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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:
domesticextremist · 30/12/2009 17:41

am in the southeast but the Sk:n clinics are all over i think...

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 17:43

am in the SE too...which one can you recommend? (understand if you dont want to say what town)

OP posts:
Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 17:48

am guessing brighton? I considered going there after i had ds1....but dh wasnt convinced

OP posts:
brockleybelle · 30/12/2009 17:57

reading this thread with interest. really feel for you mad4myboys as i know how awful acne makes me feel at times. hoping that you find help on here.

MABS · 30/12/2009 18:04

roaccutane for me, but i do understand why not fot you crystal dermabrasion and oxygen facials have also helped me loads.

purplepeony · 30/12/2009 18:05

I have not read every post but I suggest you ask your GP for a referral to a dermatologist. Even if the NHS won't send you, you could pay- and it would be no more than seeing anyone at Sk:n.

My DD saw a dermo and took Roaccutance for 4 months and it more-or-less cleared up her acne. she now uses some lotion still. None of the combined pills suited her- Dianette and Yasmin both made her depressed.

I really wouldn't waste money on skin care products- we spent a fortune on Clinique and you nake it. The dermo said it was hormonal and without treatment would last til she was 50!

MABS · 30/12/2009 18:06

i have had the above facials in Brighton at The Treatment Rooms.

purplepeony · 30/12/2009 18:07

p.s.- I suspect that the POP is to blame too-progsterone is notorious for making skin worse- think of PMT spots?

purplepeony · 30/12/2009 18:10

have read more now- why won't you try Roaccutane? Why can't you take the combined pill like Dianette?

domesticextremist · 30/12/2009 18:32

Mine too is hormonal but is helped but the Aknicare cream they sell at Skn and by microdermabrasion too (though am not doing that at present) and also by only using towels once to dry my face - I use my dcs old muslins and then wash them - thankfully theres loads.

Am not in Brighton - but think they are all the same.

Sorry your dh isnt on board...

drosophila · 30/12/2009 18:38

Do you have facial hair too. Just wondering if you could have polycystic ovaries. I too have always been much better when PG. I seem to get them on my neck and jaw a week before my period. I am 41 and no sign of it disappearing. I also have the joy of facial hair.I am not polycystic though. Acne and facial hair runs in my family. It is a pain in the arse.

drosophila · 30/12/2009 18:39

Tried freederm. OK for getting swelling down but not brilliant. Thought that the oil cleansing sounded interesting. Have you googled it? I might give it a go.

jaquelinehydeThePresents · 30/12/2009 18:52

I'm watching this with interest, and I have so much sympathy for you.

I'm 31 and have suffered with horrible spots/skin since I was 17.

I refuse to go out without make up on (That's tinted moisturiser, foundation, cover stick, and powder). I avoid doing activities that would take my make up off, swimming etc. I even turned down a free facial because I would have to take it off.

I'm jealous of my friends who are able to swish mascara on and go out for the day.

For the first 6 months of our relatioship DP didn't see me with no make up on, I would set my alarm for stupid O'clock so I could get up and run to the bathroom!

I hate it, I hope you find a solution.

domesticextremist · 30/12/2009 19:07

thats a shame about the facials Jaqueline - I find the elemis SOS emergency facials really good and I dont feel the same embarrassment with people doing facials - they have seen it all before...

morethanyoubargainfor · 30/12/2009 19:15

the only thing that cleared my skin, I have acne and HS (recurrent abcescess etc) resulting in several surgies is going wheat free.

I had a new boil nearly every week and rarely without acne for 7 years, i gace up wheat in August this year and haven't suffered with either problem since, i do occassionally get a few spots around my nck around the time of Af but nothing thats unmanagable like before.

I also found tattoos worked well as they kill of the bacteria thats causes the spots! but i realise that is rather extreme .

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 19:25

at tatoo!

I cant take combined pill as they give me migraine and im at too high a risk at having a stroke. The reason i cant take roaccutane is because the side effects can be depression and suicidal tendencies (as told by dermatologist and gp) and because i have a history of depression and currently on prozac i have been told it really wouldnt be a good idea, and there is no way i could risk anything like that happening when life is stressful as it is!

oh and yes i have been tested for PCOS and that has come back fine.

OP posts:
coffeeinbed · 30/12/2009 19:27

Spearmint tea. Not sure about the brand, but it's sometimes comes mixed with nettles, which helps too.
Must be spearmint though, not the peppermint one.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 19:29

really? Any idea how much you have to drink?

OP posts:
morethanyoubargainfor · 30/12/2009 19:31

yes, it really works!

I had really bad acne on my back, so painful on some days i couldn't really tolerate clothes or sitting an dleaning back! i noticed that the patch where my tattoo was didn't ever have a ance on it, so got my friend to design me a large one that covered the area of the acne(top half of back) and since she did it no more ance! .

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 19:32

cant really tatoo my whole face! Maybe its because it burns off skin cells?!

OP posts:
raindroprhyme · 30/12/2009 19:34

i have bad skin too. been on 3 loads of roaccutane over the years works till i have another baby.

did oil cleansing which worked well but while preggers made things worse.

My great gran swore by ponds cold cream cleanser so i use that nightly then benzoyl peroxide topically. In morning rinse with cold water and apply oil olay. changed to mineral make up as i have to wear make up due tp scarring. skin fab at moment. not sure it will last post preggers but fingers crossed.

steer clear of roaccuatne friend tried it as a last resort and ended up dillusional and sucicdal. he had underlying mental health issues which had never been serious previously.

good luck.
acne.org has great support forums.

Original poster
mad4myboys · 30/12/2009 19:36

those of you that have mentioned benzoy, what strength do you use and just plain bezoyle you buy at chemist?

OP posts:
morethanyoubargainfor · 30/12/2009 19:40

i think thats it! a bit like my scalp is always clear of the psoriasis after a colour, think that just burns of a few layers but it is nice to have a clear couple of days, you see the extremes i have to go to .

I have also just noticed another of your threeads about gluten free cereal so that obviously doesn't help either.

coffeeinbed · 30/12/2009 19:43

Sorry, two or three cups a day.
Not a hardship!

Candlewax · 30/12/2009 19:44

I have had the same problem as you for at least 18 years. I was given, on holiday, some facial wash, Boots own, with tea tree oil and since I have been using that, I have NOT looked back. I was particularly bad on holiday with huge outbreaks of acne and boils and was really depressed. I put this on neat for two nights and by the third day absolutely everything was gone! I now have shares in Boots...

The wash looks like clear liquid but you pump it out and it comes into a foam. They also do a night gel to use after the wash and a day time moisturiser with added ingredients to stop the grease build up. I promise you it is fantastic stuff.

I too lived on antibiotics for 5 years, ate healthly, drank tonnes of water.