Adult Acne- Why Me? - Novi, MI

Thanks for sharing your story, I am glad you reached out to a doctor for help.  I understand completely how frustrating persistent adult acne can be, I was a long time suffer of cystic acne (18-30's) I had many prescriptions, hormone tests, nothing worked for me...however after playing with my diet and understanding what my trigger foods were I was able to clean it up. I wish you much success, please keep us posted :) 

PS if you are comfortable, would you consider posting some pictures?

Hello, I'm just browsing realself as I do every once in a while and wanted to say that I know how you feel. I suffered teenage acne and went on every medicine up to and including roaccutane, which always worked when I was on it and would come back within months of being off it. I also suffer from PCOS, and yet never regularly went on the pill. About six months ago, my skin started breaking out in areas I never used to get it - around my mouth and on my cheeks which apparently is hormonal. After a fertility specialist told me I HAD to go on the pill to reduce risk of cervical cancer, I did. I also started treatment with a family friend using a combination of lactic acid and salcylic acid peels and blue/red light therapy. I also took a deep breath and invested in an entire new range of products. Up until then, I'd been using a mild natural cleanser, thinking I didnt want to strip my skin of oil and make it produce more - big mistake. It seems I wasn't helping my skin turnover the old cells, blocking the pores and causing the pimples. This new routine has been amazing. It's not cheap right now, and the treatment with the family friend consists of seeing her once a week for ten weeks, having either a strong or weak peel (alternate so as to rest the skin a bit) and going under the blue/red lights for up to 50 minutes (most treatment is for 20 mins). I can tell you, I was at my wits end. My skin at the start was so angry, and even for the first couple of weeks it was breaking out and I was trying SO HARD to be patient while slathering on the makeup. But, the result has been unreal. The oilyness has stopped - I'm not kidding. The lady puts it down to the light therapy. The few pimples I have now are drying up, in fact as I write now I have nothing active. I know I sound like an advert or something, but I truly thought for the rest of my life roaccutane would be the only option to keep getting my skin under control. Now I wonder if it's the birth control pill kicking in combined with this skin care regime. Definintely talk to your doctor about different types of pills for the mood swings, but remember there are certain ones that are specifically chemically made up for targeting acne. Also, I'm not on it, but I came across it the other day - spironolactone, for hormonal acne. Maybe look into it? it's normally a hypertension medicine but apparently can assist for acne. If the results of my current treatment turn out to be temporary, God forbid, I was going to talk to my doctor about it. As Eva has written below, diet could be playing a part - I eat a LOT of dairy, and apparently the animal hormones/proteins etc in dairy can cause havoc with your own hormones, triggering sebum production. All the very best. Obviously I have no medical background, but I am a 30 year old female who has battled bad skin since being a teenager, so I hope this helps, and feel free to ask me anything.

I suffered from acne since my teens. Tried many skin care routines, cleansers, creams etc. But none worked and some even made my acne severe. Had breakouts and even they caused scars. I lost all my confidence. But my decision of seeing a dermatologist was the right one and the money i spent for the treatment was really worth it when considering the money i spent over creams. I went to fairview clinic, Toronto and underwent scar removal laser treatment and also acne treatment.

I am 51 and suffer from cystic acne which is very painful. I guess it's due to hormones at my age. I have tried hydrocortisine shots they don't seem to work for me, antibiotics, different acne cleansers, Benny peroxide. Nothing works and I am embarrassed by them and tired of the pain they cause. My dermatologist is going to put me on a different antibiotic for cystic acne. I hope it works. I am tired of trying to win the battle with these painful cysts. Anybody else feel that way? I did not have acne as a teenager so I just don't get it why I am getting it when I am so old.

Great to hear that you are seeing improvements :)