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

danih

Hi.

as a couple of others have mentioned - quinoderm cream, which is a benzoyl peroxide cream is amazing! At 33 I am finally spot free!!!

Get this over the counter at a pharmacy, no prescription needed. Costs about £5. Apply to spotty areas twice a day after cleaning.

Good luck

purpleducky

Fellow PCOS sufferer here!

As some others have mentioned in this thread, sugar and dairy are the main baddies when it comes to cystic acne. I gave up dairy completely a few years ago and haven't had a cyst on my face since (used to get at least one huge one a month). It is damn hard and I hate making a fuss when people offer me tea with milk or a cream cake but at home you get used to unsweetened soya milk & Tesco do great dairy free cheeses and yogurts.
Sugar is so difficult to cut out and I go through cycles of it but when I managed 6mths with no sugary foods or drinks ny skin was actually *good*! Apart from old acne scars, which I cover with mineral powder foundation.

What you eat is everything... face masks, cleansers etc are just treating the symptoms IME not tackling the cause.

GFN123

Hey OP

I've been reading along for a while and finally got round to posting as I'm now finding stuff that really works and makes sense!

I've had bad acne all my life. Now 35 and still have ropey skin but had a cystic break out last week. I was determined to do some proper research rather than the usual 'throw everything on and hope it goes away' (never works!)

So what I've found is a combination of advice, but through 3 long evenings of reading, reading more reading worked out what colluded, ingredients, diet etc. Caroline Hirons and Dr Perricone both talk a lot of sense but Caroline does use products that are expensive and IMO too chemically for me.

If you like, I can PM my before and after pics taken 4 days apart which show it's working (my face overall too shocking for public consumption!)

This is the best advice and blog I've found
http://www.minimalistbeauty.com/how-i-cleared-my-skin-acne-scars/

I linked to the most relevant article. The tamanu oil she mentions if you browse around can be found for £12 on Amazon.

I also did the Dr Perricone 3 day skin diet (lots of salmon and Caroline goes on about fish oils).

Overall, be gentle not harsh to your skin and to echo some excellent advice above plus my research:

Sugar and dairy DO affect your skin
Fish oils or high omega oils essential
Oil or balm cleanse and look for high linoleic acid oils
Salicylic acid unclogs pores - you can look for a low % toner or SR Skincare sell pure peels (try a mild one)
Retinol A (I have samples on order of BHA lotion and retinol serum from Paula's Choice 70p a sachet and good reviews)
Less ingredients not more
Treat your skin gently

I'd be happy to keep sharing my progress as I've just received my tamanu oil and waiting for PC samples. But just following the 3 day diet and cleansing with rosehip oil has already made a difference.

Anoneemoose

Hi all!

Thanks for all the posts with hints and tips! I really is good to find people who understand what it's like to be a 40 something spotty teenager!

Well, I can honestly say I feel really good about my skin!! It's not perfect but with my make up on, it looks normal!!

First impressions of the clarisonic - fab! I am only using it on an evening for now because I don't want to overdo it but my skin feels amazing after it. The 'lumper' I got the other day has remained tiny and although hasn't gone yet, it isn't inflamed (never heard of before) and is quite small so was easy to cover with concealer.

I love the decleor stuff as well but think it is too expensive for me to continue all the time so might get jojoba oil or have a look at the tamanu oil. Will look at the links provided.

I have previously tried glycolic, mandelic and salicylic peels from sr skincare and although they left my skin feeling smooth, they didn't 'decongest' it!! The clarisonic seems to do that though - I have just run my fingers round my face and there are hardly any bumps under the skin.

I may introduce the peels again although I don't want to do too much.

On another note - can anyone recommend a good eye cream/serum that brightens the under eye area a bit?

BettiePage

I had acne from age 14 to 34 and ended up on Roaccutane. Obviously, not for everyone, but it did wonders for me! Have you asked your GP for a dermatology referal, they may have other treatments to help you.

Australian Bodycare wash is fantastic for helping to keep your skin clean and healthy and make sure you still moisturise.

Pennywatcher

Hi Anoneemoose,
I have not been on here for ages but was looking for some info on dermatologists in London - none here :-( but saw your post.
I have been trying to improve skin, diet & my health (chronic depression, stress) along with a friend who has PCOS, and this is what we have both done the last 10 months:
1.) changed to Paula's Choice skincare - now available in the UK - can't tell you how amazing it is! It is not really expensive & she has loads of YouTube vids explaining each product. Again it really is amazing!
2.) sign up to Sixpackchick on FB, she has also written a book Six Pack Chick by Bridget Hunt. It is not just a diet plan, more a lifestyle approach, but she has had amazing results with everyone who follows it, for skin, weight & health. It really works & is easy to follow.
3.) use a clarisonic - only the sensitive brush head! Morning & night - 1.5 mins.
I never recommend anything ever, unless I truly believe it works - but I have to say this combination of things has had an amazing impact on my weight, skin & health. For my best friend with PCOS the results have been incredible, she now has almost clear skin, dropped 15 kg and actually improved her PCOS according to her specialist.
Please understand I write on her behalf as she is not so into social media. I just saw your post, and having seen the misery of PCOS and the improvement in my friend I wanted to share. Give it a go, I have a few other friends who are doing this now & seeing results.
Good luck! Apologies for the huge post!

Anoneemoose

Update!!

I am so chuffed!! My skin is like a normal persons!! It is now 'that time of the month' rather than pre that time of the month (which is usually when it's worst) so it could just be that that makes it seem better. However, my skin feels clean and decongested. Still got a few open pores but nothing that can't be covered with make up. Don't even need to use my industrial strength double wear either.

I also bought the rimmel primer which is fab (2 for £10) in Superdrug. It makes my skin feel smooth without clogging and is non comedogenic.

I still have a couple of pimples - yes, pimples - NOT lumpers! I really wish I could do a before and after pic but not sure how to. I just hope this regime of mine continues to work!

How's everyone else?xx

happydays09

Moose that's brilliant news! Do give the Garnier BB another try over the top of your primer.

The spots were just the run-of-the-mill period pimples. Have a pretty nasty one on my cheek that's taking forever to heal, and will probably scar, but that's it!

Would you be able to give us a run down of what you're using at the moment and what you feel works the best?

So my run down of products and supplements -
Fish & Flax oils (been taking for several months)
Perfectil (just started this month)
Acne relief tablets from Boots (taking several months)
Agnus Castus tincture (taken this from March 2014)

Lush Herbal face wash (morning)
Clarisonic with Lavera sensitive wash (evening)
Lush Aqua Roma
Lush Vanishing Cream
Freederm Daily Complex
Freederm gel

Of all of those things I noticed the most difference after taking Agnus Castus (literally 3 weeks or so!), Clarisonic (2 weeks) and the Freederm daily complex (2 weeks).

It's an expensive business, but once you find a combination of things that work, it's great! Of course, I'm fully aware this won't work forever, but I'll take right now, that's enough for me!

Great thread OP, you've had some really helpful and interesting responses.

shays_mum

Anoneemoose wrote: »

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!!

Bloody hell,so me when I've come off the pill in last 6 months . Following with interest, thanks op for posting x

theeyecollector

I'd join the people suggesting the oil cleansing method. I have horrible skin (dry/flaky but acne-prone) and it's the only thing that's ever worked consistently for me. It's not a magic bullet - my skin isn't perfect, but it's definitely better than it ever was when I used harsh scrubs. If you Google it, there's lots of sites with details of the exact method.

Also, (as some other people have said) I avoid dairy products as they can contribute to mucus production. I've heard that going on the pill is very effective too, but I try to avoid putting extra hormones into my body when I don't need to.