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O/T: Adult Acne

princessmofo's picture

Submitted by princessmofo on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 9:39am

Is anybody else experiencing this nightmare?! This started a few years ago in my late 30's and has progressed. I've seen a dermatologist for two years. Been given rounds of antibiotics and topicals to no avail. And quite frankly, being on antibiotics for two years off and on has not helped my stomach much, in fact I believe it made things worse.

And yes, I've tried everything under the sun: Proactiv, Clinique, Murad, Neutrogena... You name it!

Finally, made an appointment to see a new ob/gyn since I fired the last one (a man) who wouldn't even entertain the idea that a woman in her late 30s could be peri-menopausal. I am. I know it. Nightsweats, mood swings, hot flashes and ACNE! All of which have gotten worse over two years. I go next week but the acne is killing my self-esteem. It's humiliating, embarrassing, and painful. And I deal with the public everyday so it's not like I can't wear make-up. I have to, just to disguise the disgusting cyst-like pimples.

So any advice, suggestions, voodoo medicine, would be appreciated.

Comments

princessmofo's picture

Submitted by princessmofo on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 9:57am

Thank you for sharing this with me. I am convinced that mine is entirely hormonal. I never had any skin problems until my late 30s. After my youngest child was born I chose to have a tubal ligation so I wouldn't have to continue birth control pills. But honestly, at this point, I would be willing to take them again to control this. It can't do anymore harm to my body than the antibiotics have. They have destroyed my gut. And I take a probiotic religiously to counter it.

princessmofo's picture

Submitted by princessmofo on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 10:28am

Yes, the antibiotics kill ALL the bacteria. Good and bad. So I stopped taking them. I'd rather poop. TMI? Sorry.

robin333's picture

Submitted by robin333 on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 10:06am

Yes, try the blood pressure med. It's Spiro which is a diuretic, water pill. But it works on hormones that cause cystic acne.

robin333's picture

Submitted by robin333 on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 9:58am

Yeap, it absolutely sucks! I tried high doses vitamin b5 with little success. Spiro (aldactone) works for hormonal acne (works on my cystic acne). Also I did the tetracyclines with short term limited success. Bactrim has been my miracle cure. (I did chemical peels, every topical stuff, rx included, and just about became a hermit. Yes, I'm vain and absolutely mourn my former flawless complexion) retinol helps a little.

That's just my experience. I know birth control pills clear a lot of people but I can not take.

The other suggestion is to try head and shoulders to wash your face, the zinc helps. I am taking fish oil 3x a day and that has helped. Seriously, for me, it's the spiro and bactrim. Both can take weeks to months to really clear you up.

robin333's picture

Submitted by robin333 on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 10:02am

Oh, and I did light therapy with no success. Was,at the point, dermatologist wanted to do Accutane (hell no) but I insisted on trying bactrim first. Thank God!

You name it, I tried it. If it's hormonal, Google spiro for acne. Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes and any suggestions you have.

princessmofo's picture

Submitted by princessmofo on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 10:51am

Thanks, Sally. My dh is a South African and he suggested black soap. I found some at the health food store here. He swears by it. But I find it king of drying so I can't use it everyday.

But the very helpful people at the health food store also showed me how to make my own cleanser and moisturizer using pure essential oils. So, we'll see... It's only been about five days right now.

Tuff Noogies's picture

Submitted by Tuff Noogies on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 10:19am

i've always fought this battle. all my damn life! it SUCKS. BIG TIME.

the only thing that has seemed to help me is staying away from the damn salicylic acid. apparently my skin is somewhat 'allergic' to it and it actually makes the pimples worse. the only cleanser i use is the generic form of Clean and Clear continuous control. i'll also occasionally swipe with rubbing alcohol. sometimes a lemon juice "mask" or a scrub up with arm-n-hammer. i'm pretty much down to just a couple "cystic" pimples and maybe a few tiny white bumps at any given time.

a dermatologist had once suggested i wash with liquid Dial soap- didnt do much for me, but it might help you.

oh, and i rarely wear makeup, but if it's not work-appropriate for you try just skipping the foundation in favor of a tinted moisturizer. if/when i do wear makeup, i use aveeno first, then swipe on covergirl "simply powder" (more coverage than just regular powder, but not as heavy/pore-clogging as liquid foundation.

tryingmom's picture

Submitted by tryingmom on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 10:30am

Philosophy has a great cleanser, Purity, it really cleans makeup, eye makeup and doesn't dry your skin. I use this with a clarisonic cleansing brush. Philosophy has products for acne that helped my son when his skin was bad.

CarlisleW's picture

Submitted by CarlisleW on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 12:03pm

Agree with Annith, for cystic acne (which I have suffered from off and on since I was 18, and am now 38) Isotretinoin (also known as Accutane and Roaccutane) really works. Like she said it is really difficult to get prescribed as the side affects 'can' be pretty major, also if you still have a period/are fertile you will have to have monthly blood and urine tests to make sure you don't get preggers as it causes birth defects - think brain damage. BUT it really works and should keep the acne at bay for a couple of years after.

princessmofo's picture

Submitted by princessmofo on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 12:24pm

Thanks everyone for your input. I would really like to avoid further antibiotics or Accutane, as it has done a number on my system (stomach, liver, kidneys). So I'm just going to hope for the best at the ob/gyn and see if I can get something for the hormones. I know that's the root of all this.

winter80's picture

Submitted by winter80 on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 12:56pm

ABSOLUTELY go on Spiro, and also take Birth Control Pills if you're able. The two together are the "perfect combination" to fight hormonal acne. Only doing one of them, (the spiro or the bcp), would be better than nothing as well! I take Spiro, 100 mg a day, and the only downside I see from it is that I have to go pee quite a bit for a couple of hours after I take it, but that's it! What spiro does is "block" the androgen hormones in your system causing the acne from reaching the skin level. It has absolutly saved my self-esteem!

princessmofo's picture

Submitted by princessmofo on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 1:04pm

Thanks! Smile

Starla's picture

Submitted by Starla on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 6:07pm

Bactine twice a day. Its meant for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. It takes almost 2 weeks to start clearing up and expect a break out before it starts getting better. It was my Aunt who told me about a teenager with severe acne who was in some documentary and he tried using Bactine when all else failed and his acne cleared up. I tried it back when I was 15 and my face cleared up, it even worked on Skids who once suffered with severe acne too.