Spots at 32yrs!!

[Dummie]

Getting really fed up with my spotty face. I'm 32 and constantly have spots. They are mostly around my mouth area and sometimes my nose. I have combination skin and keep to a nice skin care routine which consist of cleansing, toning, moisturising and sunscreen. I also use a serum at night and exfoiliate once a week and slap on a deep cleansing and moisturising face mask once a week.

WHY DO I KEEP GETTING THE DAM THINGS? :confused:

Getting older means scars take longer to heal which makes it seems like I'm covered when maybe I've only got 3-4 active at one time.

Any advice please?

[wendym]

I know 'cleanse tone moisturise' is a mantra, but I wonder whether you're overdoing the moisturiser?

I'm older than you, and if I don't use an oil-free moisturiser (and only sparingly) my skin goes to pieces.

I'm currently cleaning using only Evian water spray (had a few days in France, where it's cheap) then Clinique moisture surge (avoiding the T-zone completely).

[Miroslav]

What's the diet like? Bad diet causes spots and it won't matter how much product you put on your face.

If your diet is good, then I'm stumped :o

[Elliesmum]

I'm 40 :eek: and still get the odd spot or 2 - so you are not alone. Again be careful with the moisturiser, look to ensure it's oil free. The only good spot cream that's come out in years is Freederm - treats the redness as well as the spot.

HTH's

EM XX

[sarah84]

Have you tried any medication?
I'm 23 and have suffered with awful spots since I was 11, at worse they looked more like a huge rash than spots!
Over the past 12yrs I've tried every cleansing range going from cheap ones such as nivea, simple, clearasil, clean and clear, biore, neutrogena, quinoderm, lush and body shop to pricier ones such as lancome, clarins, christian dior, clinique, and the highly acclaimed Dermologica.
Nothing made much difference for me, until I went to my doctor and was given the contraceptive pill Dianette-it has changed my life! People now actually say what nice skin I've got. I get the odd few spots around my period but other than that it really worked for me.

[Dummie]

If the product doesn't say 'oil free' then does this mean it's not?

I'm only using a lotion at the moment and actually worry that I'm going to wake up one morning covered in wrinkles because I'm not moisturising enough!

Wendym - do you mean you put nothing on your t-zone?

I don't have the best diet but it's not the worst either. I cook 8 out of 10 meals from scratch and don't drink or smoke. The bad thing is I hardly drink any water or eat much fruit. I'm working on that one now though. Trying to eat at least 2 pieces of fruit per day and drink 6 glasses of water.

Wondering if I should go stock up on teenage skin care products LOL.

[dmg24]

Hi Dummie,

I am 28 and have just started getting spots for the first time ever!

There are so many reasons for spots - overstripping your skin (too many products), stress, hormones, the list goes on and on.

Doc says I need a blood test for mine, but I keep putting it off, but definitely worth having a word if your GP is sympathetic.

Let us know how you get on x

[Elliesmum]

If the product doesn't say 'oil free' then does this mean it's not?

.

Not necessarily - you need to check the ingredients - or better still look for oil free. I use a very cheap (ie the basic Nivea or Olay) lotion and I haven't got many wrinkles. I got told that oiler skins are less likely to wrinkle - but I don't know what truth there is in that :rotfl:

EM xx

[beard0609]

I know how you feel .. I have more now than when I was a teenager... Got some cream from the doctors called Nicam Gel it's very strong but seems to work..

[tifnstav]

My skin got bad around 18, 19 years of age, my early and mid teens were quite good skin-wise.

Tried everything, spent a fortune on different products, different lotions prescrobed by the doctor. Mine were so bad that I couldn't talk on the phone for long - holding it to my face hurt because of all the spots and drunks in pubs would make comments.

I went to my doctor 4 months ago and told him that I needed something that would work, I am 26 and told him I was sick of being a pizza face!

Been on Dianette for 4 months, seen a massive improvement in my skin, but the side effects mean it isn't for everyone.

I feel very sick some mornings since being on it (no I'm not pregnant) and as a result I don't have much of an appetite. Lost 9 pounds so far and saved a fair bit as I don't finish my meals and have the leftovers next day for lunch!

I am combining this with using clinique soap and clinique toner (level 4 for very oily skin). Its expensive but I use it every day. I do not use any moisturiser any more as my skin is still shiny, but I think I will have to find something I can use around my eye area so I don't start to crinkle!

Hope you find something thats right for you, I know how terrible bad skin can make you feel.

I've rambled on a fair bit!

[mae]

I also suffer from spots and have tried everything but the doctor won't give me dianette because of my age!!

[Dummie]

Thanks for all your replies.

I've never tried not using moisturiser before. Maybe this is it. Or maybe I should swap to one of those hydrating oil free ones. The gel like water ones.

Anyone know the difference between hydrating and moisturising?

Don't really fancy going down the medical route personally. I'm not generally a person who likes to take medication so can't see myself doing it for the sake of my skin.

I'll try and stick to drinking more water and eating more veg as well to see if that makes a difference.

How about professional facials? Anyone have these done and see a difference?

[wendym]

If the product doesn't say 'oil free' then does this mean it's not?

Wendym - do you mean you put nothing on your t-zone?

Wondering if I should go stock up on teenage skin care products LOL*.

Hi again

I assume that if it doesn't say 'oil-free' then it isn't. And yes, I put nothing at all on my T-zone, apart from a dab of Clearasil* (depressing or what!) on an occasional spot on my chin.

I forgot to add that my forehead (not too badly behaved) gets a dot of oil-free moisturiser, but not daily.

[Stargazer Lily]

Hi again

I assume that if it doesn't say 'oil-free' then it isn't. And yes, I put nothing at all on my T-zone, apart from a dab of Clearasil* (depressing or what!) on an occasional spot on my chin.

I forgot to add that my forehead (not too badly behaved) gets a dot of oil-free moisturiser, but not daily.

Using clearasil cleanser seemed to bring me out in worse spots than when I didn't use it!

Lil

[wendym]

Using clearasil cleanser seemed to bring me out in worse spots than when I didn't use it!

Lil

I didn't mean the cleanser, but the tube of skin-tinted stuff I remember from my teens!

[Violetta]

I've got awful skin and prob tried everything, after seeing a few people recommend the Clinique soap bar I went to my local boot's had a consultation with a lovely lady who told me what kind to get (think there are 3 soaps) it wasn't cheap £9, but worth a shot, I'm glad I did it has cleared my spot's up, if I don't use it for a few day's I get a few zit's they soon clear up though. NOW if I could get rid of yukky blackheads I'd be gorgeous. lol

[frivolous_fay]

Anyone tried microdermabrasion? I have a salon voucher to use and I've read (I@read) a lot of waffle on the net saying it's good for acne. (My back is worse than my face, it sucks)

[frivolous_fay]

Oh... also there's a 'regimen' here for extreme acne, has a veritable cult of devotees!

www.acne.org (http://www.acne.org)

[jewlls]

I've got awful skin and prob tried everything, after seeing a few people recommend the Clinique soap bar I went to my local boot's had a consultation with a lovely lady who told me what kind to get (think there are 3 soaps) it wasn't cheap £9, but worth a shot, I'm glad I did it has cleared my spot's up, if I don't use it for a few day's I get a few zit's they soon clear up though. NOW if I could get rid of yukky blackheads I'd be gorgeous. lol


What was the name of the soap that she reccommended?

[rjm2k1]

I personally think it's likely to be down to diet, I'm 34 and still get the odd spot now and then, normally after eating something bad like chocolate, but it's not that easy to pin down as sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't, I guess it's down to the specific ingredients in different foods. I don't wash with soap on a morning, just warm water, though I do wash with shower gel when having a bath/shower. If I use a moisturiser, it tends to be E45 cream.

[belfastgirl23]

I sympathise with the taking longer to heal thing, in fact sometimes things don't seem to heal at all now and leave a permanant small mark. I know for sure that too much sugar shows up on my face (I once ate a large bag of jelly babies and still have the scar to show for it).

I do wonder if you're using too many products. I normally just cleanse and moisturise at night and wash with a moisturising facewash in the shower in the morning. If I use sunscreen I don't use moisturiser, the sunscreen already feels heavy on my skin. I only use sunscreen if I'm going to really be out in the sun and it's fairly strong. otherwise I use a moisturiser with spf (currently Simple with spf 10) which I figure is enough for the weather we're having.

Unfortunately you just have to experiment! Good luck!

[rjm2k1]

Forgot to mention, one of the guys I work with had really bad spots until he cut out all dairy products from his diet, then they cleared up.

[BlondeHeadOn]

I am 47 and still get spots :eek: :eek:

On the plus side, I think they make me look younger - if anyone says how young I look, I say "It must be the teenage spots!"

I have recently started using Dr Hauschka cleansing cream, which I find is great. I have also stopped using any night cream at all - which is recommended in the Dr Hauschka literature. I always thought I had to use night cream, or my skin would shrivel up - not at all, I've now got the clearest skin I have had for years, except for during PMT (which I guess I just have to live with).

Worth a try, and the Dr Hauschka cleansing stuff is great - see link here:

http://www.drhauschka.co.uk/productinfo.php?product=16

Hope it helps!

:D

[floyd]

My spots cleared up when I started using Australian Bodycare tea tree face wash and started eating properly but its definately a case of trial and error to see what works for you.
Dr Brandt microdermabrasion is great for reducing the redness and giving you soft skin. Have also tried the Philosophy microdermabrasion and that is very good too.
My friend had teenage acne and she swears by Prescriptives and Liz Earle for stopping her erruptions!

[naturalplease]

I had very bad spots from age 10 to 24. I tried just about every kind of cream, lotion, potion - you name it. Nothing really seemed to make much difference. Then, I went to see a nutritionalist about something else, and she took me off cow's milk dairy products. The spots vanished. I still get the odd one (but usually when I've had dairy products).

Make sure you use completely natural skin care products such as Primavera (I find their Tea Tree & Lavender face wash is really good), Suki (good but expensive), Green People etc. Also visit www.imperfectlynatural.co.uk (http://www.imperfectlynatural.co.uk) for lots of other companies which sell natural products.

[knickermafia]

get some vitamins into your diet.
zinc and vitamin c chewables ..... i never looked back :)

[cazziebo]

so glad this thread appeared.

I'm 46 and just come off the pill and got terrible break outs! (Reason I was on the pill was for my skin - it's always been bad and it cleared it up completely. Now I've met the most fab guy after years of singledom I get high blood pressure. Grrr!)

Got a great diet - eat lots of fruit/veg/ drink loads of water - don't even like chocolate! Lots of fresh air but still bad skin, mainly round about my jawline. Going to try some of the recommendations here

Never thought I'd be spotty and wrinkly at the same time, but yes, I guess overall I do look younger so maybe there is a bright side!

Thanks people! :T

[floyd]

Forgot to mention a range that my Mum swears by called Salcura. She uses it for lupus-type skin flushes and it works wonderfully but they do other products for psoriasis, eczema and acne/spots.
It is not cheap but the results on other damaged skin are incredible

[melg1973]

I'm 34 and only in the last year have I stopped getting spots round my mouth, since I started cleaning my face with:

Firstly with a facial wipe (a sensitive one with moisturiser) to get most of the make up off.

Then followed with sensitive baby lotion, I just keep going until nothing left!

Thats on a night, in the morning I just use the baby lotion.

[frivolous_fay]

I'm 46 and just come off the pill and got terrible break outs!

O, joy. I'm 30 and about to do the same thing... and not even spot free on it :/

[Violetta]

What was the name of the soap that she reccommended?
Hi jewlls it was part of the Clinique 3 step range (http://www.clinique.co.uk/templates/products/3step_prod.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT3097)the facial soap bar is the 3rd product down the page I think I got the mild one it dries my skin but not overdries IYSWIM the assistant does a quiz on you to decide which one you need I didn't buy the toner I got a sample and it stung really badly and i already had some moisturiser hth

[frivolous_fay]

I heard the clinique reps clean down their counters with the toner :rotfl:

[Violetta]

I heard the clinique reps clean down their counters with the toner :rotfl:
I'd heard that too think I read it on hear actually, I wouldn't be surprised if you could use it as a nail varnish remover too :eek: it stung like hell.

[rjm2k1]

An ex of mine had the clinique thing, we tried to use it after the stuff used for a face painting party left our skin in bad condition, it was terrible! E45 beat it hands down.

[positivelymummy]

wow so many lotions! i suffer from spots at 35 but mine are always related to my cycle and they're always the great big ones (they may as well have a siren on them!) i use nothing on them as everything i tried made it worse, the best thing i did use that helped was witch hazel (about 70p from the chemist) i thought it was proved a fact that a bad diet doesn;t equal bad spots? it;s a total myth that eating chocolate gives you spots etc? although i do believe that diary products would make a difference (they seem to be linked to so many other things exzema/asthma IBS etc, but i hope you find something that works for you.

[N71]

wow so many lotions! i suffer from spots at 35 but mine are always related to my cycle and they're always the great big ones (they may as well have a siren on them!) i use nothing on them as everything i tried made it worse, the best thing i did use that helped was witch hazel (about 70p from the chemist) i thought it was proved a fact that a bad diet doesn;t equal bad spots? it;s a total myth that eating chocolate gives you spots etc? although i do believe that diary products would make a difference (they seem to be linked to so many other things exzema/asthma IBS etc, but i hope you find something that works for you.


Hey, me to. I'm 35, and every month i get a couple around my chin/nose, and a couple on my back/shoulders - and they're not little sqeezy pimples, they're big, flashing lumps :eek: . And i've got really slow healing skin, so they're normally just about disappearing, in time for next months new ones.

I don't think what I eat makes a different - sometimes i'm healthy for a few months, sometimes i'm a takeaway/chocolate fiend for a few months - this doesn't seem to make my montly spots any worse or better.

i'm using neutrogena wash & spot cream (2 for £5 at Asda). Not really had any effect on the sports, but skin feels nice.

[positivelymummy]

Hey, me to. I'm 35, and every month i get a couple around my chin/nose, and a couple on my back/shoulders - and they're not little sqeezy pimples, they're big, flashing lumps :eek: . And i've got really slow healing skin, so they're normally just about disappearing, in time for next months new ones.

I don't think what I eat makes a different - sometimes i'm healthy for a few months, sometimes i'm a takeaway/chocolate fiend for a few months - this doesn't seem to make my montly spots any worse or better.

i'm using neutrogena wash & spot cream (2 for £5 at Asda). Not really had any effect on the sports, but skin feels nice.

nothing i've tried seems to help (although dabbing a bit of pur lavender oil on the big ones does help to 'dry it it' a bit)

the back! OMG me too:eek: it's horrific, mine is realy teenage outbreak full on hundreds of spots, but i just cover them up, i never wear backless etc! but like many others it does get me down when i catch a glimpse in the mirror, it's good to know we're not alone!

[frivolous_fay]

nothing i've tried seems to help (although dabbing a bit of pur lavender oil on the big ones does help to 'dry it it' a bit)

the back! OMG me too:eek: it's horrific, mine is realy teenage outbreak full on hundreds of spots, but i just cover them up, i never wear backless etc! but like many others it does get me down when i catch a glimpse in the mirror, it's good to know we're not alone!

Been there....

diluted vinegar is currently a hot topic on acne.org as a remedy.

I hate summer :(

[kittycatface]

I used to have really bad skin and found these things helped:

for blackheads: equal parts bicarbonate of soda and cold water to make a scrub. (Messy but cheap and works!)

facials: I have dermalogica deep cleansing ones. started off every 3 months now every 6 as skin really improved. They are about £30 so not the cheapest but still have a large backlog of free samples you get every time you go.

products: dermalogica again are my best but again they're about £30 for a 200ml face wash. They last longer than ordinary ones though, got one for xmas and its not finished yet. You can get trial kits for cheaper.

finally going on the pill: sometimes people only need to take it for a couple of years and their skin is ok again, mine was helped by this and a combination of anitbiotics.

And if none of those work, max factor do the best cover up stick i've tried for £4.75! Good luck

[BettiePage]

I'd heard that too think I read it on hear actually, I wouldn't be surprised if you could use it as a nail varnish remover too :eek: it stung like hell.
The more you strip your skin the more sebum it will produce to compensate. Treat it gently. Moisturise (make sure it's non comedogenic - won't clog pores)

Australian bodycare range is fantastic too.

Also speak to your Doctor. I got fobbed off with lotions and potions for years before finally getting a course of roaccutane.

[offbeatgirl]

I'm in my late 20s and still get spots; I find evening primrose oil capsules helps when I remember to take it. I also like to have a pot of one of the lush face masks in the fridge - the BB Seaweed seems to do the trick without being too aggressive.

[Deals]

and has definitely helped my skin with a good diet but also a good cleasing/moitsurising/toning regime too. microdermabrasion can be expensive but i would definitely recommend it but i have foudn over the years that they dont all do it well. i have now found a local company who do it well but we are in middlesex and dont know where you are based. try to call up their association or the company that runs/trains them in this as it is a specialist area. I think i pay around £45 for this with a mask that follows.
Also drinking a litre a water a day helps and i have recently started taking the biocare multivatimin which contains vitamin B complexes in it and the skin is really healing. i would really recommend it but then again you have to buy the right quality of vitamins. bio care has worked for me - and i have acne on and off since i was a teenager (now am in my forties) and my skin really has cleared up but i really have to stick to my routine - otherwise it goes out of the window.
microdermabrasion has helped a bit with the scarring. Anyone tried microdermabrasion? I have a salon voucher to use and I've read a lot of waffle on the net saying it's good for acne. (My back is worse than my face, it sucks)

[Deals]

thanks in advance. i have also heard you can buy your own microdermabrasion machine for the home but cannot find the details anymore. anyone know about it?My spots cleared up when I started using Australian Bodycare tea tree face wash and started eating properly but its definately a case of trial and error to see what works for you.
Dr Brandt microdermabrasion is great for reducing the redness and giving you soft skin. Have also tried the Philosophy microdermabrasion and that is very good too.
My friend had teenage acne and she swears by Prescriptives and Liz Earle for stopping her erruptions!

[CrazyCat]

Hi - I had terrible acne from approx 23 to 37 - I'm 40 now and still get the occasional spot. Over the years I've tried everything from dianette to every skin care brand on the market (I can confirm the expensive ones are no more effective than the cheapies!)

Unfortunately I don't think there is any one sure thing or everyone but it's a case of trying them out and giving them a chance to work (ie don't give up after a few days when no miracles happen!)

My main cures are to drink LOADS of water - this is a must. Also, don't touch your skin - I mainly get spots on my chin from sitting with my chin resting in my hand whilst browsing the internet. Also it's really important to treat the skin gently - nothing too severe as excessive drying only leads to "stress" spots.