Dry skin and acne driving me mad!

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Hello wise Mumsnetters, I really need your help please.

My skin is terrible, no matter what I do.
My chin and nose are very dry and flaking despite daily exfoliating and I get lots of spots on my chin too. I resemble my teenage son only I'm bloody 37! (adult skin my arse!)

I cleanse every day and night with simple micellar water and then use La roche posay effaclar Duo plus (tried lots of other stuff too) but my skin is probably the worst it's been now.
My pores are huge and I have lots of blackheads too (again mainly my nose and chin)
I'm on a budget so can't get anything really expensive.

I've been looking at the ordinary skin care range and am considering getting the Hyaluronic acid, and the retinol.

Do you think these might help me?
If not is there anything else that might help?

I'd appreciate any advice you can throw my way.

Thanks 😊

Anyone?
I'm desperately reaching out here, I called you all wise and everything

Try Beauty Pie. The fruitizyme five minute facial really helped with my pores and it is all pretty cheap. They have all kinds of really great products and are constantly adding more. I love it!

The blue light omnilux helped me a lot. It kills the bacteria on the skin. I think clinics can alternate it with a red light treatment that heals the skin. Its not cheap though. Have a look at yourself as a whole though. As in, good healthy food, sleep, stress, lots of water, showers straight after the gym so the sweat doesnt sit on your skin for too long. I know for me, its not a quick fix. Its doing good things every day and after a while you realise that things are getting better. Good luck

Would suggest you stop the micellar water, exfoliating and the effaclar now. Micellar water is pretty rubbish for cleansing, effaclar will be drying you out. Suggest something very very plain until your skin calms down - Simple cleanser (the cream one in a bottle) or Avene Extremely gentle, very lightly wiped over your face and neck with cotton pads, or Lush Ultrabland gently swiped on with clean hands and taken off with a warm, clean flannel.

It sounds like you have some sensitivity or are experiencing the effects of overexfoliation, and potentially if your skin is combination/oily then you may also have seborrhoea, which explains why the dry patches keep returning despite the exfoliation. If you have dry skin the spots might be rosacea?

What are the chin spots like? Small/ superficial or cystic/under the skin? Just your chin or jawline too? If cystic they are usually hormonal in that area. Are you on hormonal contraceptives? Do you take any vitamins/supplements?

Thanks so much for your replies, I really appreciate it.

To answer some questions, I'm not on any hormonal contraception.
The spots are quite large but also a few small too and some are on the jawline.

Sleep etc could be much better but I'm a carer for my two disabled children and they have terrible sleep issues.
I could definitely eat healthier too

I'll get a different cleanser asap. Do you have any suggestions for a moisturiser that won't make my skin oily please?

Thanks again

2% salicylic acid (I use Paula's choice) followed by a BHA daily. I'm 39 and have had hormonal acne since teenage years. Started this on advice from doctor 6 months ago, and have literally had only a couple of small spots since. It's been a real eye opener as I had very low expectations. I apply them at night only and then obviously use an spf during the day.

It has to be a stay on salicyic acid btw, not something that gets washed off.

Oh and if you have dry skin, cerave moisturizing lotion is amazing, I apply it after everything else.

Thank you @Mrstwiddle

Can you please give me a link for your products, I'm getting confused looking online for stuff.

Thank you 😊

Look at Caroline hirons cheat sheet on cleansing.

My bet is your not cleansing thoroughly enough, using the wrong cleanser & the grainy scrubs are irritating the skin.

I'd wash your face with soap as your cleanse sounds a bit mild and then stick on some salicyclic acid and a non oil moisturiser.
Use cetaphil face wash if you don't like bar soap (have never understood the dubious science behind no-bar soap).

Your skin sounds a lot like mine. I've had more success cutting back on all the harsh stuff and being really gentle with my skin. If it's too dry my spots are much worse!

Have you been to your doctor at all? Mine was really sympathetic (I cried ) and prescribed a topical antibiotic called zineryt which has helped. I've used it for a good few months and having a break now.

Now I use cetaphil cleanser (use twice at the end of the day to double cleanse) and rich moisturiser. That's it at the moment.

Sleep and diet also play a huge huge huge part for me. I know sleep is a tricky one but if you can eat lots of fresh veg and drink loads of water it could help (boring but true!).

I think cutting out dairy & refined sugar would probably help you as your acne sounds hormonal, and hormones react to these food types. It helped with my skin anyway. Also agree with the PP who suggested light therapy, the £60 mask by neutrogena has worked well on my skin too.

Good luck

I use Liz Earle hot cloth wash, then toner, then moisturizer. I tried getting cheaper stuff, but I end up getting spots again. Especially neutrogena stuff. The Liz Earle stuff doesn't strip the skin off you, so you don't need to put lots of moisturiser on, so actually the stuff does last well.

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-bha-liquid-exfoliant-full-size-2010.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwz_TMBRD0ARIsADfk7hQU4SD2xe3QmLgJ7DiXWmy4GYW3ebGzWVZPETYXbPwwx00qIE4SN3gaAheiEALw_wcB

www.paulaschoice.com/clear-extra-strength-daily-skin-clearing-treatment-with-5pct-benzoyl-peroxide/611.html?cgid=concern-acne-breakouts#start=9

These are what I use but any 2% Salicyic acid product and 5% benzoyl peroxide should have the same effect.

Also I agree with the previous poster who said dairy has an impact, it definitely did in my case. The good thing about the products above though are that I can now eat dairy again and my skin is fine.

I love La Roche Posay but sounds like Effaclar is too strong for you and that retinoid would also be too strong at the moment. Ditch the Micellar water too, I find Simple too harsh on my skin and so does my DD. For the moment, I'd cut out everything but a gentle cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid for hydration, a moisturiser and maybe a facial oil.

LRP Toleriane range is really good, their Dermo Cleanser is lovely and gentle. LRP Hydraphase serum is a great HA (or the TO one).

You could try the TO Rosehip or Squalene oils, they are gorgeous and Rosehip is very healing. Let your skin repair for a while and then have another go at sorting out spots etc.