Desperate for help with skincare!!!

[susannahmoodie]

Please help me.

Since I stopped bf ds2 7 months ago my skin has been getting worse and worse. I have dreadful spots on my jawline, chin and cheek. Skin is red and bumpy and spots don't shift. Read on here about Caroline Hirons and Sam Bunting and watched their video.

I started to follow Sam buntings advice:

Lrp physiological cleanser and effaclar duo am

Then same cleanser and avene triacneal pm.

I am a week into it and skin is so so sore, dry and flaky. Some stuff I've read says this is normal with a retinoid and others things say it isn't. But my skin is painful and uncomfortable as its peeling and I don't know what to g this? put on it to sooth it, I'm worried Oily stuff would make spots worse. I have e45 or baby's aqueous cream?? Getting desperate!!

But should I persevere with the retinoid even when it is doing this?

I've never ever had bad skin before. Sailed through teenage years without acne, but now I'm so embarrassed and ashamed of my awful awful face.

I read on here about

Oops ....loads of different products but I'm so confused by them all and don't really know where to start to sort out the dryness etc.

quit the triacneal - there's way too much alcohol in that. Are you using any type of oil or moisturiser?

I've no idea what to use? Do I need an oil free moisturiser?

no - it's a complete fallacy that spots etc don't need oil. Your skin needs oil. If it's dried out, it over produces. That can cause problems. Your spots sounds hormonal by your description rather because of an over production of oil, but stripping your skin with the triacneal won't help.

You need a balm/gel/oil cleanser (Cliniques Take The Day Off balm is fantastic), then an acid toner (Clearasil Superfruits pads are a bargain and very effective - they contain the acid your skin needs), then an oil, then a moisturiser. For the oil and moisturiser, I would go with something like the Bodyshop's Vitamin E facial oil and day moisturiser.

I've not had hormonal issues like you - just bog standard mild acne from my early teens until my late twenties/early thirties. This kind out routine really helped me and my skin is now finally clear. If you could get your gp to refer you to a dermatologist then that might be the way to go. But maybe try some of what I've suggested first and give it a few weeks. I hope this all helps. Good luck :)

Oh god I'm really upset now. Thanks for your help but I've just spent an absolute fortune on stuff and now you're recommending completely different stuff as what I've got had probably made it worse. I can't just keep on switching and buying the latest recommendation or I'll be broke and probably still spotty.
no wonder my skin is awful.

I had severe acne (after giving birth) which I cleared by taking oil (I use anchovy oils capsules). Have another read on CH's site about oil... It'll make all the difference I'm sure

I'd say go back to basics for now to let your skin recover. Use coconut oil as a cleanser and take off with a hot flannel, then pop a bit more on your damp skin and pat dry. Then it's worth speaking to your GP about acne.

I'm something of a beauty product enthusiast and all of this retinoids business makes me shudder. It's a really new 'phase' and it won't suit everyone. There really is no need to use these treatments at all.

I am 43 and have what I would call 'normal' skin that is probably a little dehydrated. I like my skin to feel hydrated, comfortable and to have a bit of a glow about it. I achieve this ( err sort of! ) with the following routine ..

PM - I remove make up with Eve Lom or Algenist balm. Sometimes I might use others but they're my staples. I use Klorane eye make up remover. I then sweep over my face with Jurlique toner and use either Clarins Santal oil or Sunday Riley Flora oil. I then apply Omorovicza moisturiser as a rule.

In the morning I just sweep Ives my face with the Jurlique toner and then oil/ a day time moisturiser. There's no need for some elaborate cleansing routine in the morning

A few times a week I used an enzyme mask / Sunday Riley good genes and a retinoid or two. BUT I skip this if I don't feel I need it. And sometimes I just cleanse with Lush Ultrabland and moisturise with Aveeno cream

Please don't feel you have to use these really harsh treatments because you don't. Like I said, they're a really new fangled thing and I don't think it's a good idea to suddenly start piling a load of chemical stuff on your face just because CH says its a great idea

But if I were you , in your situation right now, I'd cleanse with Ultrabland and then leave your skin for ten or so minutes to see how it feels before applying any further products

It's such a nightmare when your skin plays up... I feel your pain. I don't think you have wasted your money, I think you might just need to cut back on the harsher products until your skin calms down. (go cold turkey!)

I would continue with the cleanser you have and just a nourishing moisturiser for a few days / a week after that maybe introduce the triacneal 2/3 times a week as those products can be strong especially if your skin is not used to it.

Maybe it would help to share what other skin care products you already have at home, as chances are you should be able to use them up before buying anything new. A balm cleanser is a good nourishing way to cleanse your skin but you could try massaging the aqueous cream in as an evening cleanser and wiping off with a warm flannel.

Let us know what you else you have, chances are you have probably introduced products that are too strong and not enough moisturising products to counteract the drying effects.

x post with Mad

Oh god, sorry to complicate things further for you, but to give the other side of the coin I am an avid retinoids fan.

I started with triacneal about two years ago, and have since moved onto Retin A at 0.25% (I can tolerate the 0.5% occasionally - say once a week - but not with regular use.)

I will be perfectly honest and say it took a good few months for my skin to adjust to retinoids and I did experience peeling, mild soreness and redness for a while. You can use a non comedogenic moisturiser (say, Cetophil) to cope but some irritation is inevitable in the initial adjustment period.

BUT. All the pain was worth it. My skin is now perfect almost all of the time. It's blemish free, even toned, radiant, and I get compliments and comments on it constantly. And I mean constantly. I've had strangers stop me in the street to tell me my skin is gorgeous and what do I use?

If anyone is struggling with problem skin I always recommend retinoids. It's the only thing that's proven to work (hence the need for a prescription with stronger versions - it works so well it's considered a medicine, as opposed to a beauty product.)

One caveat though. Not to use if pregnant or possibly about to become pregnant. Also, you must wear sunscreen religiously, rain or shine. These products make you much more sun sensitive.

Cut out dairy products, sugar and refined foods, alcohol and caffeine.
Drink lots of water.
Eat lots of veg.

Ok thanks.

I don't really have another moisturiser except e45.

Have a big boots nearby so could anyone recommend a cheapish moisturiser that I could get there (no lush or body shop)? Do they sell cetaphil?

I think I'm going to stop triacneal for a while but carry on with LRP cleanser.

I really just need a moisturiser I think.

And I might go to gp

Yes I prob need to address diet too

I do eat tons of veg....but also tonnes of chocolate.

And I'm rubbish with water.

Yes you can buy Cetaphil in Boots no problem. But you need to look in the section where they sell specialised skin care products for people with things like psoriasis, rather than in the beauty aisle.

If you have problem skin then you really need to be using products that are non comedogenic (this means they are specially formulated not to block pores.)

You poor thing. I know how you feel as I'm struggling with my skin atm and am going back to the Dermatologist.

In the meantime I am cleansing and moisturising with Cetaphil ( recommended the first time I saw the Dermatologist). I'm stopping myself from touching my face and not putting on any make up.

I've not got any makeup on today and will skip it tomorrow. But I just cannot go to work without it.

I am teacher and I cannot stand up in front of 30 16 yr olds looking like this.

I had horribly spotty and lumpy skin so bought LRP cleanser, which I used twice a day for about a week. It was far too harsh for my skin and it ended up flacky and red like yours.

So now I only use it about 3/4 items a week and I use Liz Earle cleanser the rest of the time. I also use the clearasil toning pads which are excellent. Boots No 7 serum, then a cheap moisturiser- boots botanical in the morning and effeclar duo in the evening.

I also put sudacreme on my spots and it really does work!

I do agree with the poster upthread about retinols. I don't really want to use something on my face that is so strong you HAVE to wear a suncream. We all need the sun, for vit D, it's good for us, so using a sunscreen everyday doesn't appeal to me.

If I were you, I'd get the cetaphil and use it until your skin has calmed down, then reintroduce the LRP gradually, get some of the clearasil pads, they're not expensive and a cheap moisturiser.

Good luck!

There's no need to skip on make-up as long as the products you are using are non comedogenic.

Laura Mercier products are good and that is what I use. However there are lots of other options. Sam Bunting has a list of products she recommends on her website I think.

The lovely thing is too, that once the retinoids have done their thing, you of course need a lot less makeup. I use a tiny bit of tinted moisturiser around the centre of my face, and the odd bit of concealer now and then. That's it. To be honest I can get away with nothing on my face at all.

I have occasionally suffered with minor outbreaks but I never do anymore, and I attribute that to a 1000mg dose of cod liver oil daily. It is high in a natural source of vitamin A. I would start on a 3000mg daily dose for 1 month and then reduce to 1000mg. Make sure you're not pregnant though. And I can't remember if you said you're breast feeding - don't do that either. I'm not a Dr but high dose of vitamin a is harmful in those situations I believe xx

Can I also just say that I can understand why people would not want to use retinoids - I don't want to sound like I am trying to push them too hard.

It's true that they are a strong product and for some the irritation they cause is not tolerable.

Just saying that after an initial period of adjustment, they have worked really well for me, and I like to pass on that information as I have had problem skin and understand the embarrassment and frustration it can cause.

Bakeoff I supplement with Vit D, and make sure I get moderate amounts of sun on my forearms and legs when it's warm enough.

But again, I understand if supplementing might feel like an expensive pain to some.

No not pg and not planning on it! I have an implant. I'm sure this all started when I stopped bf ds2. I stopped much more suddenly than I would have liked as I broke my arm and couldn't do it any more (he was 13mo) and big! Damn hormones!!

Please consider the oil. I can use anything on my face now because the oil has cleared the acne... It really is as simple as putting oil back in your body so if stops over producing it.