Acne at My Age?!

I always had clear skin as a teen and twenty-something, then BAM acne out of the blue at about 30. I tried over the counter regimens and several Rx topicals, with little success. I finally convinced my derm to put me on Accutane. (be sure you are done having babies before you consider this treatment) I took a low dose (80 mg/day) for 7 months. My large cystic acne cleared up and has not returned - I'm 40 now. I do use Retin A daily as a preventative measure. And I do still get very small pimples once in a while, but they clear right up. I know Accutane has a very bad reputation, but I found it to be a "wonder drug". Good luck.

I have no suggestions just wanna say..I hear you sister!!
Seriously, its awful isnt it? Me too. I dab Proactiv on the spots and use a gentle cleanser ( burts bees) and fancy moisturizer from sephora ( pure cloud cream) so at least I smell nice and feel better. Im 37..we'll both graduate from this soon I think :) have a great day!!

Hi G. -

Many individuals that see little to no results with the solutions to acne problems you have tried find that; though hormonal, the breakouts can be tied to diet. There are no specific foods to avoid; but if during your ovulation and menstrual cycles is when you are experiencing breakouts here's a few tips to try:

increase water intake; decrease caffeine intake - already stressed organs can secrete excess toxins to the surface when working overtime in their designated fascets

increase protein intake: higher protein intake may assist in acne control due to decreased production of enzymes that can cause more oil production, and increased clogging of pores. A diet with 60-70% carbohydrates may be too high in carbs during this more sensitive time for you.

if you're like me and go after the salty treats at this point: High levels of iodine in the impact some acne sufferers – by causing new outbreaks of acne lesions; very salty (iodized salt) foods such as chips etc, contain high levels of iodine and should be avoided during this time.

i'm not a doctor and of course; if you are considering dramatic changes in your diet it's always best to consult with one. just a few tips i've learned along the way as i was sitll suffering from acne at 30

best,
jen

You too, huh? I'm 48 and the only hope I have in sight for the end of this is menopause (but the hot flashes and night sweats make the acne not seem so bad). Isn't life wonderful? As it clears up one problem, you have a whole set of others to worry about! What joy!

I totally hear you, I am 41 and am embarassed by the pimples + wrinkles. I love products by C. Booth, only found at Rite Aids. The toner is great along w/ the vitamin C scrub and the glycolic acid at night, i still use the "refining mask" by proactiv, as the sulfur seems to be the only thing that really kills the pimples quickly, but you can find stuff called "blemish be gone" that has double the amount of sulfur in it (is pink) and works magic. Usuallly found on the bottom shelf in drug stores. Good luck!

Have you ever been checked for PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)? It sounds like the breakouts are directly related to hormonal shifts. Vitamin D may be helpful, either in pill form or at the tanning salon (unless you're lucky enough to live in a warm climate :)

I also get occasional breakouts along my jawline, which is new in the past few years. I see lots of advice here - can everyone share product names too? Love to know more about the vitamins and heart health supplements.

My acne used to be awful then I learned that nutrition is the key to acne, even with the monthly breakouts. If you're not on an absorbable multivitamin then you need to be. I also take a heart supplement which is a powerful antioxidant (It's for preventing heart issues) that has done wonders for my skin. I've probably had three tiny pimples in the last couple of years and my fine lines and wrinkles have disappeared.

God bless,

M.

Hi. I totally empathize! I am 30 and have struggled with mild to moderate acne since my early 20's, especially before and during my period, which ends up being almost the whole month if you count healing time. I also tried Proactiv with only mediocre results, and it's so expensive! About 4 weeks ago I started a new regimine from acne.org. They aren't trying to sell you anything, they recommend products you can get at any drug or grocery store. The primary difference is that they recommend using a much larger quantity of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide -- the same concentration as proactiv, just a lot more of it. I have already seen marked results. I highly, highly recommend this. I've finally stopped getting new pimples (and I've been through a menstrual cycle by now), which has allowed the old red marks to start clearing up.

Good luck!
Kat

I too am in the same boat. I'm 36 and have had acne like this since I was 14. I've tried everything too and the only thing that seems to 'help' (meaning lessens the breakouts, not gets rid of them in their entirety) is no stress (ok, I know that's not acheivable with kids!) and getting a facial every few months at a really good spa. They will clean out your pores so that the dirt and oil that is causing the pimples is lessened.
Good luck! And if you find something that works - or even helps - please share it with us.

Hi G.,
I'm so sorry you're having so much trouble! Have you tried really increasing your water intake? Usually the skin is the first place the liver will detox...
E.:-)

I also have suffered with acne my whole life. Everything I tried either didn't work, made the acne worse, or dried my skin out. I found a recipe for a scrub in one of my mom's old beauty books and it cleared up my acne in about 2 weeks.
1/2 cup white sugar
1-2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs honey
few drops of tea tree oil

Mix together to form a paste and store in an air tight plastic container. This batch will last about 1 week or so. It will also not sour or go bad if left in the shower or on the sink.
I gently(!!) scrub with this in the shower every morning, and then use original Noxema at night before bed. I rarely break out anymore and my skin looks the best it has ever looked. Hope this helps.

Oh, this is so common, isn't it? I used to have it too.

I know a lot of women who have solved this with SoySentials, a powder you mix with water or juice (it has a berry flavor and is good). It also helps with other women's issues - PMS, bloating, and (for me) fibrocystic breast disease. We all swear by it, and so do our husbands!! LOL It is made by Reliv International (www.reliv.com) and has been out for over 10 years. The company is outstanding, and stays on top of newest research. There was a huge study just written up in JAMA about the benefits of high quality soy in reducing the death rate from breast cancer and the recurrence of b.c. There are many other studies too, debunking those doctors who tell women that soy will make things worse! You can't get this high quality soy in a health food store - there is too much processing and you don't get the results. You buy SoySentials (either on its own or as part of Reliv's basic nutrition) from a distributor and then you can get an account on line and buy from there. But the distributors can really help you get results - that's an amazing benefit. There is a full 30 day money-back guarantee, which no company I've ever used has offered. These products replace all your vitamins and over-the-counter supplements too, so you lose those other expenses and you're not playing "kitchen chemist" trying to mix and match your own vitamins. I can give you more info if you like.

Be careful with the antibiotics - they can cause other problems. There are some dangers involved so be sure to investigate.

Good luck!

I break out too I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub it leaves my skin REALLY soft , as in so soft that I have a hard time not rubbing my cheek all day lol. and I use the Clean and clear Advantage spot stuff. It really does reduce acne with in a day of starting to use it.

Hi,

I am 38 years old, and had the same thing. I take a muti vitamin everyday, but also take a vitamin for hair, skin and nails, you take it 3 times a day, and I have found that it works wonders. My skin looks great, if I do have a break out, they are very small. Hope this helps, good luck.

Hi G.,
I am 39 and still dealing with acne too. The ingredient that works for me is salicylic acid (not as harsh as it sounds). The brand Dermalogic make a wonderful product line called Medibac, just for acne prone skin. Generally I wash my face with either neutrogena bar or a Oxy cleansing pads and then use this Dermalogic product called "oil control lotion". It's a moisturize that fights acne. My wonder product! The moisturizing helps the aging skin at the same time clears the teenage skin.
Hope this helps,
L.

Sorry ladies, but this is called mid-life acne.

Here is a good skincare system that may help, and will reverse aging:
http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?ma...

I am going through the exact same thing. I have the same monthly breakouts & they are driving me crazy! This past month though it seems like it is never going away....
As bad as this is, I am glad to hear that I am not the only one out there!!
I am 37 & soo tired of this acne!
I am also open to any suggestions!

I understand. I would try your dermatologist again. I suffer from acne as well and my derm gave me antibiotics to help get it under control and then gave me some topical creams to use. It helped. I need to start that up again, but I want to wait until I'm done breastfeeding. Good luck!