Acne Help

[Acnehelpplease]

I'm absolutely at the end of my rope now, I've suffered with acne for the best part of 20 years at this point (I have PCOS). I'm hoping someone here has a miracle cure.

Unfortunately I can't take roaccutane as it started to affect my kidney function relatively early in treatment. I feel people think I look dirty, I wear makeup when out beyond the park with the kids etc but of course it's still visible and affecting my confidence.

My current treatment is Dianette (although the doctors are getting increasingly worried about prescribing this, meant to be 2 years max and I've been on it more than off for the last 16 years) as well as differin gel every other night. I also use an led light mask nightly.

Other than this I shower twice a day, double cleansing my face if wearing makeup/sun cream (curel so gentle as my skin can become dehydrated), use acids nightly, eye cream, sebamed moisturiser or the light version of weleda skin food if very dry. I try to limit make up use, and remove it as soon as I'm home. I change my towel and pillowcase daily, wash my pillow weekly and change them every 3 months. Drink 3 litres of water a day, eat relatively healthily too. What else can I do?! I'm so sick of never feeling happy in my appearance, not to mention the pain and bleeding.

I’m so sorry you are going through this OP, as someone who’s suffered from some form of acne since teens, I agree it absolutely destroys everything. I still spend so much of my time admiring everyone else’s skin and wondering how it would feel to not worry when your next breakout will be

After working my way through all the topicals when I was 17-19, I spent my entire early 20s on oral antibiotics with no positive effect. The pill also did not help. A GP put me on topical tretinoin which showed marginal benefit and then I eventually had a course of Roaccutane which left it somewhat settled until pregnancy albeit still with occasional breakouts. I have had cystic acne on and off since having my children with the worst time being the last 2 years.

When acne is hormonal like yours and mine, no amount of hygiene stops it. When I’m on a good run, I can touch my face whenever I want with no negative effect. When I’m struggling, no amount of keeping clean stops the spots and cysts. I keep a good level of hygiene (clean make up brushes, twice daily cleansing etc) all the time and don’t think further because it just doesn’t change anything

In terms of diet, there is evidence linking whey protein, refined sugar and refined carbs to acne. Again, it affects those who are sensitive to those triggers but not everyone. Try a food diary, cutting them out and see what helps

It’s less common for Roaccutane to affect kidneys, usually the liver but of course that doesn’t mean it wasn’t your reality. Spironolactone can affect renal function too - I am on it but my GP very carefully monitored as I started and with dose changes. It could be worth exploring whether it’s worth a try with monitoring (if the Roaccutane was one off and no pre existing renal condition)

I order my tret with Monderma, they are wonderful. Used Skin+Me and Dermatica before but prefer their formula and customer service. Not automated yet but they are quick to respond and friendly

What works for us may not for you and vice versa. I am certainly not completely clear, in a slightly better place than pre spiro that I have fewer cysts but they’ve not gone entirely and the scarring stays for so long.

If you can afford it, a good derm who specialises in acne. Don’t be fooled by ‘medical grade’ skincare, it’s marketing bullshit. There is proper clinical evidence for the prescription medication available from GP, tret and benzoyl peroxide.

It might not be the miracle cure but I throughly recommend watching 'eat smart by the glucose goddess' on channel 4.

There are 2 episodes but the first one shows a lady who suffered all her life with acne & boils and with some diet changes saw a dramatic change to her skin.

She also helped lots of other people with weight and skin problems and even reversed a ladies type 2 diabetes. It's very interesting.

Good luck.

I was hugely struggling with my skin for the last 2 years with acne and red skin it was terrible !!
You need to go back to basics
1 cleanse
2 Tone
3 moisturiser I use La Roche posay for sensitive skin
Because it sounds like your skin barrier is damaged !!
i have also found out that differin is supposed be used when acne is not active ! It keeps them at bay when controlled
When u have healed skin barrrier
I added Paula’s choice skin exfoliating liquid
when I could safely do this I added
La Roche posay b5 serum this is good for skin barrier when I coped with this I added
Paula’s choice azelaic Acid this has been an absolute game changer !! Look at the reviews
I have now added lactic acid and I went out the other day and saw people who had seen my skin at its worst they could not get over how clear my skin was if u want any links to products just lemme know I also use led mask at night x x x