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Original poster

DESPERATE to get rid of my bad skin once and for all. Anyone help me? Suggestions i havent tried??

72 replies

mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 15:52

Since i had ds1 3.6 years ago ive had really spotty skin. It was fine during the pregnancy, but as soon as i had him it kicked off. Was on and off various anti biotics for the year following from the gp but none worked so i gave up. The doctor but it down to me being on citalopram for PND. Got pg with ds2 when ds1 was 18 months. Skin fine during preg. Soon as i had ds2 again my skin is awful. He is now 13 months. Really getting me down. The only things i have put it down to is either the citalopram but have not long changed to prozac as gp said possibly the citalopram doing it but seen no improvement. Im on POP which is cerazette. Again possibly that but cant go on combined pill. Will be able to come off pill next month once we get results from dh having the snip done.

I have tried every OTC product aswell, from the harshest to the most gentle and natural product. I take multi vitamins, drink loads of water and excercise and generally quite healthy.

Any one have anything that i may not have tried? Getting me down so much

OP posts:
smittenkitten · 30/12/2009 16:00

my skin has improved (not perfect but improved and even earned compliments from my parents!) since I started doing the oil cleansing method. Search for the threads on here or google it. I use 50-60% caster oil with olive oil and a drop of tea tree every now and again.

sorry to hear you've not been well - hope this works and takes one worry off your list!

rubyslippedonastraymincepie · 30/12/2009 16:02

roaccutane

hardcore treatment but it works - you need it prescribed by a dermatologist

i took it twice - second time it worked brilliantly (one course is often enough)

i had tried everything as well as i had acne since i was 17 - i have now found a wonderful cleanser which suits my skin and seems to stop breakouts (jurlique balancing foaming cleanser) and oil of olay moisturiser

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 16:06

that isnt an option for me sadly due to my mental health situation....

OP posts:
brockleybelle · 30/12/2009 16:08

hello mad4myboys, i really feel for you. i'm 28 and have had bad skin since i was 13. acne and scarred too, and i have to put on makeup (oil-free!) every day.

Anyway, i've found benozyl peroxide very effective. i found a fantastic site www.acne.org/regimen.html and basically this guy has made it his life-mission to help other acne sufferers since he stumbled upon an effective treatment through his research at the library. It's dead simple and you should definitely see an improvement. The reason that I personally haven't benefited from it as much as I should have is I haven't been disciplined enough to do it every day, but when i do the regime regularly i see a definite improvement. (actually, to be blunt, it's the fact that the taste of benzoyl peroxide is a passion-killer which makes it harder for me to follow the night routine!!).

rubyslippedonastraymincepie · 30/12/2009 16:09

ah ... in that case have a look at this: this is meant to be brilliant

Lulumama · 30/12/2009 16:10

am not doing so well with my skin either

have breakouts of little tiny lumps around my jaw line constantly.

was prescribed hardcore ABs i was told would interfere with my coil, and was not confident in the doc prescribing. i wanted something topical. bought quinoderm OTC and it gavve me a terrible allergic reaction

am going to ask for a referral in the new year to a specialist

no matter what cleansing etc i try, i still get spots, and blackhead. my skin looks clear, but when you get close, you can see all the lumps and bumps and i get spots that leave red marks for ages

not nice

so not much advice, but my total sympathy

brockleybelle · 30/12/2009 16:11

rubyslipped i went on roacuttane, one course, in 2002. it worked wonders for maybe a year or two but then the acne returned with a vengeance and actually worse than it was before. i now get big red spots with white heads (yuck!) which i never, ever got prior. Did your acne get worse after your first treatment?

rubyslippedonastraymincepie · 30/12/2009 16:13

brockley - my skin was v good for a couple of years, but then went back (never as bad as before but still bad enough for a 2nd treatment)

The second course cleared it up for good and no my skin has a tendency to be drier rather than oily and spotty ...

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 16:15

have tried collodial silver both internally and externally, have also tried benezol stuff that i got straight from the chemist too. i see all these various products on the internet promising it to clear up but have tried so many im very negative about buying more that i havent heard of. Make up wise i used almay clear complexion foundation and concealer which i can only get from america as this is meant to help heal the spots....not convinced but sounds better than normal ones!

OP posts:
HinnyPet · 30/12/2009 16:17

A pal of mine is a herbalist and she suggests that you contact one near you.

She cleared up my pal's rosacea in about 2 months, so could a herbalist help you too? Just wondering if you'd been down the non medical route! Maybe worth a try

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 16:19

thanks hinny, yes seen a family friend lady who does biochemistry,nutrition etc and she has given me some agnus castus to try to help but so far not been on anything, she tested me for hormone imbalance which also my gp did and there is nothing showing up there either..

OP posts:
ShinyAndNew · 30/12/2009 16:22

I used to use Neutrogena Clear Skin cosemtics, they were great. I'm not sure if they still do them anymore though.

Rimmel have a version with the same active ingrediant though.

IS there enough zinc in the vitimin supplements you take? Zinc is meant to be great for the skin.

You don't mention skin care, but I find if I don't use a decent facial scrub once or twice a week, I get loads of blackheads. Those daily ones just don't do the trick. Atm, I am loving soap and glory's skin caree range, esp 'the greatest scrub of all'.

Drinking too much caffiene makes my skin worse, so try cutting down on that.

Chinese green tea is good for the skin and tastes better than proper tea imo.

itwascertainlyasurprise · 30/12/2009 16:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

drosophila · 30/12/2009 16:24

why not ask for referral to a dermatologist and or endocrinologist.

drosophila · 30/12/2009 16:26

I think stress and hormones are the cause of much acne.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 16:28

yes plenty of stress in my life! i have seen 2 seperate dermatologists and they both said only thing left was roaccutane. atm i have just bought freederm stuff as hadnt tried that before..

OP posts:
wifeofdoom · 30/12/2009 16:42

I found Dianette contraceptive pill ace for clearing up skin - and if you found skin better when pg then guess that might help as think it mimics hormones? But I am not a dr so no idea....

I also found that doing as little as possible to my skin helps - to the extent I only wash it with water in the shower once a day (shower in evening so it gets make up off) and then an unfragranced SPF15 moisturiser during the day under make up. Scrubs and the like made it worse.

However I do seem to have 'grown out of it' at about 26 - suddenly no problems. Hope the same happens to you soon. it is horrid and gets you down doesn't it.

atomicsnowflake · 30/12/2009 16:49

I found that my skin improved dramatically after I started using the Dermalogica brand skin care products. They're not that cheap, but they do last and my skin is clear now after years of struggling with all kinds of problems.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 16:57

i cant have dianette as it is the combined pill? Also i did try that when i was younger but i made me sick!

Where do you buy the dermalogica products?

OP posts:
SugarMagrundy · 30/12/2009 17:15

The only time I have been happy with my skin is when I was pregnant or on Diane!

Have you tried a BHA gel (salicylic acid)? I use the Paula's Choice one.

fanjolina · 30/12/2009 17:20

Try laser treatments. A couple of sessions cleared my skin up. It was about 7 years ago and no break outs since.

domesticextremist · 30/12/2009 17:28

I am under tha care of someone at a private skn clinic and they have been great with the facial washes and the creams and the microderm - previously dianette used to help but have come off that now and skin was awful before going to see specialists...

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 17:30

i really want to try private skin people and have looked into it but really cant afford it plus dh is very about it and doesnt want to fork out on another thing that may not work

OP posts:
domesticextremist · 30/12/2009 17:35

it is expensive - my last lot of creams - to last about 6 months was 70quid but the consults are free. And to be honest I get to a point where it affects me leaving the house and my relationships.

If it becomes a mental health issue then the NHS sometimes pay anyway - at the group of clinics I go to anyway.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 17:38

where abouts are you? I know what you mean about if affecting your relationship and you wanting/not wanting to go out of the house. Im at that stage

OP posts: