil, fucking raw(!) more water, no caffeine, every mask under the sun, steaming, facials, icing, pills, antibiotics, topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide etc.) I'm about to try roaccutane even though I'm not secure in my mental health at the minute, but I can't see this improving. Does anyone have some advice, any prescription, cream, magic spell, that has worked for you?

I've attached photos, one of forehead, one cheek, this is over the entirety of my face, I just didn't want to out myself as I'm feeling very insecure right now. (Also, this is my skin looking pretty good, in between the cycle of healing and erupting.)

Why won’t they allow you to take dianette?

(Also sorry that you’re going through this)

As an adult acne sufferer my self you need to see your gp and get some antibiotics. It will take a couple of weeks but it should help clear it

My ex used to get bad acne and took erythromycin . This was in the 90s and it did help massively, though did not completely clear it.

Have you had a referral to a specialist?

In the meantime, I know it's masking the problem does make up help at all or willit flare it up?

I would try the roaccutane. It has been life changing for some people despite side effects.

I’m sorry :(
The only thing that works in my experience is accutane, but if you’re fragile they may not prescribe as it has been linked in the past to depression.
I would hazard a guess that many people with bad skin would suffer from depression anyhows. For me, it has saved me twice, once when I was a teen and second round at 48.
I did not hesitate to put daughter on it either.
If you can see a good dermatologist to discuss all the pros and cons it might be helpful.
You have beautiful skin apart from the actual spots. No scarring and a lovely texture.

Wish you well

Definitely go to the gp and ask fir a dermatologist referral.

My skin was bad and I tried everything, antibiotics, dianette etc - the only thing that worked was roaccutane.

For me it was Accutane also. It was a year of blood and pregnancy tests with extreme dry lips but it was really worth it. They were reluctant to put me on it because I have a history of depression and I had to explain that my bad skin was the main cause of it. I was monitored and read up on what I was taking and weighed up the risks against how depressed I was. I don't regret it and would take it again if I had to!

Thank you for your replies.

The GP was reluctant to try Yasmin, but dianette was refused due to direct family's health (heart and DVT under the age of 45.)
However, I was prescribed it for a short time in my teens (no spots on the face, but had chest and back acne) but was quickly switched to another after 3 months.

I have antibiotics every few months to clear, the longest course was nearly six months consecutively, whilst it does clear a lot, the second the GP takes me off them or reduces the dosage, my skin flairs up again.

The topical treatments help, but my skin is quite sensitive and they tend to cause more issues used long term. I've also used retinoids and salicylic acid. Recently started using niacinamide 10% and zinc - no results yet.

I'm quite apprehensive to try roaccutane, but I can't think of anything else to help.

Is the mental health because or your acne? In which case, would that mean the roaccutane might help anyway?

I suffer with my skin, and after trying most preparations I am trying oil cleansing.

The theory is oil removes oil and therefore the start of blockages. It won't help the spots already blocked and sore, but will help others not to form. It also won't leave your skin stripped and trying to rebalance itself by overproduction of natural oils.

You have to choose your oils carefully as some can dry out the skin. I'd never even thought this until I researched it.

I use rose-hip oil and hempseed oil.

You use a clean face cloth and get the water hot, lay it over your face to open pores. Use a splash of each oil in your hand and work into your face pulling away in the direction of the hair follicles. Work it in for a while then use another hot clean face cloth to wipe every residual bit away.

It appears to be working. It might help you.

Mine was the same for a very very long time. Since I’ve been taking Lymecycline daily it’s about 95% clear. Have you tried it?

I'll look into it sparkling, I did try a cleanser that was predominantly bay oil at one point, I'll look at oil alone.

Also I cannot take lymecycline unfortunately! I had it before dianette in my teens, I had daily migraines and it now flags up at the doctors as a definite no. I don't know if they'd be willing to let me try it again, since it's been a very long time...

I have completely stopped consuming dairy also, as I have found the cystic spots seem to come up less.

My mental health is entirely related to how I feel about my skin, just the described, 'intrusive, suicidal thoughts' accompanying roaccutane unnerve me quite a bit, I have a young DC and would not want to be feeling like this around them. I do have an acquaintance who reported feeling absolutely fine and just had a bit of dry skin.

If you are concerned then you could always ask to be put on a lower dose. They work out your total course amount using your weight so you would still have the same amount by the end of the course. I was on a low dose over nearly 9 months due to my depression history and raised cholesterol and I still had amazing results.

Tinymarie, really? I just assumed it was a set course, it's only been mentioned once by the dermatologist (and at the time I was an adamant no to ro) so I don't really know that much about it - other than the side effects. That's interesting, I'll ask to be referred again.

It sounds miserable. And I would totally get why it would upset you.

I have had friends with acne and things that have worked for them have been -

Switching to Simple products - worked well for one friend but then ended up on Roaccutane
A Neutrogena light therapy mask;
Cetaphil facial wash

I assume you have tried salicylic acid? The Clearasil pads are salicylic acid.

Just wondering if you have had your hormones checked lately? Like you I am so self conscious with bad skin. I'm in my 40s though. I really feel if hormones are out of balance it plays a huge part. Have been on tetracycline long term in my 20s, 2 siblings took roaccutane. Can also be hereditary? It's shit.

Yeah, it's a set amount and so doesn't matter if you take it for 3 months or 10. I emotionally felt absolutely fine because I could see my skin improve quickly and that in itself was amazing. I had years of antibiotics and Dianette but Roaccutane sorted it for me.

This may be of no help to you but I do a coffee scrub as soon as my skin/ spots flare up, if I leave it on as a mask it reduces them a lot and can sometimes stop them coming out. It's really helped me!
It's to do with the caffeine, sulphur containing ingredients are also meant to be good too.
I hope things improve for you.
When I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism my skin was horrendous!
Like I said it may help but is not for everyone.

I’ve posted this so many times as I’m evangelical about it. So sorry for repeating.
My neighbours son had the most terrible teenage acne. You could barely see his skin between lesions. He’d had loads of antibiotics , but it never quite did it.
He went to see a high street Chinese herbalist, and within 3 weeks his skin was 80% improved. 3 months later he had very few scars.
It cost his mum about £150, but a great investment in his self confidence.

www.acne.org/coffee-ground-scrub-reviews-1159/

You could try Accumax by iiaa capsules it's a vitamin but has seen some great results, also light therapy it's an led light that helps kill the bacteria and calm and heal the skin. You can google both.

Have you tried oxytetracyline ?

It sorted out my skin completely and worked for a close friend.