I’ve developed spots pretty much overnight

[WellTidy]

I’m 46 and I’ve always had pretty clear skin. Apart from a phase a few years ago when I used loads of new products, and reacted to a few, I’ve used pretty much the same skincare (Estée Lauder) for about 25 years.

I forgot to take my make up off on Saturday night, so I took it off on Sunday morning instead (I have no idea if this is linked!). Pretty much since then, I’ve developed more and more spots predominantly on my cheeks but some on my forehead too. They’re not enormous, more like small bumps. No head on any of them, but they are slightly red and raised.

What’s making them appear all of a sudden, do you think? I am going to cut down on sugar and raise my water intake, both of which I desperately need to do anyway, but is there more to this than that?

I’ve counted them. I have nine on my right cheek and six on my left.

After googling ‘best spot treatments’, I’ve bought mario badescu drying lotion to be delivered tomorrow.

You need to wash your bedding and disinfect your phone screen More often.
Tie your hair back and cover it when you sleep if you can.

Usually spots on the cheeks are bacterial and these are usually the main culprits.

Once your Maria badescu arrives then dab sparingly on the head of the spot

(I’m an aesthetician)

Thanks!for your reply - I wash bedding weekly (is this enough?), and disinfect phone pretty much every day. I never put my phone to my face as I make calls on headsets.

Clean the headsets including wires and earpieces and usually washing bedding once weekly is sufficient enough but we have had a few warmer days so it wouldn’t help to do an extra wash. And use laundry disinfectant

I’m not sure if you use beauty sponges or brushes to apply make up but if you do then wash them or replace.

Wouldn’t hurt*

I think you forgetting to remove your make-up is a red herring.

Given your age, it might be hormone/perimenopause related. But, drinking more water and cutting out sugar will be beneficial.

Another thing to consider is are you still wearing face masks? If you are, are you wearing a new one each time? A friend of mine became slack with washing her face masks and started getting spots in the same places as you have. Now she's back to a clean mask each day, the spots have gone.

I will wash all the face masks this afternoon. I have probably become too slack - wearing one that’s already in my bag, rather than taking a clean one from the drawer.

And will disinfect all the headset equipment too.

If it is peri/hormone related, any advice on that front please? The spots are becoming a bit redder. I’ve covered them with make up for this morning but they will be noticeable once that comes off.

@WellTidy

If it is hormone related, do some reading and see if you have any other 'typical' perimenopause symptoms - hot flushes, night sweats, erratic periods, weight gain, inability to sleep, brain fog to name just a few of the most common ones. If you do, first stop is your GP. In this instance, consult the NICE guidelines and go prepared.

As for your spots, stop touching them.

I’ve no other peri or menopause symptoms. I’ve gained weight but that’s because I’ve over-eaten this summer, I had been losing weight until then.

So I don’t think it’s menopause related.

It might still be hormone related though, I suppose.

I will stop touching them, I know this isn’t helping. It’s such a shock for me though, I’ve pretty much always had clear skin.

Thank you for your reply @sansucre

Just wanted to add my first peri symptoms were weight gain and appalling body odour, so you never know... However that said, ditch sugar, drink more water, clean face masks and stop touching your spots for a few weeks and hopefully they will vanish all by themselves!

Fingers crossed for you!

Thank you. I’ve taken all my make up off and I think washing with DS’ cerave face wash and moisturiser this morning have possibly helped. The spots are less angry. I hope the mario badescu arrives today and then I will use that too.

Will keep an eye on possible peri symptoms. Gosh. I think I need to get more aware and prioritise myself here. Demands of Dc, work etc mean that I don’t really prioritise thinking about myself in this way and I probably need to.

If they don’t go see the dr. I developed cystic acne overnight.

Have you started with any supplements lately? Biotin breaks me out.

@CtrlU

You need to wash your bedding and disinfect your phone screen More often. Tie your hair back and cover it when you sleep if you can.

Usually spots on the cheeks are bacterial and these are usually the main culprits.

Once your Maria badescu arrives then dab sparingly on the head of the spot

(I’m an aesthetician)

I wipe the screen protector on my phone with a little rubbing alcohol, daily. But i still had horrible spots on my right cheek, and I don't usually hold the phone that side. I do sleep on my right side though mostly, so I linked it to that, but then I change my pillow case a few times a week usually, so then I was thinking is it the washing products I use 🤷🏻‍♀️

So this is how it is today. It’s a lot worse. Started tingling a bit too. I have an online appointment with a GP tomorrow (we can speak to a private GP pretty much anytime through work) and I’ve sent them the photo in advance.

Anyone have any thoughts on what it could be please ? I’ve done everything recommended in the thread in terms of washing and disinfecting. Not started taking supplements. Haven’t changed detergent, face products, make up or anything recently.

It’s nothing you’ve done, something’s gone wrong but the dr will fix it.

Does it look like the cystic acne did when you had it @Fluffycloudland77 please?

No it doesn’t. Cysts are huge under the skin and the pain wakes you up in the night.

Thank you @Fluffycloudland77. No, thankfully there isn’t any pain. That sounds really awful, I’m sorry you had that.

Dr prescribed a 0.1% retinoid and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream, to be applied at night only. Said it could take a couple of days to make a difference, but if it spreads, to make another appointment (presumably to then get a referral to a dermatologist). I will see how it looks on Monday and go from there.

That looks quite unpleasant OP! I hope the prescription helps.

I'd definitely second the mask point: I can tell if I have had to wear one a lot for several days because it means I end up covered in spots.

Maybe shingles?

Never thought about shingles. It doesn’t hurt, though, and I thought shingles was uncomfortable, at best. And I feel well, generally.

But I will keep shingles in mind.

A friend suggested slapped cheek, so I will also keep this in mind. It does look more like spots than slapped cheek generally does (to me that looks more like a rash).