1 reply to this topic

[Emat]

Hi, all. Hope this isn't the same old story but I am beyond desperate.

I am female, 40 years old, for Pete's sake, and NEVER EVER EVER been (in memory, that is) without acne somewhere on my face. It ranges from little zits to painful cysts, and it comes and goes but again, my face is never ever totally clear. I cannot even remember how long I've been battling endlessly with this. It appears anywhere and everywhere. Cheeks, jawline, chin. Not TOO much on forehead unless I've been twirling my bangs.

I blink and I break out. It doesn't even seem to be cyclical or anything. I guess I am facing ANOTHER trip to the derm.

Except for Accutane I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING.
ProActive.
Mario Bedescu pink stuff.
Bencaclyn (an Rx).
All kinds of Rx retinoids.
Switching my birth control pill around.
Spironolactone (sp?), which is an androgen blocker (so on top of being a zithead, I'm a man! Well, it didn 't work, anyway).
Fish oil pills (which have left me with greasy hair, where it used to be very dry...and a mountain range of acne on my right cheek. Coincedence? Probably not).
Rubbing alcohol.
Drinking tons of water.
Zinc cream on my face.
And of course I have tried EVERYTHING at the drug store. Let's not even go there. I should own stock in CVS. Have wasted a fortune.

God knows, I have fought a good fight!

I feel like I have done everything but 1) Accutane and 2) Rip my face off.

I am willing to do Accutane with all the blood draws and stuff. I just cannot believe it's come to that. I'm done having kids, so not worried about birth defects.

My acne, already bad, became OUTRAGEOUS during my pregnancy. I wonder if that is a clue?

Oh, I've tried reducing diary consumption, too. I only use soy milk, for example, in cereal or lattes.

I know some of you are so well meaning you will say, "Maybe it's time to just leave it alone." And that is tempting! I just cannot believe that in this medical day and age NOTHING can be done. I am facing a job search and I don't want to be covered with ance on interviews.

I'm not askikng for peaches and cream skin. Just SOME semblance of looking like an adult and feelking a ittle better about myself.

Thank you for letting me vent!

E.M.
Texas, USA

[gia1]

Try to stop drinking coffee alot of people get acne from caffeine. Have you ever tried probioitcs or some kind of diet like the candida diet, it cleared me up. You could be allergic to certain foods. Try going to a dietitian since meds have not helped it could be internal.