Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Does anyone else still get acne at 41? Feel so alone with it all.

60 replies

TillyMc · 14/05/2023 12:12

I’m 41 and had acne since about 12. It only really got better on the pill. I’d say it’s only mild to moderate but makes me so self conscious.

I had my daughter nearly a year ago and it was bad during pregnancy, barely had any for 5 months after, but then it’s been back for the past few months. Not sure if it’ll settle down again as it wasn’t too bad in the couple of years before having her.

Everyone I see my age or younger has perfectly clear skin and I feel like I’m the only one (especially at my age). It’s made me wish for the menopause as maybe that’d put a stop to it!

Not really after treatment recommendations as I’d be unable to take certain things like Roaccutane. I do find Benzoyl Peroxide works quite well but is very drying.

Suppose I just want to hear from others going through similar to make me feel less alone with it.

OP posts:
wizzywig · 14/05/2023 12:14

Hi,yes. Omnlilux blue light helped me a lot

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 14/05/2023 12:20

Yes but I took accutane and was fine for years. Now peri menopausal and my skins an oil slick one week and dry the next 🤨 been refused more accutane incase I kill myself 🫠 dh died last year so if I was going to kill my self pretty sure I would have by now 🙄

My purple high frequency machine is helping loads and my led mask when I remember it.

TheWildOnesRunningWithTheDogs · 14/05/2023 12:23

Yes! Not constantly but often. I've kind of made my peace with it; I can cover it to a certain extent and I won't let it run my life. But I do avoid having photos taken, which makes me feel a bit sad as I have so few with my daughter.

Fourmoos · 14/05/2023 12:23

Sorry but I’m 65 and still have acne….

Flymetothetoon · 14/05/2023 12:36

I've never stopped getting break outs either. I remember with every milestone birthday approach I'd think maybe after this birthday my skin would improve but NOPE. My next milestone birthday will be 60 and I still have crap skin so obviously this is always going to be my normal 😟

FarSideOfTheSun · 14/05/2023 12:40

Mine improved with perimenopause but got worse again when I started Testosterone HRT. It’s so annoying. I have used benzoyl peroxide twice a day for about 30 years now.

Original poster
TillyMc · 14/05/2023 12:42

@FormerlyPathologicallyHappy I’m so sorry about your husband. Do you mind me asking if you had any side effects from the accurate? Would you say it’s back to how it was before you started taking it?

OP posts:
User63847484848 · 14/05/2023 12:43

You’re not alone
I have it badly on my jawline and neck at the mine t and am (relatively) newly single too and thinking about online dating soon. I did take roaccutane about 2-3 yrs ago which did really help but it’s started to come back 😔. Mine is totally hormonal so hoping menopause will help but I also intend to go straight on the HRT when needed so maybe it won’t!

User63847484848 · 14/05/2023 12:44

Oh and I’m 42.
it feels so unfair to have to worry about acne and wrinkles at the same time!

Original poster
TillyMc · 14/05/2023 12:44

@TheWildOnesRunningWithTheDogs Yes, that’s the same as me. It is really sad. I’ve asked my husband to take the odd picture but not let me see them, so at least I’ve got them in case one day I’ll be able to look at them.

OP posts:
Ohfgsjon · 14/05/2023 12:44

I've had cystic hormonal acne for years. I never saw anyone with bad skin and I used to despair and get so down about it. Oxytetracyclin works for me and I've been on and off it for years.

Original poster
TillyMc · 14/05/2023 12:45

@User63847484848 Thank you. Do you mind me asking if it has come back as bad as before you started the accutane?

OP posts:
Original poster
TillyMc · 14/05/2023 12:46

@Ohfgsjon Thank you. I’m going to ask about antibiotics as that is something I could take.

OP posts:
Kickingupmerrybehaviour · 14/05/2023 12:46

I’m 38 and had it my whole life up until last year. Can’t take roacctuane as my mental health isn’t always great. I started taking dim supplements about 18 months ago and my skin is completely clear. It worked very quickly as well. After I took the first capsule I stopped getting new spots.

JobChangeSoonPlease · 14/05/2023 12:46

HRT (oestrogen and progesterone) is the only thing that has solved my life long acne problem. Got very very bad when peri menopause started. Up to a dozen huge ones at the same time. It was unbelievable. Hope I never have to stop HRT.

No testosterone as it will increase acne.

Picklewicklepickle · 14/05/2023 12:48

Yes I’m 41 and had it since I was 14, the only thing that works for me is the combined pill which was really shit during the TTC, pregnancy and post-birth years. As soon as I stop taking it my hair and skin is like an oil slick within days then I get painful spots, it really had a negative affect on you. My previous pill provider stopped prescribing when I turned 40 but NICE guidelines say you can take it up to 50 and I get it via Boots. Not sure what I’ll do at that point though…

User63847484848 · 14/05/2023 12:55

@TillyMc no it’s not as bad as before and I’m still glad I did it; the dermatologist did warn me it might only last about 5 yrs at my age (tends to last longer for teenagers who take it).
I did find the physical side effects (dry skin, v flakey lips and irritated my eyes) tricky but don’t regret doing it as all side effects went when I stopped, I was relieved I didn’t have any noticeable changes to my mental health or mood as I have had depression in the past so was worried about that.

I have sensitive eyes so probably the worst for me was the eye thing and I got an infection a few times on one side but that was right towards the end of taking it so I just stopped slightly early and it was fine.

User63847484848 · 14/05/2023 12:57

Previously the only thing that worked for me was Dianette pill but that caused low mood, I wasn’t happy about the breast cancer risk and you can only really take it for 18 months at a time I think. I think I have PCOS syndrome.

QuentininQuarantino · 14/05/2023 12:59

I’m 36 and have finally started accutane and it’s going well so far, I’m on a lower dose for a longer time. I had mild success with antibiotics in the past but it isn’t sustainable long term and it all came back as soon as I stopped. Although I’m clear now (from accutane) I’m still not convinced it won’t come back once I’ve stopped, I’ve had it since I was about 12 and can’t imagine being free of it.

JMAngel1 · 14/05/2023 13:00

I had severe acne up until 46 (I had two courses if roacutane which worked at time but it always came back)
Then I started taking DIM supplement (basically broccoli) and it all cleared up within 3 weeks.
However, I went on HRT last year and I would say it’s showing signs of kicking off a little - a few spots/bumps. Nothing obvious but it makes me anxious. I’ve just increased my DIM dosage and reduced my oestrogel to 1 pump so fingers crossed.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 14/05/2023 13:05

I had acne all the way to late 30’s. I dread to think how much I’ve spent on products over the years to find that the thing that helped was switching to using soap to wash and not using liquid foundation, mineral powder instead. Never use wipes or cleanser

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 14/05/2023 13:24

@TillyMc its ok, it was an illustration of how much stress I’m under not a attention seeking thing but thank you. I’m not my former mil <saucer of milk for me>

I had the contraceptive implant in 2017, went badly cystic. Not huge bumps but deep, profuse and so so painful they’d wake me up at night. Took antibiotics while my gp ref for urgent dermatology and they gave me accutane for four months. It worked brilliantly till last year when I was wearing a mask 8hrs a day visiting dh and I got acne again but no where near as bad. Ref to derm but they said no, bastards, because the guidelines have changed after a huge review last year, that I participated in. Took lymecycline but it didn’t do much 🤷🏻‍♀️ there’s two types of nhs derms, ones who only want to do skin cancer and psoriasis and dismiss acne and ones who accept having red pustules is upsetting to patients and prescribe accutane. I still had to do pg tests even though dh was sterile just incase I was shagging someone else on the side.

Anyway I’ve sorted it out now by being under a different sort of stress & using my high frequency & led mask regularly. The high frequency thing is amazing, wish I’d bought it years ago and I think my led mask stopped me pitting when I was cystic because I’d put it on red for an hr morning and evening. You’d get both under £100 on amazon.

lingmerth · 14/05/2023 13:26

The only time my skin was good was whilst pregnant. I'm 63 now, past menopause and although it's improved it's still greasy and prone to spots. I use an antibiotic cream if I get a flare up been using it for years.
I remember seeing a dermatologist in my late 30's who looked at my face and said ' it's not that bad' and refused to prescribe anything.
I was so upset. Unless you live with it you have no idea what it does to your confidence.
Actually lockdown helped my mindset. I stopped wearing makeup and by the time I was out and about I continued. It's liberating.

JMAngel1 · 14/05/2023 13:32

Can I please ask what the high frequency mask is?
Is it just for acne?

DelurkingAJ · 14/05/2023 13:35

Yep. Got bad at 12 and has never fully cleared up (I’m 42). As soon as I vow to go to the GP it gets a bit better for a while. It’s definitely hormonal and stress related. You’re not alone.