Another acne one

[saturnspinkhoop]

My skin has gone really bad again. I’ve had two rounds of Roaccutane in the past and was told I wouldn’t be likely to get a third round. I’ve tried Skin and Me. It worked really well, but then of course they had to stop Clindamycin due to risks of antibiotic resistance.

I’ve been controlling it fairly well up until now with benzoyl peroxide, but that has stopped working well. I’ve started on Differin. I’m hoping it’s just that I’m at the purge stage, but honestly my skin looks terrible. I’m also using Niacinamide. Also, I’m not normally someone who purges on new skincare. Generally, if something will work well, it starts working immediately.

I cant go back on the pill due to medical reasons. Oh and my skin is very oily.

What do you think my next steps should be? I feel too old for acne and it’s leaving dark red marks that sometimes don’t ever go.
Thanks.

Oh lovely I do feel for you…I would definitely go back to your dermatologist for their opinion. I know NHS appointments can take a while to come through so I would get that ball rolling asap.

Have you tried salicylic acid?

www.sr-skincare.uk/product/salicylic-acid-chemical-peel-kit/

Thanks for your responses.

I don’t have a dermatologist. The Roaccutane was over ten years ago. I think I’d have to go private to avoid a very lengthy wait. The longer I wait, the worse the scarring will be. I’ve got one indentation and a ton of red marks. I’m also very pale, so they really stand out.

I have tried salicylic acid numerous times over the years. It doesn’t seem to do anything for me unfortunately.

I’m just worried that I’m running out of options. I know there are far bigger things going on in the world, but it is getting me down. The oiliness is a problem too. And in my experience, it’s not true that oily skin keeps your skin youthful for longer. I’ve gone back on spearmint tea and have started vitamin d and zinc supplements, so hopefully that will help a bit.

You could try a topical spironolactone with tret from uncouth skincare (a bit like skin and me but I think you can get the spiro as a one of purchase rather than subscription), it definitely helps with the oiliness and has been really good for my acne (tho I currently seem to be suffering a bit). Dermatologists sometimes prescribe oral spiro but it comes with poss side effects, unlike the topical. Good luck, it sucks!

I hadn’t heard of topical spironolactone! I may give that a go. My acne and oiliness is definitely affected by hormones. It’s frustrating as the combined pill was working brilliantly, but I had to come off it. Thank you!

I recommend to visit a derm so he or she can guide you properly in this. Muyt routine which I follow for acne looks something like this:
AM
Water wash
MCo beauty Glow Boost vit C serum with niacinamide
Cerave Moisturising lotion
Neutrogena ultra-sheet fluid spf 50
PM
Body shop cleansing oil
Cerave foaming cleanser
Serum - M,W,F: Bondi sands hero oil
Tu, Sa: tretinoin from skinorac
Th, Su: : TO glycolic acid toner
HA
Cerave moisturising lotion M,W,F:
LRP cicaplast Baumé

Are you sure you wouldn't be prescribed Roaccutane again? Personally I would ask GP for a referral anyway, and then discuss your options with a dermatologist.
I've had 5 courses of Roaccutane over 25 years and wouldn't hesitate to have another one. Nhs waiting lists can take up to 8 months ime, but it is worth getting on the list to keep your options open. They may also discuss other treatment options with you too...

Thanks a lot for your responses. I’ve tried vitamin c too (for glowing purposes really) but it didn’t do anything. That’s an impressive regime Umbermoose!

RavenT, I suppose it’s possible I might be prescribed Roaccutane again, but the dermatologist said back in 2012 that I would be unlikely to get a third round due to diminishing returns. I did find Roaccutane to be good. It started working from the first tablet. I remember I was a month in and stood in front of the mirror with my concealer. I was struggling to see where I could put it, as my skin was so clear. In the end I dotted a bit on randomly as I was so used to wearing it, it felt wrong not to wear it. I know how ridiculous that sounds! Thanks for sharing that, RavenT. I’ll have a think.

Acne is so frustrating isn’t it. I had been trying to improve my appearance a bit, but nothing sets you back quite like acne!

I had a laser named nlite about 15 years ago. I had three sessions and can now count on one hand how many spots I get a year.

@PizzaPastaWine interesting! Did you have oily skins and did it help with that? Did it help with the red marks left behind after acne?

Following. I’ve just begun my 3rd round of Roaccutane but not hugely hopeful as it’s only 10mg/day and a much higher dose didn’t work last time.

Agree with trying Spironolactone, it wasn’t miraculous for me but helped somewhat and everyone is different with acne.

Will look into nlite, I had laser about 20+ years ago which didn’t help much but it was still in development then

@saturnspinkhoop

My skin is a little oily. I have PCOS too.

No, it didn't help with the scaring. The Dr that did the procedure said that the laser kills the bacteria under the skin. It was completely life changing. My skin was constantly breaking out and very painful. I have none of that now.

Try epiduo, it's better than differin. It's differin mixed with benzoyl peroxide.

Order Treclin from an online pharmacy

Does your Skin & Me script have Tret in it? That’s what worked magic on my 20 odd year battle with acne. I had Differin before Tret and it was OK but Tret is definitely better.

Following with interest as I’m in a similar situation. I stopped roaccutane a year ago and am now back in the same state I was before I took it. My skin is very oily too and apart from when I was on the medication I have never been able to control it.
My issue is the roaccutane really affected my mind, I had low mood and according to my husband, I was horrendous to live with

Skin and me with tret shifted mine and I was really struggling with my skin before

Thanks for your replies. It’s nice in one way that I’m not alone in this, but I do really feel for everyone who deals with acne.

@NC03 - you get your acne where I do!

Skin and Me with tret and Clindamycin shifted mine, but it started to inch its way back when they stopped the Clindamycin. Also, I found that it was making my skin progressively redder and more sore. I was fine with tret for many months, but then the redness started. I’m glad you’ve had such good results!

@Fiddlersgreen - I’m sorry the good effects of Roaccutane didn’t last long for you. I found the contraceptive pill to be great for controlling oiliness. It’s a shame I can’t take it anymore. I had a first round of Roaccutane in 2010 and it only lasted maybe 2 years. The second round lasted 8 years. However I can fully understand why you don’t want to risk low mood again. I wouldn’t want to either in your shoes.

I will look at all the suggestions made. I’ve actually just started to use Benzoyl Peroxide again in the mornings (Differin in the evenings). If that helps, I may well try Epiduo next time. I’ve already got the separate creams, so that’s why I’m trying that first.

Realistically, I suspect I will need dermatologist input. Just need to figure out whether to go the Uncouth skincare route, GP referral or private routes.

@PizzaPastaWine thats fantastic it worked so well for you. Really good.

ive also got textural issues on part of my face. Looks like acne, but it’s the colour of my skin, rather than red. It doesn’t look nice when the light hits it and it all looks bumpy. This issue appeared when I was using tret. Not saying tret caused it, but it didn’t stop it or treat it. I’ve googled but I’m still non the wiser what it is.

With the benzoyl it might be worth googling the acne dot org routine, that did help me for a while

If it’s hormonal acne you can try Botancyl Skinclear Elixir supplement so that you’ve got something working from the inside as well ( I get it from Boots but lots of places sell it ).

Agree with this. You really have to use gentle products and plenty of moisturiser whilst doing it.

However, if it’s hormonal sometimes topical products can only do so much. Options would be limited to differin/yasmin, roaccutane and spirolonactone (sp?). All work internally to address the root cause which is excessive oil.

I feel your pain OP. I’ve tried so many things and only Yasmin really brings it under control properly for me. Hope you find a way forward.

I’ve got gentle cleansers and decent moisturiser, so that’s sorted at least!

The supplement sounds intriguing. I’ll give the topical stuff a go for now and see what happens.

I will update in due course, in case it helps anyone.

Thanks again. I’ve been feeling pretty miserable for various reasons and your kindness is really appreciated.

Botancyl this is also good, I second this