Back on antibiotics for my acne.....I'm 36 and fed up

[Iwonderif]

Tonight I've decided to go back on my antibiotics Lymecycline for my acne. I've tried for months to get in under control myself but nothing seems to be working. I have terrible chin acne. Painful cystic spots. Tiny blocked pores that feel like grains of sand and blackheads. Plus plenty of scars. My forehead & cheeks are clear. Bizarrely I get spots between my eyebrows too which has been happening for only about 6 months. I was first prescribed the antibiotics about 2 years ago & Duac gel. Both worked incredibly well for about a year but then it was almost like I had become immune to both. So I then went on a mission to try and sort it out myself.....I have spent a small fortune on cleansers, serums, masks, spot gels an ointments etc etc. it's so disheartening to have constant "fresh" spots daily. I have to wear makeup most days now as my chin is in such a poor state.

Can anyone offer me any advice or tips? I've been told this is adult hormonal acne. I had terrible acne when I was pregnant with my son who's now 5 but in my 7th month of pg my skin went back to normal & glowed. Then approx 2 years ago it just suddenly went crazy. With no warning and has never recovered. Up until I was 31 I had good skin. The odd zit once a month.

It may be worth saying that the regular painful ones itch for a few hours at the same time as throbbing. Sometimes never coming to a head but staying around for about 2-3 weeks. Then leaving a pink mark which rarely fades.

If you've got this far, thank you for reading this post I know it's long but I'm feeling pretty rubbish that I'm back to the antibiotics instead of trying to sort it out myself.

My routine is pretty good. I double cleanse AM & PM. I use nip and fab pads in the morning and the clearasil ones at night as they're pretty strong. I then use a night oil with rosehip. Any other ideas???? TIA

OP I'm really surprised your GP hasn't suggested roaccutane already. You poor thing. I had it in my mid twenties and it sorted me right out. Faffing around with the pill and antibiotics was a big fat waste of time and medication. Hope you get what you need at your appointment tomorrow.

Just to say that roaccutane isn't always the miracle cure that PP are suggesting. I had a course of it when I was 19. It worked for about 5years, then the acne returned with a vengeance. Apparently there's no guarantee its permanent. Personally I'm not sure it's worth going through the side effects again for 5 years of clearer skin.

There is no cure-all but Roaccutane works (leads to remission) for about 90% which is a lot higher than topical stuff. Aggressive acne may need further courses after a few years. Like everything, it has side effects. Your derm will go through it all if you go down that route. I think it's worth it, avoids all sorts of pain and scarring. Transformed my skin.

Well I've just got back from seeing GP. He was extremely kind and sympathetic. Had a good look at my skin. Agreed cystic acne. Understood my hesitation at being on antibiotics for x amount of time. However I am on another one for about a month and some topical ointment as a short term solution whilst I wait to have various blood tests done. I'm also going to have a nasal swab for staphylococcus. Bacteria in the nose can affect the skin around mouth and chin. Due to the fact I'm already on B12 injections (every 13 weeks) daily vitamin D and daily iron he's doing various blood tests to see if my definciencys have dropped dramatically as vitamin deficiencies can affect the skin. He then said he would have no problem referring me to a skin specialist/dermatologist if the swab, blood tests come back as fine and if after 2-3 weeks the antibiotics and topical treatments have failed to do anything. I'm happy with how the appt went.

We talked about roaccutane and other types of oral treatments but he was hesitant to give me anything other than the one I've got the prescription for as DH and I are currently reviewing our contraception options. He said that should I fall pregnant even though we are very careful he said the tablets are extremely extremely dangerous to the fetus/baby. I already knew this. I've spent the last 2 days reading good and bad reviews about roaccutane & due to a period of depression in 2006 due to the death of my baby boy I feel I'm not sure roaccutane is for me. As obviously his death still affects me 9 years later.

So I thought I would share all this with you lovely lot and thank you for your advice, tips etc. will keep you posted and take weekly photos as advised also by the GP to see if there's any improvement as if not it's a good base for the dermatologist to work from.

Sounds really positive, love the idea of reviewing progress in weeks rather than months/years. He sounds v thorough and thoughtful. So sorry to hear about your baby boy, you and he have been through so much

Thank you Kundry I thought he would dismiss it but he was very nice about it and as you said, thorough. Fingers crossed I've got the ball rolling in the right direction now.

Hibbie scrub has helped to dry my skin out a bit (it's what Doctors cleanse their hands with), but the only thing that really kept me zit free is Dianette.

Good luck!

thrush cream every other day worked for my acne on chin !

Did your GP talk about dosage?

I was on between 20-30mgs per day. The derm would adjust depending on my side effects.

Roacc dosage is based on a total cumulative amount. So this would depend on weight and the target range the derm decides you need to reach.

I did have days where I felt 'behind glass' but if you can separate out your 'normal' feelings from potential roacc feelings then I think it's manangeable.

Glad to hear GP appointment went well. Years ago I visited The Alternative Centre and can't recommend them high enough though are pricey - www.thealternativecentre.co.uk the theory being that if you get the rest of your body working efficiently then it will heal your skin itself. Worth a look perhaps?

I apologise if this has been said before, but I think your current skincare routine is too harsh for your skin. You're stripping out the oils and then replacing them with another oil. At the same time, your skin is trying to replace that oil by pumping out more oil of it's own. You would be better to switch to a brand such as La Roche Posay that another poster mentioned. Their Effaclar range is absolutely fantastic, especially the Effaclar Duo. Also their Serozinc toner is lovely.

Thank you to all that have recently posted. I will look at the link thank you Pumpkinnose. Didn't discuss Roacc with GP at that current appt. but I'm sure the discussion will happen if what I'm currently trying fails.
Don't apologise Mimi. My routine is simply now just Cetaphil. That's it. I cleanse with it until the cotton pads are clear. Rinse face. Dab with towel and apply the topical treatment. I do this twice a day. I apply an Olay moisturiser all over once the ointment has dried. So far even going back to basics I've seen no difference at all. I'm tempted to try the range you mentioned but confused with what product does what. My spots are only confined to my chin. I don't have oily skin at all. In fact it's quite dehydrated on my cheeks. Forehead is normal. Nose has blackheads (been there years, the sort you can't actually get out!!!) I'm hoping by just stripping everything back this will be helping. Currently sporting 2 MORE spots....argh....it's so frustrating...my period arrived this morning which is why the 2 fresh ones may have arrived.

I'm so glad you've stopped stripping your skin! If you're using Cetaphil as a cleanser, then stick with that, it's brilliant. I started getting bad cystic acne when I was 36 and tried everything until a friend told me about La Roche Posay's Effaclar range. It's French and you can get it in most big Boot's and doesn't cost a fortune. I usually buy it from Esscentual (online) though.

This is what I would use from the Effaclar range: In the evening, I would double cleanse with Cetaphil then spray your skin with Serozinc and let it dry. Then I would apply Effaclar Duo+ All over the face and neck (avoiding eyes - use an eye cream too). I would target specific spots with Effaclar AI (spot cream). Then moisturise with Effaclar H. In the morning, cleanse again with the Cetaphil or the Micellar water and tone with Serozinc. If you don't wear makeup then you could use the Duo+ again but I found that the Effaclar K (chemical exfoliator sort of thing) was better under makeup. I would then put some Effaclar H (moisturiser) on, wait for it to sink in and apply makeup.
I really hope this works for you - it did for me although I've just started on HRT (at age of 41 ) and am getting hormonal spots again.

Thank you Mimi. You're so helpful. Much appreciate. Off to Boots I go! Really appreciate your detailed post. I had seen/heard of those products but was totally confused as to what did what & in what order. I just hope the rest of my face doesn't dry out though.

Hi OP I just want to also recommend Effaclar Duo from LRP. Apart from during pregnancy and breastfeeding I've always had acne (I therefore assume it's hormone related). Now I swear by Effaclar Duo. Finally at 35 I have clear skin. If I run out within a few days I start getting spots again and it took towards the end of the first tube to notice a difference. I will cry if they ever discontinue it!
I use a mild cleanser - Clinique take the day off or the Superdrug Vitamin E one, an acid toner - LRP Effaclar one or the Nip and Fab pads and then Effaclar Duo, it's moisturising enough to not need seperate moisturiser, if I am feeling a bit dehydrated I use a facial oil before bed or hydraluron before applying the Effaclar Duo.
I really hope it works for you, it's not expensive so you've not got much to lose if it doesn't. Good luck.

I am 51 and have suffered with spots of varying degrees since I was 17. I have tried everything in my lifetime and nothing worked. The low dose antibiotics worked after 3 months but as soon as I stopped taking them, the spots returned. Then you also have to work on replacing the good bacteria in your gut that they have destroyed ( take a probiotic every day!) I have felt every negative emotion associated with having them, researched and researched, tried doctors, dermatologists, acupuncturists, beauty salons, different products, gone organic, natural homemade remedies and supplements. At 51 I was facing more aggressive, cystic acne associated with the menopause, so there was still no let up for me. Supplements have their place, cutting out dairy helps, I also no longer have caffeine, but I have finally found the cure which nobody seems to really tell you. SUGAR. I cut sugar out of my diet about 5 weeks ago, and for the first time in 34 years I can finally fully relax about breakouts. I cannot believe that I have never been told this by anyone anywhere. I tried cutting sugar down in my diet, but it was only when I cut it out completely it worked! Protect the acid mantle on your skin by cleansing and removing with a non alcoholic toner, use a moisturiser that works for you, but don't do what I did for years and keep washing in water, as the PH is different to your skin's PH, and you dry out your skin which then produces more oil to compensate, thus creating more spots! Nurture and protect your skin, have NO sugar in your diet, and see what happens. I have wasted 34 years of my life trying to find the magic cure, and I am giving it to you now. I wish someone had posted this article for me when I was 17. Tell anyone you know who is also suffering. Sugar is the culprit! I want to shout it from the rooftops. Save yourself a lot of heartache, time, energy, money and hope. It will help you in many other ways too, as your body won't be experiencing the sugar rushes which unbalance your hormones so drastically. This obviously helps prevent diabetes, helps in the battle with weight and helps prevent tooth decay, to name a few. Hope this helps anyone who is probably a younger version of me, going through what I did for all those years!

Caty45 - this is really helpful but can you please clarify no sugar - do you mean all refined carbs and fruit or just obvious addition of sugar to tea, biscuits, sweets etc

I took Roaccutane in my early 40s and have never had a problem since. It's not very nice to take - my skin was horribly dry and flaky. But it was well worth it to be spot free after 40 years of acne.
Don't get pregnant while taking it though. It does terrible things to foetuses.

I did a course of acupuncture before my wedding, my skin cleared very well. I am very much not woo, but was desperate and it worked for me.

I also got on very well with La Roche Posay, and Clinique 3-Step for combination skin (the blemish version was waaaaaay too harsh and made things worse).

Your skin sounds like mine (right down to the spots between my eyebrows but clear forehead!), and I think you need to be much more gentle with it (which it sounds like you are doing). The tricky balance is to adequately moisturise it, without turning into an oil slick.

Starting with diet - dairy didn't work for me but taking DIMplus worked wonders (2 per day - from Amazon). It particularly stopped the giant cystic spots that emerged between ovulation and AF starting. High dose Vit D also useful.
For skin - I would use a mild foaming cleanser and then tone or doublecleanse with hte nip/fab pads. I then swear by a mixture of Aveeno Clear Complexion Moisturiser (this one: www.amazon.co.uk/Aveeno-Clear-Complexion-Daily-Moisturiser/dp/B00006FRW7/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1472766573&sr=8-1&keywords=aveeno+clear+skin
and Clarins lotus oil. One squirt of Aveeno and one drop of oil. The Aveeno typically isn't available in shops here that I have found, but is quick from Amazon. The Clarins you can get in Boots etc. It is the Aveeno that has really changed things for me - as it properly moisturises my skin is producing less oil, and it contains salicylic acid that helps prevent spots.

I was also on course for antibiotics and this combo as really really worked - don't give up!

Someone close to me has skin problems, really oily skin, lots of spots, some that burst and some that are like large boils (back of neck) that then don't go. He refuses to talk about it as embarrassed I think, and won't go to the doctor as already tried everything going as a teen. Is it worth him going back and would roaccutane treat what I've described? In late 30's now. Thanks.

I found that a combination of an oral tablet called spironalactone in combination with cetamycin antibiotic gel and retinoid gel has cleared up my cystic acne almost completely - and if I get a spot it literally comes to a head and goes within 12-36 hours (rather than lurking for weeks).

Panoxyl is my wonder cure!

Moisturising afterwards is essential.

Hi Jmangel I am completely fine with fruit because the sugar is fructose which is generally safe. It is the products with sugar on the label I avoid and the obvious culprits like fruit juice, most alcohol ( although spirits are ok-gin is the safest), sweets, cakes, biscuits etc. I have eaten healthily for years, but now eat more fruit, vegetables, nuts, protein, potatoes-that sort of thing. Certain things like oats, pasta will have a small amount of sugar which fortunately have not done anything to my skin, but I make my own pasta sauces now and oat cookies which use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar. If you focus on eating more naturally which is simply giving your body what it needs anyway, and how diets used to be, that is the easiest way to work out what to eat. Avoid processed rubbish and choose carefully when you eat out, but you can still get away with the odd takeaway too, to get a break from cooking. I drink water constantly or decaf green because I enjoy them but also they are so good for you, and I know they are completely safe. Any sweet tasting drink is likely to be laden with sugar, and fruit juice is literally sugared water! Hope this helps.