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

Anoneemoose

Thanks again for all the contributions. As cheesy as it sounds, it has lifted me to know I am not alone in my plight. Before, I kind of felt like I was whinging about nothing because I didn't know anyone (apart from one person) who is like me and has 'suffered' at the hands of hormones.

My regime at present is:

Morning - small amount of cetaphil gently massaged in and then rinsed with warm water. Pat dry so as not to rub.

Cetaphil moisturiser - smallish amount just enough to get rid of total dryness. Leave for 5 mins while putting coffee on!

Gently pat with kitchen paper to remove any excess moisturiser (not usually anything there).

Apply Rimmel primer and let sink in for 5 (while sipping aforementioned coffee)!

Apply foundation (revlon colourstay). Apply rest of make up.

Evening - remove eye make up with aqueous cream.
In shower, gently massage cetaphil in and rinse under water to get main make up off.

Then apply cetaphil to clarisonic and use as directed. Rinse with clean water after to ensure no residue. Pat dry.

Apply decleor ylang yland serum - and that's about it!

Also been taking agnus castus.

Hope that helps someone!x

Fruity1

I can recommend the Liz Earle range. They may if you contact them send a free sample for trial.

flippin-nora

Everyone here has my sympathy. I battled terrible spots for 15 years.

A little context first: I actually have very dry skin which is why I don’t say that I’ve had acne. My skin was very congested with lots of white spots as well as the typical red ones and I would regularly develop cyst like spots.

Finally, in my early 30s I sat down for a couple of days and did a lot of googling and managed to work out what was going on, and some of this info may be beneficial for others.

First, spot clearing facial washes and cleansers may seem like a good idea, but they tend to dry your skin which makes it produce more oil and then more spots.

Secondly, you need to be absolutely sure that the problem is that you have genuinely oily skin.

Thirdly, are you using a moisturiser? What are you using? My problem turned out to be using too heavy moisturisers, which blocked my pores and caused congestion and spots. Some products in them like lanolin block pores. Everything that you use on your skin, including make up, you need to find out whether it blocks pores. I believe there is a technical term for this, something comodeginic, but can’t quite remember. Most foundations do and my recommendation is, although very hard to do when you have spots, is ditch the foundation.

I spent a lot of time on acne.org which is a fountain of information. They sell products designed by a guy who had acne and they are actually very good and have no pore blocking ingredients.

My problem turned out to be the dry skin. I’d put heavy moisturisers on which blocked my pores causing breakouts. I’d then use spot fighting stuff which dried my skin out more so I’d put more moisturiser on and the cycle would continue.

The only thing that worked for me was AHAs/glycolic acid/fruit acides. The BHA’s/salicilyic acid stuff was rubbish.

I got stuff from Bravura London. I used the 15% glycolic peel once a week, the 15% glycolic face was, and the 10% moisturiser. Within 2 months the problem was completely gone. I kept up with this routine for about 2 years and then came off it. I’ve recently gone back on it because my skin is congested again with a lot of blackheads, although not too many spots. Bravura do some good toners that I use as cleansers too.

Just don’t go overboard if you try this. Don’t think that you should go for 30% acid or 15% moisturiser straight of the bat. It is strong stuff. I once gave myself an acid burn on my forehead from using thick layers of the 15% mosituriser to tackle a spot. It will burn your skin off if you use it inappropriately.

I should also say that I have tried in previous years a lot which was on the market and it all made the situation worse. Everyone is different so what I’ve said here might not work for you but Bravura are quite reasonable on prices and are high quality products.

I’ve also tried high dose vits, Vit E tabs, Vit B complex tabs, magnesium, Vit C tabs (although vit c face products are nice and refreshing and are a good thing to intersperse between an AHA regiment), starflower and evening primrose oil, omega 3. None of them worked for me.

Anoneemoose

Well it seems things are just as bad as they were. I love the cleanliness of the clarisonic but it seems to be giving me more white bumps under the skin than I had before.

When I wear my make up, it looks so caked because of the congestion.

It is now totm but tbh, it has been like this for a few weeks. Probably since just after I last posted.

Bit fed up and stuck now :-(.

ThriftyShelly

Hi again Moose, Sorry to hear it has come back.
I've had really bad skin these last few weeks and it has really got me down. I feel your pain!
I just think I have to accept now that it is linked to my cycle and for 2 weeks of the month I will have horrid skin then the other 2 weeks will be the spots healing (i.e having flaky sore patches on my face) then maybe a day or so where I can look Ok with make -up, then the cycle starts again!
I tried the agnus castus over the last month and to be honest my skin has never been as bad in ages, read up on this and this can happen for some people.
I think I may get some soya milk and try to go dairy free
Good luck to all who are suffering with spots, lumps and bumps x

Anoneemoose

ThriftyShelly wrote: »

Hi again Moose, Sorry to hear it has come back.
I've had really bad skin these last few weeks and it has really got me down. I feel your pain!
I just think I have to accept now that it is linked to my cycle and for 2 weeks of the month I will have horrid skin then the other 2 weeks will be the spots healing (i.e having flaky sore patches on my face) then maybe a day or so where I can look Ok with make -up, then the cycle starts again!
I tried the agnus castus over the last month and to be honest my skin has never been as bad in ages, read up on this and this can happen for some people.
I think I may get some soya milk and try to go dairy free
Good luck to all who are suffering with spots, lumps and bumps x

Thanks Shelly.

I have not seen much difference with the Agnus Castus either.

My skin is at its best today but it's still not great at all. I think I might mention it again at my next doc's app in a couple of weeks - I don't think I could have roaccutane because of my other issues but I have read about the gel version of it. I have also taken a photo diary - have taken a pic every day so the doc can see what I am up against.

I know mine is hormonal because of the PCOS and have thought about giving up the dairy but I have tried before and sort of kept 'slipping' back into eating 'normal' stuff. I know that sounds lazy but you know what it's like when you're busy and shopping for a family etc! I forget stuff for me!

Best wishes to all fellow spotties!