Anyone got rid of long term acne and if so, how?

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So, I'm in my 30s and have had acne for over 20 years . Not "the odd spot" but full on, need to wear concealer so as not to scare small children type acne. Probably related to PCOS and my picking habit doesn't help.

I haven't really been using any treatment for it for the past few years due to ttc/pregnancy/breastfeeding. However I'll soon be done with all that and can start on some treatment. So I'm looking for ideas. I've tried most things but some a very long time ago (eg Roaccutane in my teens) so willing to give them another go.

If you had a similar long term acne problem and sorted it, what worked for you please...?

Only Roaccutane. Sorry it's not more helpful.

Also really careful with my diet, don't wear any make up day to day but for special occasions use mineral make up.

Roaccutane and oral contraceptive. I had to have several courses of roacctane as it would work for 2-3 years then gradually the acne would come back. The last course was 6 years ago when I was 28 so it finally seems to have done the job.

My acne is definitely hormonal as it gets worse at certain times of the month. I've been taking Yasmin oral contraceptive for 3 years and that's also really helped. Acne was the bane of my teens and 20's but my skin is very good now.

Seeing a dermatologist privately was one of the best things I did to really sort out treatment. Much more symapthetic and proactive in finding the right treatment. If you can afford it, see one.

Roaccutane. Now you're nearly done with kids/breastfeeing etc you can do it. Transformed my skin after a million years of everything else. Relief!

Whatever the cause of your acne, be it PCOS or anything, the acne itself needs treating.

Start the referral process now, your GP can refer you to a dermatologist.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like another crack at Roaccutane is in order. Wish I'd had another round in my 20s now, but better late than never eh.

I have private medical insurance with work so need to check whether that will cover a private dermatologist for acne, I hope so.

lampshady what do you mean by careful with diet? Anything specific you have to avoid or just avoiding junk and plenty of fruit and veg? I know I don't drink enough water...need to get better at that.

violet was your dermatologist in London and if so would you mind PMing me their details (assuming you would recommend them)?

I go easy on dairy and gluten but haven't cut them out, also loads of vitamin c and iron. Not sure if there's any correlation or it's just because I eat better in general.

I also exfoliate every morning but don't do the whole cleanse, tone moisturise as I'm too lazy I find it irritates my skin.

Long term trimethoprim seemed to work for me. Though my skin isn't perfect I still get spots. So unfair!!

Just to add I stopped treatment 17 yrs ago

Dairy. I stopped dairy for a month, and the difference was noticeable. I've fallen back into bad habits and the spots have reappeared.
I have also noticed a difference since using Dermalogica.

I found charcoal soap helps but I have a very attractive grease pit of a face so it helps dry it up therefore less spots

Which charcoal soap do you use schmack

There is pretty much zero evidence that diet affects acne. Large scale lit reviews have repeatedly failed to find any link.
I've tried every skin diet going and nothing has ever worked!

Altho some derms do recommend cutting out dairy. If you like dairy, at least make sure it's whole milk and not the reduced fat varieties (less hormones in it). Organic dairy or not makes no difference, hormone quantities are the same in both.
And sugars, including fruit sugars are very pro-inflammatory so it makes some sense togo easy on these so as not to irritate the skin further.

Less quantity of hormones in the full fat dairy

Thanks, never heard of trimethoprim so I will look that up.

I did come off dairy for a couple of months while BFing DD1 (thought she might have a dairy allergy) but it made no difference to my skin - thank goodness really as I LOVE dairy and would actually rather have acne than give it up!

25 years of acne here!
Tried everything and prescription meds too. I was really depressed and sick of it all.
Last December I started taking Turmeric for my swollen knee and I've had clear skin since. It has been a miracle cure! I'm now having Dermastamp treatment in scarring which is also working.

Duac. I've always been too scared of Roaccutane and basically thought the GP couldn't help me, but they offered me Duac and I've been almost acne free for 2 years now (finally, in my mid 40s!) Just get the odd one or two PMT zits. It's a gel that you use once a day, at bedtime. You have to keep using it (i.e. it won't actually cure the problem, just treats it) but it's OK to use it long-term.

I've also developed a double cleansing routine using superdrug hot cloth cleanser and a mild charcoal scrub this one. My skin is best when I keep on top of removing as much dead skin as possible, I think that's what clogs the pores.

I'm another who has tried every diet and found nothing makes any difference.

Spironolactone works for me.

Mild bit persistent acne. V oily still in my mid forties.

Get a referral to the dermatology department OP.

For me, and one of my relatives, gluten free diet had a transformational effect on skin, cystic spots, rashes.

For others, removing cows milk dairy products from the diet works really well.

30 years of acne here. It only cleared up when I was prescribed progesterone only pill but it made my blood pressure shoot up so I had to stop and the acne came back. Oh well, at least I know it is possible.

Roaccutane was the only thing that worked for me.

I'm on Lymecycline 408mg antibiotic capsules. 1 a day and it has totally cleared up the acne I had struggled with for years. Even the big headless boils from along my jawline. I still get the odd pimple when my period's due, but I've had a 100% improvement.

Roaccutane in late 30s for me too. Stopped it for good.

I'm in the process of trying at the moment. I've tried doxycycline, another one I can't remember the name of and I'm currently on a course of Limecycline. All have cleared it up to a certain point, but it never seems to get any better from there. The painful huge cystic spots have gone, and dry skin has near enough cleared up but I still have a fair amount of spots. After this course the GP will refer me to the dermatologist and hopefully I can go on Roaccutane as it seems to work for most people.

I had cystic acne. A 3 month course of doxycycline got rid of it and it has never returned. I did used to get the odd spot but since I've started running my skin has been clear. Apparently all the regular sweating helps clear out pores. I use La Roche Posy face wash and moisturiser which works well too.

Hopefully all of us blighted by oily skin will be wrinkle free when we're older! (Though probably still spotty ????)