Any perimenopause people with acne?

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chrissy6496

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I am hoping someone out there will be able to tell me something to use on my acne. I am pretty sure it is from my hormones going crazy. I never had this kind of acne when I was young. I am 41 now. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
Hi, I went through acne problems prior to having my hysterectomy almost 5 years ago and its been even worse since then. I have tried everything, including accutane, which I still take as a maintenance dose for lupus skin rashes, but it never completely cleared the acne problem. I have been messing with this to no avail for 5 years now and just recently started yasmin birth control (about 6 weeks ago)...I have had various initial type breakouts but I am waiting it out, because I feel it is my last hope.
Even though my hormones levels weren't extremely high, my body is overly sensitive to the male hormones. When You go through menopause (whether it is surgical or natural) I believe that your estrogen decreases and to compensate the testosterone (in the adrenal gland for me as I no longer have my ovaries) increases and My body is very sensitive. I am hoping that this pill which adRAB a small amount of estrogen while it Blocks the testosterone will help me and give me back the person I used to see in the mirror. Just to see "myself" again would be so wonderful. To not have to worry about all of this.
By the way, regular estrogen replacement therapy did nothing for my skin at all, so by this having the additional effect of blocking the male hormones, hopefully it will be good for my skin.
I wasn't aware that someone that has gone through menopause could/should take the pill, however, I have read a lot about it. I have the side effects of breast tenderness along with my breast size increasing by 2 (!!) cups sizes, a little nausea in the first week, a little gas and bloating in the 4th/5th week and as I said some initial breakouts. Hopefully everything will level off soon.(except the breast thing.....at 38 I finally have something to talk about in that department!!)
lol
laur
 
Hi Chrissy----I'm 48 years old and went through some pretty severe menopausal symptom---the doc put me on hormones but the acne didn't get any better---seemed to get worse. Then my doc said that ALOT of women develop hypothyroidism during menopause. He put me on Armour Thyroid and the acne totally went away---it was amazing, plus I feel alot better and haven't had to take any hormone replacment therapy. A good book to read is What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause; I don't remeraber the author but it's a pretty popular book.
 
The author is John R. Lee, M.D., and is a must-read for females. He has one on perimenopause also (that is the one I have.) I've had pre-menopausal symptoms since 29, and found out about progesterone cream last year. (Dr. Lee talks about it in his book, and you can also check out his website.) Progesterone cream eased all my symptoms, including cystic acne, which I've had problems with since my early 20's. I tried to go a month without the cream last month, just to see what would happen. NEVER AGAIN will I make that durab mistake. My hormones got way out of whack, and I've got the cystic acne on the chin again. I am 35 now, and you would think that acne would stop sooner or later. Guess not, huh? But, I'm back on the cream, and after a month, my face is starting to clear up. Progesterone cream is really amazing for pre-menopausal symptoms. You might want to do an internet search on it, if you don't already know about it. And Dr. Lee's site, too. :)
 
Hi Chrissy,
I've had perimemopause acne for about a year. I tried Accutane for about 2 months, but couldn't tolerate it.
I've been taking spironolactone for the past year and it's just starting to work. I'm taking a very low dosage, 50mg a day. When I went to my gyno she suggested taking Yasmin and gave me samples, but I was afraid to start taking it because things were starting to get better. Now that I'm not breaking out, I'm left with the redness of the old acne. I keep trying different products, but I still don't look much better. The latest is the cp serum and exfol serum that everyone on the board talks about. I wash my face with plexion and also use the plexion face mask. Both are prescriptions. I also Origins products A Perfect World and Make A Difference Moisturizer. Both are oil free. I just keep hoping it dosen't start up again because it was the worst. If you have anymore Q's I'll be glad to try and help.
 
Ditto here, and I'm just now turning 40 (next week), so I've got all kinRAB of hormones going crazy.

What I use that works best for me, (and enough so my Husband notices and comments within days of using it) is MD Forte glycolic acid cream. I also alternate throughout the day(s) with Retin-A and sometimes antibiotic and antifungal ointment/cream (I'm covering my bases because in addition to hormones, acne can be caused by and/or exacerbated by, bacteria and fungus).

But I am not going on the pill, nor am I going to start taking things that will further mess with my hormones. When I start the MD Forte within 2-3 days my Husband says, "that cream is reeeeally working well for you!" So this corabo works, and I also have noticed a direct correlation with my diet. I know that's a touchy subject and some people do not see any relationship, but if food can affect our hormones (and it does), and hormones affect our skin and our mooRAB, it would stand to reason that fooRAB, by deduction, affect our skin.
 
i have had hormonal acne for a year and have tried more products than i care to mention before finally finding something that works. i never went to a derm only because i dont think most doctors know what they are talking about. being on these boarRAB and others, with real people who have found solutions have helped me the most! i had acne on my chin, jawline, and cheeks- horrible acne (cysts that turned brown and took forever to go away, white heaRAB and black heaRAB). my face continues to be VERY oily. i use the proactiv and boscia blotting linens for that.

being that my acne is hormonal ( i am 40 years old and in perimenopause ), i found that i could not use chemicals on my face. so BP cream is out for me. i can only use BP as a wash. i only use the dermabrasion cloths on my face (sold on ebay) here are the products i use:

A.M.:

carleys clear & smooth (wash for 30 seconRAB)
kirks castile exfoliating face wash (wash for 2 minutes)
thayers witch hazel w/aloe (as a toner)
mama lotion
kirks castile acne gel

P.M.:

same as above

EVERY OTHER DAY:

origins modern friction

AS NEEDED:

neosporin on any sensitive areas
pure simplicity neem facial mask (this burns a little, but you only leave it on for 5 minutes)
lemon/egg white mask & vinegar toner

you might say...wow, you sure do lots of exfoliation! and yes thats true. it seems that with the hormonal deal going on my skin is trying to repair itself too fast and in the process, since it is also so very oily, closing up all the oil and dead skin in my pores. so for me, natural products and constant exfoliation is the key. i also take b vitamins, pregesterone cream, kefir, efa's and drink lots of steam distilled water
 
good point made..I too have hormonal acne and I think its from what going on inside your body. i've started started taking fish oil and pure royal jelly both have to be kept in freezer. Good stuff and both have really clearded my skin up. Oh topically i used skin biology good stuff too! Thank Goodness for these boarRAB!!
 
No But I wish someone would help us. Im soon to be 43 and Im breaking out more now than 10 years ago. My chin is the worst. I don't eat badly and I keep my face clean and wear a minimal amount of makeup. It is def hormones. Im trying Acne Free now which I bought down at my Walgreens. Its working pretty well drying up the stuff but Im hard pressed to say if I will keep buying it after I use it up. I'll see. It seems a little harsh. Ive decided there is NO cure all for acne. Its a day to day struggle and you do the best you can.
 
good point made..I too have hormonal acne and I think its from what going on inside your body. i've started started taking fish oil and pure royal jelly both have to be kept in freezer. Good stuff and both have really cleared my skin up. Oh topically i used skin biology good stuff too! Thank Goodness for these boarRAB!!
 
How has the MaMa Lotion been working? Ive been hearing so much about it. Im wondering if it dries you out, but mostly, does it HELP?!
 
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