30 year old male - acne problems
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi all,
I've had a pretty bad case of acne for the past few years. Only had slight problems through teenage years but this time it has really mystified me.
I get acne mostly around my jawline and sometimes temple, centre between my eyes and just both sides of my nose.
The acne isn't big or in patches, but usually a few well located spots that almost seem semetrical.
A bit about me, i became a non smoker a few years ago (now i smoke an e cig), also became a vegetarian. I've cut out most dairy from my food and i excercise a lot and usually live a very clean and active lifestyle. I have stopped drinking mostly and started to wash my face quite regularly with acne blemish control (murad and la roche possay)
None of this seems to work and the acne still pops up from time to time.
I've really become tired of trying to figure it out and have even taken magnesium, zinc, vit b12 & 6 and saw palmetto (as i thought it might be hormonal even tho i'm male)
Does anyone have any new ideas of what it could be? I'd go to a dermatologist but the waiting list is 6 months to a year with huge costs and needs a GP refferal in most cases.
Thanks.
0 likes, 3 replies
mad123 Lonelystreet84
Posted
I'm going to assume you're in the UK and therefore making an appointment with your GP is not going to be a costly problem?
Make an appointment to see your GP and let them examine your skin. They will be able to determine the severity of your acne. GPs are able to prescribe quite a number of different treatments (and they will usually insist on your trying these before referring you to a dermatologist). In many non-severe cases the topical creams or oral antibiotics that a GP can prescribe should do the job in improving your skin (hopefully, of course everyone is different). Personally I have had a lot of success with the topical cream Duac (it is a combined benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin formula). There are plenty of options available!
My advice with regards to face wash is to keep it simple. Sometimes all these face washes will dry out your skin which encourages even more sebum production, which can lead to more spots! I use Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser in the morning and evening. I've just started go reintroduce a glycolic acid based cleanser that I use on alternate days in the place of Cetaphil. This has helped to improve the red pigmentation left behind by old spots. Don't try and use anything too harsh with topical creams as it might cause sensitivity.
Final bit of advice is whatever new treatments or products you try, give them a good 2-3 months to see if they work for you. Duac actually made a massive improvement for me in a few weeks but I think that one is an exception. Oral medications in particular take a while.
Good luck with it all, I hope I've been of some assistance!
Lonelystreet84 mad123
Posted
Im not in the uk, but just across the water in ireland. Seeing my GP could help, but usually its 60 euro and can't be guaranteed they have any expertise in the area (usually its very quick treatment or diagnosis).
So i'm quite sceptical to go down that route.
I have noticed my skin has become quite blotchy, i have been using foundation a bit as otherwise it looks like i have a rash. Perhaps i'm over washing?
I'm at my wits end regards treatment for this. I'm gonna try out Duac and see if it helps. I presume this is a topical cream? I've been using aloe vera but with mixed results. I think it helps somewhat.
Thanks again for your response, theres lots there that has given me indications of what i need to be doing and not doing!
mad123 Lonelystreet84
Posted
Yes Duac is a topical cream. It's not just me that has had a positive experience with it. Hopefully you can find it online somewhere. If you do successfully get hold of some, my advice would be to persevere through the first two weeks of use! As your skin will get used to it after a few weeks but initially it can leave you quite red and sore, and peeling. If it's unbeatable drop it to every other evening (you apply it once in the evening before bed). Your skin will tolerate it eventually. Cetaphil do a moisturising lotion that really helps with the dryness. If you Google 'duac review' you can read other peoples' experiences to get an idea of how it will go for you.
I'm pretty sceptical about aloe vera and all its supposed medical benefits! However chopping and changing every few weeks with different products won't necessarily result in an improvement as beating acne is a longer game (annoyingly).
Good luck with your procurement of Duac, if you think I can help further just reply here
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