Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

Original poster

Head and Shoulders for acne

24 replies

FuckOffJeffrey · 27/02/2016 19:47

Has anyone tried this and got good results?

I am prone to back acne (for the past 10 years) and occasionally get neck and face breakouts. I was on antibiotics for 4 months and it cleared my skin completely but it has been 3 weeks since stopping the treatment and the spots are back.

I'm thinking of giving head and shoulders a go (as a body wash not for my hair) as I've heard it works for some people and at this stage I've already tried out so many other things I don't see the harm in giving it a go but I'm sceptical it will work for me. I figure it's worth a try before heading back to the Dr as I think he will put me back in antibiotics and I really don't want to be stuck on them long term.

OP posts:

JohnCheese · 27/02/2016 21:23

I don't think it will work for you. You need to climb the treatment ladder. Go back to your GP.

Original poster

FuckOffJeffrey · 28/02/2016 14:14

I had a feeling that might be the case. I will be booking a dr appointment next week and might just give it a try anyway.

I don't suppose you know what the next stages of treatment may be? I have a lot of little red spots across the top of my back, chest and sholders and get some cystic ones now and then but not loads.

OP posts:

Cassimin · 28/02/2016 14:22

Two of my children have taken roaccutane. There are some side effects but fortunately they have only suffered dry lips.
After years of my daughter being so upset over her skin (crying going to prom, broke my heart) within 6 weeks of taking it her skin was clear.
Unfortunately it took a long time to get it prescribed, but well worth the wait.

hollieberrie · 28/02/2016 17:52

It works quite well for me. It works if your acne is yeast / fungal rather than bacterial.

hollieberrie · 28/02/2016 17:53

I alternate between head and shoulders 2% & nizoral shampoo

Original poster

FuckOffJeffrey · 28/02/2016 19:09

I'm really not sure what type it is hollieberrie. It did clear with the antibiotics and I previously tried hibiscrub which cleared it a bit but not completely (although that did clear up all the redness on my face). I've got nothing to lose by giving it a try I suppose.

I have heard wonderful things about roaccutane Cassimin but I think it's quite difficult to get prescribed. I have a feeling I will be put on another few treatments before I get near the stage they would let me have that.

OP posts:

Judydreamsofhorses · 28/02/2016 19:55

I think I had every antibiotic in the land before I found one that worked. For me, it was Doxycycline. I honestly think you just need to persevere until you find The One. I was offered Roaccutane - it has to be prescribed by a dermatologist - but declined as I worried it would make my depression worse, but I know people who've had amazing results with it.

JohnCheese · 28/02/2016 21:30

Topicals, oral antibiotics, maybe the pill (Yasmin, or occasionally Dianette, can work v well while you're on it, tend to relapse when you come off it), Roaccutane (dermatologist only). Cystic scarring acne should climb the treatment ladder v quickly. If your acne is causing scarring I expect you would be offered referral to a derm.
Acne is a right pain.

Cassimin · 29/02/2016 14:45

You're right about the wait for roaccutane. As girls can try contraceptive pills it takes longer for them.
I understand there are many side effects, though we have had few but because the results are so successful I can't understand why the wait is so long.
I'm terms of drs visits, cost of all the different treatments not mentioning the upset that acne can cause you think that it would be given sooner.

My daughter suffered for nearly 4 years. Now within weeks her skin is clear.
Don't give up.
She used raw honey, this worked for a short time but I think your skin just adjusts to new treatments and breaks out again.

MrsMarigold · 29/02/2016 14:56

I find that the pill, Acnecide (topical cream kept behind the counter) works well but I have to apply every night, and not washing in head and shoulders but Capasal shampoo, ask for it behind the counter it's about £9 work wonders capasal has salicyic acid, and coconut oil.

Roaccutane great but not if you are going to have children or are prone to depression. I used it at 19 (great skin) but awful depression, back then there was less on the impact on mental health.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 29/02/2016 16:01

You can also use facewashes formulated for problem skin on your shoulders or a gentle exfoliating wash for greasy skin. There is also a bath and shower range called Sanex which is anti bacterial.

hollieberrie · 29/02/2016 16:35

Definitely nothing to lose by giving head and shoulders a try - i lather up and then leave it on for about 5 mins before rinsing - i think youre supposed to do this to give it time to work. It doesnt irritate my skin at all, but go carefully at first incase it does upset your skin.

I only found out mine was caused by yeast by getting some tests done at a private derm. I took a lot of antiobiotics before and they worked a bit but not completely. Had also tried hibiscrubwhich really burned my skin.

My body acne is this - mine doesnt itch though although apparently it normally does:
www.dermnetnz.org/fungal/pityrosporum-folliculitis.html

Original poster

FuckOffJeffrey · 29/02/2016 16:47

I've tried loads of lotions, potions and body washes and nothing has worked for long. I did get reasonable results with one particular cream (can't remember the name but it was a behind the counter one), it bleached the colour out of all my pyjama tops and bed sheets so I gave up with that in the end.

I would really, really like to avoid going on the pill if I can. I think I must have tried at least 15 different types with various side effects such as daily migraines, weight gain, feeling in a rage / bad mood all the time to name a few. Come to think of it my back acne started around the time a took the mini pill cerazette - I also gained just under 2 stone in 6 months on that one. I don't want to take any hormone contraceptives ever again. Truth be told the reason I waited so long before going to the DR to get help was the fear of being put on the pill.

I don't want any more children so Roaccutane would be fine for me in that respect.

I don't have lots of scars from the cystic acne. I have a couple but my skin is quite good in that respect. The red marks take a long time to fade (4-6 months) but they do go without leaving scars 99% of the time.

I never imagined that I would be dealing with acne in my 30's considering I had a relatively easy time with my skin as teenager.

OP posts:

MagicalHamSandwich · 01/03/2016 11:11

If you're a woman of childbearing age you won't be prescribed Roaccutane unless you're also on the pill (they might possibly accept a coil ... not sure - used to be that you had to use two forms of contraception at once) as it apparently causes birth defects.

I'm not a fan TBH. Had it in my late teens. Skin was painfully dry in spite of the fact that I spent my days slapping ever more moisturiser on and while it did work for a while my acne was back to its old self after about a year.

Check carefully before considering it!

Original poster

FuckOffJeffrey · 01/03/2016 21:09

I have read about the birth defects thing but I would hope they would be fine with me having an IUD (copper) rather than the pill.

If they insist on two forms of contraception then I would have to decline as the copper IUD is the only form of contraception I have found that agrees with me.

The dry skin is something that I guess varies from person to person. My skin has always been naturally quite oily so I wouldn't be too concerned if it dries my skin a bit but not to the point of being painful.

From all the side effects I have read the most concerning to me is the risk of bone density reduction as there is a history of brittle bone disease in my family.

OP posts:

Awks · 01/03/2016 21:15

I have perioral dermatitis which is a yeasty infection (and which was misdiagnosed for some years as acne) and my GP prescribed Nizoral which is a stronger version, along with some cream. So if its def acne then not sure it would do any good (tho probably no harm, either) but if there's any doubt about what the issue is then it might work #nohelp

0dfod · 01/03/2016 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sallystyle · 01/03/2016 21:43

I am going to my GP to discuss roaccuatane tomorrow. However, I'm not so sure they will consider it as I suffer with OCD and anxiety.

I have had loads of antibiotics and been on a few different creams. I won't go on the pill because hormones mess with me.

My skin isn't that awful, I go through stages where I have a lot of cystic spots and stages where I just have a few spots, but I have a lot of dark scars and my skin in quite bumpy. So I'm not sure I have much of a chance of getting anything other than some kind of cream and the one that works they no longer want to prescribe for me and I'm allergic to bp.

Dh has been snipped and id be willing to get a cap or something non hormonal. I fell pregnant on the copper coil so wouldn't go for that option.

I'm sick of it to be honest. I had dreadful acne as a teen, I had a few years off and then it came back.

VenusRising · 02/03/2016 10:34

Go to the dr Jeffrey.
No need to wind yourself up about the pill/ depression/ antibiotics/ contraception/ worsening of acne....

The GP will recommend a trip to the dermatologist if you have cystic acne.

The dermatologist may prescribe more antibiotics or/and roccutane, and/ or another treatment.

No need to worry about it.

Make an appointment with your GP, ask to be referred to see a dermatologist.

You have choices.

Cassimin · 02/03/2016 15:07

My daughter was put on the pill, so only one form of contraception. She had to have the blood tests done the day before appointment as it included pregnancy test. Whereas my son was able to have his the week before.
Our dermatologist prescribed a month at a time so they kept on top of how you were feeling and so they could check all blood results were fine.

Freya888 · 03/03/2016 16:08

u need to understand that the problem inside and not ance on your skin. Go to GP. But if you are looking for an easy way then use creams that contains benzoyl peroxide

BobbiPins · 04/03/2016 06:53

Try taking vitamin A in capsules or fish oil (a natural source of vitamin A).
It works like magic. It's safer than Roaccutane (which is basically a higher dose of vitamin A) and you don't need a prescription.

acneresearch2015 · 05/03/2016 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wolpertinger · 05/03/2016 17:24

Go back to the GP. You can't solve serious acne with a wash - the problems are deeper inside the skin, it's not to do with cleansing.

They won't recommend the combined pill if you have migraine ever again- and as you've learnt cerazette is terrible for causing acne.

Don't wind yourself up about Roaccutane now - it might not even be the right treatment for your acne. Just go back to the GP.

Flip