Can you sort my skin out? Pics attached

[LemonDropsAreSour]

So here goes.

I've always had greasy skin that's prone to break outs but lately it's a lot worse and never seems to clear up and if it does, the next week it's the same. It's sore, uncomfortable and unsightly.

I hardly wear make up anymore and I only use high end when I do and my brushes are always cleaned after.

I'm doing the slimming world diet and drink plenty of water as I'm trying to lose weight. I wash my face twice a day with a clean muslin and St Ives Even and Brighten scrub.

Any ideas?

OP: I've got two bottles of Liquid Gold which I haven't used. My skin was exactly like yours and is now completely clear...I got pregnant and that did wonders for my acne! Haha! Breastfeeding seems to have kept the spots away.

If you don't want to pay out for the Liquid Gold, I'll send you mine for free. They're just gathering dust in a drawer otherwise.

For what it's worth, I found that Cetaphil face wash was great - very gentle.

@grammargirl omg are you sure? I will pay postage! Bless you, thank you!!! I actually fell pregnant (unfortunately miscarried) and it did clear up slightly! I'm refusing any contraceptive for that reason - fingers crossed! ❤️

Right I've binned the scrub and my bed time reading is Caroline whatsherface...

Stop using scrub.

Try washing with anti bacterial hand gel.

Use a clay masque to draw out oily bits. L'Oréal is good and use Germaline or anti septic cream at night after u have washed with anti bacterial.

Cheap and effective for me. My face was like a chip pan with oil

When I say hand gel I mean the anti bacterial hand soap not the gel. Sorry lol

Is your acne worse at certain times of the month?

Yasmin or Dianette are really effective at clearing up hormonal acne.

GPs cannot prescribe Roaccutane, only consultant dermatologists can.

Usually you will be expected to gave tried a few things before getting a referral to the dermatologist.

Even when you are referred there may be a wait of around 6-9 months (in my experience)

One way around this is to go private for your first appointment.

You cannot get pregnant on Roaccutane.

IME You will be pregnancy tested every month before a repeat prescription is given and told to use another form of contraception as well.

If it cleared up a bit when you were pregnant then it's definitely hormonal acne. Over the counter stuff won't touch it, you need something prescription. Go to the doctors and use what they prescribe, then go back if it doesn't work. It's trial and error, everyone's skin is different, but eventually something will work.

I suffered from hormonal acne in my 30s. Unsightly and painful.

If you have soya milk in your diet get rid of it. GP suggested I go on the pill but have never got on with any kind of chemical intervention. I tried Dr Kern Beauty Skin blue/red light therapy. You have to do it for 15mins everyday but it worked!

There are other brands of light therapy available so worth checking out reviews. Might be an alternative option for you if you don't want to take drugs.

If you're currently trying for a baby that's going to rule out a number of potential prescription strength treatments. For example, prescription strength topical retinoids should not be used during pregnancy and to be prescribed Roaccutane you have to agree to use two forms of contraception throughout treatment and have monthly pregnancy tests as the risk of really quite horrific birth defects is very high. Most salicylic acid based treatments also say they're not to be used during pregnancy. I believe the first choice of antibiotic (tetracyclines) are not suitable either, and of course the pill is out.

Off the top of my head the only prescription treatments suitable are benzoyl peroxide (which you can buy over the counter without seeing your GP anyway), topical antibiotics like zineryt, topical azelaic acid and erythromycin (antibiotic tablets).

It's definitely worth having a look at Caroline Hirons approach to dealing with acne though. It hasn't been enough to give me normal skin (but then, neither did a course of roaccutane) but it's definitely improved it greatly.

Sympathy op, my skins similar I'm 28 now and still suffering!

I have cream off doctors for night time, dermalene I think it's called.

It does look like acne OP.
There are guidelines for treatment which your GP will likely follow. Referral to a dermatologist will be later down the line should none of the initial recommendations be effective. These will be either a topical treatment in the form of a gel or cream otherwise an oral antibiotic.
I would hold off your scrub and avoid starting any new product at this point and wait and see what your GP recommends.

Stop the scrub! Far too harsh for your skin. Choose something like La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser or Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser. Gentle, non foaming cleansers which won't irritate your skin any more. Also CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a good option if you're in the US (and soon to be in Boots).

1. Highly recommend a hydrating toner. Can make a huge difference. Not a cleansing toner but purely for hydration.

1. Try an oil- if you can find one that suits your skin, it can help. Many find Rosehip or Squalane from the Ordinary to be great.

1. Try Azelaic Acid from the Ordinary. Very helpful to most ppl for acne/scarring/texture.

@LemonDropsAreSour of course: DM me your address and I'll post them this week. No need to pay postage: see it as a very unmumsnetty gift!

I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriage The fact pregnancy cleared your skin would suggest it's hormonal, like mine was, and antibiotics didn't touch it. The only thing that made any difference was the pill (Dianette) but it also made me a raving lunatic. Absolutely bonkers...

A word of caution with the Liquid Gold: it's strong stuff so don't use it every day and give Cetaphil facial wash and moisturiser a go together - they are both really gently, which is what you need. I haven't used a facial scrub in years but did awful damage to my skin using St Ives as a teenager.

P.S: I have spent thousands on skincare products: Eve Lom, monthly dermatologica facials and using their 7 step regime at home but nothing has made my skin feel as nice as Cetaphil, which is cheap and you can buy in Boots!

I tried liquid gold Grammargirl and all it did was make my bank balance lighter.
Op are they sometimes lumps under the skin, painful and big but no obvious head?

Following.
I’m on my third antibiotic before gp is willing to refer me to dermatology.

I spent a lot of money on a billion products too, and roaccutane was the best solution. It does mean that pregnancy will be put off for the best part of a year though. So maybe now isn’t the time.

I still have a tube of duac for emergency break-outs, and I find it really effective.

I use pretty plain and non-abrasive products. I’m a big fan of cerave, which you can buy via amazon. Id definitely recommend seeing a dermatologist though - even privately, it will save you so much in the long run.

I should’ve said a dermatologist will be able to tell you either by sight or with a biopsy whether it’s acne or papulopustular Rosacea, they look very similar and treatment is the same with isotretinoin but different with cream used to keep on top of it when your drug course stops.
I should also say it’s VERY treatable by a dermatologist. I never thought I’d stop looking so hideaous with people giving either disgusted or sympathetic looks. Now my bloods nurse makes sure she tells me every time I go how wonderful my skin looks. Always puts a smile on my face that she remembered how bad my face was before.

@grammargirl PM'd you. Thank you!!

They aren't like hard lumps as such. Well they are when they're under the skin if that makes sense? They are so painful though and then into beastly yellow heads.

So I've thrown the scrub away! I'm not sure what I want more - clear skin or a baby? does that make me vain? I also get it on my shoulders/back.

I tried the Clinique three step thing? I've forgotten the actual name but it didn't do much

I've heard good things about the LED masks I'm going to give them a whirl.

Does anyone have any recommendations for foundations/concealers? I currently use MAC Studio Fix. I've stopped wearing make up altogether lately because it just makes my skin look like rice crispies but I start my new job and need to look more 'done'.

Slutty that's exactly how I feel. I'm 99% sure people stare in shops when they're in the queue with me... thanks for giving me hope that it can be sorted!

Get the led mask. I was having a horrendous reaction to sulphites on the Wednesday it arrived. About 6 bright red weeping ball bearing sized lumps on my face. I didn’t want to answer the door when it arrived.

Was able to conceal with make up by the Sunday. There was no hiding them previously. I do 20 mins of each colour, red always last.

Fluffy which one did you use?

Bin the St Ives. It won't be helping.

I used to use dermablend. You can get a sample sheet of the corrective cream quite cheaply, which will help you to choose a shade (or mix of two shades).