Desperate seeking ance help

[LackingCommonSense]

Morning everyone

I’ve been on a few times asking for skin/make up advice (in order to hide my skin) and got some great tips, but I’m worried I’m doing too much now and stripping my skin as the break outs keep coming and I’m getting reoccurring cystics

I’ve suffered with bad breakouts since my early 20s (now 33), and used to use Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel range (foaming face wash, day/night moisturiser and exfoliated once a week) which seemed to mostly be OK. When I was pregnant my skin was wonderful and remained that way for about a year however around September I broke out really badly around my chin and either side of my nose and did everything within my power to get rid of them and I think probably made it worse.

I came on here for advice and discovered the La Roche Posay range which I’ve now been using since beginning of November (the Effacler set of foaming wash, toner and duo for sensitive ance prone skin). I saw an improvement within a couple of weeks, but it seems to have got worse again. My Dr has given me antibiotics (Lymecycline) which I’ve been on for nearly 4 weeks now and Zineryt ointment (which I hate using).

I also discovered Salicylic Acid peels on here and completed my third peel using 20% acid on Monday. I’ve seen an improvement in the redness and scarring but I’m still getting nasty cystic ance that hurts to touch plus ‘normal’ pimples.

I’m wondering if I might be messing with my skin too much and maybe I should just go back to something simple and gentle. Or perhaps just back to the Boots Tea Tree range? Or just soap and water?!

What do you think? Any recommendations on more gentle products?

I sympathise, I have acne and have had for over 20 years so perhaps not the best person to give advice, but here goes.

It sounds a lot like your acne is hormonal - maybe linked to PCOS? Do you have any other PCOS symptoms eg irregular cycle (even a bit irregular)? Are the worst spots mainly chin/jawline?

What helps IME:

• Dianette (helps a bit, wasn't a miracle cure for me but is for others). Especially likely to help cystic acne I believe.
• Sunshine
• Benzoyl peroxide cream - Duac, or even better Epiduo (benzoyl peroxide plus retinoids) - prescription only
• Lots and lots of water

What makes it worse IME:

• Drying out skin - I agree tea tree is too drying, in fact most foaming cleansers are probably too drying. I'd go for a lightish cream cleanser like the superdrug one you've bought. And no toner!
• Quite a few make ups eg the Loreal BB cream is terrible for me
• Touching/picking face (I am terrible about this )
• Sunscreen, heavy moisturer - watch out for your cetaphil stuff, I find many SPF things make it worse.

You'll need to see a consultant to get roaccutane I believe and IME they won't give it to you unless you've tried other things first . It is drying and you can get dry eyes, inside of nose (= nosebleeds) and lips. It can also bring on depressive effects in some people. And you can't have it if you have high cholesterol (something to do with its effect on the liver).

I'm not a Caroline Hirons fan when it comes to advice for acne. Some of her advice is quite inaccurate e.g. her advice on milk.

Yes, Roaccutane has its side effects but it's worth a discussion if your acne is bad enough. The derm will go through it in great detail with you.

I'm no expert, but I'm a little concerned about you dissolving the top layer of your skin every week or so. Surely this isn't going to help it settle?

Epsom salts & bicarb are both alkalis, which will dry your skin up (skin's slightly acidic by nature) so, if you decide to try it, I think you should stick to dabbing it on the spots rather than washing your whole face with it.
Epsom salts are a source of magnesium. When you put them in your bath, your skin absorbs magnesium which is a good method of delivery. Another vitamin that's important for the skin in biotin (B7), present in cooked eggs. Don't overdose on either biotin or magnesium, which could harm your liver.

I loved TRP to start with then It ruined my skin, I use The Body Shop's camomile cleansing butter now which is actually a balm, you use it with a warm muslin face cloth- twice.

Thanks minipie I think I've seen you other other forums - do you have a DC around 17mo??

I don't think I have PCOS, but I have always been quite hormonal, had heavy/painful periods and yes they're mostly around my chin/jawline (although the cystic ones are more on my cheeks close to my nose). I might see about having the coil removed, but then I don't want to go back on the pill either due to weight gain!

Sunshine also helps I think and guilty as charged with the picking. DH is always telling me off but I really struggle with this! Getting better at touching my face less during work, but when I'm at home it's difficult!

Whoops X threads..the acid peels are supposed to help with scarring and future break outs. I suspect it's a combination of everything I've been doing that's made it all worse..

Thanks for the info about it being alkaline though..I have no idea about this stuff! I feel like I need to become a dermatologist myself to understand it all..

It's the only way! Good luck with everything!

I have a 2 year old so might be me? if so hello!

In theory I would suggest get tested for PCOS (involves blood tests + ovary scan) but tbh there's not much drs can do even if you are diagnosed so what's the point. It sounds like it would definitely be worth you trying Dianette though - it's really quite different from other Pills in its hormonal composition so may not cause the weight gain. Yasmin is similar (some GPs get nervous about Dianette but not Yasmin).

Is your coil hormonal?

I really struggle with the picking too and DH also tells me off! Shall we make a no picking pact?

I'd stay off the acid peels for the moment as they could make the skin more fragile- save them for when (hopefully) your skin's better and you're trying to tackle scarring.

Hi Lacking, I've been having a nightmare with my skin recently, big sore spots that you can't squeeze then as soon as one fades another one was erupting....I was trying BHA toners for acne, and Priori cleanser and perfection gel which I liked at first but then I think they became too harsh.

I've made everything more simple again too, as others have said. One facial wash which has really helped is the Garnier Pure Active one, in the blue tube with the brush - the brush is very soft and gentle and has helped clear up lingering spots. A friend recommended colloidal silver - I bought it in the spray form and serum form. I think this has made the biggest difference - I haven't had and new spots since I started using it. It's antibacterial and antifungal - here is the spray I bought:

www.amazon.co.uk/Colloidal-Includes-quality-biggest-supplier/dp/B007PEQN32/ref=pd_ys_sf_s_rp_a1_5_p?ie=UTF8&refRID=0R9KQ3C28A9D6DRJ2XFE

and the serum:

www.amazon.co.uk/Colloidal-Silver-MSM-Serum-Prone-dropper/dp/B00JFXKSCS/ref=sr_1_2?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1417625927&sr=1-2&keywords=colloidal+silver+serum

Read the reviews - it can be used for a whole lot more than skin issues. If I use moisturiser now (and I don't every day) it's Simple's acne range one, or the Garnier Pure Active one to complement the face wash.

Hope it improves for you soon, I know how confidence destroying it is.

I think that the Garnier stuff has a fair whack of witch hazel and or mint/menthol in it
Just for me, that stuff kills my skin

I had a long stint on clomid when ttc my first baby. I suffered from hirmonal breakouts, along the chin, on my cheeks and neck. Quite painful at times and made me self conscious.

I tried a few things but what worked for me was Dr Hauschka, esp the cleanser wash and the oil. I used it for a bit, saw a great improvement and then went onto Liz Earle and continued to keep the spots at bay.

A friend of my SIL suffered from horrific acne and age was advised to try Dr H by her dermatologist. She did, and had such terrific results, she actually went on to be a 'poster girl' for them and appeared in their literature and before/ after photo shoots.

Anyway, both Dr H and Liz Earle do trial sized starter kits so you can give them a try before shelling out big style. Good luck, hope something works soon.

Much sympathy to everyone on this thread who has/is struggling with acne. I have tried so many things in a bid to try and get rid of my hormonal cysts (either side of chin) since coming off the pill a year ago, and am now giving up. Tomorrow I'm going to my GP to beg to be put back onto Dianette (was on it for a few years from 19, now 28!) and I can't wait!

Incidentally, the rest of my skin looks amazing (apart from oddly greasy forehead, but I don't get spots there) and the main thing that helped was the superdrug vit E hot cloth cleanser. I also really like bioderma micellar water for acne prone skin (green top not pink). LRP effaclar mat really helps with the daily grease on forehead but I'm not sure if effaclar duo does much anymore. Quinoderm is useless. And I never got to try Aquagel.

I don't know what I will do when I decide to come off the pill again in future, but I'm just desperate for my skin to be better in time for my wedding.

I've tried the Dr Hauschka facial oil but I have ended up just using it on my neck and chest.

OP I've been where you are and tried everything. You can get into a cycle of treating your skin quite harshly and piling everything onto it, and it can make things worse.

The only thing that helped me in the end was getting Duac from the GP. I now have clear skin bar the occasional small zit once or twice a month. It has made a massive difference.

I combine the Duac (which you use every night) with a gentle routine of superdrug vit E hot cloth cleanser, superdrug own-brand spot gel (salycilic acid), and a garnier anti-spot moisturizer. It has worked so please get to the GP and try it! Two weeks after starting Duac I was spot-free.

I wish my appt was sooner now. I want to discuss having my coil removed and possible hormonal issies, some benzyl peroxide cream of some description and a dermatologist referral!

I have just realised however that the reason I'm particularly flakey today is a result of the peel on Monday - it's meant to do that! Still, am still breaking out an awful lot.

Fingers crossed for the simple approach until the appt!

Thanks for your feedback all

good idea your heading to the GP. There are alternatives to Roaccutane that aren't as harsh or for issues that aren't as bad. I had other antibiotics and a combination of creams prescribed and after a bit of time everything returned to normal.

Perhaps the GP may send you to a dermatologist who will then set you up for your skincare routine after they have solved this initial problem.

Do you eat a lot of sugar?
I break out if I eat too much sugar or wheat. It can happen with dairy too.
I used to think sugar causing spots was a load of old tosh grannies told their grandkids but it was definitely true in my case.
No products have ever really helped my skin, only changing my diet.

starfish thank you for your post, you have strengthened my resolve to really try not to squeeze. As you say I feel like I want to get it all out but it's counter productive.

I completely cut out everything. No moisturiser, no foundation, no cleansers, only water went on my skin and sls free hair products. I threw away my facial oils, my washes, my hot cleanse cloths. I figured a year of using these had made my skin worse.

It was bloody hard and for two months I suffered through angry, red, sore patches all along my jaw and cheeks in their full glory for all to pity. However one day I spotted a clear patch emerging in the middle of one jaw, which spread over the next few months. Now I still get the odd small spot but no more cysts and they're not sore. I can only presume my skin finally is balancing itself out and is fighting the acne bacteria naturally now. I can cope with wearing makeup again and exfoliating gently :) go natural OP!

I probably eat more sugar than I realise to be honest! Have been trying to cut down on dairy too.

I like the idea of being more natural but I don't think I can face the difficult stage initially!

I'm actually already seeing a slight improvement - the cystic ones are subsiding and no new ones, some of the smaller ones are coming to a head but I'm somehow restraining myself from picking anything!! The dryness is calming down too.

Wouldn't it be sods law that by the time my appt comes round it's calmed right down??

Think I will definitely see about replacing the pill with Dianette if I can though.

I had really bad cystic acne around my jawline when I had my minera coil in. I had it removed and it cleared up. The spots were really sore, lumpy and when they eventually did pop they were filled with hard white puss and not a lot of it.

Did I talk to you before about skincare stuff? Did we have a big conversation about peels before?

I think you have to moisturise, no matter what skin type your skin needs moisture. I'd strip it right back for a wee while and lay off the heavy peels for the time being. I'd buy a pot of Lush Ultrabland. It's a soothing balm cleanser and take it of with a clean flannel. Then use an oil free moisturiser. I'd then introduce an acid toner but a gentle one like the First Aid acid toner pads. They can be used on sensitive skin.

Keep doing that for I'd say a month they you can look at adding something else. I love acid peels but I do find it has to be done gently. Some nights I use the gentle pads, other nights I use Bravura calendula toner then once/twice a week I use Alpha H. I have built up to that though process though. It just depends on how my skin feels and at the early stages its hard to tell as your skin is all over the place.

I'd just strip it right back to cleanse, tone and moisturise and then build up from there. It also gives you a chance to build up your skincare collection. I also echo other posters with sugar and dairy. I massively erupt if I have and baked goods like cake or any other super sweet foods. Same with dairy. If I have cheese or a really milky latte then I get a spot. Anyone can say there's no link but there seems to be a consistent link between these two things and my acne.

Hope you get some sort of resolution with it.There is nothing more depressing than bad skin. Amodelrecommends did a review of la roche posey effaclar stuff on her blog and the results were similar to what you described.

Take photos of you skin Lacking. Without make up and at their worst. That way you can show the doctor what it's like when it's really bad.

Hi Clara I think I've spoken to you about peels somewhere yes, or at least read some threads where you've popped up..

I think they've done something good, but I think that the peels combined with the LRP and Zineryt from the Drs has parched me! I'm already feeling optimistic about simplifying. What I'd really like is for this simple routine to be sufficient!

I need to cut down on sugar I know..but I don't want to...! I live in hope that I can eat what I like and not get fat OR spotty