Please help - awful skin at the moment!

Bargain_Rzl

You have my sympathies! I've got exactly the same problem at the moment - I'm 31, had quite severe acne in my teens which I was on prescribed antibiotics for (Oxytetracycline and later Minocycline) which mostly cleared it up, though I've continued to suffer from mild acne ever since. Six months ago it massively flared up for no apparent reason and has been bad ever since. Went to my GP and was put back on Minocycline which has had almost no effect. Got sent for blood tests (liver function, oestrogen levels and a few other things I can't remember) which all came back clear, so no apparent reason behind the flare-up. Got another appointment tomorrow first thing in the morning - am going to go in without my make-up so the doc can really see what it looks like - and am hoping they will prescribe Dianette (the pill) or refer me to a dermatologist.

It runs in my family, my mum had it all the way to the menopause :rolleyes:

Skincare and makeup wise, I use Liz Earle. The bits of my face where I do not actually have spots are in fabulous condition as a result. I have also found mineral makeup a godsend - it doesn't aggravate the inflammation. My absolute favourite product is the mineral powder concealer from Elemental Beauty (http://www.elementalbeauty.co.uk/), which I dab on and (although for the first few minutes it looks a bit like you've Polyfilla'd your face :rotfl:) blends in and almost hides the spots completely.

Bargain_Rzl

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Got another appointment tomorrow first thing in the morning - am going to go in without my make-up so the doc can really see what it looks like - and am hoping they will prescribe Dianette (the pill) or refer me to a dermatologist.

Well the latest is I'm on new antibiotics (erythromycin), with a higher dosage for the first week (as doc thinks I have a bacterial infection in my existing acne) and lower dosage for another six weeks. Doc will review towards the end of the course...

Jaine

I've found that the steam room does wonders for my skin, it really helps to heal scars much faster.;)

nikki2804

Bargain_Rzl wrote: »

Well the latest is I'm on new antibiotics (erythromycin), with a higher dosage for the first week (as doc thinks I have a bacterial infection in my existing acne) and lower dosage for another six weeks. Doc will review towards the end of the course...

Argh, I was put on erythromycin. Was told to take 2 pills 4 times a day for the first week to get the stuff into my system then after that take only twice a day. After 3 days I was clinging on to the loo seat being violently sick. I felt like I was dying!! When I went back I was told I should never have been put on such a high doseage. Not a nice feeling 3 weeks after having a sprog.

Bargain_Rzl

Interesting - My dosage for the first week is half what yours was!

barnabydaisy

hi you have my sympathy i have suffered from skin problems for at least 20 years. i have tried everything from clarins to clearasil. i then used liz earle and found it great but still had breakouts just not as many. then when i trained to be an image consultant i was introduced to nutrimetics and my skin has never looked better. check them out on the internet there stuff is wonderfull, and not too expensive.
mim xxx:j

Buttonmoons

I never used to have bad skin, I had the odd spot as a teen on my chin, but after I got the contraceptive implant my face went haywire, even now I've had it taken out I get breakouts over my chin and cheeks, oddly it's not the spots that bother me it's all the congestion that comes with it, you know it makes your skin look bumpy and if you squeeze it white crud comes out. Ick.

I'm on month 4 of dianette and I've not noticed a major change yet, and just had a horrible break out down one side of my face, at xmas too, the pictures really look lovely as the heat from the kitchen melted my foundation :rotfl:....

Apparently you can only get 6months of Dianette now, or my doctors only do that, and most of the doctors there won't even prescribe it!!

pookienoodle

nikki2804 wrote: »

Argh, I was put on erythromycin. Was told to take 2 pills 4 times a day for the first week to get the stuff into my system then after that take only twice a day. After 3 days I was clinging on to the loo seat being violently sick. I felt like I was dying!! When I went back I was told I should never have been put on such a high doseage. Not a nice feeling 3 weeks after having a sprog.

you can get erythromycin that is applied to the skin in lotion form(well its like water rather than a cream) it sting and is a bit smelly for a couple of minutes but I have had much better results topically rather than orally and no bad stomach.

pookienoodle

Buttonmoons wrote: »

I never used to have bad skin, I had the odd spot as a teen on my chin, but after I got the contraceptive implant my face went haywire, even now I've had it taken out I get breakouts over my chin and cheeks, oddly it's not the spots that bother me it's all the congestion that comes with it, you know it makes your skin look bumpy and if you squeeze it white crud comes out. Ick.

I'm on month 4 of dianette and I've not noticed a major change yet, and just had a horrible break out down one side of my face, at xmas too, the pictures really look lovely as the heat from the kitchen melted my foundation :rotfl:....

Apparently you can only get 6months of Dianette now, or my doctors only do that, and most of the doctors there won't even prescribe it!!

have you tried the mineral powder foundation? they have great staying power good coverage and some have "healing" minerals to help with breakouts.

fluffykins13

Thanks for all your replies. I went to the doctor's today and have been prescribed Duac - a once daily gel and she said it definitely is acne on my chin.
Has anybody used Duac before? She said to give it 6 weeks and then we can try antibiotics or changing my pill.