SHEEP MAY SAFELY GAZE IN THE MIRROR: BE, LL, BBH, & all else beside

[JodieHarsh]

Mbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Swirling tapping buffing in honour of Jodie then!

Unfortunately, though dd looked very lovely last night and had a very good time, this morning she has to deal with a really bad case of spots - worse than anything she's had before. She's very upset, and has said she will never use BE again. . She has now got enlarged pores on her cheeks as well.

Anyone got any suggestions? She's 12. Is she too young for it? I've made her life infinitely worse, just in time for half term, and now she doesn't want anyone to see her at all. DH has already had to send one of her friends away.

Oh no Jux, your poor DD :( Did you use the original BE or matte? The original is known to cause breakouts due to the bismuth whereas the matte is bismuth-free.

Tbh, the very best thing you can do for your DD is to make her a GP appt. Apologies if you already have seen a doctor but if not then I urge you to do so.

I suffered spots since I turned 11, my mum just used to say it was part of being a teenager. I wish she'd taken me to the dr, by the time I was old enough to realise she was wrong the damage had been done and now, some 20 odd years later, my confidence is wrecked by the scarring. I have vowed never to let my DDs go through what I have, there's just no need nowadays (or even back then :()

In the meantime, the best over the counter treatments I've found are Quinoderm or a Clearasil overnight serum, the serum in particular is very effective at reducing spot size and can use it during the day too but you need to layer it on a little.

Thanks grape. I think it's the original I've got - whatever is in the starter kit. It doesn't say matt anywhere (but tbh my eyes are so bad I can't read everything on the bottom of the pots).

I shall get both those treatments today, if Boots does them; they should have the clearasil at least.

What can a doctor do? I'm like your mum. Have no idea.

The Quinoderm you get from behind the counter at the pharmacy in Boots, the Clearasil will be with all the other spot treatment stuff. A really good cleansing facewash is essential, the Freederm range is perfect for young skin. Your dd may need a moisturiser too as spot treatments can be drying but make sure it's one formulated for spot prone skin.

The dr can offer all sorts of treatments, depending on the severity of her acne. Antibiotic topical treatments, a long term course of low dose antibiotics, specialist skin creams etc - it's all there to try and find something that works.

You may find the over the counter things are all you need but if it's really getting your dd down then it's good to know there are other options. Also, encourage her to keep her hair off her face as much as possible and if she does wear it down then not to cover it in too much hair product as that is known to cause breakouts. Get her doing a really good skincare regime morning and night, it's essential. Diet is another thing worth looking at - I don't believe it's down to eating too much chocolate etc (although if I eat any chocolate made by Galaxy or Mars then I will guaranteed get a breakout) but I've found eating wholemeal bread made a huge difference and also cutting out dairy products - particularly milk - helped enormously. This is not a good idea for a growing girl though, but maybe if she eats loads of dairy try cutting it back to just enough nutrition-wise?

Hopefully for your DD it is just a case of hormone overload with her being the age she is. I know full well how bad she is feeling right now, but being proactive about it will make her feel a little better hopefully :)

Her diet's good, she practically lives on fruit!

She does have a skincare regime which consists of cleaning with clearasil pads and then Simple moisturiser.

I've made an appt iwth the doc and am just off to the chemist now.

Thank you so much grape.

I hope you didn't think I went on a bit or was telling you what to do, I guess I hate to think of anyone going through what I went through.

Just a thought though, does she eat a lot of citrus fruits? They are another trigger of breakouts (I know them all lol!)

It's grotty being a teen, hopefully her hormones will settle and her skin will clear up beautifully. My skin is fine now, after many years I was eventually diagnosed with PCOS so it's unlikely much would have stopped the breakouts when I was very young. However, if I'd just had the information on how to take good care of my skin, treatments to help the spots clear quickly etc then I'm certain I wouldve avoided the scarring and that's my big regret. Spots heal and go away but the scars don't.

However, LL is making my life much more bearable now :)

No Grape, I was very grateful, and just glad I could tick a few things off. She does eat citrus but has never reacted like this to them, and doesn't really get much citrus during the summer - mainly in the winter (oh dear!). Anyway, I got her Freederm cleanser and topical cream as the chemist reckoned it would be better for younger skin than the Quinoderm. Couldn't get the clearasil o/n serum but will see how things go with the Freederm for the moment.

(I am toying with the idea of getting some LL myself, too.)

ooh grape , I have pcos and so does dd , she was diagnosed at 16 , is 19 now and has recently had problems with spots on her chin , this is hormonal isn't it?
she's a normal weight and eats a low gi diet (well as much as a uni student can)
do you think dr would beable to prescribe something for her?

OK have ordered fairly light after deciding that light IS too dark for me!

I had my hair done today
Normally I look like death warmed up when getting my hair done..their lighting is vicious.
Thought BE would be my saviour but no , still looked like shit.
Was wearing fairly light , bloody need ot get my shade sorted.

Jux fingers crossed there is some improvement using the Freederm :) LL is excellent, really seems to suit my skin and the coverage is better for me than BE.

ggirl I don't have the typical PCOS symptoms either - my consultant refused to diagnose me off symptoms alone and it took a scan and a biopsy of my ovary (ouch!) to get any answers. I am normal weight, no facial hair, but bad skin. Spots on jawline are definitely said to be hormonal. The contraceptive pill Dianette (think it has been rebranded now but GP would know what she meant) would be useful, it cleared my skin up finally. I came off it to ttc and I'm still bf'ing so can't go back on it yet but will do once I need to. It stops excess oil production as well. Touch wood, my skin is always so much better when pregnant and bf'ing, because my spots are hormone related. I so can't wait for the menopause I have concluded, therefore, that if it's a hormone problem then you can chuck whatever on your skin (which will help to a certain extent) but until the underlying cause is treated you'll never fully stop the spots.

My main word of advice would be to prevent the scars, have specialist facials for spot prone skin and, obviously, don't pick the spots! Squeezing is ok along as hands and face are clean but only if spot is ready to pop. The times I tried to squeeze the big, hard, red spots - this is pointless because they then burst in the opposite direction under the skin and there you go, another scar :(

Acne.org is an excellent website for all things spot related, a real mine of info :)

Sorry for thread hijack If you're reading Jodie then I hope you're ok, I miss you already :)

Sadly, as soon as dd got her first spots, DH was teaching her how to squeeze them. Sometimes he's a complete idiot, well, quite often.

Agh, I've got one of those 'helpful' DHs! Trouble is, if you've got a spot then instinct tells you to squeeze it to get rid of it. Over the years though I've learnt that it's far better to slap something topical on it and leave it be, it will go and it won't leave any marks.

Of course, if it's a big whitehead then you have to pop it!

How is DD today Jux?

I used my new LL eyeshadows today, they are lovely :) Quite shimmery but I like that and the colour lasted all day. I got the set of 3, brown-based colours so now off to browse for some other colours. It's bloody addictive (and expensive) this make up lark!

Morning! :)

Sounds like the Bismouth in the BE jux if her break out came on over night - it's very common. LL stuff doesn't have any in - worth a try once her skin has settled down?

I LOVE the Peepo concealor - really works well and I have never used under eye stuff before!

If you are reading Jodie, I am waving at you - can you see?

I had my hair coloured and cut yesterday - love it and feel all swishy! Booked my next appt which is just before Xmas - I nearly fainted!

Great news reality

I am still a devoted LL fan, but I managed to get my mitts on some of the discontinued Revlon Colourstay mineral foundation. There's a little makeup stall on the local market, which sells odds and ends. There is no bismuth in it and it cost me £2.99. It keeps my skin matte all day. Worth picking up a tub if you see any...

Finally decided on my true shade and bought the starter BE kit in fairly light
Was like a child in a sweety shop , had two friends staying for the weekend who wear no makeup normally and I made them both up with the various samples etc I've collected
Both of them were really impressed with how natural it looked and how much better they looked with some makeup on.

hey girlies !
have been reading product reviews on makeupalley.com and have ordered BE brow colour and BE eyeliner colour
Will keep you posted

The longer I use this stuff the more impressed I am.

It does seem to be actually improving the condition of my skin.

Also waving at Jodie x

Hi Jodie waves

Well my LL stuff arrived today so will be giving that a bash tomorrow.

I have been using the matte BE in fairly light and I don't know if its just me but it seems a different colour to the fairly light in normal? Seems a bit more orangey. Anyone else noticed that?

Break outs much better now on the matte though, still got a few but think that is time of the month ones. Grrr. Did I see someone suggest Evening Primrose Oil or something up thread (on lunch so haven't got time to trawl through 26 pages!)

Just back from gp for dd's spots, clutching prescription and very very grateful, grape. GP v carefully explained to dh that it is acne and has nothing to do with sugar intake ( he has been nagging and nagging and nagging the poor girl). She is very much happier.

So thanks to all on this thread too, as I wouldn't have got beyond the "teen spots" stage if I hadn't been so enamoured of BE and so I wouldn't have mentioned it and dd would have been miserable forever!!!

Wow, Jodie, you had no idea how many people you were helping, when you started this, did you?

Oh Jux, you have no idea how happy that has made me! So glad your DD is happier, fingers crossed there is a real improvement for her. Don't be afraid to go back if no results within a month or two, sometimes it can take a bit of trial and error to find the right medication. I feel all :) now, glad to have been of some help.

Madam I haven't had a single spot since using LL unlike when using the matte BE so hopefully you'll find the same for you.

Having a bit of a :( day today, my skin looks awful. No spots but my pores seem to have expanded over the weekend and I look shite. No idea what has gone wrong, have tried using less powder but to no effect. Hopefully it's a temporary thing but I can't help feeling the bubble has burst and I'm doomed to look crap forever :( :(