PDA

View Full Version : Anyone else suffer from acne?



Savannah
01-04-12, 22:41
Since I hit 30 I have suffered from adult acne, urghhh it is horrible. I had slight acne in my late teens, and I have always had slightly oily skin prone to breakouts but since I hit 30 I have been suffering with nasty cystic acne on my chin and around lips areas. It is horrible and very painful. When they come up big my glands in my jaw area come up slightly too, and are sore.

My GP tried me on antibiotics once but they really aggravated my stomach so I use an antibiotic lotion called Zineryt. It is good and works well but of course doesn't stop them sprouting.

At the moment I am having a nasty outbreak on my chin, I have had 5 horrible sore cysts, one made my lip swell slightly for a day. My glands are up and down with it too. It is so annoying and I feel so ugly.

I am getting little zit type spots on my chest and shoulders, places I don't usually suffer.

I use really good facial products, nothing harsh, I look after my skin, I drink water, I don't smoke or drink...... One thing is I am highly stressed recently and the last 2 years I have had anxiety issues on and off.

My GP says not to worry, and he had me seen by another GP that used to specialise in dermatology, he said it was cystic acne and suggested going on the combined pill if I couldn't tolerate antibiotics. My GP has prescribed the pill for heavy periods, which I plan on starting this month. The derm said it could well be hormonal at my age, aswell as stress related. He agreed with me that going on antibiotics doesn't stop acne forever, as soon as you come off the antibiotics it is likely to come back, so what is the point??

I am just worried that I can't keep fighting these. I only have 2-3 at a time, usually but still they leave red marks on my skin and they can be pretty painful. They are hard red lumps that come up on the skin. Sometimes they get a yellow head that will let the yellow fluid out, sometimes they don't and are just a red, hard, sore lump.

Can anyone relate??

I forgot to say I can't take roacutane (can't spell that), as I have medical conditions, or past conditions so he said I would not be able to take it, he also said my skin isn't severe enough. Even though it is cystic acne, my face isn't covered. It is horrible though having these hard lumps on my face, as soon as one goes another is already brewing. I am never spot free, I cant wear foundation as it causes more. It really is knocking my confidence and flaring up my health anxiety alot as I worry about my body fighting infection all of the time.

---------- Post added at 21:44 ---------- Previous post was at 21:43 ----------

I am 32 now, so I have had this going on for a couple of years, just worse in the last 12 months.

---------- Post added at 22:41 ---------- Previous post was at 21:44 ----------

I forgot to say also that i am worrying they are boils as they are so big with a yellow head on them, they get so painful:-(( or do normal spots go like that?

Kelley
01-04-12, 23:23
Hey.

I can sympathize with you fully!! I too started getting cystic acne after the age of 30! I have always had perfect skin and even as a teen only had a few breakouts here and there....it's depressing and embarrassing as a woman as I'm sure younger people look at me and think What the hell!?? They also have left terrible scarring and I won't spend a day without makeup anymore! Doctors just fob it off and say deal with it. I saw a dermo who prescribed me a vitamin A cream which doesn't do alot other than maybe reduce scarring. I'm 34 now and last week finally found out why this is happening through a naturopath!
I had my hormones checked through saliva and it turns out I have an imbalance and my testosterone is high! And this is the hormone that causes acne! The elevated levels are probably due to stress which all makes sense so once I learn to chill out I guess it will settle. And realistically I have had months go by where I don't get much acne and evidently I have been calm in those months...
I would be almost certain this is the same for you!
Good luck.

Kel

pearl79
02-04-12, 00:00
I completely feel for you... but touch wood I don't get too much my face except a pinprickley spotty rash round my jaw line and my glands under my jaw playup . I also suffer boils any where from my bottom.. lady bits.. belly.. under arms.. I hate it.. I'm 32 and suffered so much more in the last year since my anxiety has been severe. xxxx I've just started the combined pill so see if that helps xxxx

Savannah
02-04-12, 08:15
Thank you both.

I suspect mines hormonal and stress related. I've been very stressed due to issues with extended family, that have been very upseting and my skin has flared up badly.

My gp hasn't tested my hormones, he said there was no point. He said if I won't/can't try a different antibiotic he can't help so I just carry on with the Zineryt.

They are horrible red, hard, painful lumps on my chin that eventually ooze some yellow after a few days. Sometimes though they last weeks:/ Are these nodular/cystic acne or boils? It scares me that they could be boils.

So your glands also come up sore? Everytime I've an outbreak my glands swell:/

pearl79
02-04-12, 20:33
why are you scared of boils... I have them terrible lately and you have made me worry it might mean somethin bad xxxx

MrRedShirt
02-04-12, 20:40
I had what was probably average acne throughout puberty and adolescence... but then,.. it never went away! And if anything it got worse in my 20s.. and stayed into my 30s.. I particularly had bad acne on my back which I was always quite self-conscious about.

Eventually I took oxytetracycline which sorted it out, but I have always been curious about it. Sometimes I wonder if my endocrine system is up the spout..

So I sympathise, it's a horrible thing to have. Oh I also used the Zyneryt before.. stinks, doesn't it!