adult/hormonal acne - does anything help?

[IrritableGrizzly]

I'm 34 and have had acne for my whole adult life. It's always on my chin and around my mouth; the rest of my face is always in perfect condition. I've tried so many lotions and creams, but nothing ever clears it completely.

I'm positive it's hormonal - my skin was clear throughout my first pregnancy, and most of my second, but the acne came back with a vengeance at 6 months post birth which is when my periods started again.

In the past it's always been worse around the time of my period, but ever since ds2 was 6 months it's been almost constant. The spots aren't as huge as they were when I was in my 20s, but they are big enough to make me feel extremely self conscious, and they are very painful - the area surrounding swells up and throbs until the thing has gone.

I've just been prescribed an antibiotic cream so will see how that goes, but wondered if anyone else had had this problem and found a foolproof way to get rid of it? I really don't want to have this until I reach menopause, which is how it seems sometimes.

One last thing; I'm still bf ds2 - don't know if this would make a difference or not, but i guess it's possible, with all the extra hormones involved.

I have started to suffer from this. I'm 49 and perimenopausal.

I went to the GP and she suggested HRT (not interested - my mum died from breast cancer and she had been taking HRT for some time. Link between the two not proved but I think it's too much of a risk), or long term antibiotics. Not keen on these as I suffer from thrush all too often, and I have no interest in re-starting this!

She prescribed me an antiobiotic gel, Metragel (?) but so far it's been useless. Stops the spots forming into big yellow heads, but instead just leaves a lump behind.

One thing I have noticed that has helped is to use Clearsil wipes each morning and night.

I also occasionally go and have a Dermasweep facial, and some laser treatment to help with the scarring here

Apparently, with long term antibiotics you don't get thrush after the first few weeks because the normal bacteria grow back. (but ask your dr in case i have wrong info)

the best and only thing which cleared my acne was roaccutane

it is not for everyone but i had acne for 15 years (went just bfore i was 30)

i had tried everything from antibitoics to gels and creams plus changes to my diet

am not sure if you can take it whilst BF tho'

with the swelling it does sound cystic

have a look at the british skin foundation

Ooh dd - that's interesting. GP mentioned nothing about that and was very swift to offer me an alternative instead of making the case.

(Mind you, a few weeks of thrush isn't that appealing ... )

Thanks for replies. I've heard about roaccutane but it sounds a bit full on, but I may consider if this is still happening after ds2 has stopped bf.

One thing I don't understand is why the spots are localised only in the chin area, and the rest of my face isn't affected - does anyone know why this should be?

BecauseImWorthIt, did you only start getting this recently or have you always had it?

rubyslippers - How did you find taking roaccutane; did you have any of the nasty side effects?

I had terrible acne as a teenager, right until my early 20s. Lots of antibiotics then, which I think also contributed to my problems with IBS and thrush in later years.

But it wasn't on my face, thankfully - whereas this time it's all round my chin, just as you're experiencing.

I started suffering this way about 3 years ago I think. Always worse around my period. I also get blackheads on my chest (lovely! sorry about TMI!)

dianette - contraceptive pill- was only thing that worked for me. i took it for 10 years as each time i stopped spots returned.
i'm 35 and still get spotty in pregnancy, but started using dermalogica products 2 months ago and my skin's amazing

irritable - my skin was very dry and sensitive to the sun but nothing that i couldn't manage (hat and a good moisteriser/sunscreen)

i had 2 courses about 4 years apart - usually one does it

chin acne is fairly hormonal - i also tried dianette first which only worked as long as i took it for

the roaccutane is powerful but was the only thing which worked

and should add that i've been trying the OCM every few nights after reading the thread and it really does help with stubborn blackheads

the dermalogica has been a revolution for me as first time i've found products that deal with ageing spot prone skin

Hmm, lots of things to think about, thanks everyone. Dianette and roaccutane definitely have to wait until after bf, but may give dermalogica a try. I've heard good things about them.

mamamila what dermalogica products do you use, and do you go there for facials or just buy for home use. Also, I'm doing OCM as well - how do you do that while also using different products? Do you just use dermalogica moisturisers but not cleansers?

hi IG,
sorry yesterday couldn't connect to mumsnet

i had a dermalogica facial/ skin analysis, not a great facial as pregnant so they didn't use all the acid based stuff and said my skin was too dehydrated to perform extractions, so i was bit annoyed and they wouldn't let me pay so i bought a mini pack of dermalogica products for about £25 as i felt a bit guilty! it was actually excellent value as lasted at least a month and then i bought a face wash, toner spray and multi lotion. i've found online you can buy dermalogica quite cheaply.
i'm impressed as it really does clear and brighten skin and isn't at all drying

the ocm i'm doing once every few nights and using dermalogica the rest of the time. i'm tempted to go full time ocm and just use extra eye cream. but i see the ocm hasn't been success for everyone

Thanks for coming back! That sounds interesting - did you find the products you used actually got rid of spots? I think I'll go for the skin analysis thing; would be helpful to find out what's causing the acne.

I really like the OCM but sometimes it feels like a bit of a palaver! I usually do it every evening, using coconut oil, and although it hasn't got rid of the acne it has helped my skin look a lot brighter.

Hi,

My guess is it is hormonal in nature so a blood test would perhaps be able to determine the underyling cause. A blood test would need to compare the level of LH (luteinising hormone) against that of FSH (follicle stimulation hormone).

Some cases of acne are due to a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

I recommend trying retin-A cream before you try roaccutane (neither are OK when pg or bf). It's a topical version of the same thing, so less invasive. I have used both and found roaccutane very unpleasant, with mixed results that only lasted a year or two anyway. Retin-A is very effective for me.

I have PCOS and have adult acne. Like the OP, it was worse in my 20s, but am nearly 33 and it is still going.

I did have a course of roaccutane in my early 20s. It really dries everything out, makes your skin feel a bit fragile, and gives you the driest lips imaginable! I suppose it sort of worked for a time, but didn't get rid of everything completely. Still get cystic acne on face and back.

I'd also had all the usual antibiotics (oral & topical) in my teens, plus ultraviolet light therapy. I think all of that made me really photosensitive. I can't be in the sun for more than 10 minutes without burning, and I always burn and return to paleness again, never tan. Not the case when I was a kid! I don't mind being pale, just have to be so careful with sunscreen.

I took dianette for years, and I think it did help. When I came off it to TTC, I did notice my acne getting worse and becoming more cystic again.

My DD aged 20 has had a course of Roaccutane after trying everything else going, including anti bs, lotions, you name it- under the care of a good dermatologist.

Roaccutane worked in about 4 months.

You need a referral though as GPs can't prescribe it- and you also have to agree to use 2 kinds of contraception as it can cause birth defects. (legal requirement of prescribing it.)

My DD had to go on the pill even though she was celibate/not in a relationship.
She was told her acne was hormonal and that without Roacc. she would suffer til the menopause!

mamamila- you would not now be prescribed Dianette for 10 years- it is a very high oestrogen level, and carries a high risk of side effects ( blood clots etc)- normally it is given for just a few months. My DD tried it but felt very nauseous and depressed and came off it after 3 weeks.

OP- you may well not be able to get Roac. whilst BF, but if I were you, I'd bite the bullet- my DD suffered for years and we wish she had tried Roacc. when the dernmo first offered it to her, rather than after another 18 months of messing on with creams, pills etc etc. her acne was not that bad, but it was scarring her face, and that is why we were told she ought to go for the best treatment.