please HELP me get rid of my bad skin :( its depressing me

[savy57]

it realy is starting to depress me ive had bad acne problems in my teens but it cleared up in my early 20's now mid 20's and its back ive used all the counter products but nothing works its really starting to get me down plus its all over my shoulders, any suggestions on something that will get rid of these spots for good

I have recently started using korres echinea (can't spell it) soap and it has really helped clear my skin up.
I am 30 and have "hormonal" spots that appear monthly but for last 6 months have had horrible painful spots round my chin.
Since using this for 2 weeks I've had one or two which is a vast improvement.
I got it from amazon for about £6 plus postage (two bars) or you can get it from Feel Unique for free postage.

See your GP. Antibiotics may help.

I find teatree oil good for individual spots that are begining to appear. But I agree if over the counter stuff is not working and you are getting down about it you should go to the GP. There are a lot of treatments now, which can be very effective. Before you try antibiotics, there are prescription only creams which can work, one is high dose vit A and one is a kind of preoxide that kills the bacteria causing the spots.

you could get a mild antibiotic from your gp, most strong creams for spots can cause skin thinning

Start with the inside- drink lots of water, cut out caffeine, fizzy drinks, refined carbs, eat more fruit and vegetables. Take a multi vit and a probiotic (one from a health food shop, not a yogurt drink).

If you can take the Pill, ask your doctor about Dianette. It cleared up my 20's acne, and my cousin's. There was no lotion or potion to touch it, it was hormonal. Even if you can't take the Pill, your doctor might be able to prescribe you something stronger than over the counter remedies.

Lots of fruit & veggies etc certainly won't hurt, but they will not make a drastic improvement on their own.

Dianette and Zineryt for topical application.

See your GP - don't suffer!

I went to see my GP a couple of years ago. I got persciber a topical skin lotion, which is basically antibiotics in a really week format. Its like a rollerball that you apply to your face. Cleared my skin up a treat. I use it now and again now when i get flare ups.

Agree with DollyDowser - good nutrition can clear up lots of skin problems. My dermatitis hasn't returned since I started to take care of my diet. It may not clear it up completely but will definitely, definitely help with the bonus of being better for you too. Threelac is a good probiotic, used in the fight against candida but is brilliant at clearing out the digestive system which in turn can lead to skin trouble. Its also good for use after anitibiotics if you go down that route.

Roaccutane was the only thing that worked for me. You need a referral to a dermatologist to get it and it's pretty hardcore but my skin is now amazing and I had tried everything else. I had a 3 month course 3 years ago and I've not had a single spot since. I had very bad acne

Second roaccutane recommendation I'm afraid.

If you think it's hormonal, try Agnus Castus. This worked for me, though can take three or four months to see an improvement.

Expensive, but this worked for me. You need to use it 15 mins every day, but it cleared up my bad skin.

i think it is hormone related i came off the pill about 6 months ago this is when it all started appearing again and will not go away, my doctors are murder for trying to get an appointment you have to speake to a nurse who will decide if you really need to see a doctor so doubt i will get one for spots but i will try anythings worth a go, i started eating more healthy drinking lots of water ect... about 3 months ago hasnt made any difference at all in my skin :( ive had both dianette and zineret lotion in my teens worked well at the time so might ask if they can perscribe one of these
thanks for all your suggestions :)

Have a look at the regimen at www.acne.org.

I follow it and haven't had acne for almost a year now. It is faffy but by god its worth it.
The site is v. American, but there's a British topic. I use the estrogen blue invigorating wash, quinoderm 10, and olay day cream.

I also recommend trying acne.org, I dont do it as religiously as you're supposed to re timings of letting face dry, letting cream soak in etc, but it still works!
I do still get the odd spot, but nothing like the horrid cystic ones I used to get. It has improved some old acne scarring too.
Another reason I like it is that one of the recommendations is to mix a few drops of jojoba oil into your moisturizer, it really helps stop your skin getting too dry or flaky. I used to get really dry skin around my eyes when using other acne treatments. I got a bottle of jojoba oil from Holland and Barrett about 6 months ago and Im still only a tiny bit of the way down the bottle!

I was exact the same when i came off the pill, combined with having extremely sensitive skin. I came across Niapads from USA (through amazon). Fairly expensive due to postage, but they cleared my skin up in a matter of days so worth every penny.

I'm exactly the same: really bad skin from age of about 14, went on the Pill at 16 which helped a bit, came off the Pill 2 years ago to TTC our first child and my skin went haywire.

Turns out I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which acne is a classic sign of. If you are planning to TTC (you said you'd come off the Pill), it might be worth you talking to your Dr about it. Are your periods regular?

Insist on a GP appointment, you can tell the nurse that you are looking for a referral to a dermatologist. Because it isn't 'just' spots, they sound awful and like they are really affecting you.

Roaccutane is v.good.

A simple thing - but check your moisturiser routine. A lot of people recommend treating spotty skin with astringenty-type products when actually what can really help is a good thick moisturiser as some spots come up due to the skin being too dry.

Also, facewash, etc. any sort of those products. Maybe try changing. You may find that the hormones are making your skin react differently to products.

Try Alpha-H, My friend had bad acne and was recommended this range, and it has cleared her acne up. The founder Michelle Doherty also had very bad acne as a teenager, and that was what prompted her to start this range.
www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.221008/walk.yah.UKHB~UKB1~UKMC

Dettol bath

thanks again for more suggestions think i will phone doctors tomorrow since im off and see what they say, have looked up some of your recommendations some of the reviews are great will see how i get on with doc and if that fails will for sure look in to them and buy one of them before my face gets any worse :(
im not TTC i split up with my partner so i guess taking the pill wasnt an issue anymore so i stopped taking it :)