Not sure if this is the right topic for this but it leads to frustration, anger and depression so here it is. I've had bad acne for years, worse than when I was younger. A lot of it is the big red painful ones. At my age, 52, it's embarassing. I get so upset that I pick and poke at it and make things worse. I know I'm not suppose to but I feel so bad already with all the symptoms going on that I just punish myself more. I feel I may as well look as bad as I feel. I have seen dermatologists in the past but nothing helps or what they give me just makes things worse. Anyone else dealing with this? Any ideas to try?

Sur- I never had a pimple as a teenager, then in my mid 40's BAM!! Big red, gross, boil like pimples on my face, especially my jaw line. It was horrible!! I didn't want to leave the house!! Seriously, I got really depressed over all of it!! Some were the size of marbles!!

After dealing with it for over a year, I asked for Accutane. Accutane is a pretty serious drug with potentially damaging side-effects, especially to the liver. I did my research, agreed to have a blood test every 3 weeks to monitor all my numbers, and I took it for 20 weeks.

15 weeks into it I was discouraged. Yes, my acne had improved, but not nearly as much as I had hoped. I understood it to be a "cure". Well, by week 20 my skin was completely FREE of any blemishes!! I mean..... GONE!!

That was about 5 years ago. I've been blemish free ever since. My blood work came back normal with each test. The only side effect I noticed were achy joints. Not bad.... they didn't slow me down, just on occasion I would get a bit achy. If Accutane worked, I didn't care. It was worth it. As soon as I stopped taking the medication the aches went away. Like I said, they weren't BAD aches, just something I noticed.

It is DEVISTATING to deal with adult cystic acne. I sooo feel your pain.

You might want to talk to your Dr. about Accutane.

Good Luck and let me know how you're doing!

(((((((((surreallife)))))))

Thanks for your comments! I did try Acutane about 10 years ago and after about 2 months my cholesterol went sky high, still dealing with that, so the dr took me off it. After you were through the treatment with Acutance did your acne come back? I've tried many of the over the counter stuff but doesn't help. I've fought depression all my life and of course this acne business adds to it. Now I'm fighting it even harder while fighting all these other symptoms. The shaking/tremors (inside and out) are the worse right now. The hot flashes go without saying, they have been there for years and are constant. Anyways I was thinking about trying the Proactive. I've thinking about it for awhile but didn't want to pay that much. Things are getting worse so I'll try anything right now. Anyone with adult acne had good results with this?

Sur- I've heard Proactive is pretty good, but if you have hormonal related cystic acne I'm not sure if it will help much. Cystic acne is internal. It's caused typically because of hormone imbalances. That's why it's so prevalent in teenagers.

Have you seen a dermalotogist?? Also.. do you have small, tiny acne bumps, or are they large and cystic? How old are you? Have you had hormone testing? Sorry to ask so many questions, just trying to help...

Leanne

I have seen dermatologists in the pasta but just gave me stuff that made things worse. I have all types the small, tiny bumps and the large, cystic ones. I had homone test a couple years ago and all I was told is that I'm in menapause. I'm see gyno next week to talk more about it. She was going to put me on hormones awhile ago but I didn't want to. Things I read didn't make me comfortable about it. In the past 6 months I have gotten worse so I'm debating now. Think that might help with acne problem? I won't base my decision on just that but it would be a plus.
Thanks for your interest

Surreal...high testosterone can cause acne, and I think someone else said that progesterone caused them to have acne so hormone therapy might help... I just started BHRT and it seems my acne is better, as well as my facial hair growth!


Peace and Blessings,

TJ :wub

Oh yeah forgot about that one. Got that one too. Will it never end! The symptom list gets longer and longer! How do we stay sane?!
Thanks for the info!

OMG pimples coming back.aaahhh what do we do. what do we do .. not funny hey Yes a few juicy ones on the chin and on the nose. Don't want to dry out the skin so what is good anyone..

gizzie

I just found out my adult acne is rosacea. After doing a bit of research, I decided to try local honey (both ingested and as a mask on face I rinse off) and am already getting better. I also want to get a saliva test to see what bio-identical hormones might help me for the skin and my overall symptoms.

Hardly had them as a teen...wish I could say the same now!!

My 15 year old does not really have bad acne but she thinks she does. Anyway, I bought this product called Clear 5 (vitamin supplement) that suppose to work in helping with acne. Just goggle Clear 5 and you'll get some info. I see some improvement on my daughter's face already.

Plumeria

Since upping my flax seed to twice a day (freshly ground), my facial hair, and acne have really improved/lessened. I have also noticed that my hairline is filling in more... I'm attributing all of this to the flax seed blocking the DHT which converts to the free testosterone, since mine was high. Obviously further testing will give me a better idea of where my testosterone numbers are now.

When I initially started the BHRT almost 3 months ago I had some initial new hair growth and lesseningof the hair etc., but then nothing. Three weeks ago I upped the flax (actually started using it more consistently raw as opposed to making bread sometimes with it) and immediately noticed the difference in my skin...


TJ

Since upping my flax seed to twice a day (freshly ground), my facial hair, and acne have really improved/lessened. I have also noticed that my hairline is filling in more... I'm attributing all of this to the flax seed blocking the DHT which converts to the free testosterone, since mine was high. Obviously further testing will give me a better idea of where my testosterone numbers are now.

When I initially started the BHRT almost 3 months ago I had some initial new hair growth and lesseningof the hair etc., but then nothing. Three weeks ago I upped the flax (actually started using it more consistently raw as opposed to making bread sometimes with it) and immediately noticed the difference in my skin...


TJ

I've suffered a recent breakout, three days in a row...

New superficial pimples populating my entire face...

This thread helped me figure out what may be the culprit...

( skipping Revival, Omegas and flax) for the last two weeks...

This is a first...

Off to take my supplements...

I don't know if this is helpful or not, since OP doesn't mention what specific treatments her dermatologist offered, but I've had acne my whole life and the only thing that helps consistently is antibiotics. Yes I know we want to minimize our over-use of AB's, but I'll take staph over a huge breakout any day! But seriously, I take a daily dose that's pretty low, I use an OTC salicylic acid lotion, and for the most part my skin is under control. It also helps that as I've gotten older, and my vision has changed, I can't see the d***d things well enough to squeeze them anymore!!!
Cheers!

I have had acne for over twenty years and have to agree with the daily low level dose of antibiotics. Nothing else controls it.

Funny, it was my acne in particular that has always made me want my menopause to come because a lady doc told me many years ago that although female hormone flutuations aggravate it, it is mostly Testosterone that causes it in the first place. She told me post menopause my Testosterone levels would reduce and I would finally be free of it entirely. Can't tell you how many times over the years I have thought 'Bring it on!', I even once asked her if there was medication to induce it or to reduce my testosterone levels prematurely.

Now, amid inexplicable rages, tears, aches and pains, utter brain fog and assorted perimenopausal grief I can at least say that I do have something good to look forward to, something that I have waited SOOOO long for!

I was just wondering if your doctor had excluded PCOS. It is often the cause of lifelong adolescent acne. Just a thought.



XIII

I'm 2 years post and still have the bad acne. I guess my testosterone is working overtime more than not. I heard when we get older we 'dry up' probably meant the testosterone does get lower. Still waiting...and like you its been a long time!

i had very bad acne in my late teens/early 20s (used accutane finally to deal with it). then i would infrequently get a pimple or 2 around my period. the last few years i have been getting mild to moderate acne again. the dermatologist just gave me a sample of a prescription topical cream called 'benzaclin,' which has benzoil peroxide with clindamycin. i use it just on the pimples when the occur & it has been working quite well.

Still have Acne post meonpause ? Shoot me now!

Not sentiments exactly. Do I dare tell you the hot flashes are going strong too?

Dear 'X111'
This was also my first thought as the symptoms seem to point in that direction
Like you I think it is worth pursuing with a good Gyno. and an Endocrinologist

Best Wishes
.Elizabeth

I had the acne bouts when my testosterone was really high as well as recently when my doctor upped my progesterone. We are now lowering the P dose back down because of it. So both T and P can cause this. I use a salicylic lotion from Arbonne that does seem to dry them right up. Hope that helps.