sick of spots... please help!

[zippyswife]

Not sure if this is the right place to post.

I had gorgeous (well maybe not gorgeous, but certainly spot free) skin all my life until I stopped breast feeding DC1 and on the return of my periods came spots. Actually not just spots but acne. This was 3 years ago and it seems to be getting worse. I have spots on spots all around my chin and mouth (I won't go into it anymore- don't want to put you off your food!). I have done nothing about it until now because I just hoped it would improve.

I saw the dr about various things including my skin and I've been sent for blood tests.

Today I didn't leave the house as I got upset about being too ugly and so DH took DCs out to give me a break. I know this sounds incredibly vain (which I really am not), but it's just getting me down so much. Oh- should add I didn't get upset in front of children- would hate them to think it matters how you look.

Just wondered if anyone had any advice. I kind of think they are hormonal as they seem worse when I am ovulating/on my period. Having said that they just appear to have taken up residence these days and never seem to leave.

I also have rosacea although that has improved in recent years (I've probably jinxed that now!). Yes rosacea and acne. I am one real beauty.

I've had spots on and off my whole life, except like a PP, when I was on dianette and then Yasmin for a few years.

It isn't terrible but since I stopped bf dc2, I've had constant horrible lumpy spots around my chin which take ages to go and really hurt. Also felt like my pores got really enlarged and was getting lots of little spots too.

I've read quite a few of the threads on here and tried quite a lot of the suggestion.

I like the LRP effaclar duo stuff. I am also using a antibacterial face wash at the mo which seems good. I've tried lots of things but on another thread so else mentioned taking vitamin d. I decided to try this as my skin always improves on holiday or in the summer, but I never linked it to vit d before. I just assumed it was being out in the fresh air and that perhaps the heat of the sun dried the spots a bit?! Anyway, I think that has has the most effect. I haven't had any big lumpy spots for about 2 months, and my skin in general seems much better. I have also been doing the eBay acid peel to refine my skin a bit and that also seems to have helped brighten it.

Obviously different things work for different people but I agree if you've tried various topical things, it may be time to tackle it from the inside.

I got my vitamin d from amazon.

La Roche Posay made my skin ten times worse. I'd spent a fortune on the products and ended up giving them all away on here. My skin is currently under control with a mix of erythromycin antibiotics and calamine lotion dabbed onto my problem areas (mainly my chin) of an evening before bed.

Sorry to hijack but what causes these hormonal spots if you've never had them before, is it to do with having had pregnancies? I'm mid 30's and have never had as many spots as often as I do now since having 2 dc. I've always had such nice skin and now it is sore & spotty for parts of the month.

Anyone with anything to recommend for a tween with spots? Already on oral erythromycin.

Would love suggestions for teens/Tweens.

Op the spots you have are hormonal and you are right you need work from outside in.

Drink plenty of water, and think about eating to balance out your hormones. Avoid processed and sugary foods. Eat as clean and as well as you can. This makes a big difference to mines.

The other thing I have found which works is to acknowledge that I actually have dry skin with hormonal spots. I use the sanctuary cleansing oil someone mentioned earlier, with the rest of the Clinique 3 step number 2 system. I also use a sanctuary oil inbetween toning and moisturising.

It makes a big difference, hoqpnestly.

Have a just teen with bad skin( genes were stacked against her). The antibiotics (topical and oral) from the GP made the problem worse. We had gone to the GP because Clearasil type products just burnt her skin.

She's now come off the antibiotics and we've spent a fortune at Clinique. 2 weeks in, there is a definite improvement, will see again once she's used it for 8 weeks. Expect it to be just a "holding" phase until she can go on the pill.

Thanks for all your messages! Really really appreciate all the advice. I don't know where to start!

If you ignore my rosacea (on my cheeks) and just focus on my acne (what a pretty picture!) on my chin/mouth it is also very dry and when the spots leave they leave flaky bits. It's all red and bumpy too.

Do you think I should continue with my current regime that works for my rosacea (top part of my face) and use the la roche from the nose down?

If this doesn't work I'll progress onto the more hardcore suggestions.

dh bought me some vit d, after I said I'd seen it recommended on here. It's just normal vit d though. Is that ok? I need to stay regularly using it.

I have started to drink more water too.

rhonda

Just moved spotty 12 year old to Elamis teen range

It seems to be working very well, she is still getting the odd few but nothing compared to what she had a few weeks ago

Maria is it the Clinique blemish solutions range? I was going to try buying her the starter pack for Easter. Rufus where did you get the elemis/ how much is it please?

You could be me.

I've just self refered to a dermatologist and been prescribed Roaccutane. If bloods come back ok, I'll start in 2 weeks - when I come back from holiday.

Thing is, I've spent a small bloody enormous fortune on lotions, potions and supplements. Nothing. When (as mine has) the spots started appearing on my neck and back, not just around my mouth, chin and jaw, I just thought 'enough was enough'. And how am I supposed to clean/apply the topical lotion to my back?

And it's not just the spots themselves. They hang around, lumpy sore, red. Never coming to head for a squeeze. But when they recede I'm left with the reddy mark where they once were. Fnucking cystic spots - they just keep giving!

The only other thing I'm considering is going to a fertility clinic and

1. having the hormone test to see if I'm still fertile. I'm 'knocking on' now and need to know if I can still have another/if being on Roaccutane for any length is going to be a problem.
2. If they have another opinion on my spots and treatments. My mum went through early menopause and got bad skin as she started hers.

I wish I'd started this process years ago. But I used to think 'oh, it's just spots'. Don't tickle about. Pester your gp for a referral (they can't prescribe Roaccutane) or self refer if you can afford it. If I'd have done this years ago instead of spending all the cash on products, I could have had a new face (tits and arse) by now!

rhonda got it from john lewis

It was £12 for the face wash and about £15 for the gel which you put on existing spots...they had an offer which if you bought two things meant you got a sample of the moisturiser as well so she has also been using that

I have had to deal with acne ever since I hit puberty! So I completely feel your pain!

Its different for everyone, but definitely go back to your doctor and try out different types of birth control pills - I found that dianette worked for me but had to come off it as it was just too strong.

At the moment I am using antibiotic cream from the doctor and sudocreme - and its working!!!!! Sudocreme is amazing!

super funny you should mention sudocream. I have a white beard of it at the minute! I happened to have it in and remembered is read about the virtues of it previously on MN. I'm assuming it doesn't prevent them- just dries them out? Either way I'm giving it a go.

Dr appointment is next week so will see what they advise then based on blood tests. I'm not willing to leave it though. I want to try something. I will update as I try things to let you know if I've had success as it may help you.

Good luck everyone!

Oh haha! Thats cool you are rockin the sudocrem! I'm not sure if im honest, its helped prevent them on me - it has benzoyl peroxide in it which is in my prescribed cream from the dr so I use a mixture of both :-) and its worked a charm!

Good luck with your drs appointment next week!