Please help with my terrible skin! I'm desperate!

[TammySwansonTwo]

My skin has been so much worse since I had my twins. I have a wide strip across my nose and cheeks where my pores are so enlarged and often blocked, it looks like I'm wearing some sort of solid mask on that area because the skin just doesn't move properly.

I have an amazing exfoliating gel which my friend gave me - when you apply it, it literally sloughs the dead skin away really gently. It's nearly gone though, and I need something else like that as can't find the original one.

I also need a really good cleaner to deep clean.

Do those charcoal peel off things actually work? How about something to help reduce my pores? Tried a clarins pore reducing serum but it's done bugger all.

I need some help - I'm 35, I shouldn't have such awful skin. This is so gross, but if I squeeze my nose, dots of gunk appear from every pore even quite soon after cleansing. I just don't know why!

Have you seen a doctor? I’m just wondering whether a good prescription cream might help?

As an owner of previously-appalling skin, I spent waaaay too much on products, when some duac cream solves most skin problems pretty fast now.

I do like cleansers and moisturisers with ceramides; I like cerave stuff a lot, and I sometimes use the pixi glow tonic.

I do believe the stuff that comes out of ones's nose pores are called sebaceous filaments and always come back.

Thanks ladies - I haven't seen a doctor because I'm not really getting lots of spots, just that all my pores are so visible and my skin looks sort of thickened across the middle of my face. It's odd. I will mention it next time I'm there but doubt they'll do much unless I'm getting nasty spots.

Thanks for the tips - will check them out.

Does everyone get this with their nose then? Don't think I've ever really had it like this before. Looks like my nose is covered in dots / visible pores, not blackheads so much.

L'Oréal pure clay masks are pretty good for absorbing excess oil, and you wipe them off with damp cotton wool rather than peel off with pain.

The Ordinary niacinamide + zinc 10% is the most effective oil-control product I have found.

You don't need us, you need Caroline Hirons! Do you read her blog? She's the goddess of Skin care and she has cheat sheets for all types of issues.

Hi, I find this so interesting because I used to have amazing skin until I gave birth and then it went haywire. One thing i found really helped is cutting out sugar and minimising processed food. Going to the steam room in the gym once a week and getting exercise and fresh air helps (if you have the time). I find Caroline Hirons' blog really interesting but honestly I cannot afford any of the products she recommends. I use celestial moisturiser and the roma facial spray from lush. If I switch to anything else my skin freaks out.

Those sound like sebaceous filaments, don't squeeze.

I use the nicanamide + zinc too.

Thanks so much everyone! I shall leave my nose alone, and will definitely check out the blog and products you've suggested.