Acne-prone, sensitive skin... Please help!

[forgetmenots]

At my wits end. Baby due any day and so I'm trying to think of things I can do afterwards to make myself feel a bit more presentable - but I've always had hormonal, cystic acne, with sensitive skin (many products end up making my skin red and flaky, whilst doing nothing for the spots).

Have had facials and have tried dermalogica (worked for a week), clarisonic (does help but haven't found the right stuff), kiehl's oil free range (mixed), sk:n (worked really well and then stopped!), Clinique 3-step (hated it), eve lom - amongst others and not to mention switching make up brands all the time to avoid breakouts.

Please help, I don't mind spending a bit more on products if it helps...!

Bump in case anyone has any recommendations...!

Which dermalogica did you try? I have roseacea and use the ultra calming range which is good.

Hello.

I have been using zyneryt (sp?) on prescription from doc - it's an antibiotic thing to put on your skin. Plus I've been doing the oil cleansing method and finally I've switched my moisturiser to this: m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/Cetaphil-moisturising-lotion-236ml_1238608/
This has all worked really well and after 30 years of acne, it has all gone!

Have you tried cutting out dairy from your diet?

Stop faffing with skin products and go to the doctor and get something prescribed. My acne isn't cystic but my prescribed stuff is great.

Thanks! I knew someone would have some tips!

Mrsrobertduvall - it was the medicated anti-bac range

Orangelily - I was prescribed creams (benozyl?!) and it was the worst thing I've ever had on my skin. Are there other things I can try from the doc? Have written down the name polyesterbride mentioned so I'm prepared next time!

karbea - I haven't, is this something that can help? Not
Lactose intolerant to the best of my knowledge.

Forgetmenot.

Hormones in dairy can play havoc with your own. I am not saying you should cut it out particularly as you are pregnant

As you are pregnant and may soon be breast feeding, most of the prescription stuff is out of bounds. I think there may be one or two you could get so do ask your GP. I know Finacea is ok in late pregnancy and while BFing but topical clindamycin and euthromycin are not.

Some years ago There was an MN thread about best acne treatments. I think it was started by AnyFucker and it was about washing your face with panoxyl. You can search on here or on acne.com. That would be ok in late pregnancy and during BF.

I, like mrsrobertduvall, suffer from rosacea. My skin is too sensitive for pretty much all products. I oil cleanse (ocm) with Japanese rice bran oil. And currently use differin gel (Vit a prescription stuff) which helps a lot.

If I was you I would go to the doctors first rather than waste lots more money on products.

mrsflorrick (great username btw) - thanks for this, I will go back to the doctor after baby is here, helpful though to have some pointers to go on rather than getting fobbed off with something that strips my face. I'll do a bit of reading about dairy too. Thanks again :)

My sister had bad acne and was advised to go on a no wheat/dairy diet, which she found helped her acne but found it too hard to keep up with. but deffo worth a try
I saw youtube videos of a girl with cystic acne who talked about it.
lemme find it...
diamondsandheels14
Hope it helps.

Thanks for this iloveweetos - will definitely look into dietary changes post-bf!

I have skin like yours, and heve recently been using Manuka honey as a cleanser (i.e. instead of a traditional cleanser), and as a mask at night. It has honestly transformed my skin, even to the point of shifting blackheads that are almost the age of me . I love it.

See a dermatologist.

I've just started using Malin + Goetz Acne Treatment (from Space NK), and it is honestly a life-changer. I've had terrible acne since I was about 12, and I've never come across anything that works this well, or this quickly, prescription or non.

A couple of downsides:

• the smell. It's very sulfur-heavy, and every once in a while I get a whiff of my face and want to be sick.
• the look. It's white paste, which is never going to be attractive, especially dotted all over your face. I just tell my boyfriend he has to deal with me looking like a leper in exchange for me looking great in public :)
• the size. It's not cheap, and a little doesn't really go a long way. Still, it's well worth it for me.

Good luck x

Thanks all - haven't heard of using manuka honey in this way fish, do you literally slop it on and rinse off?

poppy I am going back to the doc once dc arrives, will ask for a referral and hope it goes better this time!

reggiebean will give anything a shot alongside medication and if it can be used while pregnant/breast feeding all the better until I can try more prescription stuff. Thanks for this! (And so pleased it worked for you, you must be over the moon!)

Yes, am thrilled with it! I forgot to mention, it doesn't dry out my whole face, like previous drying potions have, which I love!

Afraid I'm no help with it being pregnancy/bf safe, but Space NK should be able to answer that for you!

xx

i tried manuka honey (from holland and barratt), felt really nice, but then felt like it stopped working for my skin. my friend who started using it at the same time swears by it!
There's a face mask that is supposed to be amazing but for me, expensive.

I started using freederm (over the counter one, not off the shelf) and have noticed a huge improvement. I'm using it under my chin and on my neck but not on my chest (as I wanted to see I it was working) and this diffrence is astounding. But I've also been prescribed metformin for PCOS. I've only been taking that for around 2 weeks so still waiting on visible results.

I don't know what cystic acne is, but Sudocreme has really helped my sensitive, acne skin. It's thick, you need to give it a good rub in at bedtime and leave it overnight.

La roche posay is good, cicaplast (sp?) for dry sore skin, effaclar k for spots and a good moisturiser. you can get it in boots. read up reveiws on their website

Zineryt is safe during pregnancy and the best thing I have ever been given I would definitely recommend it .

My skin sounds similar to yours, and whilst I've not yet found a cute, I always go back to using Liz Earle cleanser, moisturiser, face oil and intensive moisture mask. These four products help calm me back down when my skin breaks out and gets sore, dry and sensitive. Very comforting.

I have skin like yours and GP is being really unhelpful (long story!). I'm using Liz earle cleanse and polish and the skin on my face is sooooo much better. I'd really recommend it

In using azelaic acid at the mo but benozyl worked wonders too but takes quite some time and a period of sore skin before it worked, but when it did the results were great.

But then I don't have cystic acne... I just have your bog standard spots with the occasional cystic type one.

I didn't think I was lactose intolerant, but I've cut out diary and my skin isn't perfect but it's noticeably better.

I'd imagine your skin is to do with hormones and your diet effects your hormones so worth investigating.