my skin is horrid

[Anonymous]

So, I have seen a dermatologist, who tells me I have rosacea + acne combined, but I'm flabbergasted at how horrible my skin is. Far, far worse than when I was a teen. Obviously I have already seen a doctor but I am wondering, should I also contact my GP to rule out underlying health issues? Is it just that I may be getting close to menopause? Why on earth would my skin completely hit the skids like this as I close in on 40?? Dying here. Read the thread about makeup and IPL with interest. Any other ideas welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I have seen a dermatologist, who tells me I have rosacea + acne combined, but I'm flabbergasted at how horrible my skin is. Far, far worse than when I was a teen. Obviously I have already seen a doctor but I am wondering, should I also contact my GP to rule out underlying health issues? Is it just that I may be getting close to menopause? Why on earth would my skin completely hit the skids like this as I close in on 40?? Dying here. Read the thread about makeup and IPL with interest. Any other ideas welcome.

I'm 38. I have pimples and mild rosacea. Also I have a problem with the skin on my eyelids, where the eyelashes grow, that causes dry eye which causes all kinds of other problems. What has helped me:

I exfoliate. Twice a day.
I use proactive. Cleared the pimples
I was my eyelids with "Occusoft" or a similar product from the drug store.

My skin looks great at the moment but I have to take great care of it, at least twice a day every day. Don't know if it's hormones or what.

I am going to get a rep on this site as the "Proactiv" poster; but it changed my life. You might want to try it.

[Anonymous]

More and more women are having problems with their skin as they get older. Much of it due to stress.

You might call your doc if you are on any meds - or have left them like birth control. That alone can make skin wacky.

Your best bet is a great derm doctor who can treat you and also tell you what to use on your face. Overcleansing with harsh products can also make the skin go nuts. The rosacea can also be triggered by foods. But if you treat it now, that is ideal as rosacea tends to get worse as one gets older.

[Anonymous]

I have the same thing- acne and rosecea--I was using all sorts of high end stuff and recently switched to my preteenager's Cetaphil (based on a DCUM post). My skin is truly close to excellent! That is my recommendation. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Many derms recommend Cetaphil from the drugstore.

[Anonymous]

I am 37 and had bought every product under the sun and no help until I tried 3 new products at sephora: 1) murad acne kit; 2) peter thomas roth antiaging oil free cleasing gel (use in am only) and peter thomas roth unwrinkle face gel for all skin types. I was reluctant to buy bec sick of trying unproductive products. This combination cleared me up nicely w/o any drying of skin. Don't feel all tight after use them and don't feel like drying out skin and showing more wrinkles. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My skin broke out horribly after I had my first child. Hormones can do it.

Beta Hydroxy Acid lotion can be helpful, if it's in the right concentration and right PH balance. I like Paula's Choice 2% beta hydroxy acid lotion. You can order it on-line. But this is also has an exfoliating effect, so you may want to be careful. To much exfoliating can leave you a bit raw.

Also, there's always antibiotics. Dynacin has helped me out many of times.

[Anonymous]

41 yr old here. I hear you.

Rosacea ... one thing that has really, really helped mine is to use cheapo oatmeal soap exclusively. I quit with all the glycolic acid/Murad/Proactiv stuff

Then I apply this prescription cream.

http://www.finacea-us.com/

The latter costs a fortune ($100?) but you can see the results in 2 DAYs.

Once your papules are gone ... the only thing that gets rid of the redness and broken capillaries is laser treatment. I've done lots of research on that point.

[Anonymous]

My skin was looking terrible after having my second baby, so I used proactive for awhile which worked well. But then all of a sudden recently I started breaking out with cystic acne, and the proactive wasn't doing anything to help. I ended up going to a dermatologist who prescribed epiduo gel. She said to wash with cetaphil, and use the epiduo only at night, and use a light non-comedogenic moisturizer in the morning. I've been following this regimen for about a month now and it's great. My skin has cleared up, even beyond what proactive managed to do. And it's a much quicker, easier, and cheaper regimen than proactive. The epiduo wasn't covered by my insurance but RiteAid said it qualified for a discount Rx program, so a big tube of it was $35. It's lasted a month so far, and it's not even halfway done. Plus the cetaphil is very inexpensive. I'm using Aveeno simply radiant moisturizer in the morning, which was one of the ones on the recommended list my dermatologist gave me.

Good luck. It feels awful to have your skin suddenly go nuts on you. I hope you find a solution that works for you!!

[Anonymous]

great information, ladies. would love to hear about how you work sunscreen and sun protection into these regimens.

[Anonymous]

Sunblock is always the very last product you apply. Don't forget the neck (front and back) as well as the decollete. Great on the tops of hands, too - driving is a major ageing factor from the sun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many derms recommend Cetaphil from the drugstore.

Yep. That's what I use. I just started using Clinique for rosacea, but am not thrilled with the products. Their rosacea version of their CityBlock sunscreen is pretty good though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sunblock is always the very last product you apply. Don't forget the neck (front and back) as well as the decollete. Great on the tops of hands, too - driving is a major ageing factor from the sun!

I have always heard the opposite. ?

[Anonymous]

An IPL can help rosacea. Definitely something to look into.

[Anonymous]

OTC products act upon the topmost layer of skin cells. Prescription or medical grade products go beneath the initial skin surface. To protect the skin, sunblock is formulated to sit on the surface. Thus, it is always the last product applied. Many of its ingredients, as well, would not allow skincare products to penetrate the skin and thus perform their job.