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Original poster

What kind of acne is this

63 replies

whatkind · 19/01/2022 07:10

So I think it's cystic but also could be nodular. I say this because I get huge under the skin spots with no head, they don't go for months and months and eventually turn into these hard lumps under my skin that scar me. I'm so down about it. Sometimes one of them will come to a head but it's mainly bloody that comes out and then a lump is left, it never fully goes.
I'm getting married this year and dreading having a breakout before the day, and also covering up the lumps I'm left with.
I'm 32, diagnosed pcos a few years ago. Can't have the pill or anything due to ongoing ivf. I will try and find some pics.

Any help?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Original poster

whatkind · 19/01/2022 07:13

Some pics

OP posts:

Original poster

whatkind · 19/01/2022 07:14

OP posts:

Fcuk38 · 19/01/2022 07:25

What have you tried? I had hormonal
Acne and used tea tree oil and it got rid - it’s the only thing I’ve ever used on my skin where I can say it actually worked.

I’ve used the ordinary niacinamide too but that will make you purge before you see improvement.

Original poster

whatkind · 19/01/2022 07:57

So I've tried all sorts, all different kinds of face washes, tea trees, tcp on the bad ones, I use a 2in1 cleanser and toner, I use a sacylic acid bar soap everyday.
I've used duac and antibiotics in the past which didn't help aswell. So I'm at a loss really other than going for the heavy stuff which I can't right now due to ivf.
I have recently started using the niaciamide maybe that's why I'm having a bad bad breakout atm ! Does it keep the breaks outs at bay ?

OP posts:

Amelion · 19/01/2022 07:58

Ah, you poor thing - it looks like those could be painful. Have you been to the GP? I really would go, and be quite insistent if you need to be - don’t get palmed off. If you have a bigger GP practice see if one of them has a special interest in dermatology. You might need to ask for a referral. Or if you can afford it, get a private appointment with a dermatologist. I’d do this now - especially with your wedding coming up - rather than try and treat it with store bought or over the counter stuff.

Amelion · 19/01/2022 08:00

Just seen your second post - I assume you’ve been to the GP if you’ve been on prescription meds already - can you go back/get a Derm appt?

Fcuk38 · 19/01/2022 08:23

@whatkind

So I've tried all sorts, all different kinds of face washes, tea trees, tcp on the bad ones, I use a 2in1 cleanser and toner, I use a sacylic acid bar soap everyday. I've used duac and antibiotics in the past which didn't help aswell. So I'm at a loss really other than going for the heavy stuff which I can't right now due to ivf. I have recently started using the niaciamide maybe that's why I'm having a bad bad breakout atm ! Does it keep the breaks outs at bay ?

Niacinamide will break your skin out for about 6 weeks - well that was the time for me. Then yes for me it kept them at bay. It started not to work aswell for me so I moved to tea tree oil.

givemepiece · 19/01/2022 08:26

Absolutely recommend seeing a dermatologist, I had something similar but I probably went before it got as bad as yours (sorry, that sounds bad but if I had left mine I've no doubt it would've been just like yours)
I paid for a private dermatologist who gave me a private prescription and within 2 weeks it started clearing up.
Like you, it was really getting me down.

coronabeer · 19/01/2022 08:42

My daughter's acne started to clear up within a month of starting a vegan diet (she had previously been vegetarian). It was an unexpected bonus - she had given up animal products for ethical/environmental reasons. A few months on, and the difference is remarkable - I really wish we had taken photos. I have to put it down to eliminating dairy from her diet - not that she was a big dairy consumer before (never liked drinking milk, for example, even as a small child).

I became a vegan at the same time as my daughter and also feel much healthier for it. I think my skin has improved, too, but that may well be wishful thinking. But the improvement in my daughter's skin is unquestionable.

This video shows the experience of two sisters (at least I think they're sisters) who dramatically improved their acne on a Whole Food Plant Based (wfpb) diet. There are lots of similar stories.

Anyway, I thought it was worth mentioning. 4-6 weeks would probably be long enough to see if there was any improvement and decide whether or not it is worth persevering. Just try to make sure you eat healthily (Whole food, plant based) rather than simply loading up on the chips and oreos. After a while, your taste starts to change anyway, so it gets progressively easier.

Knitter99 · 19/01/2022 08:45

The only otc product I had any success with was acnecide. I got those big, sore spots with no head too.

Your skin looks so sore, I would be right back to your gp and pushing for a dermatology referral.

lurkingfromhome · 19/01/2022 09:37

With acne like that you need roaccutane and nothing else will work. I say that as a fellow sufferer. With that severity it's unlikely anything topical or diet-related will make any difference. Mine was just as bad. I was on antibiotics for 20 years and nothing worked until I finally got a referral. Six months of roaccutane 9 years ago and I've never had a spot since.

LiveFromNewYork · 19/01/2022 09:55

It’s a little tricky as many effective treatments for acne won’t be suitable for someone TTC or pregnant. I would agree cutting out dairy might help you, worth a go? Azelaic acid is an option, and bakuchiol.

Original poster

whatkind · 19/01/2022 10:12

Thank you for all the advice. It's bloody horrible, very sore and also itchy.
I'm waiting for a call off the doctors about it.
I'm actually having a 6 months break from ivf so I'm going to see what they'll be willing to give me!! It was never this bad until mid 2020 when it just went crazy, and this was before any ivf drugs so it's not like I can even blame it on that

OP posts:

IvorCutler · 19/01/2022 10:30

Bless you, definitely use your IVF break to give whatever you can a go. Hopefully the doctor can get you started on something asap.

My skin is pretty good now at 37, but it was just like yours in my teens/early 20s. I know how hard it is, you poor thing 💐

IvorCutler · 19/01/2022 10:32

Just to add, Vichy dermablend compact foundation gives excellent coverage for acne and is really gentle on skin.

Taoneusa · 19/01/2022 10:35

Have you tried cutting out dairy?

Have you tried sulphur soap?

Have you tried zineryt?

These are the things that have helped with family member here , all three together blitzed the long term cystic acne. Good luck!

traintraveller · 19/01/2022 10:36

With acne they don't really differentiate between nodules and cysts, its more about severity and going by your pics you have severe inflammatory acne. You probably need topical treatment (BPO and Retinoid) and systemic antibiotics both of which your GP can prescribe. Topical retinoids are not recommended during pregnancy, neither are tetracycline antibiotics but there are alternatives. If you are not TTC I would seriously consider dianette or oral isotretinoin. The isotretinoin will require a dermatologist referral and review to commence treatment, you cannot get pregnant and must be on contraception (2 forms) for 4 weeks before, during and 4 weeks after treatment so a minimum of 24 weeks.

IvorCutler · 19/01/2022 10:47

@traintraveller Dianette is what cleared mine up. Is it still available? I heard talk of it being banned due to some cases of thrombosis or something?

coronabeer · 19/01/2022 10:50

Just been thinking a bit more about you. Hope that doesn't sound creepy, but:

The change in my daughter's skin has been near miraculous - and unexpected. If we had expected such a change, we would have taken "before" photos.
I suffered from pcos and struggled to conceive dd2. I followed a low-GI diet in an attempt to manage the pcos symptoms and dd2 was conceived naturally within 2 months of the fertility clinic telling me I wasn't ovulating.

Anyway, I'm a great believer that diet and nutrition plays a big, often overlooked, role in our health and well-being.

I had a quick look to see if there was any evidence aboiut a whole foods, plant based diet helping with pcos. Short story: not too much research has been carried out, but there is a fair amount of circumstantial evidence. For example:
nutritionstudies.org/cleared-pcos-kids-lost-weight-plant-based-diet/

www.reddit.com/r/vegan/comments/k06e37/pcos_and_wfpb_success/

I don't want to go on in annoying fashion, so I'll leave it there. I hope you manage to sort your skin out and that the IVF is successful for you.

beautifullymad · 19/01/2022 10:51

@lurkingfromhome

Just reading through to make this comment. 6 months of Roaccutane will sort this permanently. You won't get spots afterwards. Needs a consultation dermatologist to prescribe. Your GP should be able to advise.

Seniorandjunior · 19/01/2022 10:59

Sympathies OP.

What you have is sever scarring acne. I second/third @lurkingfromhome and @beautifullymad.
This is a medical issue. Even with IVF the derm will be able to help. Go for an evidenced based treatment. Good luck on all fronts OP

traintraveller · 19/01/2022 11:03

IvorCutler still used as far as I know and is mentioned in the Nice guidelines published in June last year

IvorCutler · 19/01/2022 11:08

Yes, sorry @traintraveller I googled after I asked (should have done before…). It’s banned in France, Canada and Japan but available elsewhere.

RavenT · 19/01/2022 11:58

Thirding Roaccutane. Good luck Op.

BakeOffRewatch · 19/01/2022 12:11

It sounds like you’re going through a lot - plus a pandemic! Congratulations on your engagement.

I think I’d leave trying to fix it for now, if roaccutane etc isn’t an option at the moment. It sounds like your main concern is wedding, read up makeup tutorials on covering up burn scars (it takes time, you have to wait for each layer to dry but covers it completely), buy a blue light (it flattens the skin, stops inflammation happening, so if you touched without looking it would feel fine, but infection is just under skin), and have a monthly facial with someone who specialises in managing acne.

Roaccutane completely changed my skin but it was mentally and physically tough. For my wedding I had monthly facials and had the makeup skills above and a really good make up artist. Indian make up artists in particular are really good at covering it up and there’s loads of them that specialise in weddings.

I had a baby in 2020 and after that my skin started to thicken and get oily again. Not as bad as before.

This is the blue light I used, good because portable and affordable, I used it twice a day 3min over each area. I needed a bigger one really though. www.lookfantastic.com/talika-free-skin-anti-blemish-device/11418613.html

Best wishes for the IVF and wedding, what an exciting time, I hope the acne doesn’t get in the way of your enjoyment.

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