PMT acne!! arghhh!

[Panda173]

36 and still get t zone spots before period. Not a teenager anymore!! But look like it sometimes.
Starting to think about using Benzoyl Peroxide and apparently just soap and water (not even moisturiser!).
I am struggling with this idea though.
anyone got any experience, cleanse tone and moisturise every day doesn't seem to make much difference..

Is it the brands of products, has anyone tried such a simple skincare regime, did it work?

XX

I've gotten rid of adult acne with a castile soap, water and Effaclar regime. Moisturizers and oils are a major acne trigger for me, so I have to be really careful with skincare.

I thought moisture was suppossed to make it better!!
I'll look up these items you mention..
Thanks!

Oil makes it worse, acne is largely indifferent to moisture

Non-foaming cleanser such as Cetaphil, LRP Physiological Cleansing Gel, Castile soap would fit in this category

Salicylic acid toner - such as the amazing Effaclar Duo, Clearasil pads if on a budget, Paula's Choice 2% BHA (amazing)

Oil-free moisturiser - love Cerave as also has niacinamide which fights acne too.

Add LRP Redermic R after a few weeks.

It's an internal issue, you need to balance your hormones: evening primrose oil, starwflower oil, agnus castus tincture...

Externally be gentle with your skin, nothing too harsh, tried oil cleansing method, camellia, moringa, tamanu oils for nourishment and moisturisation.

Hi OP. Im not just a PMT acne sufferer but its there all the time now. Just on my chin. Im under the care of the GP. Now trying a new antibiotic and topical liquid. Im having blood tests done on Thursday to check hormone levels & deficiences. Im already on iron tablets vitamin D tablets & b12 injections every 13 week. I have tried all manner of things during the last 18/24 months, ive spent a shameful amount on many many products. Ive removed things from my diet ive added things TO my diet....I haven't tried yet the LRP efflaclar routine but its highly rated. If this continues for you i would speak to your GP. If after 3 weeks my skin hasnt gotten any clearer I'm returning to my GP who is referring me to a dermatologist.

I totally understand your frustration. It gets me really down on some days. Dont give up OP. I too am 36. My skin isnt oily or greasy. I use Cetaphil to cleanse and im about to purchase Cerave off amazon.

Let us know how you get on

Ava oils work for many people but I got hellish cystic acne from trying the OCM - the scary purplish scars to ages to fade. Oil free and salicylic acid has really worked for me. Right now I can use many water and silicone based skincare products, and hyaluronic acid is great too, but a step in the wrong direction and the breakouts are back. Mind, my acne was mild but persistent - prescription stuff is useful for more severe acne.

We talked about moisturizers recently, see old thread here.

Have to agree 100% with Kundry's advice, a good skincare regime is key. Effaclar Duo is amazing, I use it when my skin is acting up. Vichy does a good spot treatment too.

Love the Vichy Hyaluspot for chasing down individual spots yazzy

Kundry I love the Vichy Hyaluspot too, its a recent discovery for me after it was mentioned I think by you on the skincare thread, that and the Cerave pm you introduced many of us to are both are really good products!!

Thanks all for the advice.
Mild and persistent is a great description of my acne.. It's just always there.
I'm thinking I should start on the vitamins.
And I'll have a look up of all these products.

What's the OCM? I feel I should avoid it as you said it made skin much worse fashionista?
Had a read of the very interesting moisturising thread too.. But almost too much info..
I am a bit scared to try things in case it gets worse..
But will go for the soap and a toner and oil free moisturiser... Will let u know what I buy and how it goes!!

Iwondreif. Sounds like u have had a time of it hope it gets better in next 3 weeks. Is the doctor sympathetic to your plight?
I
Thanks all. Updates to follow soon!!

OCM = oil cleanser method.

Make sure your toner has salicylic acid in - most toners are just a bit pointless.

Fingers crossed - you need to go for at least 3-4 weeks as it takes 6 weeks for your skin to renew so that long for you to seriously assess any effect.

The Olay anti wrinkle toner has salcylic acid and is about £3.

What do we think of L'Occitane soap.. Its natural (I have plenty at home as gifts from prev xmas's)..
Would that be a good cleansing soap.. I think it might do the job..

uk.loccitane.com/rose-bonne-m%C3%A8re-soap,83,1,30861,308678.htm#s=39669

Try it? I tried to check l'Occitane soap ingredients but they are not very good about keeping them visible. I am a huge castile soap fan and my faves are made with 4-6 ingredients. So some sort of oil or two, lye and water, and that's it! I prefer unperfumed as sometimes perfumes are overkill, but a lavender oul scented one from a local olive farm was fine. If you don't like it on your face, you can then use it as a hand soap. You can usually find castile/ marseille/ aleppo soap tucked away somewhere in the supermarket or any natural store or places like Whole Foods. Natural soap goes soft easily so I keep my face soap on a separate small soap dish hidden away from dirty hands.

Ahh. Thanks will give it a try then, and get some sort of salyclic toner too..
Fingers crossed!

You could try the genuine Aleppo soap from Syria, its just olive oil and bay tree oil really. Very natural and mildly antiseptic too. Great for all kinds of skin conditions. If you type Aleppogold into Google it comes up. Its gold on the outside and green in the centre.
It's available in different strengths too, the higher the percentage of Laurel/bay the more astringent ( and more expensive usually too.)
I found it on a site called lifeandhome & on Amazon too. Good luck

Same problem here, very oily face and get big red spots on my chin right before my period. I've recently (3 weeks) tried cutting out dairy. And it's been working quite well, I only got one red spot this month. The theory is that all the natural hormones in the milk make hormonal acne worse. I didn't actually do this on purpose, it's been triggering DP's IBS lately so that's why I ended up cutting down as well. And I noticed an improvement and googled it.
Apparently it doesn't work for everyone but it does for a lot of people. And I might just be having a good month. Just thought I'd share this.

If you get a salicylic acid toner, try to get an alcohol-free one. I found that alcohol really slowed down the healing of spots. However, others on here have used the Clearasil pads which have SA and alcohol and got on fine. Just something to remember if the SA doesn't seem to be working.

I'm 36 and have always had acne, tried everything but what has been working for me for a year now is Nivea eye make up remover, Clarins cottonseed cleanser and iris toner and then the light Nivea moisturiser.....finger's crossed! Mud packs help keep skin clear too.

Thanks for the recommendation of Paula's choice - just ordered the 2% BHA and it has free shipping (I am in NZ, and free shipping is quite unusual!)