Spots / hormonal acne help

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As a teenager I never had terribly spotty skin but at 35 my skin is considerably worse than at 15.

I am regularly getting 5 or 6 large, painful spots (often around jawline or hairline) a month usually twice a month that take at least two weeks to heal.

I’m fed up and wondering what others have done to solve this problem? I’m sure it’s hormonal (ties in with period and ovulation) but I’ve not been on the pill for 10 years so it’s strange that it’s jusy started happening, although apparently common.

Has anyone found anything to help?!

The ordinary salycilic acid twice a day helped masses

I had this it was folliculitis,an Infection of the hair follicles,I needed topical antibiotics

I had the same.

For me, the two things that help are cutting out sugar from my diet and washing my chin with Hibiscrub.

Thank you, I have head of he S acid so will see if I can buy some of that.

I’m very low sugar anyway but probably cut down on dairy (which someone else mentioned).

Will also look up the scrub!

Adalind - Is it the 2% strength you use? Or do you have a face wash style version too?

I use the 2% serum. Apparently having it in face wash is pointless as you just wash it right off the skin

Hibiscrub is an antimicrobial cleanser sold in chemist's. It's good for grazes and wounds, staph, and is often prescribed to people prior to some surgeries to prevent the wounds getting infected.

I have found it's good against acne, although it's a bit harsh for all over face wash.

I'm 31 and get the same hormonal spots around that area. Salicylic acid doesn't do anything for me so I use benzoyl peroxide cream. You can buy it otc in chemists and the brand I have in atm is called acnecide.

It dries out your skin though so if I'm going through a particularly dry skin patch, I usually put a serum on first, then the benzoyl peroxide cream, then a normal moisturiser on top. I was first prescribed it as a teenager for mild acne, and it works really well for me.

Watching with interest as I'm in the same boat. I've tried proactiv but it didn't help.

I second hibiscrub (derm recommended this to me) and retinol (differin on prescription) but the single biggest thing that helped me was quitting dairy. A couple of cappuccinos and I am guaranteed at least one big painful spot the next day!