Help me with my awful skin please!

[RavenLG]

As the title states I need major help with my skin.

I used to have great skin, clear and glowy. Since turning 27/28ish (currently 30, almost 31) it's literally turned into a bag of shit.

I keep getting awful big, red, deep spots around my chin. I leave them alone, take my make up off on an evening (makeup eraser cloth), cleanse, tone, moisturise. I try not to squeeze them, but they will scar even if they don't come to a head. My entire chin now is loads of red spot shaped scars. Hopefully the picture is attached, the only actual spot on my face is the one above my lip, the rest are scars!!

Can anyone help me with my skin? I eat a relatively good diet (I'm trying to lose weight so lots of fruit, veg are a key of my diet atm and lots of water).

I used to use make up wipes to take my make up off (when I could be bothered) and use whatever moisturiser I had (often heavy things like palmers coco-butter) and my skin was fine and youthful and I treated it awfully!

My t-zone has always been really oily, so I started using la-roshe posay effaclar cleanser, toner and moisturiser. That really helped, but I took a break after it ran out and moved to some natural charcoal based cleanser from Lush. I started with the la-roshe posay again but it's too harsh for my skin at the moment (it makes it really tight and stings).

I really don't know anything about skincare to be honest.

Can someone help me?

I just need to feel normal again, my scars are really affecting me. I don't like to wear makeup but I can't not wear it with my face the way it is now. Is there anyway I can reduce the redness? Face peels? Serums? Anything, I'm a desperate woman!

I feel pale and blotchy, spotty and grey. I see women with fabulous glowing skin but I don't know how to achieve that! Any advice would be amazing.

Talk to your doc - mine has just given me a cream called epidural for similar skin issues. Only been on it a few days so can’t say yet how well it’s working, but it’s a huge relief to have done something about it.

Your acne looks hormonal to me.

Sometimes using products specifically for acne makes the skin worse.

I’d go to the GP and see about getting a topical antibiotic. Before you get there....

I’d get cetaphil face wash for oily skin and use it twice a day.
Use a salicylic acid toner like from Clinique or clearasil and use it after washing.

Also get an OTC cream from the chemist called acnecide cream- it’s benzoyl peroxide and will kill the germs in your skin that make it inflamed. Use more than you think you should twice a day. It bleaches clothes so if you’re using it on your chest or back, wear white and careful of your towels when washing your hands after use.

Finally you need a moisturizer, I use a lovely royal jelly day cream one from Holland and Barrett from their dr organic range. Apply this all over your face before the acnecide cream as you only need that on the problem areas.

And don’t pick them!

Food wise, I’d up my cauliflower and brassica intake as they can absorb extra oestrogen.

Thank you for your help.

Hormonal hmm? I've noticed increased spots on my chest too if that means anything? I think I should speak to the GP, but the list of issues I need to speak to them about is as long as my arm lol!

Thanks for the cream suggestions. Will look into them now. I've about reached the end of my tether with it!

I've started using Lush ultra bland face cleanser and their eau roma toning water and my skin really has never been better, I can't believe the results. I had acne just like yours beforehand.

I also cover my face with hydrocortisone cream once a month (pharmacist would have a fit) before bed, which I know is bad but it really helps to keep things under control.

Also obviously everyone's different but I find the harsher toners like Clinique to be too much for my skin. Whilst it's oily it's also dry and sensitive at times.

The toner I use now is great but the body shop vitamin E toner was also great for not being overly harsh.

Just be careful if you get a cream with benzoyl peroxide in it, try it in a small patch for a few days first before using it all over just in case you're allergic to it. My DS uses it fine, I thought I'd try it on my chin and found I'm allergic to it and it took ages for the reaction to settle back down. The one my DS gets from the Dr is called Epiduo.

I got hormonal acne round my mouth and chin after having DC, age 29. I saw the Dr and used retin A which was very effective. Now I maintain a skin care routine - cleanse, acid tone, hydrating serum, moisturiser with no mineral oils and it keeps it clear apart from the off break out :)

I'm pretty sure spots around that area are usually hormonal too.

Firstly, if it helps, that's not scarring. Scars are either pits or lumps apparently, if it's just red dots then it's inflammation which does eventually go.
I have very similar skin and have just read the skincare bible by Dr Anjali Mahto. I found it interesting, not ground breaking, but it cut a lot of the crap and has stopped me using a million products. I think it's too soon to see but I think my spots are getting better.

I’ve had 20 or so years of acne and cleared it up with the following.

The ordinary;
Salicylic acid in the morning
Nicanamide and zinc on top.

At night I double oil cleanse with grape seed oil, then the ordinary EUK, every third night I use alpha lipoic acid instead.

Once a week I use the 30% acid peel.

I use my led face mask Monday to Friday.

I don’t use any moisturiser or antiseptic products. I’ve dropped the acid toner for the salicylic acid even though I only use it in the am. My skins really oily and hates moisturiser.

I used to get little chest spots but they went when I started using bar soap instead of shower gel.

the only thing that has worked for me is medical intervention

Spirolactanone tablets cleared my skin up like a miracle - literally the day after I started taking it I woke up with softer skin and fading spots. I don't take it every day now, but I do when I start to feel a spot brewing under the skin and the spot either goes away or comes up to a head and goes in a couple of days (rather than festering for weeks)

I also use an antibiotic gel called clindamycine along with a strong retinoid which helps with wrinkles scarring and inflammation

Thank you all for your help.

No DC but I do have the contraceptive implant which is maybe causing the hormonal aspect that a few have mentioned. I will speak to my GP as I would be thinking of changing to another contraceptive soon (this one runs out next year) due to wanting children etc.

It's not so much the spots but the red marks / scars that are left over. Some of the marks on my chin have been there for ages so I would think they are more scars now that just being inflamed? I'm crap with makeup so unless I cake ELDW on and loads of concealer they show in a few hours and I hate wearing make up anyway as nothing suits my skin (or I'm not skilled enough to know what suits my skin!)

Hi

So sorry you're suffering. I'm 40 and have had acne like yours (sometimes a bit better,
Sometimes a bit worse) since age 13 apart from when having treatment.

Round the chin and jawline is usually hormonal. And I believe late twenties is a common time for women to suffer.

I've tried changing my diet, more clean eating, no wheat, cut out dairy for a while. Didn't really do anything for my skin.

Everyone is different though, this is what helped with mine:-

I use Sebamed face wash, or any that is PH neutral so it doesn't destroy the layer of acid mantle on your face. Then a light moisturiser. And I use jojoba oil a few times a week. Swapping about and using tons of products is no good for my skin.

I take some supplements:- evening primrose oil, krill oil, zinc, B vitamins, vit D, magnesium, iron, chasteberry. Think they help a little.

I'm currently on Lymecycline which is an antibiotic and works very well for me. I take it for a few months with a break of 1-2 months in between courses.

The only thing that cleared it completely is a contraceptive pill called Dianette. I can't take that now cos of my age, I believe it's slightly riskier than other types of pill? Not sure of your age but you look quite young so it might be an option for you. I'm now on one called Gedarel 30/150 which hasn't made my skin break out. The only thing to bear in mind with Dianette is that it can make your skin break out really badly a few months after you stop taking it.

I didn't get on with topical creams containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. I found they dried my skin out so much I then couldn't put make up on to cover blemishes. My skin definitely appreciates a more gentle approach.

I hope some of this helps you a little. I really sympathise. Acne really knocked my confidence, made me depressed and I'd miss out on social occasions if my skin was bad. Sometimes people don't understand how much it can affect you. And if anyone else said 'stop eating pizza and get some clearasil' I would've punched their lights out!!

I’m on the implant and it hasn’t affected my skin. Dianettes fab but I got migraines off it so I had to stop taking it or it’s a risk factor for strokes.

Try the led mask. It does acne prevention and scar reduction.