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Original poster

Any tips for treating hormonal acne without drugs?

28 replies

ChateauMargot · 26/02/2011 18:50

I'm TTC and since coming off the pill I've had some quite serious breakouts of cystic acne on my neck and jaw line. I can cover it up reasonably well with skin-friendly makeup, but to my eye it's still quite noticeable and is really starting to get me down :(

I realise that there's only so much that topical treatments can do, as the problem doesn't appear to be cleanliness or diet (I eat healthily, drink lots of water and try not to indulge my sweet tooth as much as I'd like to) but rather a hormonal imbalance that I'm coming to realise may also have something to do with PCOS.

That said, if anyone has any suggestions I would be HUGELY grateful! Will be 30 before long and still have the skin of a teenager - gaa!

OP posts:
Househunter · 26/02/2011 19:52

I was still prescribed topical antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide when pregnant, which helped quite a bit.

Original poster
ChateauMargot · 26/02/2011 20:27

Thanks, HH. Was your doc able to prescribe, or did you have to go to a dermatologist?

OP posts:
Househunter · 26/02/2011 20:59

Just prescribed by GP. Benzoyl peroxide is available over the counter.

raindroprhyme · 26/02/2011 21:14

check outhere
really helped me.

Scuttlebutter · 26/02/2011 21:32

I'd definately recommend benzoyl peroxide. I had PCOS and it worked brilliantly. You can get it in various strengths i.e. 2%, 5% or 10% as a cream or as a wash (I still use the wash on my back - it's excellent). Only drawback is that it does bleach fabrics but if you are using white pillowcases or towels not a problem.

Umnitsa · 27/02/2011 00:56

Try NLite. Expensive but works wonders.

NotSoPukeyMummy · 27/02/2011 08:50

I went to a dermatologist after years of trying to treat mine with over-the-counter and GP-prescribed remedies.

She prescribed me Retin-A gel and it was the first thing that ever worked for me. It balances out the skin so it produces less oil and more collagen. But you have to build up use slowly over a month or so.

She did also say to try a (stronger than you can buy over-the-counter) benzoyl peroxide if that didn't work.

I've never been diagnosed with PCOS but having had issues conceiving I'm now realising this may have been my issue all along.

Since getting pregnant again I have had to stop using the gel and my skin has gone to sh*t again but for a good reason and I know it won't be forever this time.

Going to see a dermatologist was one of the best things I ever did!

Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 11:54

Thanks so much, all.

N-Lite looks amazing! Shame about the expense, though. I think I'll try the benosyzl peroxide as a first attempt, then ask a derma about Retin-A.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 13:52

Just one more (rather foolish!) question: do you moisturize before applying the bp, or after?

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thumbwitch · 27/02/2011 13:55

neck and jawline acne only happened to me when I was very stressed - are you stressed as well? just asking.

hopscotchmum · 27/02/2011 14:25

re the benzyl peroxide...
if you use the gel/cream then just use at night,no moisturiser,then normal mositeriser in the day,at least to start with.
If using the wash then I'd also use just at night to start, and not use a moisturiser after it.
They can be very drying so if your skin gets a bit flaky reduce to alternate days.
I also had acne for years, and the benzylperoxide 10% wash helped loads!

youngblowfish · 27/02/2011 16:48

I really feel your pain, but I can still use Duac (5% Benzoyl Peroxide) in pregnancy and it helps a bit.

However, my GP agrees with NotSoPukeyMummy's dermatologist and tells me that as soon as I am through with the pregnancy and breastfeeding, I can just get the Retin-A and get rid of the problem. It is quite toxic though.

As well as using Duac under my make-up for daytime, I use a home made sea-salt mask (warm water mixed with sea-salt crystals and left on my face until it dries) after cleansing and before going to bed. It is quite drying, but between the Duac and the sea-salt I manage to look half-decent and minimise breakouts (and therefore scarring). Left to its own devices, my acne in pregnancy was really horrendous!

TattyDevine · 27/02/2011 17:06

Okay, if you can't do Dianette (combined pill, anti androgen) which is drugs, then its balancing your hormones through diet.

So Patrick Holford's book "balance your hormones", or,

LOW CARB LOW CARB LOW CARB.

Can't stress enough the effectiveness of low carb for PCOS or acne. Atkins (later stages are fine, no need to do the "induction" phase unless you want to lose weight too!), South Beach, or Pig to Twig, all perfect. 2 litres of water.

Until you've done this for a month or more you needn't try anything chemical. I can't recommend it enough. Just trust me, dare you to prove me wrong.

beautybird · 27/02/2011 17:39

I've known clients that have had good results with hormonal acne by changing their pill, my one piece of advice would be to avoid scouring the chemist shelves for products that 'help'. In my experience they can help in the interim but aren't beneficial on a long term basis. Retinyl Palmitate and Acetate in products are very helpful especially when used in conjunction with Vit C & E.

nikki1978 · 27/02/2011 17:44

You can also try cathodermie facials along with anything you get from the doctor. I had these once a month when my acne was bad and it worked really well. The extraction bit hurts a bit and your face is red for an hour or so afterwards.

Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 18:30

thumbwitch, I wish you were right, but there's definitely a more serious underlying issue here. I've rarely been as content as I have in the last few months, so it's not stress. The breakout that I have isn't a 'flare up' so much as chronic, cystic acne.

Thanks for the tip, hopscotch.

Youngblowfish, I used to wash with warm salt water and found that it was quite effective - should perhaps try that again.

nikki, I had facials as a teen and have to say I was put off for life. Not the beautician's fault - she was very good and highly qualified - but I just found it so painful and ultimately I wonder if the trauma actually aggravated my skin in the long term.

Tatty, I know that I should limit carbs - but it's so hard! Sugar and dairy are also my enemy. Do you have any tips for bread/pasta replacements?

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Havingkittens · 27/02/2011 19:09

Whatever you do, don't use Retin A if you are TTC. It can cause quite bad birth defects. In fact, stay away from any products with a high vitamin A content - ie. Retinoic acid etc. I'd also say don't do Cathoidermie or N-Lite unless you know you are not pregnant (ie. not in the 2WW period). When I was having laser hair removal I was making all my appointment for the week after my period was due so that I knew for sure I wasn't pregnant.

My GP prescribed Erythromycin antibiotics a while back which did make some difference but I had to come off it because I wanted laser hair removal and the lady told me that she wouldn't do it whilst I was on the antibiotics as it would make my skin doubly photosensitive - so, joy, I had to choose between a beard or acne Angry. He precribed Erytrhomycin because it was the one antibiotic for acne that didn't cause any problems if I were to become pregnant. Oxytetracycline, for example can cause problems with development of bones and teeth in the foetus.

I was also told off for using Benzoil Peroxide on my skin by a beautician as she told me that even though it helped with acne in the short term, it damaged skin in the long term. Not sure what I think about that.

I am in a similar position to you as I am about to start TTC again and my face actually hurts when I lay down on my pillow because of my cystic acne. I am using Dermalogica's concealing spot treatment which is quite good and safe to use if you are pregnant and exfoliating gently with their Daily Microfoliant - don't use anything scrub like as it will cause trauma to your skin and cause the acne to flare up. I am loathe to even take any natural supplements to "balance" my hormones as I have lost all 6 of my pregnancies so far and don't want to mess with my hormones just in case it causes problems.

youngblowfish · 27/02/2011 19:17

ChateauMargot regarding carbs, I am sure it is a contributing factor to acne, but it is not a good idea to exclude whole food groups when TTC or pregnant. Also, I personally found it impossible to limit carbs, especially in early pregnancy. I was not stuffing my face with them and have not put excessive amounts of weight on, but at 33 weeks I still have to have them on a regular basis, although normally I don't really care for them.

Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 19:18

HK, thanks so much for the suggestions about laser use/TTC. Will definitely bear this in mind (would want to discuss first with the practitioner, anyway).

Fair point about the bp causing damage. I think I may start just using it at night, and see how I go.

Very best of luck with TTC. If it's not too personal a question (apologies, and please ignore if so), but have you been tested for PCOS?

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Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 19:21

YBF, good point. I don't think I could go cold turkey, even if I wanted to - but you're right that it would be crazy to start making extreme changes while TTC. All in moderation, I guess.

OP posts:
Havingkittens · 27/02/2011 19:22

Yes, loads of times. I don't have it, apparently.

Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 19:33

Argh, sympathies. I'm going for my day 3 LSH/FSH test this week, having already had cysts discovered at a scan. Am pretty much convinced that my hormones will be totally out of whack, but can't imagine what I'll do if the results don't confirm PCOS - I'm actually at the stage where I just want to be prescribed drugs to sort me out. Cycles lasting up to 50 days, which is rubbish when you're TTC... :(

The acne doesn't help, either!

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Havingkittens · 27/02/2011 19:44

Oh no, poor you. It's such a nightmare not having any control over your cycles if you're TTC. Actually, also a nightmare if you're not, but doubly so if you are obviously.

My skin was fine before I started TTC. Well, not perfect, but I'd give anything for it to be like that again. My previous GP told me that it would take about 6 months or so for it to settle down after pregnancy but that's not really an option as I have been either pregnant or between pregnancies for the last 2 and a half years - so ropey skin is pretty much the status quo.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/02/2011 19:54

I've got PCOS and found giving up alcohol and all sweet food works better than any cream. If you go for cathiodermie facials you don't have to have extraction. Bio oil works for scarring and didn't cause me to break out at all.

Original poster
ChateauMargot · 27/02/2011 20:02

Crikey, HK - that sounds tough. My mum tells me that pregnancy was the only thing to finally cure her acne, so I'm keeping fingers crossed that it will work the same way for me (what a nightmare if being preggo actually makes it worse..!)

Fluffy, yep, it's the sugar, isn't it? I'm not a big drinker, so alcohol not a problem...but cakes and sweets are harder to relinquish. Thanks for the facial tip - will look into this.

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