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Post by cherry on Feb 13, 2007 5:55:49 GMT -5
After having a relatively good puberty with light spottiness, at the age of 22 I've broken out in full on acne. It's very annoying, as my confidence hit a new low last year due to lots of things going on, so acne as well makes me feel self conscious. My eczema worsened on the Prostap hormone (mini-menopause) treatment, but disappeared within a month of it all wearing off. However my doctor insists it is my hormones, and wasn't too useful. When I asked what I could do to prevent the scarring, he answered, 'well there are a lot of old wives' tales...' but didn't tell me anything! I mentioned that a model agency was interested but wanted my skin sorted first, and he jumped on it. The way he said 'it doesn't help that you want to be a model' and looked at me, he seems to think I'm vain. If I wanted to be a singer and asked for special lozengers, I'm sure he wouldn't look down his nose then. i didn't say i want treatment cos i wanna be a model. I'm past that now. i said my face is sore, I'm scarring badly and even an agency who want to work with me want my skin to be clearer first. I'm not up myself, I was the plain skinny tall girl all my childhood. So when someone says 'You have potential, a look that could earn you money' I'm only going to be interested in the fact that I can make a decent living while studying for my career. He never took any notice of me wanting to be a surveyor when I asked for painkillers and different appointments so i could still attend all my classes. My god I ramble a lot! Does anyone have herbal remedies or good natural ways to help with bad skin? I use a teatree soap but that only worked when i had 'normal' hormonal spots. I don't think it's the endo that's done this, though i feel like a switch was flipped when i went on the hormone treatment xx
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Post by ouchy on Feb 13, 2007 7:02:38 GMT -5
Sorry about your face! Of herbal remedies, I am unsure. I use Dead Sea facial soap everyday when I wash my face. It's very likely that the Prostap messed up your hormones. Since I was on the pill, my scalp breaks out with cysts when I ovulate. I NEVER had that before the last pill I was on. Crazy. Men are SOOOO lucky. Okay. Now I'm rambling. LOL. Good luck w/ everything!
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Post by angelas on Feb 13, 2007 10:20:20 GMT -5
Hey Cherry, there are a few products that I have tried. The best thing I've found so far is persagel. Its just a cream that you dot on the spots say before you go to bed. The next day you notice a huge improvement. On the more deeper spots (not sure if you have any of that, but I always get the aweful sore way under the skin ones) it takes a little longer but it does really work. There is also a facewach called Spectrogel. It is very mild but does a fantastic job of cleaning your pores! I use it once in the morning. I have horrible hormonal imbalances and since I've been doing those 2 together I get the odd spot once in a while...
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Post by camille on Feb 13, 2007 10:54:39 GMT -5
I do believe that acne is tied in with the endo - another symptom of things going awry in my body. Acupuncture has helped tremendously, balancing out the whole package so to speak, as did getting my thyroid straightened out. In terms of washing my face, I use honey. Just plain honey. And tea tree oil directly on the pimple. I don't wash my face in the morning, just shower. Too much washing irritates my skin (I have very sensitive skin). I can't use traditional acne medications - they make me break out in hives! And I drink water...
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Post by ouchy on Feb 13, 2007 11:59:42 GMT -5
Adult acne is generally caused by hormone problems that might be caused by other problems that go hand-in-hand w/ endo, but I know that adult acne is definitely seen with syndromes such as PCOS, an actual hormone disorder. I haven't read any substantial evidence of endo causing acne, though.
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Post by cherry on Feb 15, 2007 7:00:22 GMT -5
I'm seriously considering going back on the pill, even though I wanted to stay off for a year cos I was on it for nearly 8 years since I was 14. So I think my body deserves a biiig rest! The last pill I was on was good for me compared to others, no 3am puking or spots or bad mood swings. I thought that about endo ouchy, he said it was a direct symptom rather than a related condition (as camille suggested which makes more sense). To be honest, I haven't had the psychotic PMS that makes me scream at people then cry, so I feel like my hormones are more settled, despite the acne suggesting otherwise! This doctor - though very eager to get some conclusive action - seems to have some very strange answers to my questions, or no answers at all, which is when he launches into the "there are many old wives tales..." speech. I'd find it comical if it wasn't so frustrating!
I will try all the treatments suggested above (although for the honey I'd probably try to eat it first!) cos this stuff he gave me is make making my face itch and burn and sting all at once! xx
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Post by kb on Feb 16, 2007 22:18:46 GMT -5
I feel your pain Cherry
Have the same problem, all through highschool, no acne, was incredibly rare, it became a minor problem in my university years (inreased stress i guess) at which time distilled witch hazel once a day was enough to keep them mostly at bay.
However now, since my health went a bit stupid, acne is a constant problem, i also am beginning to get scarring, it drives me mad, i get offers of solutions from people constantly, but nothing seems to work.
I am trying to get my hormones back in balance naturally with vitex, and evening primrose (and a few other antioxidant supplements) with my fingers crossed of my skin improving (and some other things). So far so good, it has improved somewhat, i seem to have no new outbreaks coming at the moment, might keep you posted on that one.
I have never found one cleanser superior over another, to me they all seem the same. I find i have better skin if i wash my face twice a day, and i use a moisturiser i made up with just a simple base moisturiser (very natural, nothing added), and putting in orange oil, rosehip oil, and almond oil, not high amounts, bout 10drops of each to 200mls. My skin stays clearer and the spots heal up quicker if i wash my face and moisturise with that mix twice a day, if i get lazy, they come back with a vengenance.
I also exfoliate daily with a gentle natural mix, seems to help too.
The moisturiser with the rosehip oil in it has also faded some of my old scars, but i wouldnt put it on straight, it makes the pimples worse.
That doctor was incredibly rude and thoughtless by the way. Why you wanted clear skin isnt the point, its nice to look good, clear skin is something that makes you feel better. Those stupid old wives tales become irrelevant when the problems hormonal, drinking lots of water, dont eat chocolate, avoid sugar, i do all those things, it makes no difference.
Good luck with the battle Cherry, theres a solution out there, just gotta find what works for you.
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Post by cherry on Feb 19, 2007 18:19:37 GMT -5
I'm not too happy, cos I've found out this doc (Dr Jude) is basically the only locum til my regular doc gets back. I miss my old doc cos he was quite fatherly, in a disapproving muslim dad way but still liberal considering what I've seen in other doctors. Thinking about it, Jude is quite patronising, and when someone talks to me like that I try to be restrained so as not to sound like an attention seeker, which probably makes me look worse, and then I get wound up about it! I feel I should take someone for support, cos they can spur me on a bit, but I'm a grown girl now I need to learn how to be assertive without looking like I wanna cry! Why do I cry when I get annoyed. It's exasperating! I'm seeing him again this week, cos there are small but very red spots on my chest and back too, so I think i need tablets rather than topical treatment. Yuck. I use a home MicroDermabrasion kit by Roc, it's brilliant cos it makes my skin look so much nicer and seems to calm the spots too. The honey was excellent for washing my face after ( ) and I find that warming clay masks sooth my skin too. I will have to write it all down, and some responses to any other smart comments he may throw in. It'll look silly but the prop will help me stay composed. I'll start taking photos of my spots too cos its sods law that you wake up looking half decent when you need to see the doctor about your bad skin. He is young and has acne scars I think, so he may be inclined to think I'm panicking about nothing as well as being vain. He did say I'm mild as i don't have pitted skin as with severe acne. the bright red scars are bad though they stand out a mile. I am being vain in a way but we all care about our image, or we wouldn't bother much with getting ready in the morning! I will learn to mix essential oils and get out of manufactured face washes, and thanks for the words of support kb it's appreciated! Actually i need to get on this fellows wavelength, I think maybe we just don't understand each other. I hope that's all cos he makes me crazy xx
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Post by kb on Feb 19, 2007 22:00:18 GMT -5
haha, bringing in a notepad will probs make the doc uncomfortable, do it, might bring him onto your wavelength. If he's young, might do him some good to have someone assert themselves, pull him into line, lol. Dont stress that you cry when your annoyed we all do, the hormones dont help. At least theres a reason, it pisses me off i cry without a reason, have become an emotional wreck, is ridiculous. I noticed your from the UK (poor thing), so this may not help, but i do have a solution that may help, although i admit ive never tried it. Salt water Sound simple enough doesnt it, i realise there probs isnt alot of nice sandy beaches around your part of the world, but have you ever seen a surfie with bad skin, they always have marvelous skin, must be the salt water. I realise theres prob not ready access to a beach, but easy enough to make salt water, and rinse your skin with it. Just a thought anyway
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Post by cherry on Feb 28, 2007 21:01:24 GMT -5
Not to jinx myself but i think I've cracked it. I stopped using that stuff the doc gave me and took it in hand myself and my skin is looking much better! I am so happy cos the lumpy face and soreness were annoying me, plus you feel self conscious and even dirty looking. I'm not sure what worked but I'm sticking to all this! At night I scrub my face with a face brush and tea tree soap, then wipe with tea tree toner and put rich moisturiser for sensitive skin on. In the morning I simply wash with a flannel in the shower, then after the shower I wash a bit more with a hot flannel before dabbing with a cold flannel. Again apply toner, then seaweed mattifying day cream. When drying my skin I always pat it with a towel which is the best way to dry your skin, then massage the moisturiser in in circular motions to get my circulation going. Also I have no carbonated/soft/fizzy drinks, have cut out fast food except occasionally and try to eat well. At night I have tea with camomile in a tea bag, with grated ginger and lemon slices as well as organic honey. Twice a week I use a home MicroDermabrasion kit too. My skin just seems so much healthier and is quite glowy now too! xx
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Post by ouchy on Feb 28, 2007 21:53:35 GMT -5
^ Man, that's quite a routine!!! Glad it is helping you!
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Post by cherry on Mar 2, 2007 13:33:22 GMT -5
It does seem a big fuss but knowing how my skins feel better and refreshed with every little thing I do, I don't even notice it now! Plus I disorganised to the point where I feel like I have a disorder so the routine makes me happy and sets me up for the day. The tea tastes yummy too, though i'm going to cut out the honey xx
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Post by rosalind on Mar 23, 2007 6:58:47 GMT -5
Hi Cherry,
I think this may help cause this is what I do and it works for me! It may seem gross at first but the benefits are great. K use egg yolk, take out the white and mix up the yolk and apply it to your face and neck if you choose to, wait for it to dry then was it off. For scaring at nighttime put 100% vitamin E oil just on the darker or scarred skin.....hope this helps!
Rosalind
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Post by cherry on Mar 24, 2007 13:06:18 GMT -5
Thanks Rosalind, I will try that next time I have a flare up. I put honey on my face the other day, cos I was putting some in my porridge and thought why not. It made my skin feel soooo nice! Tasted yummy too though I kept forgetting and put my hands on my face a few times xx
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Post by scarlett on Mar 24, 2007 14:23:54 GMT -5
I've had bad skin since I was a teenager - I'm now 31 but it shows no sign of going away, although it's not just as bad as when I was younger. Around my period it can still get pretty bad though. I had topical treatments from the dr when I was younger and also had roacutane (sp?) which did help somewhat although had some fairly serious side effects also. I thought the topical treatments were way too harsh though, I wouldn't recommend them. Here's what I reckon helps:
- Lots of water - this definitely makes a huge difference - Just because your skin is oily or you have break-outs doesn't mean you should strip it of oil, it will just react and produce more and more oil. You need to use oil-free products/water-based products but you need to make sure you're still getting lots of moisture into your skin - so I still use a fairly rich moisturiser, but it's water-based so it doesn't clog my pores. This is especially useful info for slightly older ladies who have spots, as out skin is still drying out as we get older, so to prevent our skin getting dry and getting wrinkles we need to moisturise really well. - I use the Guinot product range and also have regular (as regular as I can afford) hydradermie facials. They are the only facials I've found that actually make a difference. They can be adjusted for someone's individual skin type.
Hope this is useful!!
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