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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Acne treatment?

11 replies

Emc123 · 03/04/2013 13:42

Hi, is anyone else suffering with bad acne? I'm 9 weeks and can already see it scarring :(
Just wondered if anyone had any tips? Don't want to use anything that might harm the baby so haven't been using anything but can see it getting worse every day. Advice appreciated :)

OP posts:
Manc451 · 07/04/2013 16:15

Hi, mine was awful between 9 and 12 weeks. I was also really worried about scarring and didn't want my husband to see me without make-up. I've just hit week 15 and its a lot lot better. Hopefully the red marks will start to fade. So it might get better :)

Rockchick1984 · 07/04/2013 17:29

I had this last pregnancy and it continued until about 6 months after I finished breastfeeding despite me having always had clear skin before Sad

It started again this pregnancy and I went back to using all the anti-spot creams etc even though my skin was managing to be simultaneously spotty AND dry! Someone recommended this to me, and I figured it was worth a try - within a couple of weeks every spot has gone! Could be coincidence but its worked miracles for me!

catlover83 · 08/04/2013 08:45

I don't have much help but also suffer from this.

Had some acne all through first pregnancy, but I'm not especially bothered about looks and did nothing about it. It continued through breastfeeding (1 yr) gradually getting worse. THen got horrendous just when I stopped breastfeeding - exactly when I thought it would clear up! No idea why except that I was run down and generally knackered and sleep deprived and running round at work.

I went on antibiotics for 6 months which moreorless sorted it. Then got pregnant again, and they immediately came back. Had m/c. Got pregnant again and this time spots have come back with a vengeance. I am 14 weeks now and look dreadful, even I find it embarrassing, and I've basically had acne for 3 years now - but now it's truly awful. Is also very sore, and each spot seems to take about a month to clear up. Am going to GPs this afternoon and will let you know if I get any help at all. When I asked at 9 weeks got told nothing could be prescribed while I was first trimester, but might be able to get a topical cream after 12 weeks...am pretty depressed that it might be this sore and awful for another year and a bit and seems very likely to scar.

I do tell myself others live like this, with for example scarring after accidents or birth marks. ANd that there are far worse side effects of pregnancy. But it is still not something anyone would elect to have.
Anyway, fwiw, you are not alone, even if it might feel like it - I don't know anyone else to speak to (or see!) who suffers from acne in pregnancy, so I know it can feel like it's just you. You have my sympathy. And, I haven't tried any super expensive stuff but I have had some relief from using Waitrose Bottom Butter at night or E45. I find that the skin on the rest of my face - anything without spots on it - is dreadfully dry, and these two both do a fair job of helping with that. I have recently started swimming and this seems to help the spots feel drier - but I am not convinced it makes any difference to how long they hang around for.

catlover83 · 08/04/2013 18:52

Just to report my gp prescribed antibiotics, she said a lot is known about them and they are thought safe in preg but it is my choice as she understood I might want to avoid drugs. Also prescribed a face wash which looks a bit like e45 in a wash.
Good luck!

Original poster
Emc123 · 08/04/2013 22:14

Thank you all, it's nice to know I'm not the only one! My skin is also very dry, might try some of your suggested products. Hoping it improves later in pregnancy, if I find anything or hear of anything that works will let you know 

OP posts:
JanieLovesCake · 08/04/2013 22:14

hi girls, i would love to find a miracle cure for the gross spots i'm getting. i was on the dianette pill but have been off it for a year exactly and i suffer mainly from chin and upper lip spots (sooo sore and hormonal says the doc) and on my back as well. i'm really at the end of my tether.. i know it's not the complete worse thing in the world and other people have far worse things to deal with, but it's a confidence thing. i'm dreading the summer as i won;t be wearing any vests.

i tried freederm products which seemed to work for about a week. a friend mentioned bio oil on he spots to reduce the redness but i haven;t really noticed any difference since using it. will defo try the loreal cleansing oil that rockchick has suggested. off to boots tomorrow.

keep the miracle cures coming xx

Mamabear12 · 09/04/2013 21:37

Just thought I might mention this as it helped me in the past when I suffered really bad acne. Certain foods I ate too much of would break me out and even certain vitamins! And I'm talking about painful spots that took months to go. My face looked awful. However after about 3 years of watching my diet I figured out my trigor foods. It all started by accident. I was desperate to make my skin heal and look better so I got into healthy eating and read line seeds are good for the skin if you eat them. So I bought crushed line seeds and ate every day. Slowly my skin got WORSE! I didn't understand and was so upset. Then I went to visit my sister abroad for a few days and brought the line seeds and forgot them at her place so when I returned home I stopped eating them and low and behold my skin got slightly better after a couple weeks. I still didn't realise what it was until I was talking to my sister and she was complaining about breaking out and then said oh u left the line seeds here. They taste really good w yogurt. Right then I knew that is what it was! So I told my sis and she stopped eating them and her skin cleared. As for me, I still had to figure out other trigger foods. Such as too much chocolate (dark chocolate the worse) avocados, peanuts. Junk food like McDonald's had No effect on my skin. Anyway, my skin has been clear for 5 years now. I understand pregnancy hormones could be messing up ur system. But could be diet as wellor vitamins (some break me out, but Sita west r okay). Also, when ur pregnant ur diet changes as well. Good luck all!

cmh18 · 10/04/2013 17:35

My acne became worse as soon as I stopped the pill, GP prescribed zineryt which is a liquid (comes in something that looks like a bingo dabber!). It's really effective I've used it a few times over the years (this is the first time ive been pregnant) and its totally safe for pregnancy, also nice that you're not actually taking tablets or medicine x

Beaver80 · 10/04/2013 20:31

My dr also prescribed Zineryt in both pregnancies and it was really effective. The spots are horrible and you shouldn't have to suffer. Hope you get some relief soon.

shellshock7 · 10/04/2013 23:26

Another one who used zineryt in PG and it was very effective Smile

Laquila · 11/04/2013 19:19

I had acne as a teenager and have had what I'd call "problem skin" ever since then, really. (I.e. it's not terrible but it's never clear, and I wear concealer every single day). I'm currently 20 weeks and my skin has never looked better, but I wouldn't be surprised if it goes completely haywire a bit later on!

The stand-out best product I've ever found is Neal's Yard Rose Facial Oil - I use it at night instead of a night cream and it's just brilliant - my skin has a a lovely texture when I wake up (no grease) and I'm positive it helps with scarring. Also, a little goes a long way. I also highly recommend Wild Olive French Clay soap - I hadn't used soap for years, thinking it was far to drying, but this stuff is great - v gentle and calming (and cheap!). It's pretty much olive oil, coconut oil and clay, and I love it.

I honestly think these two products have done more for my skin than any others. Good luck and you're not alone!

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