Does anything work to get rid of hormonal skin/ spots (40 yo!)

[Closetlibrarian]

Since having DC my skin has been terrible. As soon as my period returned after each DC I started getting daily spots - nothing I'd class as acne, but just frequent whiteheads, red bumps, etc. My skin was terrible in both pregnancies until 3rd trimester, at which point it was great, and stayed that way until periods returned. So, I'm assuming it's hormonal and not due to my skincare routine, etc.

Is there anything I can do to improve my skin? The skincare routine I was using before, when my skin was good (prior to period returning), doesn't seem to be helping (I hot cloth cleanse, was using acid toner, serum and moisturiser, etc). Or do I just have to suck up looking like a spotty teenager in my 40s?

Although it's typically thought of as a male hormone, ladies have testosterone too, just in lower levels than men. Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands, making them produce more skin oil or sebum. This excess sebum clogs the pores, and also makes good food for acne-causing bacteria. Androgens cause spots, you need anti androgens to get rid of them: Dianette pill or Vitex or D.I.M. plus Omega 3.

Interesting... The Mirena coil sent my chin absolutely haywire, it was proper. This has also happened in my second pregnancy (a girl) but not my first. When I was on the pill I would sometimes break out on my chin but nothing like with the coil.

Now I am on nothing at all and my skin is by far the best it's ever been. When I got my coil out my skin cleared up almost overnight! That seems to be different to what a lot of people say?

When I had the hormonal acne I tried salycylic acid and niacinamide but I have to say I don't think either of them did that much tbh. Sudocrem was probably the best thing actually, but I don't know how much of an actual solution that is! Sending solidarity, it is kind of shit!

I have acne in my mid thirties. The only thing that gets rid of it is Dianette, which I took for 10 years but am no longer on.

I am 49 and I started to get hormonal spots a couple of years ago, I was gutted as I had acne in my teens and thought I was past all that.

I tried various lotions and potions to no avail and eventually went to my GP. He rolled his eyes and told me it was all down to my hormones and gave me some cream which helped with the spots but practically burnt my face off.

One day during my daily browsing for the holy grail I came across a suggestion to use Hibiscrub......that's the hot pink anti bac handwash they use in hospitals, I did a bit more research and then ordered a small bottle from ebay......I have never looked back, it clears my spots, doesn't dry my skin or flare the thread veins on my nose and the only downsides for me are that it hurts like a bitch of you accidentally get it in your eyes.

Seriously, I recommend anyone with any type of acne gives it a try...google to see what other people say if you don't believe me.

Linda

Dermaflannel sorted out my chin spots

www.bravuralondon.com/products/dermaflannel

No sugar or dairy
No soy
DIM supplement - life changing.
Google oestrogen dominance.
Don't waste time on skincare - this is an internal problem not external.

OP, I’ve had exactly the same - after having kids my skin’s gone haywire with my hormones but breaking out during period and ovulation so I was rarely without spots - not loads but often angry cystic ones that were really painful. GP wouldn’t give me the pill past 40 (I’m 42) but prescribed Duac once daily cream that you put on before bed. It took a few weeks to work but since then my skin has been so much better. Really worth seeing the GP rather than trying out expensive products.

Cutting out dairy made a massive difference to me.