I have tried everything to get rid of my spots/acne, please tell me if there is something ive missed??!?!?!

[mad4myboys]

I use to get the odd spot on my face as a teenager but had bad back acne and had numerous topical treatments/anti biotics and nothing got rid of it. I grew out of it in early 20's. Then after I had ds1 (3.9) i had very bad spots on my face. I was put on citalopram when he was 8 weeks old for PND and was also on cerazette pill. So for the next 18 months i again had every topical treatment, every anti biotic treatment and saw 2 dermatologists who said only thing left was that drug roaccutane. I then was trying for ds2 so just left it all. Got preg and my skin was fine! Soon as i had ds2 (15 months my skin has been awful. I was put back on citalopram for pnd when he was 4 weeks and was back on same pill. It has got me soooo down. It is worse on the right cheek but mainly around my jaw. Again i tried all the stuff from GP and nothing has helped. Have bought numerous products OTC and hasnt got rid of it.

I take wellwoman vitamins which had vit b6 etc oness aimed at healthy skin etc. I came off citalopram a few months ago and swapped onto prozac to see if that was causing it but still no improvement. I also came off the pill few months back as dh had the snip. Anyway i have been advised NOT to take roaccutane because of my mental health history.

Have been using panoxyl for week or so....as advised on here...no signs of improvement... Anyone?/ so down about it. Really affects my self confidence

Has your thyroid been tested? My skin was very bad as a teenager and then pretty much cleared up before re-emerging after both pregnancies. I finally got diagnosed as having a borderline underactive thyroid and demanded treatment (they don't always treat you at borderline levels).

Within literally a week I had gone from lumpy spots to near clear skin - I think the thyroid had been slowing and congesting everything including my skin. I was also finally diagnosed as having rosacea and was given a specific cream for that which also helped hugely.

Might be worth having these things checked out. I sympathise massively, my self esteem plummeted during the time my skin was bad again and I feel much better now. Everything xd for you.

ive had so many blood tests done for various things and nothing has ever showed up..really dont know where to turn next. Dont want to have to keep dealing with this

Can you get copies of your results? Often doctors have different levels of what they consider to be a normal result for a test - what is normal for one patient isn't for another. I would really try and get your doc to refer you to a consultant dermatologist - are you comfortable with telling him how miserable it's making you feel?

my gp is very sympathetic and she knows my history and everything that is going on with me but she has referred me to TWO different dermatologists who have both said i have tried every thing there is apart from roaccutane....i really dont want to risk taking it esp as my gp has advised not to and i do trust her judgement.

Keep going with the Panoxyl! I started it last August religiously on my face every night (the 5% gel) and my skin is clear now, even the blackheads are less visible. Just takes a few weeks/months.

Roaccutane might not be the cure you are after - I've been on it twice and my spots just came back afterwards

I have found in the past that acupuncture helped my spots a lot (might help the depression too?) plus cutting out caffiene.

My spots totally cleared up when I was pregnant too by the way!

thats interesting. ive thought about accupuncture....

ive just noticed he panoxyl ive got is 2.5%....should i buy 5% instead?

also I wouldn't rule out PCOS because you haven't had problems conceiving - I have PCOS and had no trouble conceiving DS and am pregnant now - literally two or three sittings!

The lumpy spots on the jaw line is very indicative of pcos as is the hairiness.

I have taken roaccutane in the past, didn't have any mental problems and my skin went back to normal (bad) eventually. I would say don't take it but I really think you should look at what is causing this problem

if it is pcos diet plays a bit part (as does blood sugar levels like a diabetic) and do you exercise much? low gi foods are good (so not only cut down on the refined sugar but also the quick release carbs i.e. pasta, chips white bread etc)

how about you research pcos a little and maybe see if you can make some lifestyle changes as if you were diagonosed with pcos? worth a try?

I do appreciate that your doctor is sympathetic but at the same time she hasn't really gotten to the bottom of the problem has she?

i have wondered abou pcos for a while tbh. So if i go back and see gp what should i ask? How would i make sure i got a blood test on the right day? Im not coming on at the same time since coming off the pill....

irregular periods - as you know - another indicator

sorry I don't know about the blood tests - I was diagnosed by an internal scan - about 13 years ago now

but somebody further down seemed to know what they were talking about

I guess what you really need to do is find out as much as you can about pcos before you go back to drs, then insist on the blood test/internal (whatever is usual) and then question the dr as to how she came to the conclusion you do not have pcos (if she does). hopefully you will have some info from all your research that contradicts her conclusion??? it's tricky isn't it but I do think it's unfair

you know the last resort would be (and I know you probably won't like this) to see another dr

I had been going to my dr for my bad skin for about four years (who of course knew my previous history) - it was only when I saw a locum and explained my symptoms again that she straight away referred me to a gynaecologist (not a dermatologist) and hey presto diagnosis within a couple of weeks

hmmm. alot to think about

ive only been off the pill since jan and had one light period beg of feb...so due on anytime which is what i mean by not coming on at the same time..

Acne is purely hormonal and nothing you put on your face will prevent spots as they are caused by your hormones.

I had bad acne caused by the pill-Microgynon so the doctor put me on Dianette which is an acne treatment but also doubles as a hormonal contraceptive.

It cleared my spots up and got rid of my oily skin but I suffered from depression and bulimia whilst on it so I stopped taking it.

My depression lifted and my skin stayed clear. I would never take another hormonal treatment again as they have been linked to depression, especially Dianette, however I am fortunate in that I no longer suffer with bad skin.

My advice to you is to try different hormonal treatments such as Dianette- it may work for you but be wary about the mental health side of things. You need to experiment a bit so don't give up hope yet!

thanks but i cant take the combined pill

I agree with breastmilk that acne is purely hormonal and should be treated as such iykwim

I have also been dianette and yasmin (and a few other pills as well) but unfortunately suffered from mild depression whenever I took it and my acne came back everytime I stopped taking them

that is why i suggested the lifestyle changes as it is possible to calm down your hormonal imbalances this way. as I said diet & exercise worked for me

good luck