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Thread: Hormonal Acne

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Hormonal Acne

    Ok I'm getting very frustrated. My regular breakouts are under control, so now the only time I break out is about a week before my period. At that time I get ususally just one, but sometimes two, large, red, sore, deep pimples (cystic?). These take about 2 weeks to go away, even though I put tons of zit creme on them. They're the kind that you can't pop- they just look like a big red bump. Is there anything I can do do prevent them? My regular routine is washing morning and night with a moisturizing face wash, followed by moisturizer in the morning, or 2.5%benzoyl peroxide and moisturizer at night. 3 times a week I use St. Ives apricot scrub with salacylic acid. This works to prevent all breakouts except for these monthly ones. Is there anything I can do?
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

  2. #2
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    I get those occasionally. The best thing I've found for one is to put a big dab of mayonnaise on it before I go to bed, and cover it with a bandaid. In the morning, it's got a big huge head on it. Then you can wash your hands and pop it, and it will heal much more quickly.

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    ^^^^ I would have never thought to do something like that. The benzoyl peroxide helps dry it out a bit, so it gets a little smaller each morning when I wake up, but these zits aren't caused by clogged pores or bacteria, just hormones, so is there really anything I can do to prevent them in the first place?
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

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    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    Docs would probably recommend bc pills to regulate your hormones. I think Diane 35 bc pills have some good buzz for helping prevent this kind of problem, but results may vary and hormonal bc can have it's own undesirable side-effects. Are you on bc?

    If they take 2 weeks to go away, they must be cysts. A cortizone shot will make them dissapear in a matter of days.

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    I am on BC (Ortho) and I'm thinking about switching brands because I'm starting to have problems from side effects of this one. I have to schedule my yearly appt next month and I'm going to ask about this.
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

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    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    Pre-period acne is caused by the increase in androgens(male hormone) we all get at that time in our cycle. Certain kinds of bc help decrease the level of androgen which reduces the hormonal acne problem. I think ortho-tri-cyclen also works this way, but Diane 35 definitely does. There has been some bad press about it increasing the risk of blood clots, which is a risk for all bc pills, but Diane 35 has been in the news for one particular incident. You may want to google it and hear both sides before you commit to anything. I've heard some great stories about Diane 35 on message boards, but like any drug there are risks.

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    Veteran Member Yung1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    I was reading about a prescription form of vitamin A called Acutane that some dermatologist perscribe for patients with chronic/severe cystic acne. Anyone ever taken it?

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    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    Yes, I'm on my last month of accutane. I love it, I'm 100% totally clear(and have been for months) even with my period about to start. There is another thread about accutane if you do a search. There is a lot more info there. Accutane has some serious side effects and there is a lot of debate. It is more of a last resort drug. Personally, i love it, its been a life saver for me!

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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne


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    Veteran Member Yung1's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

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    Featured Member la429's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    I've been on Accutane 3 times now.. I took both strengths. It usually cleared me for at least a year and then it all started up again. Accutane has serious side effects and if you are only suffering from a few spots I would recommend you try something else..

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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    I get no acne except b4 my period too. I have taken Minomycin for about 2 months and this has helped with the other breakouts...

    BC pill sucks....why does it make me so fat??? argh...

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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    Yasmin bc can work well for hormonal outbreaks. The progesterone is unique in that your body will break it down into an androgen blocking chemical... iirc its called spironolactone.

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    God/dess Vyanka's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    What about acupuncture? I'm going to look into that myself for hormonal treatment. But I have to ask my derm if I can do it now(since i'm on Accutane), or after.

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    Default Re: Hormonal Acne

    Spironolactone. I've got it for my hormonal acne. i never even really had bad acne until this year (when i was 20), and yeah it was those scary, big, red under the skin ones that drove me insane. I read about spironolactone, asked my doctor about it, and voila. I'm on a low dose too (50mg/ day), but I hardly get so much as a little zit ever. It really works. And there are no side effects with such a low dose...and it's cheap stuff too!

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