Horrible hormonal spots

[RJnomore1]

Any suggestions? Been working hard on my skin and I've almost got it under control using salycylic acid except for when I ovulate.

I get two spots. They may be in different places but one is a huge lump which appears over a few days, is incredible painful, then when I can burst it for relief produces mostly oil - a little of it pus like, then clear or bloody oil. It leaves a very red/purple lump which takes a couple of weeks to go and is very hard to cover up.

The second will be a rough red patch, sore but not swollen, producing endless little whiteheads which can be popped but then appear in another pore a few hours later

Any ideas what I could do?

Watching for my DS (17) and so affected by his complexion.

Unfortunately suki I'm 41. My skins the best it's been except when this happens.

Hopefully he grows out of it sooner than me!

I get these, indeed have one right now, 90% of the time they appear on the chin, rarely elsewhere. I was put on Lymecycline for 6 months which worked great but it returned and doc said next would be Roaccutane. I've not pursued that as yet.

I'm not sure antibiotics would help? It goes away completely. I've had continual infected acne before and antibiotics cleared it but this is different ?

Not that helpful perhaps but the only thing that worked for me was going back on the pill

If hormonal then try Dianette or Spironolactone.

Ki had hormonal acne (in fact I posted about it here a few weeks ago)

Saw my doctor who put me back on the pill and gave me duac gel which has benzoyl peroxide and antibiotic in it.

Has gone from a mass of very sore headless spots and numerous whiteheads to just a few of the biggest most persistent ones left (that are markedly better though not totally healed).

I still have some scarring but the difference is remarkable. I think it has more to do with the gel than the pill too

I can't take the pill but I might see about duac. Is it prescription only?

Have a look at Caroline Hirons blog - she has a full cheat sheet on how to deal with every spot imaginable.

I'm sat here now following her instructions ' Nourishing' a blind pimple and looking forward to the promised results some time tomorrow .

She believes in cleansing and not drying out spots , which can lead to scarring and infection .

Now I'm just off to sporners corner ......

Duac is prescription only yes because of the antibiotics. The benzoyl is strong too - 5%.

This is Tue difference in my skin with duac after three weeks. Dr says it takes six to clear completely.

So much less painful!

I second Caroline Hirons blog. I had the same (wasn’t on any contraception though) and it was horrendous and I was lead to believe I’d have to like it or lump it and it was part of being so hormonal. But after reading Caroline’s blog and putting new routine in place I might get one “bad” spot a month (and OP they’re EXACTLY like the first ones you described) but they’re healing much quicker and leaving less scaring with the oils etc I’m using.

Well worth a read, you might be surprised how your skincare routine needs a refresh....

Anecide. It cleared my spots in days and they never returned.I️ continued to put a thin layer on the areas that usually got spots for a few weeks. I️ no longer need to use it.

Not sure why the weird symbols are replacing ‘I’

Acnecide is fantastic!

I've read hirons and I'm interested in the not drying out aspect. Will try that ta.

Off to google acnecide...

Also interested in acnecide - what's in it??

Acnecide didn't work for me; Duac did though, life changing for me.

Duac is good but for me it just treated the symptom not the underlying (hormonal) cause - so acne reduced but never came close to going away