skin problems

Seraphina · 01-10-2007 10:04pm #1

ok, i'm a 23 year old female, and in the last 6 months to a year, my skin has gone to ****.

i never really had a problem with spots before. even in my teenage years i would get one or two at worst. ive always had oily skin and blackheads, but it was really never too noticeable to others.

however, im now developing large, painful, and frankly disgusting whiteheads, and its extremely frustrating for someone who has never had bad skin before. i should have grown out of this already!!!

i now have quite a number of spots, mainly around my chin and mouth, though i've gotten a few on my cheek (where i've NEVER had them before) which are red, pusy and just plain manky!

i dont know what to do!!! ive no idea whats causing them. if anything i'm eating MORE fruit and veg than i used to, drinking more water, AND exercising more. i'm at my wits end! i feel like a teenager all over again and its really ruining my confidence to have such messy skin.

i came off the pill in february, and i thought that might have something to do with it, so i've gone back on it to see if it will help. at this stage though, i'm just at as loss as to whats caused this sudden flare up in the last few months.

anyone experienced anything like this before? what the hell do i do?!?!

im actually almost at the stage where i want to go to the doctor about it. i know he'll laugh at me cause its not that bad, but surely something must be wrong for things to change so drastically?!?

MayMay · 01-10-2007 10:08pm

That really sounds like coming off the Pill had something to do with it OP. How long have you gone back on it? Because it may take a few months to get back to normal again. I had the same problem when I went off the Pill (though I was on it specifically for bad skin), my skin got really bad after coming off it so I went back on it and it went back to normal after a month or so...the only thing that worries me is if I come off it again will my skin break out again.

lizzyvera · 01-10-2007 10:16pm

It's almost certainly because you came off the pill- the pill is one of the most effective acne treatments available.

People who haven't had acne or don't know anything about biology or medicine will tell you to eat less fat, eat more fruit and scrub your skin but you'll find if you look at reputable sources like the British Medical Journal etc and even wikipedia that there is no truth in those things. Search the internet for info and check credentails.

Fat is digested. The oil in your skin is a different compound to the food you eat. Acne is generally caused by hormones, which is why teenagers get it and you got it after stopping the pill. Also, ignorant people might say that this is a symptom of something else wrong- a hormonal "imbalance" perhaps- there is nothing wrong with you, the only problem is a cosmetic one.

As for vitamins etc in fruit- it would be unusual for someone in Ireland to have a vitamin deficiency to begin with and overdoing them makes no difference, they simply aren't used.

Scrubbing aggrivates acne, inflames your skin, damages it, inhibits healing. Chemical peels are much more efective and less harmful. Ask your chemist.

Go to your GP. You'll be prescribed creams first, antibiotics if they fail and probably the pill or roac then if it comes to it.

Seraphina · 01-10-2007 10:28pm

see my issue with this is, i came off the pill before for almost a year and this didn't happen.

also, my skin was never this bad before i went on the pill, so why is coming off it making it so bad???

does this mean i have to stay on the pill for the rest of my life to avoid spots??? ggrrrrrrrrrrr

MayMay · 01-10-2007 10:32pm

Tha'ts what I'm concerned about myself Serephina

Were you stressed out recently or anything? That can trigger it off too.

Seraphina · 01-10-2007 10:40pm

yea i guess i have been. i've recently moved to england to do a masters and my dad has been on my back for weeks about it.

i'm gonna wait and see how the pill affects it, only been back on it about a week now so that should be ok.

should all else fail free student trips to the doctor shall be availed of

02-10-2007 11:08am

In the time I switched from the pill to the coil my skin was terrible all over and i got oily hair too..never again

Niamho! · 02-10-2007 11:16am

Ooh i had the Exact same problem.

Never had Spots in my Teens but when i hit....maybe about 19, my skin just made up for it. now....my skin has never been really bad as in, Covered in loads of Spots but there was barely a day that went by that i didn't have a few on my face. about 2 years ago i went to the Doc coz even though i wasn't the worst case of Acne....it was just doing my head in and starting to Shatter my Confidence. He put me on Tetralysal antibiotic which i found BRILLIANT! only thing was it took a month or two to take proper Effect. that was great for about 6 months only though til it started causing some undesirable Side effects, (Same thing happened to a girl in the job who was also on them but im sure it doesnt happen to everyone) pity because they were Brilliant. so anyway i had to go back and now im on the Dianette Pill.
so far soo good. i just get one or two when i come off for the time of month but nothing unmanageable. like everything though the Pill can have Side effects for some ppl. if its really getting to you i'd have a word with the Doctor. Definitely.

Black Swan · 02-10-2007 11:22am

If the problem continues, perhaps it would be wise to see a specialist (dematologist)?

IrishPhoenix · 02-10-2007 5:54pm

Get a topical antibiotic cream from your doctor. That will treat the spots without causing the side-affects of a pill.

skin problems

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