Help me to sort my skin out!

[Honeymoonmummy]

Hi all, I'd like to get my skin sorted out, I have spot related marks on my face. I'm nearly 42 and still get spots once a month around my period. I'm happy to consider anything - Botox, fillers, whatever but don't know where to start or who to talk to - dermatologist, Botox clinic/beauticians/ private hospital?!? Any advice?

P.S can't believe I just posted a photo of my chin on the Internet!!

What is your skin care routine?

You need to post way more info about your diet too - do you drink alc? How much water do you drink? Do you exercise and use products?

What, was the photo of my chin not enough!?! My skincare routine is shit to be frank. I wash my face in the morning with (I think it is) Pure emoliating face wash then I put on boots no 7 ageing skin moisturiser in the morning - I do nothing at night, I leave my make up on at night. I eat very little fruit and veg. I am my skins worst nightmare.

(Dons tin foil hat for flaming).

Oh yes i drink red wine too, I drink Diet Coke, I don't drink enough water. I've been on a diet since Jan and lost 3 stone but not in a healthy way - my plan is to get the weight off and then make it more healthy and keep it off that way. I eat a fair bit of salad but that's it for fruit and veg.

Oh and I've only just started exercising again after having my gallbladder removed last month. But I'm determined to keep exercising and get the remaining 1.5 stone off

Your spots are caused by hormones. Having zits in your 40s is just bloody awful and I should know. Botox/fillers are not the right treatment for uneven tone and spot marks. You need lasers for that. Painful and not cheap but effective.

I am fully aware that my skin problems are largely self-inflicted. Although to be honest I've been on health kicks before, eating healthily, loads of water, herbal tea etc and not noticed any difference in my skin.

Cross post trucking. I will research lasers. Thanks

I can't go on any contraceptive but the mini pill because of other health issues and I'm currently on nothing but I can't say I've seen an improvement when I'm on the mini pill. I know it's caused by hormones but how the fuck do I stop it if the mini pill didn't work?!?

Where do I need to go to get reputable but reasonably priced laser treatment? I live near Manchester.

Try spironolactone - not a contraceptive but works in a similar. It has done wonders for my hormonal jawline acne. See if your GP will prescribe it

Retinol might help with scarring.

Plus do the basics: find a cleansing routine you can stick to; never sleep in make up; moisturize; use sun cream; find make up that gives good coverage without irritating your skin

I'd do all this before shelling out for lasers

My skin was in bits up until recently. I was getting lots of spots, hormonal and just regular white heads and my chin and cheeks were red and horrible looking. I was really down about it when someone suggested La Roche Posay and I decided to give it a go. I bought the Rosaliac cleanser, Serozinc spray toner and Effaclar Duo moisturiser. I can't emphasise enough how it's improved my skin, it's like a miracle. Now it's not an overnight job , it's takes a couple of weeks to start really showing the effect but it's worth it. I found I needed a bit more moisturising than the Effaclar Duo offered so I also bought Vichy Aqualia moisturiser and apply that over the Effaclar. I am much happier with my skin now and even make up sits better on it.

I will keep watching this thread as I have skin issues too. I'm mid 30's and thought my skin was improving but now get boil like bumps under skin that hurt so much. I'm actually being quite healthy and drinking more water at the mo and have had a flare up. Also the more products i use the worse my skin gets. Hope you get some helpful suggestions.

Op, you need to clean your face properly, morning and evening. Your routine does not need to be complicated but you must clean. Don't be lazy

Ifcats - your post sounds like me three months ago. Now I get very few spots, and those that do come up are tiny things I can pop and they go away the same day. Honestly, this drug has been a miracle for me

Agree with the la Roche posay recommendation. It's great stuff! A good cleansing routine does wonders. I would go to your GP as well and get a referral to a dermatologist- it may take a while to get an appointment but I think it may be worthwhile. Drinking water really helped improve my skin too, really dull but it seemed to work!

Olennas I have never heard of the treatment you mentioned and I thought I'd heard of most, will def look into. I would say my skin has improved genernally, it use to be horrendous but now these under skin bumps that flare up on and off. To look at I def look clearer but they bloody hurt and are annoying. Sorry to harp on about me OP!! I so relate.

I hadn't either until I saw a new doctor who suggested it. It can lower your blood pressure (not a problem for me, as I have slightly high pressure anyway) and can be a diuretic (not a side effect I've noticed). I wish I hadn't let me skin get so bad before seeking help, as I'm now dealing with the scarring even when my skin is clear - but at least it doesn't hurt any more

It sounds hormonal, but still watch out for moisturisers and sun creams
as some do cause spots. On the other hand it helps to keep the skin soft with cream so the cells do not dry and block the pores.

Creams for 'sensitive' skin or called anti -comodogenic may not cause spots.

Exfoliate so no dead skin cells block your pores - konjac sponges are good.

Bad diet does cause more difficult hormones too. Sugar/carbohydrates and heavy large meals cause insulin surges that can cause spots. Wine may not be helping. Diet coke is poison + caffeine and going to give yourself a lot of stress hormones if you have a lot.

Near your period you mat be eating more of these so it is a vicious circle. Eat small highly nutritious snacks throughout the day especially near your period.

Look at the blood sugar diet people are doing to see the sort of food you can eat all day, not put in weight/even lose it and get balance.

Look at books or articles something along the lines of balance your hormones naturally.

Although you say you eat healthily before, give it time plus following other recommendations people have posted.

Argh take your make up off! Even if you only do a face wipe or a swish over with a cream cleanser!

OP, I would be very surprised if you skin problems are caused by anything more than your lifestyle!

I think it's lifestyle too. I would stop doing all the things you know are bad because you really can't have it all ways. Supermarket own brand skin, hair, nail tablets are cheap but contain lots of skin friendly vitamins and minerals. It will take months to see the results though.

Then try a balm cleanser. Use it with warm flannels, not hot.

After cleansing use an acid toner eg nip & fab pads.
Then a day cream.
Then a proper sun block. One you'd take if you went to Austraila in the height of summer.

At night do it all again but cleanse twice to remove the sunblock etc properly.

You can buy retin a cream off eBay from foreign sellers, you have to use sunblock with it and follow instructions to the letter or you'll be spotty. You can use acid toners with it but not aggressively. You start on the 0.025% then when you've used all of that the 0.05. Don't try the 0.1%, it's too strong and made me worse.

Check it isn't contraindicated with your contraceptive. Don't get pg on it.

If I want spots, not that I do but as an example, I eat high sugar foods. A block of halva and I'm in hiding for a week.

Do not let anyone on here shame you into believing you cause this by not taking your make up off. Hormonal spots are horrendous and if you've never had them, it's hard to understand. My friend abuses her skin and diet and has perfect skin. I look after mine and do all the right things and yet still can get monsterous spots (better recently but still get flare ups). You could try antibiotics. I was on them for years but am off them now. La Roche posay is good too. I stand by lasers as well though.