I'm 31 and my skin has gone back to being a teenager!

[Thunderboxskin]

So, I'm 31 I've never had brilliant skin. However, over the last 8 months or so my skin has got so bad! It's always around my chin and neck that flares up, and most of the time the spots are really sore.
Any advice on how to make this better would be greatly appreciated. Not sure the picture will show the extent or redness but heres going!

Any ideas?

Same happened to me. It’s hormonal when it’s around chin and neck. I had it spread across my cheeks as well. I still look at some close up picture I took then as progress pics to remind myself how bad it was.
I tried A LOT. The thing that has worked for me best in combination was I cleaned up my diet, and I started a subscription with dermatica. Also stopped using oils on my face or in my hair. It’s a slog but it worked. I don’t use a night cream now I just use a salicylic acid serum and then in the day I use vitamin c and spf50. My subscription lapsed with dermatica but I still have loads of tretinoin for when I need it. Just be warned that any acne treatment will dry your skin out.
And now my diet has gone to shit with COVID it’s still never got as bad as it was. I have realised you sort of need to update your skincare in each decade!

How bad was it before you started that?
I stopped using moisturiser on my skin and within the last 2 months stopped wearing make up to see if it helped. I have an oily nose but where my skin flared up, nothing.

I’m 44 and the same! But don’t stop moisturising a S counterproductive as it seems, if your skin thinks it’s dry it will produce more sebum.

What’s working for me is salicylic acid to treat it, retinoid to increase new skin coming through and a god moisturiser ( I use marine cream) and it’s genuinely getting there.

Hi, OP!

What's your skincare routine?

Ideally, it should be at least:

AM
gentle cleanser
Toner (optional)
Spf 30 or 50

PM
Remove any make up
Gentle cleanser
Toner
Insert acid of choice - bha is amazing, retinol, azelaic etc
Moisturise! - this is really important

I had the same and like you the spots were really sore. Azelaic acid helped a lot, it exfoliates but is also anti inflammatory so helps with the sore, swollen spots.

Thank you for the replies!
My skin routine could possibly be better I do try to cleanse etc in the morning and evening but everything I'm trying just doesnt seem to improve anything so the suggestions are very welcome!

This was mine 5 years ago.

Vs now (and this is a pretty bad skin day to be fair as I’ve been smashing the cheese and wine but I’m so pleased with the improvement): I just checked when my first delivery was from dermatica and it was Jan 2019 and I think it took about 6 months

I got spots there when I had folliculitis.