Any success with hormonal acne and not going on the pill to cure it?

[OchNoAgain]

I've suffered adult hormonal acne for years now and have bouts of it being better and worse. Just now it is awful, very painful cystic lumps all along my jaw and chin. It looks and feels awful and I'm really down about it. It's not just a few pimples in the week before my period.

I've tried various contraceptive pills in the past, some of which have helped my skin but have always left my with unbearable mood swings and very low mood. I have no inclination to go back on the pill but would welcome any ideas for helping with the acne. Supplements maybe?

I don't really want to bother my GP at the moment but don't know what else to try.

@whoamongstus thank you, I have ordered off Amazon to give it a try!

Unless you’ve tried roaccutane you haven’t exhausted all medical treatments, acne isn’t that difficult to treat it’s just finding the right treatment because some will be cured with a topical and others will need three courses of roaccutane.

@Anotheruser02 you have a GP problem, he’s not adhering to NICE guidelines either. I doubt you’ll have much success affecting your hormone levels on your own though, that’s really hard to do.

I’ve been there with acne. I’ve done all the exclusion diets (allergic to dairy too), given up sugar and meat and and tea/coffee,alcohol. I’ve used skincare from Tea tree oil to Dermalogica and Chanel & back again, I’ve had ultrasonic facials, Crystal clear facials, I’ve washed make up brushes in disinfectant and changed pillowcases daily, I’ve used muslin wash cloths and tried a clean flannel every time I cleanse, I’ve taken hair skin and nails vitamins and high doses of zinc and none of it worked. It was a massive waste of time, money, effort and some of it hurt. I needed roaccutane and turned it down like an idiot at 30 because I’d read articles by journalists who’d never actually taken it themselves that convinced me I’d get depressed and commit suicide on it or get liver failure. I took it at 40 when it was so bad the pain from them woke me up at night, and it made me tired and some of my hair fell out, I had one night of backache so bad I needed co-codamol to sleep. After a few days I knew it would work as it was like someone putting out a fire on my face. I wasn’t shiny by 09:30am, my skin didn’t itch from the oil, my face started to match my neck in colour, I didn’t have to hide in the kitchen when the shopping was delivered. No new spots came up even after I stopped.

Unfortunately the 11 months of cystic acne has scarred me and at 43 & and two tubes of dermatica tretonoin & hydroquinone later I have a red scars that are still the first thing I see when I pass a mirror.

I have PCOS. I've found Oxytetracycline really good - I no longer get bit painful cysts, just small pimples. Avoiding sugar/white carbs helps too when I can be disciplined enough

@Anotheruser02 the success rate of roaccutane is upwards of 90% (or it was when I took it a few years ago) as a pp says, if you haven't been referred to a derm who has access to the good stuff, you haven't exhausted medical options. I find it frustrating how acne is belittled as being as easy to solve with a particular skincare routine or stopping dairy. You shouldn't, and don't have to, ban an entire food group.

I would see a different GP. You can see a derm privately as well if you have the funds.

Thanks @HappierTimesAhead. Yes, low fat, not no fat. Thought I'd give it a try after reading a few articles about twins who apparently cleared their acne after switching their diet (backed up by a doctor) www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3332666/Identical-twins-suffered-horrific-cystic-acne-reveal-cleared-skin-banished-blemishes-THREE-DAYS-vegan-no-fat-no-oil-diet.html

Thought it was worth a go, although I'm not vegan...

Please, please do your research before going down the Roaccutane route. My 15 year old daughter was prescribed this drug for acne. In reality the Lymecycline had cleared her skin but it was still oily. The dermatologist put her on this drug despite my concerns over its safety and it’s links to suicide. Without warning, my daughter took her own life after 6 months on this drug ( not even on a high dose). She was a happy, positive, fun loving girl with no mental health issues but this drug can cause sudden suicidal impulses, and she acted on it and we lost her. And she is not the only one. This drug is now subject to an enquiry by the MHRA due to its severe side effects which have resulted in many suicides, and many more people devastated by the lasting mental health issues it causes.

To say we are devastated is an understatement. I wish I had done more research. Please look at the Facebook groups set up for people suffering long term, and in many cases, permanent side effects of this drug. I didn’t know such groups existed but I do now. The lasting effects of this drug can cause not only mental health issues but physical (gut issues, sexual dysfunction issues, etc). The doctors and dermatologists will not tell you this when they prescribe this toxic drug. In my daughter’s case we were lied to by the dermatologist and made to feel that this drug was safe. It is not. Some people are ok on it but many are not. If you were offered a bag of sweets and told that some were poisoned would you take any? Please look for an alternative.

I know many people have had good results with this drug and highly recommended it. They were lucky, my daughter was not. I hate having to tell this tale every time I see Roaccutane recommended to acne sufferers- another piece of me dies, but I would be failing my lovely girl if I didn’t share her story and warn people of the dangers of this drug.

Devestated That's shocking and heart breaking. Thank you for telling us that.

@DevastatedandDistraught I am so unbelievably sorry for your loss. I completely understand your trepidation, it sounds like you received extremely poor care from your consultant, especially considering her age. I'm not sure when it happened but when I went on it the mental health implications were well covered and they advised me to brief my family to keep an eye on me. Roaccutane has saved mine and so many other's mental health, I know acne sounds so little compared to death, but with the right supervision it can be life changing. I completely understand the need to ensure side effects are made clear and carefully monitored, it sounds like there needs to be improvement in that area, but I will be devastated if it is ever banned.

Epi-Duo on prescription. Can be bought online for £28 through online pharmacy.

I had the exact same issue with jawline acne, the cream cured it within a week and it hasn't came back.
It burns like a b but works.

I am sorry your daughter had that happen to her and it’s not an appropriate use for roaccutane either but there’s no clear link to suicides on roaccutane. It’s always teens, I have never seen it reported in adults 25+. They’ve had enquiries before and no link was found.

There is no alternative for a lot of us, there is only feeling disgusted by the pus coming out of our faces, feeling embarrassed because no make up can cover it and hiding away.

@Fluffycloudland77

I am sorry your daughter had that happen to her and it’s not an appropriate use for roaccutane either but there’s no clear link to suicides on roaccutane. It’s always teens, I have never seen it reported in adults 25+. They’ve had enquiries before and no link was found.

There is no alternative for a lot of us, there is only feeling disgusted by the pus coming out of our faces, feeling embarrassed because no make up can cover it and hiding away.

Fluffycloudland777

It is always teens??? As if that makes it ok. I honestly despair. For your information it is not always teens. The reported side effects of this drug (Isotretinoin) are evident, broken down into ages on [email protected]. The majority of suicides are in the age range 20-29 but plenty in their 30’s. The link to suicide is clear and undisputed by the drug companies which produce this poison.
I was unaware of this information until my daughters death. I have learned so much since and feel duty bound to share with others who might be considering taking this drug. It is up to them to decide if the risk is worth it.
I am sorry if that makes you feel uncomfortable.

It doesn’t make me uncomfortable but it’s on the very long patient info leaflet that it can alter your mood.

If it was cut and dry it would have been stopped. It’s a generic drug now so the drug companies aren’t making a lot off it and my nhs dermatologist wouldn’t be rewarded for prescribing .