Spots - skincare routine advice please

[penny14]

Hi,

There is lots of info on here re skincare but I'm looking for some quick advice if anyone can offer.

My skin is so spotty just now...a mixture of red cysts and pimple type whiteheads my chin is all that's really affected. Defo hormonal as my twins are 7m old.

Rough skincare "routine" now is Superdrug naturally radiant Hot cloth cleanser and moisturiser in the AM and if I remember I also use Liz Earle toner in between. PM I wash my face with TBS camomile cleanser and put a facial oil on as well. I have been using a peroxide cream on my chin which has helped to dry the spots up but my skin is also terribly dry so don't want to continue with this.

I want to get into a proper routine but I'm a bit bamboozled with all of the info on here and on Caroline Hirons' website.

I'm considering buying the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and also the Nip + Fab glycolic daily pads. Does anyone have any advice re these products? Should I buy both or start with one then add in the other?

In general, any skincare advice re spotty skin would be fab! I want to buy some products tonight to get my skin sorted asap.

Have you been to the doctors about it?

If it's cystic acne I would see your GP. Topical meds such as differin and azelaic acids may help (and will be far cheaper than spending a liad of money on lots of different skincare).

I've been to the docs many times over the years about my skin...I was most happy with it when on Yasmine but as I'm BF I can't take that pill.

I've got Dalacin topical lotion & a 5% benzoyl peroxide cream from the docs both of which do help to reduce my spots but leave my skin so dry so then when my make up is on so my skin is looking bad either way

My acne has been transformed with Skinoren (azelaic acid) am and Treclin (tretinoin and clindamycin) pm - both from a dermatologist

My skin was amazing on Yasmin but once off the pill it went berserk

I found BP too drying, but the above routine has made such a difference

The dermatologist took me off all my acids and exfoliants and stripped my routine right back

LRP toleraine cleanser, Skinoren then moisturiser if desired, plus SPF 50 in the morning

LRP toleraine cleanser, Treclin then moisturiser in the evening

I used to feel really tight and dehydrated but turns out I was stripping my skin

My skin has cleared up massively

Good luck

Oh and the private prescriptions for the meds are waaaaay cheaper than all the gazillion toners and serums and what not I was using

are you taking a progesterone only pill for contraception? I got awful cystic acne on that.

Acnecide is a gamechanger for cystic acne. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

@LyndaLaHughes isn't acnecide 5% benzoyl peroxide though? Which OP said was hugely drying?

I found it massively drying and really uncomfortable as well OP. The consultant dermatologist didn't want my skin stripped so recommended the Skinoren / Treclin combo which I find much much more comfortable

The Treclin combines both a retinoid with a topical antibiotic, which I've got on really well with

Worth asking the Dr for other alternatives if you're not getting on with the BP

Thanks all for your comments & suggestions. I find the BP does definitely help to clear spots but as it's so drying I'm trying to get into a routine that will actually
Improve the overall quality of my skin.

I've ordered the Nip + Fab pads and the LRP effaclar so will see how I get on with that but it's definitely worth bearing in mind that a private dermatologist is an option if I don't see any difference with a change to my skincare routine.