beauty type problem. Does anyone else have skin that has become blackhead prone as you have aged?

[PirateCatintheXmasHat]

Mine skin has been a biot defiant and teenager like over the last 2 yrs. I am 40, and as a teen I did have pretty rubbish skin, mainly my cheeks.

More and moreso, i have developed blackheads which are impossible to get rid of, bar squeezing but they come back.

My skin was oily/combinationin my youth, but is sensitive as i have got older. my skin really has started to get dry too.

I am wondering if anyone else has approached thier gp for mild acne treatment. Given that these dry out the skin, do they work in the longterm?

I am never sure what to put on my skin. I use quite thick moisturiser, becuase my skin is so dry, but surely this is making my pores block.

I was also on the progesterone only pill for the past 3 yrs, and maybe this hasn't helped?

hi, well am veggie, have been for yrs, so no change in that recently. Eat a fair amount of vegetables, pasta, rice, eggs, pulses. Don't drink, do smoke tho, but not alot.

Have def seen hormonal changes, skin drier, more facial hairs. Come with age, but maybe it is connected?

yes i do. am thinking hormones?

PirateCatintheXmasHat - I too have oily/ spot break out and when I had a dermalogica facial with a face mapping consultation, I was told condition of my skin was likely to be hormonal. I actually know this to be true as have been ttc for 2 years and hormone bloods show massive imbalance. I'm 42. It sounds like you could possibly have hormone imbalance? May be worth visit to GP, they may take blood to test your hormones. hth

gp is prob more likely to throw some cream at me tho isn't she?

Has my thyroid test last yr, twas normal, i guess hormone tests are different?

Are you taking anything for your skin?

they tested me for the fertility hormones ( LH, FSH, progesterone, oestrogen) through general blood test. Think thyroid is a seperate test. I'm not taking anything for my skin, although I'm currently taking clomid. You could try a more herbalist/homeopath approach?

My skin just like yours but I'm 34. Was having terrible hormone problems and acne breakouts until I went on the pill. Stopped the acne but left blocked pores and really dry skin. I'm using Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream which has proved brilliant for blocked pores and dry skin though quite frankly it should be at £75 a pot. Have tried lots of other creams and Avon Solutions Maximum Moisture is not bad, but Elemis unbeatable for me.

Ask the GP to prescribe you Retin A. It makes your skin peel a bit (or a lot) at first, but if it works for you it gets rid of your blackheads, your spots, and your wrinkles too.

Another possibility is using a benzoyl peroxide gel in the evenings, which also makes your skin peel, and gets rid of blackheads pretty well.

Acne is usually hormonal at your our age. I saw a dermatologist recently, who said that there is a hormonal component, and in some people the androgens in the blood make the sebaceous glands react and inflame, and it's not really understood why. You can take drugs that work on the androgens, such as pills like dianette, or spironolactone, which is originally a drug for high blood pressure, but has a beneficial effect on this kind of acne too because it 'mops up' androgens (I think - am not a doctor!).

Ask your GP about these things, or for a dermatologist referral if your acne is unsightly and bothering you a lot.

And try a different moisturiser! Retin-ox can work wonders for this sort of thing, apparently.