Acne, please help!

[Tenerife2019]

I started developing adult acne in my early 30s and it is gradually getting worse and worse. Before I got pregnant it was controlled well on oral antibiotics but I'm no longer able to take these and I'm at a loss now. It is so painful and affects my whole face, I'm so miserable I cry every night when I take my make up off and honestly feel it's affecting my life. Please help, any tips of things that worked for you!

Cut out as much sugar and dairy as you can - I found this a big help. Use oil free moisturiser (neutrogena was recommended to me by dermatologist) & make-up, and wash your face with something gentle like Cetaphil (also recomnended by dermatologist). I have just started using nip & fab glycolic toner extreme 6% after washing my face with cetaphil at night. I tend to just use it on my t-zone. It has worked better than GP prescribed Differin at clearing blackheads that would just never budge.

Basically, eat well, sleep well (change pillowcase every night) keep all facial products oil-free and use a liquid exfoliant as a toner at night. Any under the skin, super painful spots - try using ice on them. I found this really good for reducing inflammation. Even ibuprofen can help bring big inflamed spots down.

Acne at any age can be so debilitating but it feels especially unfair when you think you are thru’ the teenage years of suffering. Hang in there and always remember that it probably feels far worse to you than it looks to other people. People are mostly wrapped up in themselves and don’t even notice what seems so awful to you. Be kind to yourself. You are more than your skin.

Go back to the GP and ask for a referral to a dermatologist. In my experience when acne gets that bad no amount of changing your diet or beauty products will sort it.

Agree with pp the only thing that worked for my hormonal severe acne was roaccutane from a derm. Go back to the gp, in the interim benzoyl peroxide is really good.

I don’t believe diet and beauty products do much for proper acne

Try dermalogica face wash etc range I had acne and it really helped me so I swear by it , but I dont know if it will help you as I don’t know the root cause of your acne .

Now I don’t use any other face wash aside from this one ( dermalogica doecil cleansing gel) and amazing g difference in my skin ever since .

Try and get a professional recommendation from the actual dermalogica shop ( I was lucky happened to be in London and went to a free workshop at a dermalogica shop and they told me wi h of their products was right for my skin type

The only other advice is don’t over wash your skin and use non - comodogenic foundation, i.e foundation that does not block the pores...

Hope that helps .. Also don’t keep looking in the mirror and crying .. remember that you will only see the acne but other people see you and not your skin .. it isn’t as bad as you think because you are worried about it ... my sister had very bad acne and covered her mirror ( and then married her prince and no longer has acne )

Fingers crossed it will be better soon

Another vote for dermatologist. It's a kind of chronic infection.

*dermalogica special cleansing gel

Agree that seeing a GP for referral to a dermatologist is a good idea too

Ask your go to prescribe you epiduo

I forgot...I also take vitamin A and D and a probiotic supplement. There is evidence that inflammation in the gut can cause acne and probiotics can help with this. Having suffered for years, I have done hours (and hours and hours) of research about what may help both topically and supplement wise.

I had roaccutane and wish I hadn’t. The side effects were grim and I continue to have bladder and bowel issues that I didn’t have before taking it. After a couple of years my acne returned.

OP you asked for what worked for other people - obviously, what works for one person may not work for someone else. With dermatologist recommended neutrogena etc. as detailed in my previous post, I have genuinely never had better skin. It has taken a long time but it’s great to finally find what works for me. I hope you find what works for you soon.

Ps. Also the neutrogena blue/red pen light is great - it speeds up the time for those real humdunger spots to disappear. Dermatologists use red and blue light in clinic - it is proven to work.

I was prescribed Dianette which is for acne and other hormonal imbalances. It also functions as an effective contraceptive!

Also, what skincare products are you currently using? Some products may actually inflame your skin more - try and use as gentle products as you can find in the interim to speaking to a medical professional

Google zz cream it has worked amazingly for me!