Help me find a cure for my acne after 25 years. I'm so worn down.

[Anonymous]

I've had hormonal cystic acne since my teens; now 40s. It's never really bad (no 'pizza face'), but consistently 1-3 zits along my jawline or lower cheeks. The big, red, swollen kind that last for weeks. When one finally starts to fade, a new one pops up somewhere else.

I haven't tried accutane or spiro - just wasn't willing to go to that serious of meds for 1-3 zits. But I have finally found an OTC topical regimen that works:
- Wash nightly with EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser. I don't know what it is, but every woman in my extended family swears this is the only cleaner that keeps our skin clear. If I skip one night I'm ok; if I skip three nights I break out, guaranteed.
- If I do get off track with the cleanser, the second I feel a pimple starting to form, I start applying m-61 PowerSpot nightly. It doesn't completely prevent the pimple, but it greatly lessens it - much smaller, and fades away in a few days. But I have to start as soon as I feel the swelling under my skin - if I wait until I can see it, it's too late.

[Anonymous]

Another +1 for Spiro. I had tried doxycycline + Retin A and it didn't work. Got closer with Epiduo Forte, but also had lots of back acne and would go through lots of Epiduo. Started a low dose of spiro a month ago and things are noticeably better. I was able to get it prescribed via a teledoc appt.

[Anonymous]

Dairy is the big one to give up if trying diet changes.

Reducing sugar and giving up gluten will also help
but giving up milk based dairy, cows milk and cheese
is the big one.

In this day and age of the nut milks giving up dairy is not that
big of a deal, not like it was 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you read about fungal acne? The regular methods don't work for it as they tend to beed yeast and target the wrong bacteria.

+1. This is a very real thing. Particularly if you also have it on your body. Try some anti-fungal cream for a few days. Treat the area for 10-20 minutes then rinse. If you start to see clearance then you will want to discuss a antifungal medication with your physician. Fungus can be difficult to kill with topicals only. Did this and my skin cleared in a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you read about fungal acne? The regular methods don't work for it as they tend to beed yeast and target the wrong bacteria.

+1. This is a very real thing. Particularly if you also have it on your body. Try some anti-fungal cream for a few days. Treat the area for 10-20 minutes then rinse. If you start to see clearance then you will want to discuss a antifungal medication with your physician. Fungus can be difficult to kill with topicals only. Did this and my skin cleared in a week.

What kind of anti fungal meds did you get prescribed?

[Anonymous]

Fluconazole

[Anonymous]

Please try DIM supplement . Cleared my 25 year acne in two days!

[Anonymous]

Cut out sugar. It creates inflammation to which people like us are insanely sensitive. I had acne until a few years ago, did a deep sugar scrub, and my face was smoother than it ever had been in my life. Try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fluconazole

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Accutune, spironolactone, or minocyclone foam

And try a new dermatologist if you are still struggling with acne x 25 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I have dealt with acne since about age 15. In my teens it was on my forehead mostly. It's slowly migrated down and now that I'm middle aged it's mostly on my chin and jawline. If you'd told me at 20 that I'd STILL be dealing with acne in 20 years, I'd probably have had a psychotic break. I'm so worn down by feeling disfigured all the time. I can't enjoy summer because my makeup melts off.

It doesn't correlate with my menstrual cycle. I've tried everything (differin, tea tree oil, proactiv, antibiotics, diet changes, and more) but my acne isn't really severe enough for accutane. No derm has suggested it. The only thing that ever touched it was doxycycline, but that's a very strong antibiotic and I can't be on that forever. My derm prescribed me low dose doxy and it did NOTHING.

What the hell is causing my acne? Do I just get to feel gross for the rest of my life? Is it hormonal? How do I get my hormones balanced? Is it possible they've been off for decades? My acne was better during pregnancy.

Thanks for any insight.

How is your sex life?

[Anonymous]

I hope one or a combo of suggested treatments help you OP, I know your pain. For spot treatment I highly recommend sulfur products, in particular Dr Dennis Gross Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask. I don’t use it as a mask, I put it on spots and leave on as overnight treatment, as well as areas I know are going to break out at some point during the month. It has really cleared up my adult acne (all jaw/chin).

[Anonymous]

I've had acne all my life - 40+.

I tried everything short of Accutane - was scared.

Finally last year I tried a new tretinoin called Altreno. It's only been out for maybe 2 years? It's changed my life completely. I am VERY consistent - do not miss a night. I also use Dr Gross daily pads (regular strength) every night.

I swear I have not had one pimple in over 6 months. It's pricier than regular Retin A, but the magic is that it has all the benefits of the Retin A, but does not cause the extreme drying. You still need moisturizer, but it's not as severe. The drying only lasted the initial 2/3 weeks as my skin was getting used to it - started every other night and then to every night within a month.

It doesn't hurt that it's taken care of a few fine lines around my mouth and eyes. Good luck. I've been right there - and so much happier now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I have dealt with acne since about age 15. In my teens it was on my forehead mostly. It's slowly migrated down and now that I'm middle aged it's mostly on my chin and jawline. If you'd told me at 20 that I'd STILL be dealing with acne in 20 years, I'd probably have had a psychotic break. I'm so worn down by feeling disfigured all the time. I can't enjoy summer because my makeup melts off.

It doesn't correlate with my menstrual cycle. I've tried everything (differin, tea tree oil, proactiv, antibiotics, diet changes, and more) but my acne isn't really severe enough for accutane. No derm has suggested it. The only thing that ever touched it was doxycycline, but that's a very strong antibiotic and I can't be on that forever. My derm prescribed me low dose doxy and it did NOTHING.

What the hell is causing my acne? Do I just get to feel gross for the rest of my life? Is it hormonal? How do I get my hormones balanced? Is it possible they've been off for decades? My acne was better during pregnancy.

Thanks for any insight.

Diet. No one wants to hear this. If you were truly worn down by this, you'd work through an elimination diet. A real elimination diet, not one where you cut out one food or another for 4-5 days. You need to cut out all dairy, all sugar, all wheat, all soy, all alcohol, etc for a full month. Then and only then, you should add back each one of those - ONE at a time. See what is breaking you out.

There are entire parts of the world where acne isn't really a thing. I had acne for years, including acne that behaved similar to yours (got better during pregnancy) but wasn't linked to my menstrual cycles, and antibiotics somewhat worked. It was still diet. Your diet drives your hormonal balance.

I started with the "clear skin forever" diet. There is some paid version online, but you can find the general gist of it online without having to pay.

As it turned out, dairy was doing my skin in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I have dealt with acne since about age 15. In my teens it was on my forehead mostly. It's slowly migrated down and now that I'm middle aged it's mostly on my chin and jawline. If you'd told me at 20 that I'd STILL be dealing with acne in 20 years, I'd probably have had a psychotic break. I'm so worn down by feeling disfigured all the time. I can't enjoy summer because my makeup melts off.

It doesn't correlate with my menstrual cycle. I've tried everything (differin, tea tree oil, proactiv, antibiotics, diet changes, and more) but my acne isn't really severe enough for accutane. No derm has suggested it. The only thing that ever touched it was doxycycline, but that's a very strong antibiotic and I can't be on that forever. My derm prescribed me low dose doxy and it did NOTHING.

What the hell is causing my acne? Do I just get to feel gross for the rest of my life? Is it hormonal? How do I get my hormones balanced? Is it possible they've been off for decades? My acne was better during pregnancy.

Thanks for any insight.

Diet. No one wants to hear this. If you were truly worn down by this, you'd work through an elimination diet. A real elimination diet, not one where you cut out one food or another for 4-5 days. You need to cut out all dairy, all sugar, all wheat, all soy, all alcohol, etc for a full month. Then and only then, you should add back each one of those - ONE at a time. See what is breaking you out.

There are entire parts of the world where acne isn't really a thing. I had acne for years, including acne that behaved similar to yours (got better during pregnancy) but wasn't linked to my menstrual cycles, and antibiotics somewhat worked. It was still diet. Your diet drives your hormonal balance.

I started with the "clear skin forever" diet. There is some paid version online, but you can find the general gist of it online without having to pay.

As it turned out, dairy was doing my skin in.

Not OP but your advice - while valid - smacks of some unwarranted condemnation and oversimplifies the causes of acne. Yes - diet can be one way to address the reason for the breakouts but medical experts often repeat that it is the combination of diet and the right medication.

Glad your skin is clear, though and you found out what works for YOU.