Rubbish Skin

Buffythedebtslayer

Hi

I am normally on the diaries board but am getting increasingly fed up with my skin.

Basically I get spots, either when I get my period or when I get stressed.

Sometimes they are horrid small and red, others are massive and red.

I have scarring and generally I do look crap. My skin is SO greasy bumpy and grim. Most are round my chin but some are creeping up my face.

For about one week out of the four the spots die off and I look ok.

I currently use Simple mositurisers, Clean and clear cleanser and St Ives facial scrub.

I am going to start taking Evening Oil of Primrose but wondered if anyone had found a fairly cheap decent set of skin care for spotty skin (am in my 30s)

I have tried

Dr Brand - OUCH
Clean and Clear - no difference
Neutrogena - burnt my skin.
Simple - good in terms of didn't hurt but makes no difference.
Superdrug own brand plain stuff - same as Simple.
Tea tree oil wipes - easy to use but not feeling very clean afterwards.

Anything else I have tried would have been years ago. The only time I have been spot free was when I was on the pill. However this pattern of dry skin no spots, then Super greasy skin and LOTS of HUGE spots has been happening for about a year now.

I try to give each regime a chance but am at my wits end. I wear face power and occasional foundation but not much. my skin is usually greasy as by 11, but today no make up just moisturiser and it is horrible now, will need to go wash it soon as I can't stand feeling oily and sticky.

thank you for any suggestions

Buffy xx

Louise03

I do have a couple of suggestions but sorry they are not cheap
Clinque 3 step skin care they do a clariying lotion especially for spot prone skin and it really does work.
Spirulina supplements also great for skin problems, spots etc.
Like I said these are not cheap but they really do work and when you take into account how much distress and agonising your spots are causing you it may be worth spending abit extra.

bunberry

Have you tried going to your GP?

Last year I had a lot of hormonal acne on my chin to the point where it was making me feel constantly stressed (even though my case was diagnosed as a "mild" one) hence getting more of them, it was a terrible cycle. My GP prescribed Zineryt which quickly reduced the big flaming red bumps.

I had to see the doc again last month because although Zineryt is good at reducing the big red bumps, it couldn't do anything to the bumps under my skin that were painful but refused to develop a head and didn't go down either, so I was prescribed lymecycline (antibiotic).

Also, your lifestyle plays an important part. With a combination of eating well (drinking more water, no more processed foods, no refined sugars etc) and regular exercise, my chin is now pretty much completely smooth. The lymecycline helped in getting rid of under the skin bumps too because prior to taking them, nothing I did seemed to get rid of the bumps.

As for skin/body/makeup products I only use all natural, organic where possible, to make sure my skin won't be irritated in any way.

EchoLocation

Stop putting crap on your face. Go see your GP. You'll never get rid of spots with face washes. Skin that produces an excess of sebum can be treated amazingly well with Roaccutane.

glowgirl_2

I have a few suggestions, the first one to get rid of the spots would be my beloved Freederm, doesn't work for everyone but for me it has been a godsend, I use the gel only and apply quite a thick layer twice a day when having a break out, once thats under control I use it once a day but every 2 or 3 days for maintenance, I also use it on odd spots but I don't really get these anymore, skincare wise Boots Essentials cucumber range is hydrating rather than mositurising, this is easily my favorite skincare but I do swap around as my skin gets used to products and they stop working or they cause a breakout, always use a mositiriser from a bottle not a jar its too rich for us oily girls, if your having problems with make up and greasy skin early in the day a primer made of Milk of Magnesia would be the way to go, No7 do one or even better is the MoM just straight on your skin, I can explain more if you need me to, some people also us this as a mask with great success but it didn't do much for me. While I'm talking about make up Revlon Colourstay is an outstanding foundation for oily skin and not too expensive.

j.e.j.

I also get Zineryt on prescription from my GP. I must say though in my experience most doctors and dermatologists seem to want to put you on long-term antibiotics, which is fine if you're happy with that. I personally would not be, nor the Roaccutane, but it is individual choice.

If the acne is hormone/menstual cycle related you might want to look up agnus castus (herbal remedy). I have also found that giving up milk and butter has improved the condition a lot.

As for cleansers, my favourite is the Green People no scent cleanser, but I can't always afford it (!) At the moment I am using Eucerin Dermatoclean Mild Cleansing Milk which is about £8 in Boots.

loztredders

I would reccomend panoxyl aquagel. It contains benzyl peroxide and can be bought in three different strengths 2.5%, 5% and 10%. Start with the lowest strength as that is usually effective.
My skin used to be terribly greasy and spotty and this is the only thing that I have tried that actually works for me, I tried every face wash and freederm gel before I tried this. Probably worth considering before trying the long term anti-biotic route.
I buy mine for about £3 a tube from behind the pharmacy counter, they also do an Acnegel but I find that too drying and much prefer the aquagel.
It does dry the skin out though, and particularly when you first start using it, the skin can get a little red, sore and flaky - which obviously isn't a desirable thing! But a good moisturiser and only applying every other day until this settled down worked for me.
Also, I find that I can't really stop using it as my greasy skin comes back, and therefore my spots, but don't find this too much of a problem as it's so cheap and you only really use a small amount, and also it's just part of my nightly routine now really to apply this after washing my face.

belfastgirl23

Please please before you do anything else go and see your GP. There's no point in spending a fortune on specialist products without making sure there's no underlying issue. I say with feeling having been diagnosed with rosacea a few years ago after having spent a lot of money thinking I was just allergic to some skin creams. It does flare up when you're stressed btw - it took the death of a close relative for it to get bad enough to have to be treated. So I would presume that other skin conditions may well be the same.

At least if the doc says there's nothing underlying the problem you can go ahead and try the products then

And the advice about healthy eating and exercise is something you should try to do in any case if you don't already - it certainly won't do any harm.

devildog

Stay off of anything that is too 'harsh' because all that will do is make your skin produce even more oil.
As a family we use Dayenne(german brand) soap on face , it is extrmely gentle and doesn't leave the skin feeling tight.

One of my 'children' developed really bad acne,went to GP and over time was prescribed anti-biotics times 2, Zineryt, Retina-A and DUAC once daily. None of it had any affect whatsoever. Was referred to a dermatologist only the appt came though for three months time, not wanting to 'do nothing' over this period went into local Health Food Shop wher a product called Blue Flag Compound(oral tablets) were recc. Within a week of taking the skin had become less angry and by the time the derm appt came around the skin was completely clear.
I don't know it if works like that for everyone and I am sure someone will be along to 'rubbish' alternative treatments some time soon but so be it, I really don't care because I have seen the results with my own eyes.

ruby_eskimo

I always used to get hormonal spots and treated my skin very harshly because it is really oily too. However I have found that by treating it gently, it has cleared up! I've fallen in love with the Avene Cleanance Line and have been using it religiously for 2 years almost and I will never stray. I would say that the star product is the Cleanance K gel which contains AHA and BHA which keeps my pores clear, clears up any spots overnight and has calmed it down and evened it out a lot.

lollipopsarah

I can't give advise, but may I suggest an old wives thing.
Now I have to admit (fingers crossed) that I don't get lots of spots, but when I do I just dab a little toothpaste on before bed, it's a great reliever and seems to dry them out so you don't need to have a good squeeze - ouch.
I've suffered badly with eczema though all my life and for a few years had a terrible time with my face, mainly chin and tried everything until one day I gave up and stopped using any creams and my face is better now than it's been since I can't remember (give or take a few laughter lines), coincidentally it was about the time when I stopped licking my fingers to open carrier bags, awful habit, that it started getting better.
It may sound bad but I don't use soap on my face either, unless you count washing hair in the shower, but splash my face with cold water in the mornings.
(I don't wear make up)
I do hope you feel better soon.
xx