Skincare help - i'm so unhappy!

[sunnyb]

I'm training as a beauty therapist & at the moment my skin is terrible! I am in my mid-thirties & had previously been on the pill to control my skin. However last year i was told due to my age i could no longer take it. Since changing my contraception my skin is terrible again. I get quite angry papules & pustules on my jaw line, chin & by my ears for some reason? My forehead changes weekly from greasy to dry & flaky & my nose often is dry & sore. It's almost as if i have a reversed t-zone. I have been using Dermalogica products for acne, but i think this may be too harsh as it's drying my skin out, causing what seems to be over production then of sebum to compensate the stripping of oils from my skin. The spots do not seem to be getting any better & sometimes they are just like sore lumps with no head. I scar quite easily too, so they are taking ages to go. I just feel as a beauty therapist, if i'm recommending treatments, i should have clear skin myself. I am very paranoid & spend about 20 minutes a day covering myself in make-up before the school run etc. Can anyone recommend any products for me that won't be too drying on my skin (as it can be quite sensitive) but that will treat the soreness of my spots? Any help will be sooooooooooooooo muchly appreciated x :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: x ps i have asked my doctor to refer me to a dermatoligist, but just want to try to keep things under control until my appointment x

Rebecca xxx

 

[Spanner]

Hey Rebecca
I feel you pain!
I recently posted a thread "strictly professional skin care" as I am in the same predicament as you although I can't really afford the dermalogica products at the moment. People have recommended some products on there such as Eve taylor and decleor.
My friend had a laser and light treatment at a salon in tunbridge wells, it completely cleared her severe acne but I can't remember what it was called, sorry.
I'm also studying at college still and I asked my teacher what she thought and she recommended a galvanic facial from a level 3, I haven't had it yet but when I do I will let you know how it went.
I know you want to do more than cover it but like you I spend a good 20 minutes covering my blemishes and I use Estee lauder maximum coverage; it covers so well without looking heavy or fake.
Hope this helps
x x

 

[keeleyp]

Hello -I know how you feel, I was always told you will grow out of it. I am now 34 and suffer from spots on my chin, I have tried everything and nothing works. My Course tutor said it is proberly hormonal.

I was thinking as I have alot of scars on my chin, maybe skin peeling is the way to go?

Can anyone recommend this?:cry:

 

[zoealana]

how about microdermabrasion for your scarring keeley

 

[*Zoe*]

HI Rebecca,

I really feel for you because I too know how horrible having problem skin like you! I too had really bad acne, but really dry skin too, so any skin product I used would dry my skin out make everything all flakey and dry!!!

You'll be happy to know though that I am now completely spot free and haven't had a spot in years! I tried everything from Clinique, to dermological to home remedies I found on the internet and nothing worked. I went to the docotors and they gave me lotion after lotion that did nothing but dry my skin up more and make the problem worse!! However, I was eventually refered to the hospital and prescribed some tablets that, within a week all my spots had completely gone and never returned! It took a lot of me going back and forth to the doctors, and telling them that what they were giving me wasn't working, but in the end they got it right. I now only wash my skin in E45 wash because it is so dry, but even with this I get no spots.

SO my advice would be, save your money and stop buying lotions and potions, and just hang on for your hospital appiontment, and if it doesn't work, go back and tell them that untill they get it right! They will in the end, but its just a bit of trial and error for them.

Then when the spots are gone, maybe microdermabrassion, or an acid peel to help get rid of any scarring. But if your spots are bad, I usually find tampering with your skin just makes them worse and more sore.

Hope that helps, but what ever you decide to do, I hope you manage to get rid of them x

 

[sunnyb]

Thanks for everyone's help & understanding. It's great to know I'm not on my own. Zoe what tablets were you given? The doctor mentioned reaccutane, but that there could be bad side effects with this. But I'm quite desperate now! Having had bad skin since my teens & hearing the 'you'll grow out of it' rubbish, I just feel really down at the moment. I think i'll try some kind of facial peel or dermabrasion, but I'll see what the dermatologist says first! I'll let you know how I get on. If anyone else wants to share their advice or experience then please add to this post!

Thanks again - I love this site xxx

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

May I just add that if you are training as a beauty therapist, are you training in a situation where you work on eachother ie. other students?

Firstly, many students don't wash or properly sanitize their tools, sponges etc.... Trust me they don't!

Secondly, what products are you using on eachother at college? We were taught with basic cheap and nasty stuff and due to the above reasons I had so many proplems with my skin when I was training!

It's just a thought.

 

[CHESSY GIRL]

hi i know the medi bac range can be quite drying but have you tried the new cleanstart range from dermalogica its aimed at teenagers but i am 29 yrs old with simalar skin to you and i have seen a massive improvement in my skin since using this and it is much cheaper than normal dermo products almost half the price ( trying to fit in with a younger budget):hug:

i can too vouch that when i was doing my training my skin was at its very worst xx

 

[Spanner]

Thanks for everyone's help & understanding. It's great to know I'm not on my own. Zoe what tablets were you given? The doctor mentioned reaccutane, but that there could be bad side effects with this. But I'm quite desperate now! Having had bad skin since my teens & hearing the 'you'll grow out of it' rubbish, I just feel really down at the moment. I think i'll try some kind of facial peel or dermabrasion, but I'll see what the dermatologist says first! I'll let you know how I get on. If anyone else wants to share their advice or experience then please add to this post!

Thanks again - I love this site xxx

Look on a website acne.org its a site with loads of people suffering from acne and there are people who have or are currently taking accutane. The before and after pictures are amazing. The possible side effects are a little scary but I think you get to that point where you are willing to try anything.
I'm going to have a look at that new dermologica range I think x x

 

[sunnyb]

Thank you again! I know not everyone is hygenic, but our tutor makes everyone put their tools into a steam cleaner & then barbicide after. The only doubt I have is about the sponges, but mine are cleaned at home properly & I will only let people use my own sponges on me! We use Priadara products which of which some are out of date (not impressed by that). They don't seem too great to honest, quite strongly fragranced. Have looked at the Cleanstart range from Dermalogica & it is definitely better priced than the regular range. Think I'll hang on until I've seen the dermatologist now as only have to wait until 22nd Feb to see what they say. I'm also going to look at the acne.org site. Not sure it's severe enough for reaccutane, but the spots I'm getting are very large & sore. So I'll have to wait & see. Thanks again for all your support & advice.

Rebecca x

 

[keeleyp]

how about microdermabrasion for your scarring keeley

Hi, Thank you I will find out if I can have this done.

 

[daisyl]

Hi, Thank you I will find out if I can have this done.

Microdermabrasion is a great treatment but you would have to have hell of a lot to improve acne scarring - and even then I would advise in conjunction with another treatment such as medical peels etc etc.

The biggest bugbear of mine is when GP's advise 'you will grow out of it' - rarely happens and increases the incidence of scarring. Acne needs to be treated as it appears. Not later down the line. I would advise you to seek medical professional advice from a COSMETIC dermatologist or medical skin clinic (this is my area). There are many treatments which can be applied but it is not a case of one treatment suiting all and often combination treatments along with prescription topicals (and I mean prescription not cosmeceuticals) are required.

I perform medical microdermabrasion regularly - but for acne and scarring as you describe - this treatment would not really be indicated.

I hope you get some sound professional advice.

 

[Spanner]

I would advise you to seek medical professional advice from a COSMETIC dermatologist or medical skin clinic (this is my area). QUOTE]

Do you give light treatments ? x

 

[*Zoe*]

Zoe what tablets were you given? The doctor mentioned reaccutane, but that there could be bad side effects with this. But I'm quite desperate now! Having had bad skin since my teens & hearing the 'you'll grow out of it' rubbish, I just feel really down at the moment.

It was reaccutane I was on. They are strong tablets, but if you are careful and follow doctors advice you will be fine! It thins your skin and makes it very fragile so you have to be very careful with your skin while you are on them, like staying out of the sun and wearing sun block every day. My skin was so thin that I scratched my knee with just my nail, it cut me and scarred me! The mark is still there 6 years later! I had no other issues or problems with the tablets, and was over joyed with the results. Never had any spots since, after suffering from acne from the age of around 10.

If you want to ask me any information question on the tablets please feel free to private message me.

 

[shedunlop]

I would hold on to see your dermatologist. If you have to wait too long in your area why not pay for a private consultation, if you can afford it. You can do this and then have your treatment on the NHS. This would mean that you can choose your consultant and find someone who specialises in your problem and see him or her, usually, within a couple of weeks. The consultation will cost around £110 to £150. They will diagnose and contact your GP with the recommended treatment.

I personally would prefer to spend my money on this than another range of products that may not do any good. Acne will make your skin super sensitive and using the wrong products can make it go haywire!

Your GP will have to write a referral letter to your chosen consultant but this is no problem, at least you would feel as if you were getting somewhere.

Good luck my darling

 

[ADiva1]

If you have a hormonal imbalance NO skin care products will repair your skin!

The main problem here seems to be because you came off of the pill. There are pills that do help with hormone imbalance which causes acne. Dianette (google and see for yourself), are one of the contraceptives which helps to prevent acne. Mercilon is another.

Go back and speak to your doctor. Its not that you should STOP taking the pill when you are over 30 or 35, whatever your doctor said. Its more that there are possibilities of side effects, dependent upon what pill you are on....

Dont let it stress you out too much, but do speak to your doctor again and dont use too many different products on your skin!:hug::hug:

 

[jo1983]

Firstly I would stop using any produscts that have the following ingredients: alcohol (very drying and will cause over secretion of sebaceous glands), Sodium lauryl sulphate (same as alcohol) , mineral oil (highly comedonegenic and has no real skin benefits), lanolin (highly comedongenic), artificial fragrances, artificial colours. By avoiding these ingredients you will find that your skin will slowly begin to improve.

I am qualified to run an acne clinic and if you have any questions you can PM me.

 

[leanne]

Hi, i feel for you as i too have suffered with bad skin... still do occasionally.
i had lovely skin untill i hit my 18th birthday and then suddenly it was terrible! peeling/spotty/boils/scars! the lot... i have only just got it under control and i am 30 now!
i tried every product going and tried microdermabrasion which didnt really improve it as much as i hoped... i even went on the sunbed to clear it up at one point (horror !!!)

The only thing that worked for me was to make sure my makeup was pure... i went back to basics with my skin care routine... dermalogica cleanser and oil free moisturiser and started using mineral makeup and i now wash my makeup brushes every 3 days with an anti bacterial face wash. if it is a hormone imbalance then it is best to sort that out too with your GP. i wouldnt buy any products untill you see your dermatologist as they will want to see what you have been using etc and if you have just changed it will mess your skin up even more.

I hope you get it under control.


Leanne.

 

[Rhiannon1234]

I have a problem with my chin, spots, lumps, bumps, currently a boil that is slowly going after about 6 weeks!

I received some Dermalogica products as a Christmas present, haven't started them yet as didn't want to mix up my skin care routine. There seems to be some good comments about Dermalogica, should I start using it now?

Also, what make up do people recommend? Currently use Maybelline foundation.

I understand that the chin area is supposed to be hormonal, but mine seems to flare up at any time!

 

[keeleyp]

how about microdermabrasion for your scarring keeley

Hi thank you Im going to look into getting this done... thanks for the advice