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Original poster

Cystic chin spots - any new perspectives?

22 replies

TheOGCCL · 30/11/2023 21:27

I have very longstanding issues with hormonal spots and generally know how to deal with them but lately I keep getting cystic spots come up on my chin and I could really do with not having them as we go into party season.

I have PCOS but am peri menopausal and am on oestrogen, utrogestan and testosterone. I know testosterone can cause acne but I've been on this for two years and no issues previously and my levels are still well in range (they were on the floor).

I am on Dermatica 0.05 Tretinoin (reduced from 0.1 as it's cold), plus niacinamide and clindamycin. I've been on Dermatica for over three years and they don't allow me to keep the clindamycin permanently but I got it back a month or so back due to these current issues and the fact they are leaving bad scars.

I use a very basic, fragrance free skincare regime and am careful about new products. I also use salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide directly on the affected areas. I think aspirin applied directly sometimes takes the pain away - these are painful spots.

The rest of my skin is good. The spots come either at ovulation or in the week before my period. It's very clearly hormonal.

Is there anything more I can do?? When they appear they hang around for weeks and weeks.

OP posts:

BrendaBicycle · 30/11/2023 21:37

I get this

don’t have PCos but am 52 and peri meno, currently on the Mirena and Oestrogel…

the week before my periodI get deep cystic spots on my chin, they hurt, look bad and distract me and last weeks!

I had this in my teens, and now again in my 50s

no amazing solution, just some solidarity

if I can apply an ice cube a few times a day it shrinks them a bit and stops the sore/pressure feeling. It looks worse and red for a little bit, but then looks better

FizzyStream · 30/11/2023 21:55

Oh god I started getting these last year. Also perimenopausal.
I've seen a dermatologist and the only thing that has worked for me is a long course (3 months on, 3 months off and now into another 3 months on) of lymecycline which is an antibiotic.
Also have got azelaic acid for getting rid of the lingering hyperpigmentation left over.

Tretinoin was way too harsh for my skin and triggered perioral dermatitis.

MyDogSmellsTerrible · 30/11/2023 22:00

I had this. They were so painful and wrecked my confidence.

Roaccutane got rid of mine almost immediately and I've never had another in over 10 years. Life changing.

Imnoonesfool · 01/12/2023 03:35

I suffered with this for over 3 years. I originally started getting them in my late teens/early 20s, I completed a course of roaccutane and never had another for 20 odd years until I assume I reached peri menopause when they returned. I used long term antibiotics for almost 2 years before eventually asking for another course of Roaccutane and have not had one since (touch wood) which is almost 4 years now (I’m 48 now)

I know there is a bit controversy around it but I highly recommend as I only suffered very minimal side effects and both times was really monitored by my Dermatologist

Rina66 · 01/12/2023 06:00

I used to get these, it was always related to hormonal chin hairs blocked in the follicle. I've used a Philips Lumea hair removal laser on my chin for the past 4 years and it's stoped happening.

Snowwhite83 · 01/12/2023 06:37

I suffered with these and pcos. Spironolactone from the dermatologist sorted it!

ChilliPB · 01/12/2023 07:37

I had these every month and really reducing my sugar and refined carb intake (especially around my period) helped a lot. I haven’t had one for a year or more now.

Other foods - like dairy - might also be worth cutting out to see if they have an impact.

Might be worth a try as it’s a low risk option.

Sugarmole · 01/12/2023 07:50

I've suffered previously. I used differin which helped for a while and then prescribed antibiotic cream which I use one or twice a week.

I've started evening primrose oil to balance hormones and take other vits.

Looking back when I was going out alot and drinking alcohol the deep spots would pop up as well as eating lots of sugary foods.

I try and drink dairy alternatives which is supposed to help but I think alcohol and sugar are the biggest issues.

Gentle skin care products mostly and non oily moisturiser also helps.

This really affect confidence and I would often wale up and touch my skin to see what may have developed overnight.

One time a stranger also commented on my skin on a crowded train..I think she had issues but it was so embarrassing.

minipie · 01/12/2023 08:43

I have long standing hormonal acne, though been lucky to avoid the deep cystic spots.

What has helped most (in order)

Dianette - I run it back to back so no flare up in pill free week
Epiduo (benzoyl peroxide plus adapalene retinoid)
Spironolactone

Roaccutane helped but never quite hit it on the head so for me wasn’t worth the side effects. I might give it another go at some point though.

As a pp said a few of the spots are based round chin hairs which I keep meaning to get electrolysed (two of the buggers are now white which means laser won’t touch them).

I also find that for me there is a big correlation with (sorry tmi) my bowels, if they are at all slow I see an outbreak so drinking plenty of water, moving around a lot and avoiding too much carby stodge really helps.

saturnspinkhoop · 01/12/2023 08:49

I recently discovered Mario Badescu’s drying lotion. When a spot starts to crop up, I put some of this on and it zaps it before it appears. There is a cystic acne version, but I’ve found this works well on cystic spots that are forming.

Jellycats4life · 01/12/2023 08:51

Oh no, I had awful acne throughout my teens and into my 20s so it’s not good to know it might come back as I get further into peri.

I’m also wondering whether there’s a link between food intolerances and acne. I discovered about five years ago that I’m lactose intolerant (after a decade of what I thought was IBS) so I’m wondering whether dairy was an issue when I had acne too.

Original poster

TheOGCCL · 02/12/2023 09:10

Thanks everyone! There are a few new to me ideas here and good to have a recap of what’s out there. Things never seem quite bad enough for roaccutane.

I’m going to focus on my diet, watch the dairy, sugar and increase fibre for the next few weeks, all the boring stuff. The irony is when you have Christmas events and all these treats around, it’s harder to control your diet. But I guess it comes down to what’s more important.

OP posts:

Kellioo · 02/12/2023 10:30

Solidarity from me too, I have a monster atm covering 1/3 of my chin and a Christmas party tonight. Mine are hormonal.

I use all what you do and also on lymecycline, I still get one around my period but when not taking it, I get 3 or 4 monsters constantly.

Dots for spots have stopped a few in their tracks, but unfortunately not today's. I'm 44 and didn't think I'd still be dealing with spots.

Brandyginger · 02/12/2023 10:35

I started getting them monthly aged 43; it was horrendous, as soon as I had healed one the next one would sprout. Painful, unsightly - really depressing.

a private menopause specialist now has me on topical testosterone and progesterone. No oestrogen as I have masses of it still as perimenopausal and the imbalance from not enough progesterone was causing the problems. Not had a single spot for 2 years now on the programme.

DottyDop · 02/12/2023 10:36

Had the same issues and lymecycline and differin gel kept them down to the odd one every couple of months. Can't be on that long term though. Had issues when I came off them.
Have used the skin&me prescription for 8 months now and my skin has never been so good. Haven't had any cysts at all and the rest of it looks much healthier. It's pricey but there are deals on if you look around. I wouldn't stop using it now that's for sure.

pastaandpesto · 02/12/2023 10:51

I've always suffered from hormonal spots. Since my 40s it's been my jawline and neck that have been the real problem areas. Nothing seemed to help.

I've also struggled long term with anemia, and a few years ago gave in and paid to have an iron infusion privately. I didn't make the connection the first time, but my skin totally cleared within weeks for the first time ever. Since then I've had two more infusions and both times it's been the same - totally clear skin for months and months. I'm fact when I start getting spots again t's now one of the most obvious signs that my iron levels are low again.

I just thought I'd mention it because a dermatologist I spoke with was completely dismissive of the link between iron and hormonal acne, but the Dr I see for the infusions said that many of his patients have reported the same experience I've had.

Gymnopedie · 02/12/2023 15:07

saturnspinkhoop · 01/12/2023 08:49

The one for cystic spots is buffering lotion. It's not a four hour miracle cure but it reduces the time taken to go away by many days.

And whereas @saturnspinkhoop finds that the drying lotion helps get rid of the cystic ones even though it's not sold for that, conversely the buffering lotion says it's only for use on cystic spots but I find works well on all types of spot.

BelleStar2023 · 02/12/2023 15:17

I had cystic acne for years on my chin. Went about 6 years ago when I gave up gluten. If I cheat too much, it comes back.

TM1979 · 02/12/2023 15:28

I’ve started using Paula’s choice. There’s a a breakout range with a face wash, BHA exfoliant and a serum. I bought a small set to try it out. It’s definitely helped my skin. I’m 44 and have been plagued with chin and neck spots for a few years now.

Isabelle70 · 02/12/2023 15:32

I always had cystic spots, swelling and redness on my chin turns out I have/had rosacea. I now use Dermatica and it has made such a difference.
I have used creams, Roaccutane and antibiotics over the years but nothing has worked like the Dermatica.

SeasonalWitch · 02/12/2023 16:50

I’m similar.

Beautiful clear skin all my teenage years and as I’ve aged and after I ditched the pill, I got into a cycle of having one giant cystic chin spot every month with my period (zero spots during pregnancy, I’ll add, but they returned around 6 month PP). They are disgustingly huge and the purple scars last ages afterwards.

Now I’ve hit peri I’m getting just one after the other. But everything offered by the gp has caused serious redness like chapped skin over the whole chin, so much that I may as well sit out the spots. Evening primrose supplement made it 10x worse.

I’m currently trialling FaceGym’s acne light shot and using it daily. It’s a small blue light device that’s a little bulky but fits my whole chin in so I can do the area in one go. When I started using it I had one under the skin ready to erupt and it faded away after a couple of days without developing a head. One that already had a head dried out really quickly.

I must remember to keep going every day now I’m in-between spots and see how long it is before I get another.

If it’s a revelation, I’ll report back!

CatOnTheCludgy · 03/12/2023 05:13

Have you tried light therapy? A pen type device that is blue or red led light can really help deep spots. Neutrogena used to do one. Or an led face mask.

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