Acne
megsta91
Posts: 92 Member
I have been suffering from adult hormonal acne for about 7 years. It was moderate to severe but after losing 40lbs and tinkering with my birth control, it became mild for the last 2 years. I usually get 2-3 cystic pimples a month on my chin that take a very long time to fade away.
I have been in a calorie deficit and working out 5 days a week for the last 3 weeks. I've lost 7lbs. No major slip ups, lots of fruit, no makeup and tons of water daily. My chin is very inflamed with both cystic acne and whiteheads.
Not sure why my skin was fine while I smashed restaurant food and iced coffee almost daily, but now that I'm getting healthy my face is flaring up. Part of me hopes it's just my skin "purging", but another part assumes that's wishful thinking.
Thoughts?
I have been in a calorie deficit and working out 5 days a week for the last 3 weeks. I've lost 7lbs. No major slip ups, lots of fruit, no makeup and tons of water daily. My chin is very inflamed with both cystic acne and whiteheads.
Not sure why my skin was fine while I smashed restaurant food and iced coffee almost daily, but now that I'm getting healthy my face is flaring up. Part of me hopes it's just my skin "purging", but another part assumes that's wishful thinking.
Thoughts?
4
Replies
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Hormones are weird at best and horribly disruptive at worst. It's super frustrating to deal with - I get jawline hormonal acne too. Change in diet can definitely shake your hormones up. Are you eating more dairy by any chance? Everyone is different but getting rid of traditional dairy entirely helped me a lot. Can you check in with your doctor?2
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Stress can trigger acne as well.
Also drastic routine changes (even when those are for the better)
One thing that can help is what you use to wash your face with.
Simple is best.
Try Dove for sensitive skin with no perfume.
I used to have acne,went to dermatologist after dermatologist.
Put on this pill,that cream,the other wash....
Tried a new dermatologist who asked one simple question."What do you wash you face with?".
My answer was "What ever soap was on sale that week."
She told me to switch to the Dove for sensitive skin.
Never had an issue again.
Sometimes the simplest things are the answer.
Maybe it will be for you as well.
One other thing I keep in my arsenal is Kheil's Blue Astringent.
Gentle on the skin,but strong on balance.3 -
My stress levels have stayed the same, although there could be hidden stress from my routine change like you said. I have never been to a dermatologist in fear of the cream/pill loop, so I will definitely try the Dove fir sensitive skin. Never heard of that astringent but I will keep it in mind.
Right now I'm using Aveeno for sensitive skin, fragrance free and once a week I used a OTC medicated acne wash. I'm going to start washing my face directly after the gym as well.. I think that will at least help the Whitehead situation.
I've actually cut my dairy way low, not even purposely, just kind of came with the calorie deficit. I use coffee creamer and MAYBE a yogurt, that's about it. I've heard of that being a trigger for a lot of people.
Thanks for the replies, guys
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If have to dig to find the source, but one of the pinned threads had some interesting reading(can't remeber if it was one about weight loss and TOM or diet breaks) but...
Fat cells store estrogen(among other hormones), vitamins, toxins, etc. As you start to empty the fat cells, that stored estrogen and other materials are released.4 -
My skin gets better in a caloric deficit. Maybe it’s from the training? See an endocrinologist for hormones or dermatologist0
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Good skincare can really help. I use a good cleanser and an oil free moisturizer daily. When I get flareups, I also add in something with a very low percentage of salicylic acid. Or clay based masks1
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Hormones are weird at best and horribly disruptive at worst. It's super frustrating to deal with - I get jawline hormonal acne too. Change in diet can definitely shake your hormones up. Are you eating more dairy by any chance? Everyone is different but getting rid of traditional dairy entirely helped me a lot. Can you check in with your doctor?
Regarding dairy, I have no reaction to yogurt & ~1oz cheese almost daily, but my whey protein powder gives me acne when I have it several days in a row. Have you added anything new to your diet or skin routine?0 -
At the risk of getting woo’d right out of this post.....acne can be related to hormones. Estrogen is stored in fat cells and when you lose weight the estrogen is released back in to your body. Many women have hormonal issues during the beginning stages of weight loss for this reason, including hormonal acne.4
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One of my sons is very prone to acne, especially when he works out. We tried everything for him that was over the counter and then I decided to do some research on it. Chill on milk if you are acne prone and do an internet search on how to make sea salt acne wash. Your acne will be gone within a week.6
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^^^ milk is a common cause of acne. Increased fats and lower refined an processed carbs often helps too.3
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ACanadian22 wrote: »One of my sons is very prone to acne, especially when he works out. We tried everything for him that was over the counter and then I decided to do some research on it. Chill on milk if you are acne prone and do an internet search on how to make sea salt acne wash. Your acne will be gone within a week.
Highly subjective statement10 -
My stress levels have stayed the same, although there could be hidden stress from my routine change like you said. I have never been to a dermatologist in fear of the cream/pill loop, so I will definitely try the Dove fir sensitive skin. Never heard of that astringent but I will keep it in mind.
Right now I'm using Aveeno for sensitive skin, fragrance free and once a week I used a OTC medicated acne wash. I'm going to start washing my face directly after the gym as well.. I think that will at least help the Whitehead situation.
I've actually cut my dairy way low, not even purposely, just kind of came with the calorie deficit. I use coffee creamer and MAYBE a yogurt, that's about it. I've heard of that being a trigger for a lot of people.
Thanks for the replies, guys
Sometimes we can be so good at handling stress that we don’t realize we are stressed. I have psoriasis on my scalp and it flares up when I get stressed. It sometimes seems like a surprise when it flares and that’s my cue to take a breath and slow things down.1 -
For me cutting out milk made a big difference. Good luck.3
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Cutting out dairy made no difference for me. I have found that diet doesnt matter.2
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My acne flairs when I have stress bouts. Trust me, changing the way you eat and increasing your working out schedule puts your body under stress, even if you don't think it. Give it some time, once you get used to the change it might get better without anything else.
Remember that your body don't always react to things the way you think it should. A few years ago I realised I was barely drinking any water so I made an effort to up my water intake. My skin broke out really badly and it took a few weeks to settle down.1 -
A gentle facewash, applying benzoyl peroxide 2.5%, then a gentle mosturizer helps me when I keep up the routine.
I also take a birth control that's for skin and it helps the most with the hormonal acne, but I know not everyone wants/can take BC pills.1 -
I have been suffering from adult hormonal acne for about 7 years. It was moderate to severe but after losing 40lbs and tinkering with my birth control, it became mild for the last 2 years. I usually get 2-3 cystic pimples a month on my chin that take a very long time to fade away.
I have been in a calorie deficit and working out 5 days a week for the last 3 weeks. I've lost 7lbs. No major slip ups, lots of fruit, no makeup and tons of water daily. My chin is very inflamed with both cystic acne and whiteheads.
Not sure why my skin was fine while I smashed restaurant food and iced coffee almost daily, but now that I'm getting healthy my face is flaring up. Part of me hopes it's just my skin "purging", but another part assumes that's wishful thinking.
Thoughts?
Maybe quit meat and dairy for a while to see if it makes a difference? I have been vegan since I was a child but the few times I have eaten cheese since I ended up with severe acne. Good luck!3 -
I’ve struggled with acne my entire adult life. I’m 35 now and still break out. Not binging helps somewhat but I still break out even when eating more reasonably. I was also using Proactiv skincare products before; it didn’t really work for me. Earlier this year I started a new skin care routine and it’s really helped. I still break out, but it’s one small zit per month that goes away in 2-3 days instead of 1-2 big ones constantly somewhere on my face.
1. Wash twice a day. I use neutrogena face wash for the most part but I also have cetaphil and dr bronners. I actually feel like the cleanser isn’t that important, but I use a small complexion brush for one daily wash. The other wash I just use my hands.
2. Witch hazel. Honestly I think this has made the biggest difference. Use it before or after washing, on a cotton ball and just swipe it all over your face.
3. Change/ wash the pillowcase on the bed every other day. Use a clean towel or washcloth every time you use one. Try not to touch your face or pick at it with your hands. Do what you can to keep bacteria off your skin.
4. I started using aloe vera gel after washing and it’s made a huge difference in the way my skin looks. It really plumps up the fine lines around my eyes/ between my brows. I can see a big difference when I don’t use it.
I have before and afters but I don’t know how to post them. It took about 3-4 weeks for it to get noticeably better.1 -
I get hormonal cystic acne. I never had acne in my teens and started developing it around 25. When I have a breakout it can be on only my face or sometimes face and body. It’s painful. I have found that tea tree helps. I started ordering and inexpensive product through Amazon.com made by a company called TruSkin. It’s worth trying. Cystic acne isn’t like regular pimples.
When I keep my skin clean and use the tea tree stuff my breakouts are limited to just before my cycle starts now1 -
Iv never had acne as such, just the odd white head. I got married recently and leading up to it I broke out. I had huge cystic ones on my chin and back. After the wedding I started using liquid foundation which made it even worse. I started washing my face and exfoliating really well and using the juice of a lemon all over my face and my skin is clearing up amazingly fast! I swear by using lemons on your skin! It can sting a bit but definitely tolerable for the results. Within 3 days my skin has cleared up to almost nothing1
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Anything that changes your hormonal balance can effect your skin. Chances are your skin will adjust.0
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Please be very careful before you start buying products or trying DIY’s and experimenting with you skin. I’ve read a lot of skincare suggestions here but no one has asked you to describe your skin (oil production levels, sensitivities, etc) and that information is important when recommending skincare. Everyone’s skin responds differently to ingredients whether it’s natural or chemical based.
I suggest testing any new skincare on the inside of your arm and then again on a small area of the face to make sure it’s not too much for your face. This includes natural skincare as we can be allergic to things topically and not know it.
Don’t switch back and forth between products or remedies as that will be too much for your skin and you honestly won’t know what’s doing what. When you find a product you like stick with it for at least a month. It will take time to see results. Our skin loves routine so keep it consistent.
Feel free to message me if you’d like more tailored suggestions.4 -
If you can afford it, go see a dermatologist. I wish I had done so 10 years ago instead of trying to self-medicate my adult acne.2
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While I understand your hesitancy to visit a Dermatologist, if you can find a good one, it could really help you. I swore off Derms after my teenage years of very aggressive treatments that seemed worse than the original problem. 20 years later and Accutaine is still ruining my life. Then I had to start going again for annual skin checks for cancer and my acne was still very obvious.
The doctor really understood my problem with aggressive treatments and we've worked on a very sensible treatment that is really just down to a pill a day (specifically for hormonal acne) and spot treatments for breakouts.2 -
Not always, but sometimes Acne can be a sign of something being out of whack on the inside your body whether it be a food intolerance, hormonal imbalance, or something else. I typically recommend to my clients to start with a 30-60 day elimination diet to see if the skin condition improves and if so, then to slowly reintroduce the foods that were eliminated to determine if a trigger can be identified.1
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cutting out dairy didn't do anything for me. That's interesting about the estrogen being stored in fat cells. I have never heard of that before.
For me what helped was to just take care of my skin and stop messing with it so much. I use neutragena acne wash (the orange kind) morning and night, use an oil-free face moisturizer, and then leave my face alone other than that. My acne is hormonal, because I usually only get it right before my period every month.0 -
I had a little bit of acne in high school (not enough to call it an acne problem) and it wasn't adult acne.. but I went to the dermatologist to get a skin cancer check and just mentioned it to her. She gave me a prescription facial shampoo that had sulfur in it (yeah didn't smell great) but I used it once and never got a pimple again. I recommended it to all my friends and family that had adult and teenage acne issues and it cleared them up as well. Worth making a trip to a dermatologist and asking them about it.0
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lillyblack1982 wrote: »I’ve struggled with acne my entire adult life. I’m 35 now and still break out. Not binging helps somewhat but I still break out even when eating more reasonably. I was also using Proactiv skincare products before; it didn’t really work for me. Earlier this year I started a new skin care routine and it’s really helped. I still break out, but it’s one small zit per month that goes away in 2-3 days instead of 1-2 big ones constantly somewhere on my face.
1. Wash twice a day. I use neutrogena face wash for the most part but I also have cetaphil and dr bronners. I actually feel like the cleanser isn’t that important, but I use a small complexion brush for one daily wash. The other wash I just use my hands.
2. Witch hazel. Honestly I think this has made the biggest difference. Use it before or after washing, on a cotton ball and just swipe it all over your face.
3. Change/ wash the pillowcase on the bed every other day. Use a clean towel or washcloth every time you use one. Try not to touch your face or pick at it with your hands. Do what you can to keep bacteria off your skin.
4. I started using aloe vera gel after washing and it’s made a huge difference in the way my skin looks. It really plumps up the fine lines around my eyes/ between my brows. I can see a big difference when I don’t use it.
I have before and afters but I don’t know how to post them. It took about 3-4 weeks for it to get noticeably better.
Hi, which brand of witch hazel do you use?
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lillyblack1982 wrote: »I’ve struggled with acne my entire adult life. I’m 35 now and still break out. Not binging helps somewhat but I still break out even when eating more reasonably. I was also using Proactiv skincare products before; it didn’t really work for me. Earlier this year I started a new skin care routine and it’s really helped. I still break out, but it’s one small zit per month that goes away in 2-3 days instead of 1-2 big ones constantly somewhere on my face.
1. Wash twice a day. I use neutrogena face wash for the most part but I also have cetaphil and dr bronners. I actually feel like the cleanser isn’t that important, but I use a small complexion brush for one daily wash. The other wash I just use my hands.
2. Witch hazel. Honestly I think this has made the biggest difference. Use it before or after washing, on a cotton ball and just swipe it all over your face.
3. Change/ wash the pillowcase on the bed every other day. Use a clean towel or washcloth every time you use one. Try not to touch your face or pick at it with your hands. Do what you can to keep bacteria off your skin.
4. I started using aloe vera gel after washing and it’s made a huge difference in the way my skin looks. It really plumps up the fine lines around my eyes/ between my brows. I can see a big difference when I don’t use it.
I have before and afters but I don’t know how to post them. It took about 3-4 weeks for it to get noticeably better.
Hi, which brand of witch hazel do you use?
I use Thayer’s. You can get it at Target.1 -
I had a little bit of acne in high school (not enough to call it an acne problem) and it wasn't adult acne.. but I went to the dermatologist to get a skin cancer check and just mentioned it to her. She gave me a prescription facial shampoo that had sulfur in it (yeah didn't smell great) but I used it once and never got a pimple again. I recommended it to all my friends and family that had adult and teenage acne issues and it cleared them up as well. Worth making a trip to a dermatologist and asking them about it.
I used to use prosacea which is a sulfur based product. It definitely cleared my skin but after nightly use for 4-5 days I would start peeling because it dries me out.
The tea tree I use now can also be drying but it’s a diluted product. I believe both sulfur and tea tree have antiseptic qualities that kill the bacteria causing the breakouts0
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