help me please. Awful skin :(

[saveahorserideacowboy]

Hi, I'm 27, 2 young DC. My skin has never been clear but has gone through phases of being better and worse. It is always better in the summer when iv been out in the sun. We got married in the summer and someone told me about Liz earle which I began using a few months prior to the wedding and my skin was great. I also did spend alot of time in the sun which undoubtedly helped.

The liz earle now seems to have stopped working and my skin is as bad as ever. It is both dry and oily, congested blackheads, huge lumpy painful spots under the skin allover. I very recently got my period back (still breastfeeding dc2 at 14months) and noticed it has gotten worse since then.

I am so fed up. I am not going to shell out for liz earle again as it is obviously not working and is not cheap. I do not have loads to spend but am willing to invest in anything that helps.

I just want to be able to get up and not have to put anything on my face to cover spots. Fwiw I barely wear foundation unless on a rare night out so I doubt its makeup causing it.

thanks for any advice x

I have been using Cetaphil cleanser & Hibiscrub after recieving advice here on vile hormonal chin and neck lumps and it has been a revelation. I use Cetaphil twice daily and follow it up with neat Hibiscrub on cotton wool over chin and jawline and general zit prone areas then rinse off again with a clean flannel. They have gone. This month when I felt one brewing I applied the Hibiscrub and it went away over about 48 hours - never came up properly at all.

Honestly not sure what product is working the best but the combination has improved my skin massively.

Been living with bad skin all my life, I second Duac cream - its been amazing! I found that the standard shop stuff didn't work, I needed antibiotic cream which the Dr prescribed. I'm not saying my skin is now perfect but its a hell of a lot better :-)

But what I have also found just as good (perhaps even more harsh than the prescribed cream) is the Clearasil Blemish + Marks Treatment Cream. Worked just as well as the medical cream - I think maybe they have similar stuff in them - they cost roughly the same too so I normally switch between the two.

I also use the apricot scrub (the gentle one) every morning and evening.

Hope this helps x

Lots of good product recommendations, I'd def go with a glycolic acid based product and Liquid Gold is great.

I have also found that taking Omega 3 oil tablets has improved my skin loads, it's really noticeable, not why I started taking them but an excellent side effect.

OP, your skin sounds like mine.
Clearasil works like a bloody charm. Just bought two more tubes on a 2-for-1 offer in Superdrug.
I still get dry patches in the winter, but they're not too hard to sort out. Anything is better than huge red lumps which hurt.

Thanks for all advice. Realise I didn't put this on my OP but any face washes or spot treatment creams like clearasil or those aimed at teenagers make things worse not better for me. My face gets so tight dry and sore, long ago gave up on them.

anyone have any recommendations of where I can buy supplements and these treatments online? Thanks again x

Liquid Gold is like a skin resurfacer btw. You apply it like a toner (swiping over the face with cotton wool) before bed, then don't use a moisturiser. Wake up with softer, more even looking skin. It's a good spot fighter too.

I have a permenant rash on my chin :( at present there is about 11 tiny white pimples and then massive red spots. I've been using hibiscrub for a couple of days and starting to see a result I think. I've not noticed any new spots appearing, so waiting for those already there to disappear. I like that it's really gentle actually. Not noticed any dryness or a reaction to my skin which is useful very sensitive!

I also use Argan oil As a Mosituriser which if you put on when your skin is still a little wet, it locks in moisture. I've not noticed any more white scaly patches which I used to get around my nose and on my forehead.

Really praying it works. How long have other people found it takes hibiscrub to work?

I tried all the things mentioned above (except the hibiscrub as I am super allergic) and the thing that made a huge difference to me , and made a huge difference within a week was taking high strength vit d3 (5000 iu per day). 'Twas advice from here .

Have you tried demalogica products? My skin is similar to yours and its the only thing I have tried that works (apart from sunbeds/sun eek) you book yourself in for a 'face mapping' facial and then they prescribe the right products for your skin type.

I was also on a certain type of pill for years that was for contraception and also hormonal acne (cant remember for the life of me what it was called!) Not sure if its still available but its definitely worth chating to your GP for options now and when you stop BF.

Just remembered! Dianette was the type of pill and it made a huge difference.

I second Dermalogica. I use the special cleansing gel and it has totally cleared up my skin. I've been using it now for about eight years and it has totally cleared up my skin. A little goes a long way and I buy it from the Beauty Flash website.

I was prescribed Roaccutane in the end and for me it was a lifesaver. It is quite a serious decision though. Something else I noticed was that filter coffee was really a massive spot trigger for me, and once it had kicked them off, the spots just would not stop until I had medication. I don't drink coffee any more! If it's any comfort, I am sure they are not as bad as you think, we are always our own worst critics. They are such a misery though. Hope some of the advice in the thread helps!

I use oil to cleanse my skin - twice. Then an aloe vera based moisturiser and serum. I exfoliate once a week with an avene scrub and this seems to be working ok for me! I have extremely oily skin but with eczema!

purplehonesty am really interested in your spot stick for huge lump type spots. Can you tell me more about it as I am looking for something to control these hormonal lumps I get on my chin, maybe only 1 per month but is huge and will last for 6 weeks + with scarring taking years to fade (am very pale).
Do you only use it as required on these lumps only when you get them or as a topical treatment all over spot prone areas each day? Also is it Duac Gel? Clindamycin appears to be active ingredient in that. Thanks and sorry for the many questions!

Your skin is acting as the discharge for everything your body cannot cope with and it is likely that your immune and hormone systems are under stress causing them to react to things a less stressed body would not.

From what you have described of your reactions to hormonal contraception and to skin products I would stay clear of all but the simplest oil based products, avoid hormonal treatments as these seem to affect you badly and look instead at diet to regulate your hormones and heal your skin.

As vitamin D seems to help look at this one. Look at coconut oil, olive oil (added after cooking, not cooked), oily fish (salmon, mackerel and sardines) and leafy greens. Avoid refined sugars and refined grains and increase your intake of raw vegetables, carrot, beet root and green vegetable juices. You may find you need to exclude dairy, yeast and soya start with baby steps. Drink lots of water.

A good probiotic like Mindlinx biocult or immunoprobio, these are all relatively broad spectrum with minimal other ingredients. Magnesium in the form of Epsom Salts through the skin in a bath / foot bath can also be beneficial. (Don't drink it as it is a powerful laxative but does detox pretty effectively!!)

Except for the epsom salts, the supplements and food changes are not cheap if you do everything but all of the vitamins you are putting in to your body will benefit your baby and if you heal your body from inside, you could save a fortune in creams and other products.

Your skin sounds quite like mine.
Dianette is great but you can't breastfeed on it.
Oil cleanse - I use coconut oil at night, and just a hot flannel in the morning. A gentle day cream and effaclar duo at night. Effaclar range is absolutely excellent, I'm truly converted. Don't use any harsh stripping products on your skin! Minimise, minimise. Water and exercise will always help, sugar and caffeine hinder but I haven't yet found a way to give those up. Still, skin is a million times better now with that oil cleanse+effaclar duo routine. Good luck.

Your skin sounds like mine. I think I've tried everything that's been suggested on this thread and nothing worked. I got temporary relief from roaccutane, but they came back.

What has resolved the matter for me is spironolactone (aka aldactone). Ask your doctor about it. It has made my skin perfect, but I expect to have to take it until menopause (I tried stopping once and the acne came back). It took about 6 months to work both times and my skin got worse in the meantime, but it was definitely worth it both times. You have to get a blood test periodically to check that it's not messing with your potassium levels, though this seems to be rare as a side effect.

Drink loads of water. Boring but works.

Ok thankyou everyone for all comments its much appreciated. Whilst I don't wish acne on anyone its comforting to know I'm not the only one still dealing with it as an adult. I have decided to overhaul my diet , will log everything on myfitness pal avoiding refined sugar and drink lots of water.

I am going to stick with liz earle till it runs out then order something different either from la roche posay or dermalogica.

I am also getting some supplements today.
Until my son weans I suspect my success at the doctor's would be limited so am going to try everything else first.

I know if I went on the sunbeds twice a week my skin would be clear but I am not going to do that. I need a sunbed supplement!!

Try vitamin D op, not as amazing as sunlight but definitely helps.

Please step away from the C&P - it is awful for hormonal spot-prone skin! But do try La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. I write this on pretty much every thread about spotty skin, it's just that I can't believe the difference it has made to my spotty, hormonal skin. I struggled for years, trying different products and along the way spending a small fortune. Then about 2 years ago I started using Effaclar Duo face wash and moisturiser twice a day (with a richer cream around my eyes). From very early on, my skin started to get clearer and the annoyance of constantly having new spots brewing just went away. Even if I do say so myself, my skin now looks fantastic - I just don't have to worry about spits which is very nice after a 10-15 year struggle (I have PCOS). The other great thing is that after a long time of using cleansers, face washes, toners, exfoliators, face masks and moisturisers to try and control my skin, i now just use the face wash and moisturiser, so I'm saving a lot of money too. It's on 3 for 2 at Boots at the moment - can't recommend it highly enough. Good luck!

Spots not spits - geez, stupid ipad

i have PCOS and therefore hormonal acne, also with dry patches - oh joy.

liz earle type cleansing balms do not suit my skin at all, nor does the oil cleansing method.

the best thing for me has been to rotate between a la roche posay foaming cleanser for oily sensitive skin, and cetaphil cleanser, which i rinse off with water. Rotating the two every few days seems to work better than using just one in isolation - not sure why.

You also need to find a decent oil-free moisturiser. The neutrogena one is good, although at the moment I am using a Molton Brown men's one, which DH hated but works well for me. I use benozyl peroxide on brewing spots.

I've recently been diagnosed with rosacea and prescribed metronidazole. I get deep spots and cysts and raw skin, but never thought I actually had a form of rosacea. Apparently it takes time for the metronidazole to work but I'm hoping it does as I've got a whopper on my chin right now. I'm on my second tube of efflacar duo and I don't think its working :( :( :(

Oh, been there, had the roaccutane/differin/various pills/antibiotics.

Now skin is much better, eat very well, but also really swear by these three (cheap) things:

lemon juice:

www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=95335/Lemon-Juice/Unlisted-Brand/Treatments

Lots of very complex methods on that thread but I say take a few drops of lemon juice and put on clean skin. DO NOT scrub your face raw before you use this method or you will burn your face! It will sting for 30 seconds but should subside then - mix 50:50 with water if still too stingy. this is quite miraculous.

cleansing with oil:

www.theoilcleansingmethod.com I use extra virgin olive oil with about 10% castor, massage for about 30secs-1 min, would NEVER go back to commercial cleansers

aspirin mask:

www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemID=14129/Aspirin_Mask/Unlisted_Brand/Masks/

love this. get cheapo own brand aspirin (easier to crush) crush in pestle and mortar (got mine from ikea) mix with couple drops of water, pop on clean face once a week for fifteen minutes.

oh, and another (fourth) cheap thing I remembered: beat an egg with large dash of olive oil. Put resultant disgusting mix on face. leave to dry for fifteen minutes, remove, GREAT for calming skin before you go out.

Good luck!