Atarting to get loads of spots...at 22!

LegacyUser

K so the title says it really. All through my teens I never had a problem with my skin, used get the odd spot but by and large was always being told how lucky i was to have such clear skin. Now im just gone 22 and my skin is really bad. For the last 6 months or so Iv constantly had at least 4 spots at any time on my face. At the moment..i have 8! They seem to come back in the same place every few weeks. Any advice guys? I t just seems weird that my skin should get so bad at this age! I drink loads of water take off my make-up, havent changed diet or moisturieser or anything like that etc?? Dont really want to go on antibiotivcs for it..dont think i should need to as it seems kind of sudden that it has come on.

LegacyUser

I developed acne at about your age and after trying everything else, a supplement from the health food shop called MSM was the only thing that cleared it up. Get the tablets not the powder, it's a natural product and it worked really quickly for me.

LegacyUser

Ya your the same as me, I had spotlessly clear skin until around a few months ago, never had any problems whatsoever when I was younger, and then bam! Infested with spots, big rotten things that were sick! I got a few facials and drank more water and was a bit lighter with the make up and I only get the odd one now. I think that the fact that I was on the pill from 18-22 helped a lot, when I came off it my skin rebelled! You should consider getting a facial, now it may cause you to break out and try not to look in the mirror immediately afterwards but they helped me loads. I use tea tree oil as well, a foaming facewash, but don't use it everyday because it will dry out your skin. If they're really bad go to the doctor to go on the pill-dianette is the one they usually perscribe for skin troubles.

Are you stressed out in any way? Any big changes recently? Spots can come on as a result of stress-well for me anyways.

Good luck m'dear x

LegacyUser

Hi, I was in a sort of similar situation to you. I had bad skin when I was 16 but then it was fine for a number of years. Then last year, aged 21, I began to break out really badly. I have no idea as to why this has happened to you. I would just urge to tackle it straightaway. Because I didn't do much and unfortunately, scratched at them (gross!) and I now have lovely scars to show for it. I've been used Penoxyl (it's a cream which contains Benoxyl Peroxide which is supposed to be the magic ingredient to get rid of spots) which you can get in the chemist, over the counter and it's been working very well for me. It's a very widely used cream. I just really wished I had tackled my skin when it first appeared so I'd urge you to do the same! Also, don't use any moisturisers, makeup etc which are oil-based.

Also, through reading about bad skin on the internet, it's quite common for it to be appear when you are an adult. Stress is said to be a strong and common factor that can lead to it, so try and eradicate any stress in your life.

star-pants

It can just be a change in hormone level, it can be to do with stress or other things.
I found in one reception I worked in that I used to get spots on the side that I held the phone, cuz I would be touching there as would the phone.
You can also look up locations of spots and their meanings. I believe spots lets say on your chin usually indicate something specific and so on. If you have a healthy diet, drink lots of water and always clean your makeup off / haven't changed skin products then it could just be emotional or something else or someone you're touching.

Nitxteha

That looks hormonal. Go to your GP and have a blood test. Ask him if it would be a good idea to take the contraceptive pill. What it does is to regulate your hormones, and in consequence, it stops those spots. If you decide that (always with your GP advice), make sure you have one that is not very strong so that you don't get any other side effects.

Tim Robbins

Hi,
I had very bad acne in my late teens. I went on this drug which was the standard all GPs gave first. I can't remember the name of it but it was expensive.

I then went back to renew my prescription and there was an English GP filling in for the usual bloke. I was told there was a much cheaper version of the same drug but it was unbranded. I couldn't believe the first GP was ripping me off.

I kept getting spots, not as bad but I was still getting the regular really really ugly one. One option was to go for another drug, but at the time a large number of people were reporting getting depression on this drug so I was skeptical of it.

Then a few years later, I was longterm sick with something else. Another Doctor told me to use Differin. It was a topical cream and was even cheaper again.

I can't believe how effective it was. All my spots went away on my face.
So my advice to you, is to use Differin.

I wish I had tried Differin first. It was extremly cheap and effective.

So my advice is try that.

In fact, there are many different ways to treat acne. Some effective, some not so. Something not working, just change it.

That_Guy

I don't mean to sound cheeky or anything but have you tried Clearasil or anything?

Attol

That_Guy wrote: »

I don't mean to sound cheeky or anything but have you tried Clearasil or anything?

I used Clearasil for a while and it destroyed my skin. It made it really dry and then somehow my skin got far worse.

Hormonal contraceptives seem to cause my skin to get a bit worse but I've stopped wearing make-up other than like once a month, started moisturising with Bobbi Brown moisturiser and using the cleanser and exfoliating sand and have seen a big improvement.

star-pants

Attol wrote: »

I used Clearasil for a while and it destroyed my skin. It made it really dry and then somehow my skin got far worse.

+1 Clearasil ruined my skin too when I was a teen

I reckon it's hormonal or emotion related so I'd check with your GP

LegacyUser

This happened to me too, I had no spots as a teen and suddenly at 21 i was covered in them. Found taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement really helped and using a tea tree facial wash. Contraceptive pill can also be a big help.

That_Guy

This might help you.

Villaricos

Spots in your twenties is a lot more common than many people think. Unfortunately.

Now you say nothings changed in how you treat your skin or diet and they appear every few weeks, would that be around the four week mark maybe? Coz that could well be hormonal and the pill could possibly help with that.

Someone mention benzyol peroxide, BP is really good for helping with spots. Not too sure of products but have heard good stuff about Penoxyl that was mentioned earlier.

I swear by Sudocrem, love the stuff but it really is about experimentation and finding the right product to suit your skin.
If your looking for more advice try www.acne.org, the message boards there are a quality source of information!

Bog Butter

http://www.dietaryacnecure.com/

You may well be able to clear your acne by changing your diet. I have a problem with acne on my back and I was given the advice (see finess section) of giving up dairy. I was directed to the above book.

I am in the process of trying to loose weight so I have been so preoccupied with that that I have not cut dairy out completely yet so I cannot tell you if it works but you should look into it.

fifomania

Same here. Had great skin as a teen but when I got to my 20's my skin was awful, massive spots on a daily basis that took ages to go away and occured in the same places each time.
My doctor changed my pill to one that's good for skin and since I haven't had many, if any, spots.
I also drink lots of water and avoid junk foods, cigarettes, heavy makeup and harsh skin products.
I agree with malman. I heard that dairy is a disaster for acne and more or less cut it out. I started to take milk again lately and have found I've got spots around my mouth and chin. Maybe there is something in dairy??
Are you stressed out? You should book in to get a facial like one poster suggested, meant to work a treat and everyone needs a little pampering now and then

Ro-Accutane if it gets bad.. especially to anyone with it bad on their back. Hard to get though, blood tests and the like..

Best drug in the world. Self-confidence in a tablet.

fifomania

fifomania wrote: »

I heard that dairy is a disaster for acne and more or less cut it out. I started to take milk again lately and have found I've got spots around my mouth and chin.

wow.. that would explain my skin gettin a lil worse since i've started drinkin so much milk at work.

im gonna look into it.

socialmedia

This blog shows an alternative form of treatment which does away with all of the harsh treatment caused by chemicals.

Back Spots Blog

cruiserweight

Go and see your doctor, they will be able to give you the best advice.

I had very bad acne as a teenager and was eventually put on roaccutane. I stayed practically spot free for 10 years, but in the last two years the acne is back. I is being kept under control with some antibiotics, hoping to avoid roaccutance again.

Papad

fifomania wrote: »

Maybe there is something in dairy??

Yep. The hormones in the milk is the culprit. Apparently, they 'exasperate' your own hormones (the real spot creators). Lot of information on the web about it.