So Blooming Down! Is there any way to get clear skin - success stories would be good!

Anoneemoose

Good evening!

Just feeling sorry for myself. I have PCOS and horrendous hormonal acne which seems to have changed from ' normal' acne to cystic acne with a sprinkling of yellow headed spots. Also, my skin is just totally congested. I have started getting spots on my cheeks and under my eyebrows as well now.

I have tried lots of things - the acne.org regimen, peels (nice at the time but no good long term), salon facials, high end products, cheap products, antibiotics (both cream and tablets).

I am nearly 40 and am so fed up because the greasy, congested skin makes me feel dirty.

I have also tried different types of makeup brands and types and nothing seems to last (even EL double wear) because of the oiliness. My pores are like craters but if I use anything to minimise these, it seems to cause more congestion and breakouts.

Please please help!! Has anyone else been like me and successfully combated the problem long term???

Thank you!!

maddiemay

I am sorry that I cannot offer any help from personal experience, but would like to point you in the direction of skin care guru Caroline Hirons who blogs as "beauty mouth".
No affiliation, I have nothing to gain:)

The products she uses and recommends are mainly high end, but she has some amazing "cheat sheets" on all types of queries and herself developed hormonal acne. You will need a bit of spare time and ideally a notebook and pen, as well as the cheat sheets she used to do frequent Q&A's, it is well worth trawling though them. HTH:)

happydays09

Oh, I feel your pain, I really do, I'm there too!

PCOS too. Brief history, was on the pill for years for it - beautiful skin but unfortunately it killed my libido stone dead!

Came off it 2 years ago, was fine for 6 months then spots came back with a vengeance. Went to the doc, got some antibiotics - got rid of the worst of it.
Bought a Lumiclear, which helped a bit, and a Clarisonic, which has helped more (still use it).

HOWEVER, the antibiotics were giving me serious dark patches (melasma, which was one of the other reasons I came off the pill!)
So, I was desperate to try something else...

The thing I'm having the most luck with now is Agnus Castus (as a tincture Dr. Vogels I think). After starting this I had no new breakouts for 6 weeks, which was unheard of. I've tapered off the antibiotics and am still using AC but I've noticed a few spots creeping back I'm keeping a very close eye on it, and I've got some antibiotics just in case.

It's so annoying and frustrating and damn unfair too, to get spots, lines and dark patches all at the same time! I use the Gariner BB cream for problem skin and find this lessens the appearance of the redness without clogging pores. If you apply using a foundation brush it gives a better finish.

I'll be keeping up with the thread for new ideas.

Chin up chuck! x

Anoneemoose

Thank you for the replies.

I shall have a read of the blog. These things always interest me, but I always end up reading too much and confusing myself.

Happydays - it's awful isn't it? I just wish it would go. I never had acne as a teenager but it just popped up out of nowhere in my mid 20's and that was when I found out about the PCOS.

It means I am overweight and hairy too! Just bought a Philips Lumea for the hair and wish I could get to the bottom of the acne. Sometimes it all gets on top of me...I feel I am constantly battling something. The hair takes a lot of keeping on top of and contributes to making me feel unfeminine.

I can't take the pill because it makes me projectile vomit! I was also just about to look at the lumiclear (think that's the one - with the light?). I hadn't really considered the clarisonic because I imagined it to be abrasive. Will check it out though. Only thing else I haven't tried is the ocm but am wary of that too.

Might as well have a look at the garnier BB and agnus castus while I'm on..:D

Thanks again!

sweaty_betty

The only thing that ever worked for me was roaccutane (sp?). I think a dermatologist could prescribe it, although it's more controlled than it used to be because of depression/suicide side effects links :eek:

I don't know your situation, but there are massive risks if you become pregnant while taking it (I had to sign forms about this before they would give me it).

Powla

I sympathise, I am 40 and have suffered from oily skin and spots since my teens. I've tried lots of different things. The only thing that has ever worked on my face is those really cheap fake tan wipes you get in places like Home Bargains for about a pound, I found that if I use one at night before I go to sleep it seems to stop my skin breaking out so much over night. I still get spots on my chest, shoulders and back though. Also I recently searched on Amazon for the spot treatment with the highest customer rating and something called Clearzine came up, the active ingredient seems to be a huge, huge dose of vitamin B5 (aka pantothenic acid). So to save cash I've bought a massive box of vit B5 supplements (to take alongside my usual normal multi vitamin). I have noticed my skin is much less oily, however I am taking thousands of the recommended rda on a daily basis so am now worrying about the long term side effects. I will keep using it for now and researching. Good luck! x

fizzytrinket

Check the ingredients of everything that goes onto your face. There's some right nasties included in some. Known to be pore blockers and enormous spot causers.

Your right to be wary of ocm. I love it though. I haven't purged but I know someone who did. She took time off work because of it

Have you joined any skincare forums? The ladies on there are very helpful and knowledgeable.

Anoneemoose

Thanks again for the replies.

I never thought of looking at skin care forums..didn't even realise there would be anything like that! I shall have a look for some but if anyone can recommend any, that would be great.

I don't think they would give me roaccutane. I already take meds for anxiety and ocd so I doubt they would risk making me worse.

I had a look at the decleor products which I used years ago and their ylang ylang serum stuff gets good reviews. Not sure whether to take the plunge though - I have already made a lot of expensive mistakes trying to rid myself of it.

MrsE_2

DHC do a pure soap, I think that would be good for oily skin.

Lush also do a facial soap called coal face I think, that's supposed to be great for oily skin too.

Lush do a nice toner too, tea tree. That would be zingy & refreshing.

Some primers are very drying, no.7 used to or still do, one in a flat white tube, very oil absorbing.

Use a REALLY light foundation, no.7 intelligent colour is really light, they have a new one I'm using a a short fat stubby tube, that's light & long lasting too.

Loose powder, ben nye I use it, but it's supposed to be great for excess oil.

sweaty_betty

I'm not pushing roaccutane, but I was only on it for 3 months before it sorted out my skin (and they won't give it indefinitely), so don't rule it out on that basis :-)

ThriftyShelly

Hi, I too am in my forties with hormonal acne, although I have had spots from severe to mild since I was 14.
I am finding that Murad really helps me, they do an acne range for older skins but it's not cheap! I also take a multi vitamin with zinc which I find helps. I am also suffering a lot with really bad PMT and am going to try starflower capsules which hopefully will help my skin too.
I use a REN BB cream which has a good coverage and stays matte and then put double wear over the top on the problem areas, when I get break through shine I use the body shop tea tree blotting sheets which help a lot and saves you having to put more make up on. I don't use much powder as I think it is the worst thing for my skin.
One thing I am beginning to realise now I am in my forties is that I notice my horrid skin much more than anyone else!! It knocks my confidence badly but I just try now to put my slap on then try not to think about it (although that's very hard when you've got a huge boil brewing that feels like it's got a pulse!!)