I'm having the SAME problem. I'm 32 and have been on and off birth control for about 10 years and had twins a year ago and since then my skin has been horrible and can't get it under control. I know it's all hormonal too. It's been getting worse and worse to the point where it's cystic and painful. I am vegetarian so I've notice since it's been getting really bad around that time I started eating soy every morning. So not even a week ago I stopped eating soy (which is in a LOT of other foods besides my breakfast food) and since then it started calming down. Soy messes with hormones so I'm surprised it took me so long to realize that. But my skin is still a bit oily. For me, the oilyness calmed down when I stopped using harsh products like medicated face washes. Right now I'm using African black soap that has shea butter and activated charcoal then I've been only moisturizing with Jason aloe gel and those are both really gentle. But like you I've tried everything. If I had more money I'd get my hormones tested to see if I could figure it out faster but eliminating soy is definitely helping.

Glad eliminating soy is helping some. I rarely eat soy, so I can't try eliminating it but I think I will try to find some of the soap you use.. Can you buy online?

I agree with the poster that mentioned soy. Diet can help acne for some people and guess what, it's free. A lot of folks see mass improvement from giving up dairy and gluten for a significant period of time. Dairy for sure can mess with hormones. I'm 31 and still struggling. Seeing a naturopath and taking supplements that help hormones. Will have to wait 3 months to see if they have been making a significant difference.

Good Luck!

Hey I know what your going through, adult acne sucks. I had clear skin until my early 20's and all of a sudden starting breaking out. I found that milk thistle and cod liver oil really helped for me. worth a try since they are both cheap.

On 1/2/2015 at 10:52 AM, maRy29 said:

I've been dealing with acne since my early teens. I am now 29, have two kids. My acne stayed under decent control when on birth control but still has it. Lots of black heads and whiteheads I can't get rid of. I now have an IUD (peragaurd) for birth control which contains no hormones and I have been breaking out for the past 2 years. Right now I have some acne on my face but the worst is my chest and I can't get rid of it! I thought I'd be dont getting acne since I'm almost 30! I'm not sure what to do. Over the counter stuff dosent seem to work. Proactive didn't work. I haven't been to a dermatologist since I can't afford it right now. I have over oily skin and have been taking vitamin d suppliments to help keep overactive sebum glands in control, it seems to have barely helped. Anyone have anything similar? And ideas on getting rid of this crap?

Short answer for non-prescription supplements. Go with these exact brands. Sometimes people ask my advice and I give them very specific supplements to take, they go and buy some cheap generic knockoff that doesn't have the right formulation and then complain that it doesn't work. There is a reason I suggest these particular brands.

Super Saw Palmetto

Pantothenic Acid

Vitamin A

DAILY:

1-2 capsules saw palmetto

1 capsule pantothenic acid

2 capsules vitamin A

You WILL see a reduction in sebum after a few weeks if you keep it up.

I agree with the poster that mentioned soy. Diet can help acne for some people and guess what, it's free. A lot of folks see mass improvement from giving up dairy and gluten for a significant period of time. Dairy for sure can mess with hormones. I'm 31 and still struggling. Seeing a naturopath and taking supplements that help hormones. Will have to wait 3 months to see if they have been making a significant difference.

Good Luck!

Seconding this! Give some serious consideration to adjusting your diet. It made a huge difference for me and many other folks. If you want more information on that you should check out my blog - the link is in my signature down below.

And supplements can do a lot, too, like Green Gables said. In addition to those she suggested, I recommend n-acetyl-cysteine, selenium, plus milk thistle like team510 said.

Has anyone ever tried any of these? http://healthyimmunity.com/products/

The hormonal balancing ones definitely look worth checking out. I just started taking Thyrosmart yesterday hoping that will help my hormonal issue.

Hi, I'm 29 & have 2 kids as well. Never really had a bad acne problem but recently, it's been worse than ever! I've been using ProActive since I was in middle school, but during my adult years, I didn't have to use it as much. I started again. I feel so ugly!!! Here are some of the causes that I'm thinking:

-Taking preworkout drink prior to working out

-Stress from work?

-Dehyrdrated?

Hopefully with a change in diet, staying hydrated & using ProActive consistently, it will go away! good luck!