acne has arrived

[clare21]

I have been very lucky and very spot free, until that is I turned 37 in the summer. First a deep red patch, almost like a burn, appeared on side of nostril. Then the spots started, first just above my lips, then spreading further. To start with not that obtrusive but lip definition became blurred. They're not corkers, but little red numbers, mainly without heads. They seem to fluctuate a bit through the month. In Nov I went to see GP no. 1 who said could be nasal infection or acne and prescriped zindaclin 1% gel / clindamycin phosphate - seemed to make them worse, they spread, got another red patch this time on other nostril, so I stopped using after 5 weeks, and swapped to a tea tree based moisturiser. Went back to see GP, saw GP no. 2 (no continuity possible) who told me to 'scrub newly emerging spots to take head off' and use new cream which has same clindamycin phosphate 1% plus hydrous benzoyl phosphate 6.67%. Now I am not keen to start using this. Surely I shouldn't be putting bleach on non rampant acne? GP no. 2 said to watch for hairy boobs and irregular periods, as could be sign of cysts.
Please can I ask for any advice from anyone. It seems very peculiar to have got these now - is it hormone related, and if so early menopause?

Doesn't sound like acne to me? i have suffered with acne on and off over the eyars (worse hen pregnant) and keep it under control with a fab cream/skin brightener.

However my acne is not clustered and definitely has heads on the spots.

Are you sure it is acne? i think beofre smothering yourself with creams that do not work, I would ask the GP for a referral to a dermatologist to see exactly what the spots are. If they are starting by your nose/mouth could it be an allergy rather than acne? Allergies don't have to be itchy, they can be mildly painful spots, or indeed a rash with no pain/itching.

Thanks beesonmummyshead - I didn't like the sound of Dr 2's recommendation to scrub the new spots hard. What with scrubbing and bleaching I'll end up with some choice scars. He basically told me to go away, get scrubbing, get creamed up, and come back no sooner than April. His suggestions don't feel quite right.

Could be acne rosacea? That makes your skin very red and and dry, in addition to acne style lumps. I had it for a while (either side of my nose) and made it worse by plastering on stuff for ordinary acne. A steroid cream did the trick, but a friend has to have antibiotics for hers.

I wouldn't go back to any GP who tells you to scrub to take the heads off - sounds barmy!!

Meant to add, rosacea tends to appear in older people - my friend had flawless skin until her late 30s when hers started.

hi....used to work for a dermatology company,dealing with products for acne ,amongst other things. I agree with catwalker...it does sounds more like acne rosacea.

It can happen as you get older....alcohol,stress,heat,cold,spicy food,exercise can all make it worse.
A course of oxytetracyclines or rosex cream/gel can help alot

Alypaly - you gave me some advice about my teenage son a while back. I've now got our GP to put him on zineryt as you suggested and it's really helped with the big nasty spots he was getting. He still seems to be getting little ones and has loads of blackheads but the really nasty painful ones are now very few and far between - thank you!

clare i have been giving another thought to your dilemma....although tea tree oil is a relatively good product for some things it can produce contact irritant skin reactions including erythema, erosions, ulcerations which can also involve mucous membranes.I would be tempted not to use it on the face.

The fact that you describe your first lesion as similar to a burn makes me think that you have a staph aureus infection and coupled with the fact that it started from your nostrils and you described it as burn like.

I would go back to GP and ask if it is possible to have a course of flucloxacillin and some fucidin cream. If you have children i would be carefull at the moment because if it is that..it is highly contagious and can spread like wild fire.

The fact that the spots are neither white or black heads makes me think it is an infection and because it has spread from the nostril area.
Hope this helps

thanks catwalker....glad i could help. If he has lots of blackheads that dont looks as if they are clearing you could try steaming over facial sauna to loosen the greasy plug. The reason it is black is that the grease(sebum) in the pore is stuck as it has thickened and the top has oxidised. Steaming can help loosen the plug of sebum and then the use of hibiscrub to help clean the skin. Test it on an area under the chin or back of the neck first incase it causes irritation.

If the blackheads dont look as though they are coming away,i would suggest a dermatologist who would posible prescribe a mild abrasive agent...but that would be better overseen by a dermatologist.

This sounds like acne roseacea to me - and the GPs advice to e rough with your skin sounds really off the wall.

How's your diet these days? Are you getting enough vitamines and minerals? I recommend a good multi mineral and vitamin like Solgar female multiple.

And to soothe your skin i recommend a lovely light rescue cream from dr organics with manuka honey in it. You can get it in holland and Barret. i had an outbreak of acne before xmas and it cleared it up most gently - i have lovely clear skin now.

i use sebamed to wash my skin (ph5.5) and also use a very soft brush i got in the body shop for any blackheads on my nose.

HTH and be gentle with your skin!

I knew Mumsnet would have answers! Thank you all v much for your advice. I will head off to get some rescue cream, and then go to another Dr. Interesting the first one said it might be a nasal infection. Diet is really pretty good.

Please check this

It's an interview with Professor Anthony Chu, Head of Dermatology at Hammersmith Hospital and Samantha Braby, an Advanced Skincare Consultant.

They talk about acne and the science behind it. So good to hear someone with such experience saying that it is a disease of the skin rather than just something that people have to deal with.

This has changed my life