Anyone want to look at a photo of my spots and advise me?

[Knitjob]

My skin is awful just now. I don't think it was this bad even when I was a teenager.
It's red, spotty, feels a bit oily. Mainly just smallish spots but every now and again I feel a great big lump under my skin. It usually goes down after a few days, rarely erupts into a big spot.
I'd love to go and see a proper dermatologist or something but I'm not sure where I would find one. How would you know if they were any good?

I'm currently using clarins products but I'm not convinced the consultant had any idea what she was talking about. She went on about ground kangaroo flower and activating a chain of molecules. After 6 weeks I don't see any difference at all so it's time to try something different.

Suggestions welcome, I'm finding the whole thing quite depressing. I've always had really good skin.

Gp for abox

I used to always suffer with spots i to late 30s. It finally cleared up when i got into a proper skincare routine for oily skin. I now use Temp,e Spa products and although they are pricey they are the best ive ever used. The bottles last 4 months or so.

I would not waste money on over the counter products and go straight to your gp. If possible push for a referal to a dermatologist.

How old are you out of interest? My skin is getting bad, never has been, I swear I’m peri menopausal

Had the worst spots ever after having children. It really got me down. After 5 years I went to the GP. She gave me antibiotics. Big improvement after 2 months which has continued.
So another vote for the GP!

Agree with PP, I'd assume perimenopause if you've always had good skin and can't think of anything that might have triggered it.

I went to see the nurse on Friday. She said there was no chance of the gp giving antibiotics unless I could show is had the spots for several months so I should start taking photos so I can show them. I've started doing that.

She recommended a cream called Dermalex(?) I'm not entirely sure that's the right name but I'm in bed with a hot water bottle and I'm not getting out to check.

Anyway, I've used it Friday twice and twice today and I think already my face looks less red and sore. Still a long way to go though.

I'll keep up with the cream, lay off all the fancy cleansers and moisturisers, and keep taking photos with a view to seeing the gp in future if they don't clear up.

I'm 41, I suspect it is something hormonal, peri-menopausal. My mum went through menopause early. I use hormonal contraception though so it's hard to know, I don't have periods anyway.

Ah, I’m the same age OP, my Mum has early menopause too, my body is going mental!

Have you recently changed your diet, op?

When my skin was really bad after coming off the pill I started using the La Roche Posay Effaclar three step routine and have never looked back. I hardly have any breakouts now and am no longer an oil slick. I also take Evening Primrose Oil, an Omega fish oil and a zinc tablet. I think it’s all helped. Good luck!

A beautician once told me that where the spots are on the face is an indication of the cause of them iyswim. Mine, at the time were along my jaw and each side if my chin and she saud that this meant that they were hormonal. The best treatment I've found for reducing the inflammation is freederm gel as it doesn't dry the surrounding skin. I always use it when I feel a spot coming and it reduces the soreness.

I had a similar skin problem with cystic acne on the jaw line. I went to see a beautician who recommended Guinot which was amazing . They do a range of very gently densensitising skin care that just reduced the redness and uncomfortable feeling. There was also an amazing concealer in the range that had zinc in and actually helped the spots heal. I also had some Guinot Hydradermie facials where they pass a current through your skin over a gel which kills bacteria. This combination was really effective and i could had very rapid improvement. Recommend hugely!

Wash face morning and night With Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Proofing face wash then use benzoyl peroxide gel at night . Read up on benzoyl peroxide. That will sort u out in a week or 2. X

I know it sounds a bit strange but my kids swear by a thin layer of sudocrem before bed each night.

I've been doing it and it's cleared up my menopausal spots, those bit sore ones under the skin.