My skin has never, ever been this bad. Please help!

[ComradeJing]

I have a big night out on Saturday (first proper night out since getting pregnant 17 months ago and friend visiting from Shanghai) and my skin is terrible. Absolutely terrible. I didn't have this many spots when I was a teenager.

My chin, jawline and lower cheeks are covered in painful red spots. More are popping up hourly. This means it's hormones right?

I use clearasil ultra pads to reduce redness and Benefit boi-ing can conceal anything.

Also use Bodyshop Vitamin C microdermabrasion and aqueous cream face masks.

Your skin sounds angry and as if it needs soothing. Try Liz Earle, it is really the best for this kind of thing. Make sure you are eating well, getting sun (if possible) and drinking lots of water. Don't touch your spots (spots on chin and jaw are hormone related so there's not much you can do until that problem is resolved) but try dabbing them with tea tree oil that should help dry them out.

A quick fix -and it will sound very bizarre, is to fill a bowl with freezing cold water and ice cubes and then to put your face in it (don't drown), repeat several times and pat your face dry, it really does shrink the spots.....that I know this disturbs me!

Make sure your face is clean first obviously.

Definitely try tea tree oil and get some lily lolo mineral makeup it's good for covering spots without causing more. You can buy a couple of samples to get the shade right but you need to get a kabuki brush too. Or off eBay a bare escentuals maximum cover brush. I'll link later if you're interested

Sounds like you might have rosacea. You may need to see your GP to check it out - you can get ABs and gel to help.

In the meantime, to cover up your spots there is nothing better imo than Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation (use the compact too for extra coverage). It looks pretty light but really does the trick.

not a short term solution, but still worth trying... I went to see a nutritionist last week for my son, and while I was there, she mentioned the spot on my chin. I said I had been prescribed antibiotics for them. She said most time lack of zinc causes horrible spots in the chin area, so I should consider taking zinc supplements. Coincidentally a different nutritionish had already said to me in the past that my coil could be depleting me of zinc and should consider having it removed. Food for thought...

Am I being dim ? what?s OCM? My skin had such a hormonal freak-out with both my babies and the only thing that seemed to clam it down without drying it out was Mama Mio Clean Slate (www.mamamio.com/uk/face-care/clean-slate.html) and their Mighty Moisture too. Jawline is a classic place for hormonal zits ? maybe your periods are about to restart. Lucky you having 17 months off, with my first I got my period after 5 weeks even though I was BFing. No luck...

Try the GP? I had an unusual outbreak once - I suffered for months (having always had good skin) before GP gave me an antibiotic roll on. It was cured within days.

sali hughes on concealer link here

Watch the video through, she's got some great tips

Thank you everyone. I'm going to go to the dr later this week but I've bought some industrial strength foundation, concealer and I'm chugging water like there's no tomorrow.

Try a dab of toothpaste on the area before bed. You'll look a real bobby dazzler on your p.j's but it will dry 'em out a bit.

W're Thusday now so, a bit late to do a miracle before your night out so, plenty of water, no picking or scrubbing of skin and some canny makeup.

Oh, and a big smile! Enjoy your night out..... It's been too long coming, sounds like to me.