Acne.org Products
I've had acne for as long as I can remember...since age 11/12. I am 32 now and still have breakouts. I am getting what I think is hormonal acne (isolated to my chin). It is almost always cystic - large, painful nodules under the skin. I have tried for the last decade to treat it and somehow "heal" it myself. No luck. I have never discussed it with my doctor. Never been to a dermatologist. Never wanted to deal with what I thought would be "public embarrassment". But I can't take it anymore. I finally called and scheduled an appointment with my PCP (have to follow the steps...PCP, then a referral to a dermatologist). I'm scared to death and embarrassed, but desperate. So I'm curious. What are usually the first steps a doc will take when it comes to adult hormonal cystic acne? Anyone else out there in the same boat? Finally going to a dermatologist after a lifetime of suffering? Is there a standard protocol? Just looking for your thoughts.
most likely they will suggest either birth control pills with spironolactone or just spironolactone by itself. also most times they will recommend a course of antibiotics and then give you some sort of topical to use as well. retinoids are usually prescribed to use in the pm and then something else to use in the am. good luck!
At 25, I kinda thought the same thing... Bad, bad cystic acne. I had kind of gotten a handle on things when I went to my first derm appt. -- last summer. June/July I started going dairy free/less. I noticed it seemed to help. Heard it would, but never wanted to give it a try cause I LOVE cheese... It helped with the cysts, but not much else... Of course, if you only have cysts, this might be your last step. But then I tried washing less. Took a LOT of trial and error, but with oily, sensative skin, washing once a day with castile lavendar soap was best. I had to STOP picking, too. Awful. I still struggle. I went to an allergist, and he said I didn't have a dairy (or any food) allergy, but it's very possible to have a sensitivity to dairy, even though the medical community doesn't all agree on this, he knew a derm who agreed with the dairy acne connection. I went there with high hopes, but she just said I sounded on the right track, gave me a script for Epiduo and sold me a sulfer soap. I was really hoping she would be able to tell me the CAUSE of my acne....but I guess derms don't do that.
This fall my skin got worse and worse and awful (didnt use to Epiduo) . I couldn't figure out why. I was doing the same stuff, but not out in the sun with my daughters, but I figured that sun was just good because it killed bacteria.
I had a physical on January 4th and told my primary how I've had hormone levels tested, and nothing is wrong, but I don't know what i'll do about my acne getting so bad... She did a blood panel, as part of the routine physical, and found I am SEVERELY DEFFICIENT in vitamin D! I started taking it this month, and my face is almost completely back to what it was last summer! Almost good enough to go out without makeup! (last summer I did for one day - first time in my life!).
Just don't want you to get your hopes up about derms, but seriously, go and see anyone you can, cause the more info you gather, the better! Best of luck to you.
Thank you so much for your reply, Semmer. I have cut out most dairy...even ice cream, which I love. It has certainly helped. I have increased my water intake. The only other thing I drink is green tea, sometimes black tea. No soda or fruit juices. I just started taking vitamin D3, just an OTC dose. I do hope that my PCP does a blood panel, as I am convinced that something is going on internally...possibly that I'm lacking something like vitamin D. That's why I've always avoided a derm...I'm not looking for something topical (at least not just topical).
Like you, my skin is also worse in the winter...it needs sunshine and fresh air, which is hard to get during a New England winter! Thanks for your advice 