Acne - anyone else? What can I try?

[Singed]

I'm in my late 30s and have acne

I had beautiful skin for so many years (never had teenage spots!) yet for the last 5 years or so my skin has been getting worse. I now have great lumpy red blind spots all over my chin, on my forehead, as well as pimples around my hairline, jaw and on my back. I know it's hardly a serious health problem but it's really getting me down. And some of the lumps/spots really hurt.

I was on Dianette which really helped but stopped as I don't need contraception any more. I plan on seeing my GP but thought I'd ask if anyone has any other recommendations.

My diet is pretty good, always have my 5 a day. I cleanse with a mild soap-free facial wash and use a moisturiser. I drink gallons of water.

My skin really flared up after finishing bfing DD and DS. I went to the doctor and was given ab's for months and was then referred to the dermatologist after getting spots like yours and got Roaccutane. Best thing ever! Really dried out my skin and I've had two tiny spots in the last three months.
You might not get it prescribed if you have only tried Dianette to fix it. Five years is a long time though so they might.

I followed the regime at acne.org which cleared up my acne at the age of 32.

In summary what you do is this:

From a pharmacy, buy some benzoyl peroxide in a 5% concentration - anything else is too strong and will irritate and burn your skin (doctors often prescribe 30%).

Morning and night, use a very gentle cleanser to completely clean your skin of grease/makeup.

To begin with, squeeze about an inch of it out of the tube. You need to spend a long time gently massaging this into the skin all over the affected areas(as your skin gets used to it after a couple of weeks you will work up to using double this amount). This is very important - the bacteria which causes the spots cannot survive when saturated with oxygen, and this is what you are aiming to do.

Warning - this stuff does stain so careful not to get it on your clothes, and use a pillow case you don't mind ruining.

I highly recommend reading the instructions on acne.org, and I found the forum helpful too (also, if it's not too horrible of me to say this, it helps to see that there are people who have had this worse than you and managed to cure it)

Obviously this is a very cheap method and it works very well. I stopped using the cream after a few months and the acne has never really come back other than the occasional pre-menstrual zit.

Sorry for length of post but I really wanted to share, I hope this helps.

sorry meant to say - squeeze an inch of the benzoyl peroxide out of the tube. Apply it twice a day after cleansing.

I would go to your GP and ask for a refferal to a dermatologist.

I spent years with problem skin trying every single thing various GP's had to offer, finally got a referal to a dermatologist and was put on a course of Roaccutane (Isotretinoin) for 5 months and my skin is absolutely perfect now, i swear I never thought I would see the day.

Definately not a drug to be taken lightly you definately need to know what you are getting into when you take it but for me the risks were worth it and they paid off.

roaccutane/accutane is a serious drug, like truth has said, and it can lead to serious depression. I would strongly recommend ruling out other possibilities first. I think is a case for using it in the worst affected individuals but not for everyone. On the site I recommended there are support boards for people on roaccutane who are talking about their experiences.

Thank you so much ladies. I will see the GP but I think I might try the benzoyl peroxide first - thanks for typing all that out for me AnyGhoul.

I'll check out acne.org too.

Thanks again.

Worth a check - I suffered from terrible acne in my early 20s - it really knocked my confidence. I'd also had it, though milder, as a teen. Turns out I'm allergic to whatever makes most cleansers foam when you add water. I noticed that my acne would be less aggressive on the occasions I decided I couldn't be bothered to take my make up off (ie when I was drunk) and made the link - now it's all but gone, as long as I use cleansers which don't have to be activated with water. Just think it's worth checking your cleansing/moisturising routine - even if it comes to nothing.

I've just started using Retin A, which I got a prescription for; it made my skin a bit sore and dry (I have super-sensitive skin) at first, so I laid off for a week then went back to using it just once a day instead of twice. It seems to be working.

Roaccutane is a big no if you're trying to/are likely to concieve, or if you have ever suffered from depression or mental illness.

With your age group Dianette should be the first line of treatment. Go and see your doctor about it but get it marked for contraceptive use as well otherwise you will have to pay for it.

CrossWhy
I am 38 and my GP told me I had to come off Dianette cos I am over 35
My skin has ben rubbush ever since

I was just on a mild antivbotic oxytraclicine or something - i was on it for about 2 months and my skin did clear up but not completely so ive ditched it now as didnt want to be on antibiotics all time for it and kept forgettign anyway - a non taking drugs option i am looking at too. I think i need to drink buckets more of water. I am 34 (today infact )

The general rule is that if you are over 35 and have a BMI of 30 or more then you should not be on a combined contraceptive pill i.e. Dianette.

Otherwise there is no set upper age limit although 45 is used as a guide age.

To clarify my last post further

Risk Factors for combined contraceptive pill

Age >35
BMI >30
Family history of heart disease
Hypertension
Smoking

If you fall into two categories then your doctor cannot give you Dianette

Starlight I'm sure you're right, I know my acne isn't as bad as many peoples and see far worse at work, but I think because the spots are so sore and there are so many (for me) it seems worse.

CrossWhy I know my GP may well offer me Dianette again, I would be fairly happy with that but was hoping to avoid hormones; after 20 years on the pill (apart from pregnancies) and no longer needing contraception I wanted my pill days to be over!

Cross Why
I have none of those risks
AM [cross] I was taken off it as I have bad skin and lots of extra hair now too.

Hiya

I feel your pain, acne is a nightmare. My mum, sister and I all suffer. Dianette is utterly fantastic at clearing my and my sister's skin BUT gives us both terrible migraines and I suffer terrible mood swings on it so we are not prescribed it anymore.

I thoroughly recommend Dermalogica as a product. It is pricey - the cheapest website for it is jerseybeautycompany.com - there is a skin mapping thing you can do.

I would start off with the Anti Bac Cleansing Gel and Active Moist, - now my skin is under control I tend to switch between Dermal Clay Cleanser and Special Cleansing gel as the Anti Bac dries my skin a little too much. Best off going to a Dermalogica registered beauty salon and speaking to one of their trained beauticians for best products for you (then go home and buy them off internet!!!!)

Starlight - I am 'lucky' that I only have to treat my face BUT, a bottle of the cleanser (£18) lasts me 6 months as does the moisturiser (£24) so I don't think that is too expensive for keeping my skin relatively spot free.

I just remembered a gel my GP used to prescribe for me - Differin. Excellent stuff but had to stop using it when pg due to one of the ingredients. Might be worth trying? It's a gel you apply at night and in morning

HTH

Please please check this video out.

It's an interview with Professor Anthony Chu who is Head of Dermatology at Hammersmith Hospital and Samantha Braby who is an Advanced Skincare Consultant. They talk about the underlying causes and symptoms of acne and talking about a product that I've used myself called AkniCare.

They give great advice and talk about why some things work and others don't.