Adult Acne

[Separatedandabitsad]

Hi there! Does anyone have any tips for adult acne? My periods have become irregular, so I think it’s hormonal. I’ve had it on and off for about seven years. It clears for stretches (sometimes without prescription creams) but then it comes back. I used a topical antibiotic (I can’t take oral antibiotics) for years but the GP recommended ‘getting to the bottom of it’ and broadening my search!

So I’ve laid off alcohol and I am now laying off chocolate and sweet treats as I was consuming a lot of both. It seems to have calmed a little but then I woke up to a new big cyst on my chin as well as pre-existing stubborn spots on both cheeks - they’ve been there well over a month.

I use glycolic acid wipes and The Ordinary retinol every second night. I put sudocrem on spots.

Whether it’s good or not, I wear make-up and lots of concealer by day. It’s too upsetting to see all those spots; so I’m not about to give up my make-up.

I had pretty good skin (apart from a few on my chin) all the way up to my early 30s. I used to get compliments on my clear skin! Needless to say I don’t now. I get them on my cheeks for the past few years too. I wear a mask all day so that mightn’t help but this problem was there pre-COVID.

Any manageable, DIY tips would be great. I’m thinking of going to a nutritional therapist.

Any ideas?

@jewel1968

Great recommendation and I’d never heard of it. I’ll check it out. Thanks.

Tea tree oil game changer for me.
I also use sudocreme another game
Changer .

Another adult acne sufferer, it really is a struggle to deal with but with the right help hopefully you will get it in control. Mine got worse the past few months and GP prescribed Differin which seems to be helping although it did take quite a few weeks of continuous use to see results. Epiduo and Duac are also prescription creams recommended for acne. Double cleanse if you wear SPF or Makeup and avoid harsh foaming cleansers.

Thanks @Fcuk38

I do double cleanse @LightOfAThousandStars but I ran out of my oil balm cleanser & come to think of it, it coincided with the most recent break out! I’m using Cerave foaming cleanser & neutrogena salicylic cleanser. That’s good the Differin works for you .

Thanks for the tips @LightOfAThousandStars

No problem, if you wear spf/makeup then using an oil or balm cleanser as the first cleanse really helps. A lot of people get on well with Cerave. Hope you find something that works for you soon.

Yeah I found the balm excellent for really getting all the make-up off with the face cloth.

Former acne sufferer here. It started for me at about 12 and had been horrific. Things I have tried include almost every topical application, Spironolactone, Roaccutane x 2, Benzac etc. It came back each and every time.

Yes it is hormonal and genetic BUT the best things I have found: Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) supplement - helps control excess sebum production, pure cod liver oil supplement for the Vitamin A for skin health, Zinc supplement, treating your skin very gently (ie. My dermatologist in the past has recommended Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser and NO moisturiser as I don’t need it due to sebum overproduction and no they said that rubbish that the skin will go into hyperdrive and overproduce sebum to compensate is just that - rubbish. Just a bit of light eye cream needed.) Reduction of dairy, plenty of fruit and vegetables. My skin is good now.

Good luck OP!

Thanks @PurpleSneakers

That’s so great your skin is good now. It must have been hard having acne since 12. I thought I had got lucky skin-wise but then I hit my early 30s & started getting adult acne! For me, I think I’ve learned there is a diet link all right (even though I ate whatever I wanted for years pre-acne!)

I put one of my spot treatments on last night after checking the ingredients - it has salicylic acid in - I put it on again this morning and I’ll stick with it.

I’m going to pick up a zinc supplement as you suggested.

Dermatica and paula’s choice 2% BHA on the nights I don’t use dermatic has reduced my acne so much. Still get the odd spot but nowhere near as many

My px is tret 0.5/niacinamide and clindamycin. Can’t recommend dermatica enough

I’ve ordered Paula’s Choice 2% BHA - a PP recommended it too. Thanks a million.

I’ll check out Dermatica. Thank you.

I just signed up to Dermatica. When I looked at the photographs of myself, I realised many people would have taken action sooner and it is high time ... I’m a bit nervous about taking oral medication for my skin and I’m worried about side effects but hopefully it’ll be ok.

Try Dermatica and skin and me

I beg you to stop with topical actives - glycolic and the retinol and just get a prescription acne treatment if it’s that bad .

People aren’t on Tretinoin because they are uninformed , you have to buy it privately , it can be drying if used incorrectly , you need to diligently avoid the sun / tanning and wear sunscreen daily

Check our Dr Sam Bunting on youtube and Dr Natalia Spierlings on Instagram ( my derm) she is fab .

Some of the recommendations here like tea tree oil etc aren’t suitable for significant acne .

I would also make sure you are moisturizing enough - salicylic twice a day seems too much .

Happy to help at any point just message .

@stevalnamechanger

The problem is it goes from being fine (I was going make-up free in June!) to many big, red angry spots that take months to clear. I’m at my wits’ end with it.

It’s always better in the summer so I’m taking a vitamin D supplement (started yesterday) and we’ll see what Dermatica suggest.

I don’t think people are uninformed for a second. If anything, many people seem to be more informed than some doctors. I’m just worried about oral meds as my hormones seem to make a big difference to my life and mood. I have had quite severe PMS and I’m recently separated so I’m a little concerned about anything that could affect my mood. However, I really feel it’s time to tackle this for once and for all, so hopefully Dermatica will help! I appreciate the recommendation.

Quick question about Dermatica please — do they send the actual products or a prescription for them? (I have signed up)

@Separatedandabitsad Dermatica send a small tube of prescription strength product. My first prescription was adapalene/niacinamide and clindamycin and this is a common prescription for acne. It worked ok but and my spots reduced but I still got a couple of huge cysts so my next prescription swapped adapalene for tret and I’ve really seen the difference now. Tret is the gold standard skincare for aging too so it’s a bonus.

However, it is seriously strong stuff and they often advise you to use it daily/alternate days but when I did my face nearly fell off so I hit the sweet spot by using it and then having two days off. It’s also important you use spf 50 every day as it works by turning over your skin at breakneck speed so you constantly have fresh skin and you don’t want any sun hitting it at all

When you first start dermatica you also need to stop all other actives until you are used to it and then introduce other products slowly and never use them at the same time as dermatica. I use the paula’s choice on my dermatica night off but when i’m using dermatica I only use at night and follow with Sunday Riley Juno and a moisturiser

My regime has gone from trying to control oily skin to concentrating on hydration because tret can dry your skin

Thanks! Gosh there’s a lot to take in. Tret sounds hardcore! We’ll see what they prescribe. If it clears the acne, I’ll be happy! I’m concerned about aging too but the acne bothers me more because spots at 40 aren’t normal.

That’s handy they send the actual products.

You need something hardcore, and tret isn’t even hardcore you just can’t use it with other products that peel because you’ll breakout.

You’re trying to get rid of a bacterial infection without antibiotics so your choices are limited and their ability to works also limited.

@Separatedandabitsad

If you are on facebook then I’d recommend joining the Caroline Hirons skincare freaks group. I’m not a huge fan of Caroline Hirons at all but the group is full of skincare enthusiasts and the search function is like a huge database.

Be careful though on the Caroline Hirons FB page as you will get lots of bad and some good advice - based on Caroline's blogs where she back tracks on advice she's previously given now she gets paid to promote products.

The cheat sheets on her website blog are very useful though. And she has revolutionised skincare the last few years in that we are more aware which products exist and how to use them.

Do not get swayed into buying all the expensive products that are pushed on her FB page or get carried away by the furore of her eye wateringly £££ kits as she gets paid to promote those products.
Do not use oil based products whilst you have active acne no matter what they say.
Whilst spf is good for anti-aging etc and using acids it's a bugger when you have active acne. I personally just wear foundation with spf. But others will scream at you to wear a separate spf daily. I don't think spf helps at this stage.
I hope you find products to suit. Lots of people do find dermatica or skin and me helpful others do not as it's based on photos you supply.

Thanks. The photos I supplied to Dermatica show the acne in all its glory. I was actually made aware of how bad it’s been by submitting them.

I’ll check out Caroline H too and thanks for those tips. I’ve already spent a small fortune on so many products etc with more ordered - so best not to get into debt over this!

I’ll keep ye posted about what works. I’ll never take good skin for granted again! I used to get compliments on my skin & id wonder why - when you have chest skin you don’t even think about it. It’s only when it goes bonkers that skin becomes a serious focus!

*clear skin

When I say people are uninformed about tret it's true - people literally do not know about it . It's not mainstream .

It's slowly becoming so due to Dermatica / skin and me / online pharmacies opening up availability .

Actually you CAN use other actives with Tret however just not in the beginning . There are many groups of us on fb ( not bloody CH sales group lol ) who are tret users - some up to 15+ years of experience .

Totally agree on totally avoiding oil products .

Also re makeup have a look at Vichy they have products formulated for acne sufferers . My derm also recommends Nars .

Tretinoin is nothing to be scared of and isn't as hardcore as it sounds as long as you respect it , as in use small pumps , build up very slowly and use a gentle , hydrating routine .

I recommend grabbing some LRP cicaplast baume to help with any initial dryness and LRP Toleriane cleanser and moisturizer . There's a set on offer at boots atm with a cleanser and moisturizer .