Spots in my 30s

[CasaAmarela]

I'm 32 and the past few months I have started getting spots - mainly on my chin and forehead. It's worse when my period is due but not limited to it. I've never gotten spots, even as a teenager and I'm so upset. I feel so ugly 😓 I've tried benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid but it didn't work. I don't drink alcohol, eat loads of fruit and veg and drink 2-3 litres of water a day so I don't see what I could improve diet-wise. I've woken up with yet another huge one under my eye of all places. I haven't changed my skincare either and my skin has always been fine with most products anyway other than thick creams. just don't understand why this is happening. Anyone else?

I'm in my 40s and only recently have I been getting spots, I feel like I'm in my teens again and not in a good way 😞 i dab TCP with a cotton bud which usually works on isolated spots but at the moment they seem to keep appearing on chin and cheeks. I work in healthcare and need to wear masks and I'm starting to think the masks are contributing as the spots are where the mask is in contact with my skin

I didn't have spots as a teenager, in fact I had great skin. However, my periods and hormones were not 'normal' and I was later diagnosed with pcos. When I (eventually) got pregnant, I had loads of spots and my doctor said that for me, it was all linked to my hormones.

Go and see your dr they won’t go away on their own

I have found Dermatica has really helped my skin. Might be worth a try. I think they do a free trial. It does take a couple of months though, you have to persist with it.

I had exactly this. It can be hormone related.

Agree Dermatica or Skin and Me.

Benzoyl peroxide will work (unless the acne is severe enough to need medication). It needs to be used consistently though and is hard to tolerate as it’s so drying. Prescription strength azelaic acid is very good and much easier to use. Salicylic can work on mild acne but never worked for me.

Retinoid at night plus one of the above in the morning and the acne should clear up.

Also perhaps worth getting checked out at the dr if this isn’t usual for you?

I’ve been dealing with hormonal spots for 30 years. Tried it all apart from roaccutane - never actually seen a doctor for it as it never seemed THAT bad. I’d recommend asking a doctor as you can waste a lot of money on products that aren’t right. Also for me the biggest thing that has helped is hormones, first in the pill, now in HRT and you can’t get that in Boots.

I follow some dermatologists on social media and found this worksheet one of the most useful things. I also think drinking peppermint tea calms my skin as well as reducing dairy.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0055/6541/5513/files/DR_SAM_ACNE_SOLVED.pdf?10648=&utm_campaign=Welcome%20Series%2C%20Email%20%231%20%28NCziNe%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Welcome%20Series&_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJodWJfYmFfYnViYmFAbGl2ZS5jby51ayIsICJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIkpicm5XSCJ9

@TheOGCCL thanks for that cheat sheet. I think it's excellent! Long time hormonal acne sufferer that - touch wood - seems to be under control, and pleased to see a lot of the products I've landed on after years of research are on that sheet!

I had exactly the same. Doctor prescribed me antibiotics and it cleared up completely but within 2 months of stopping taking them they all came back.

I tried Skin and Me Daily Doser and it took 2-3 months of using but it's cleared them up. I haven't had any spots in about a month so fingers crossed that's it now. It's about £25 a month so not cheap but worth it for how my skin is now.

Are you taking any contraceptives?