acne in adults- any good treatments around

[chacha3]

does anyone know of any good treatments for adult acne please..ones that actually work

Diannette worked for me (a form of contraceptive pill). Had terrible acne since teenage years.

Obviously had to come off it when TTC and reverted back to my old complexion but since having DS its not quite as bad as before.

Can't go back on it though until we're finished breastfeeding.

Roaccutane, but only available through a dermatologist, and absolutely not allowed if ttc/pregnant etc (birth defects guaranteed).

Lots of poss side effects from Roaccutane though, so only advised for pretty serious cases.

bump

I had roaccutane but I couldn't complete the course because my skin became so dry. My nose was bleeding regularly and my lips had huge cracks in them.

It did work though, and my skin looked good for about a year after stopping it but it's deteriorated again and I need to think about what I can do next.

Dianette did nothing for me, nor did long term antibiotics.

I think I may make an appointment to see the doctor next week to see what they can suggest.
My other tip is to drink plenty of water - at least 2 litres a day because if you're not drinking enough to flush your system then no treatment will work properly.

ok thanks was thinking about the chinese herbal tablets and cream u can get

bump

am interested to see what anyone things of alternative medicines. I have skin problems now with DD 9m and unable to go back onto Dianette as TTC.

roaccutane. wish i had had it years earlier.

My daughter aged 19 is under the care of a great dermo, privately, so we gets lots of her time! DD has tried antibiotics x2 sorts, lotions, dianette (made her dpressed) and the dermo says roaccutane is the only other option- so we will prb start it when she is on holiday from uni in case it has side effects.

It gives you an 85% chance of acne never coming back.

Second bossykate - wish I had had roaccutane treatment years ago. Worked brilliantly.

Starlight is right - one absolutely must not get pregnant. I had to sign a paper to the effect. Due to side effects, it's generally not prescribed unless everything else has been tried and not worked. I personally got away with using lip balm consistently (did not have to brush) and switching from soap to mild shower gel. Also, was able to wear contacts throughout, but I understand that some people's eyes get too dry. Good luck!

I had it pretty badly a few years ago - also have rosacea so had to be careful with treatments so that was not aggravated. In the end took omega (flax seed) oil and zinc supplements and topical salicylic acid products which were mild enough to use with rosacea. It's gone, but if I slack on any of the three I start to get spots.

Be very, very careful with Roaccutane. My DB has been left permanently and VERY badly scarred all over his chest and back by it. His entire torso blistered and the skin came off. It looks a real mess now - all puckered, kind of like bullet wounds. He was in pain for months afterwards, as all the sores used to weep and he would wake up stuck to the bedsheets

I would recommend getting light therapy treatment. It kills off the sebaceous glands and has worked wonders on a friend's teenage DD.

chacha3,

You need to determine the actual cause of the adult onset acne. Often such problems are caused by hormonal imbalances; in this regard a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common culprit. A blood test can be done to see what your hormone levels are like.

SM - you appear very blase about the side effects. You were lucky if that is all you had.

My lips were so dry that I had to apply blisteze cream every 20 mins (vaseline didn't help at all).

My eyes were dry and itchy.

My earlobe swelled up until it stuck out perpendicular to my head. It 'burst' twice, and I ended up having to have it treated in hospital.

I was crippled by pains in my sacro-iliac joints. I had to have steroid treatment and physiotherapy as a result of this, but could barely walk for a year.

I suffered from mood swings (though I have the same theory re depression/suicide).

It was a very unpleasant time, and that's not even counting the fact that I left a trail of scabs (from my back mostly) everywhere I went.

It did clear up the acne on my back, but I still (about 14 years later) have terrible skin on my face.

The only thing that has worked for mine is long-term antibiotics. Cleared up my skin miraculously - within a couple of weeks, after a variety of lotions, potions, changes to diet and over a year of Dianette.

Lucky really, as Roaccutane was the next logical step and I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Quinoderm cream can be quite effective - but it'll bleach clothes and bedding when it comes in contact.

Yes mine is childhood acne that has never gone away too (now 34)! I also used roaccutane for about a year. I had really high hopes for pregnancy clearing it up, but sadly even that wasn't to be.

The combined pill does help, but since I have been ttc/preg/bf for the last 7 years, it's not a lot of use to me!

I had regular facials in the run-up to my wedding (once a month for four months) and my skin looked great; now, not so much! I'm goign to try having regular facials again (it's getting time away from the little ones that gets in the way..) in the hope that it works again.
I find not using moisturiser, or only very occasionally, helps.
I read recently that taking a high dose vitamin a supplement can work miracles for some people; haven't tried that yet myself..

basically go and see your GP
does bump chacha mean you're pregnant? then roaccutane absolute no no
there is a ladder of treatment and its a case of assessing where you are and trying stuff and moving up when needed
start with things like benzoyl peroxide gel or one that contains antibiotic topically - eg duac or zineryt (latter is great and doesn't stain clothes)
then next step is oral antibiotics or topical retinoids (like roaccutane that you put on as a cream again not if you;re preggers). there aere some antibiotics you can take when you are pregnant but need discussion with GP about risk/benefit etc

or dianette pill (again if not preggers)but not best option these days as more likely to get blood clots than with other pills so not prescribed as much anymore

if these don't work then its referral to a dermatologist for roaccutane - only they can prescribe, GPs can't start it

sunbeds - just not worth it - more and more evidence coming out about how they cause skin cancer.
good luck!