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Post by cherry on Mar 15, 2010 19:38:04 GMT -5
Has anybody else noticed a general worsening in their skin such as oiliness, dryness or spots when on a hormonal IUD like the mirena? I have painful acne on my face which is now appearing on my chest and back, and though I have somewhat settled endo wise with the mirena in, I'm finding it very hard to wash my face and having to cover up with double coats of MAC studio fix cos I'm so scarred and inflamed!
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Post by Karen on Mar 15, 2010 20:15:22 GMT -5
Yup, when I had Mirena in, my skin was greasier than when I was a teenager! I swear, some days, it was just falling off me in sheets. Really gross. I've read that progesterone only BC can be the culprit, whether in pill form or IUD, since estrogen in BC is typically what keeps acne in check. A friend is experimenting with epsom salt masks - mix with water and put on your face and allow to dry before washing off. She's only a few days into but said the inflammation was down a bit. If you decide to try it, report back! And if you think it's a quack shot, well then, don't.
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Post by cherry on Mar 16, 2010 7:13:46 GMT -5
I'll post up the pics I look so gross without foundation and I'd never even had to wear make-up before now. I will definitely try it Karen, I'm all for the home remedies! Tea tree oil helped for a while but then it just kicked up again. I keep my skin clean but moisturised and I swear washing my face is a nightmare it hurts so much to touch it. Thanks so much for the advice Karen
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Post by hellsbells on Mar 22, 2010 14:25:32 GMT -5
I started getting sever acne in my mid twenties - huge purple cysts but all on the jaw line/neck which I was told by umpteen people had to be hormonal. Ya think?? Well, I'm now on Mirena and Provera and my skin, if anything, is better most of the time. I also think my hair has stopped/slowed falling out, seems a bit thicker and I'm getting way less body hair regrowth. I guess it all depends on whic hormones were out of whack in the first place. Other women have told me they've got really oily skin while on it. Cherry........why do you think I look 10 years younger than I am? :-) It has its plus points!!
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Post by hellsbells on Mar 22, 2010 14:26:00 GMT -5
Oh, and 15 years of using Clarins hasn't hurt!
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Post by cherry on Mar 22, 2010 18:46:18 GMT -5
I heard that having oilier skin is why some afro caribbeans can look very young in the face. For me, my hair has stopped falling out (bonus cos I was going bald in places on GnRH) but I've got my eyebrows, moustache, arm and leg hairs and bikini line all growing back stupidly fast. Thank god I haven't got a man to keep it up for! I pluck, shave and use cream so it's not due to my methods, I'm really just the queen of evilly strong hairs now... though again at least I'm not as hairy as on GnRH. I haven't tried the epsom yet I keep forgetting to buy it. My skin has calmed a little again, lumpiness has subsided but I'm still getting stabbing pains in my face. I use clarins at night and a garnier moisturiser during the day. It's not reasonable for me to be so spotty and in so much pain with this so I'm planning on asking for roaccutane from the dermatologist.
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Post by hellsbells on Mar 23, 2010 14:17:38 GMT -5
Stabbing pains in your face? Wtf?? How long's that been going on?
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eva
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by eva on Mar 24, 2010 18:36:55 GMT -5
So that's why my face has turned into a dot to dot picture!!!!! Ive only been on the mirena a week and my spots have got spots! How wonderful. Hope it's all worth it.
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Post by cherry on Apr 7, 2010 16:30:44 GMT -5
Yeah the doc didn't bat an eyelid at that fact Helen! The stabbing pains are from the spots, prob cos they are so nasty! He has put me on antibiotics (joy) as due to my 'anxiety' issues he thinks a dermatologist won't give me roaccutane. They have cleared a little but the scars are very clearly marked. I'm dark skinned but very pale compared to my family, so my scars are dark brown and the redness also shows up easily due to my light tan complexion. Thank god for MAC makeup. My skin seems to breathe a sigh of relief when I put the Clarins on at night too. Eva I really hope your spots clear up, sometimes we can get spotty when we start or end a hormone treatment and I hope it's only that rather than a long-term reaction to the Mirena, its just that in my case I seem to be overly sensitive to hormones, especially skin wise.
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Post by cherry on Apr 7, 2010 16:38:21 GMT -5
Excuse the scowly face. And it'll sound so drama-queen of me but that was a not-so-bad-day, I had to take pictures from all aspects as they're on both cheeks, my forehead and chin. The scarring now is very obvious and frankly, makes me look dirty. Attachments:
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Post by hellsbells on Apr 8, 2010 14:59:07 GMT -5
My spots have only really been bad on my jawline and under my chin, which I've always been told was hormonal. At one point they were huge, mega painful purple cysts. I've had oral and topical antibiotics in the past but I swear they only made it worse. I also tried other skin care ranges such as Biore and Dermalogica, which didn't help and somehow may have made it worse. Only thing that helped was to go back to Calrins full time (everything I put on my face day and night that isn't make up is Clarins) and 2 years ago I started using the Bare Escentuals mineral make up and my skin has been 'better' since. I can HIGHLY recommend 'Younger Longer'. It's pricey at about £65 but lasts around 10 months, and I swear it helps prevent new spots and clear up existing ones. I'm taking you shopping when I get down there!!
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Post by cherry on Apr 9, 2010 7:49:56 GMT -5
I think that's the big issue, finding something that works! I'm glad mine aren't getting to cyst type proportions now but I completely sympathise, my skin did get like that when I was on the GnRH shots and the only thing that helped was getting off the treatment.
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Post by lizzylou on Apr 10, 2010 22:23:27 GMT -5
not sure if this will help or not... My stepsister in an estetition (sorry for the spelling, a person who does facials and stuff). Before my IUD my skin was awful and she said it was clearly hormonal but she gave me some general face-washing tips that did help.
#1 - wash your face twice a day (morning and night, never more). Washing it too much can actually dry out your skin which makes it produce more oil #2 - ALWAYS use a toner. Washing your face strips it of natural moisture, a good toner will balance the PH of your skin. Not doing this can make your skin produce MORE oil. #3 - Getting stronger stuff when your first stuff isn't working usually won't help. If your using too strong of stuff, again, your skin will have to compensate with, yup that's right, MORE OIL! #4 - Use a moisturizer (again with your skin needing moisture) #5 - Don't look at fancy pakages at the store, and if your a teenager don't use the teenager skin products. You need to get stuff appropriate for your skin #6 - Buy a gentle facewash, a toner (witch hazel is good), and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin.
It took a few weeks but sticking to this really did help. See if you can find a site online that you can get a faewash, toner, and moisturizer specifically for your skin type. I personally need a gentle wash, a stronger toner, and a medium moisturizer. My skin still breaks out around my periods but I use a proactive refining mask (put a dab on and sleep in it, the breakout is smaller in the morning).
lol, I have lots more skin advice where that came from, she's CONSTANTLY preaching to me about my skin.
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Post by lizzylou on Apr 10, 2010 22:24:56 GMT -5
OH...and as hard as it is DONT PICK!!! I know it's incredibly hard but it actually makes the breakout look worse and the red lasts on your face longer. I'm a major picker and I'm trying so hard not to!!
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Post by cherry on Apr 11, 2010 11:16:29 GMT -5
I feel the need to pick so bad and do my best not to cos you really don't know where your hands have been! I try to pay attention to the little signs in my skin. I wash my face in the morning with face wash, then in the afternoon before work and putting on makeup, rather using a product again I will clean with a flannel and warm water. My skin oil feels so viscous I'm surprised my skin isn't worse. Honestly it feel like syrup. I haven't used toner in years eep, I do always do a quick (thorough) splash with very cold water and thought that sufficient! Firmly believe in moisturising though. I like water based, makes my skin feel like its drinking water after being thirsty! I will get my ass to clarins when I get paid and get a regime. I have a face wash from them and a night moisturiser so I have to fill in the other holes. My skin is ridiculously sensitive so its hard to work out what stuff to try. Witch hazel even irritates it. And cos of the hormon treatments I can't stick with one system because the needs change. I try to apply the same with my hair too since my scalp is also vile. I have frizzy coarse hair so thought it best to use shampoos made for thick hair but the companies must have it wrong because my hair and scalp react better to 'light' formulas. If I could afford to I would have a whole hair regime of Kerastase, that stuff is the bees knees and works well for my mixed race hair (it is afro but not fully so) My skin has stopped breaking out so badly now that I'm practically drowning myself in water everyday!
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