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Hi,
I am 36 years old. I have had acne and bad skin for over 20 years now. From about age 17 I was on the birth control pill that helped a lot. But after I had a blood clot in my leg, I wasn't allowed to be on the pill anymore. My skin was terrible during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But after I finished with all that, I went on clindoxyl for years and that seemed to help a lot. My skin was never fully clear, but it was manageable.
Last fall, clindoxyl was no longer available in Canada, so my doctor put me on benza-clin, and I had some strange side effects. I started losing a lot of hair, and my irritable bowel got really bad. Not sure if both were related to benza-clin, but seemed kind of weird. I then tried Tactuo, but that just made my skin red and irritated, with more pimples than ever!
Around that time, clindoxyl was available again, so I tried it again, and I'm not sure if it is a new formulation or what but it didn't work very well.
Finally my doctor suggested differin gel. I suffered through the phase where the acne got worse, but after adjusting, my skin did get better in the sense that all those little bumps I had on my cheeks seemed to go away and my skin actually felt smooth (not like I had a rash all the time), but I still have breakouts.
My biggest issues are whiteheads and cystic bumps (that are very painful!)). I always seem to have a handful of really red, inflamed spots, or ugly whiteheads.
However, my biggest issue right now is OILY SKIN! When I was on the birth control pill and clidoxyl for all those years, my skin was not nearly as oily. Now, I wash my face in the morning and an hour later it is WET with oil. I know you shouldn't wash your face multiple times a day, so I use blotting paper every couple of hours because it is so embarrassing and uncomfortable.
My skin care regimin is using cetaphyl oily skin cleanser in the morning in the shower. And then oxy pads or clearisil pads after I get out. I was using an astrignent as well but that seemed to be making my skin worse 
.
Throughout the day I use the skin blotting paper.
Sometimes I will do another swipe with an oxy pad or clearasil pad during the day if my skin is feeling really gross.
And then before bed more oxy pad/clearisil and then the differin gel.
Any advice on where to go from here? I'm afraid to try a new cream because differin did help smooth out my skin, but I need something for this oily skin!
I think my problems are partially (at least) due to hormones, as I have had other issues like needing a hysterectomy at age 30 for such extreme menstrual issues, only certain deodorants work for me, and I get really tender breasts. But my doctor says my hormone levels are fine (I still have my ovaries too). I also have really bad irritable bowel, so am hesitant to try oral medications or anything that could effect the stomach.
Please help! Is there anything at the drug store that can help with this oily skin??? Is there a prescription cream that I could add, while keeping the differin to help with the oilyness?
One thing that has really helped me with oil control is hemp seed oil supplements. I take 1 capsule per day and within 2 months noticed a difference. I no longer need to blot with paper towels in the ladies room at work, I can soooo get with the gross feel of oily skin! Hemp seed oil contains a perfect ratio of essential fatty acids. People with oily skin often lack one or more EFA's in their sebum, so their bodies produce oil in excess to compensate. Balancing out the body's EFAs can help bring oil production back under control.
Hope this is helpful! 
I'm so sorry you're having such a terrible time! I too have struggled with cystic acne and whiteheads my whole adult life and am much older than you. I also had a hysterectomy in my early 40's which messes up hormones even if tests come back okay. The thing is your tests are "okay" for a post menopausal woman...meaning you have less estrogen. This lack of estrogen causes an imbalance so the testosterone in your body becomes more dominant (still "normal" but dominant) and this causes more oily skin and particularly cystic acne. The excess oil is also causing the additional whiteheads, inflammation, etc.
In addition it sounds like you have sensitive skin. I do too so many topicals are too harsh for me. Personally, full strength antibiotics keep me clear but cause terrible gut problems so I could not do that. It was my current derm who devised a regime that has kept me almost clear. It involves taking something to suppress testosterone or androgens (Spironolactone), something gentle to kill acne bacteria (Panoxyl 10% cleanser which has benzoyl peroxide). a topical to reduce inflammation and kill acne bacteria (Cleocin-T), and monthly microdermabrasions to open pores, allow the medicine in, and heal scarring. In addition I am on a rosacea-acne diet that my derm endorses which avoids dairy, sugary foods, processed oils, spicy foods, nuts, and flour products.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to message me. I know what it is like to struggle with this kind of chronic acne and to finally find something that works.
