Well here we are in February, guys, and nothing is much clearer, is it? Well not for me anyway. Dry January didn’t happen – not in any defiant, cool way, it just sort of started and stopped and then some weeks I didn’t drink, just on the weekend. And sometimes it was all the time. And some days I went without sugar, but mostly not.
And in my head I was at a spin class twice a week but in actual fact I was sitting by the fire watching Blindspot on Catch up. (Just between you and me every morning right now feels like I’ve woken up in Times Square with no memory and my body is covered in strange tattoos.)
And my skin… Jesus Christ my skin! Some really, really seriously bad hormonal shift seems to have happened and the entire lower half of my face is, like… I mean… there aren’t really words to describe it. My husband isn’t even making jokes about it because it’s so bad.
My skin has always been an absolute fucking bitch but after I had Kitty and Sam it calmed down. The odd actual zit perhaps three times a year but other than that it was plain sailing. I mean, I still looked exhausted and baggy and like something that got caught in a drain – but no actual spots.
Then in November last year it started up again, like a thousand demented deep-sea monsters had woken up from a long sleep and vomited their fury onto my face.
So I did the only sensible thing and sank into a deep depression. During the brief patches when I only had perhaps one giant chin-cyst and not three or four, that was a good day, I could be cheerful.
Then I bumped into my old friend and former boss Jemima who said: “Go to the London Hormone Clinic, they will sort you out.” I always do whatever Jemima says (it’s a bit of a hangover from her being my actual boss for two years) and so made an appointment.
The London Hormone Clinic is on Welbeck Street in London and is an offshoot of the Marion Gluck clinic, which also specialises in hormone therapy. LHC is run by two GPs who used to work for Gluck but have gone out on their own – a bit like Dave Grohl with the Foo Fighters after Kurt Cobain died, even though Marion Gluck hasn’t died I don’t think. Actually I don’t know. In fact, forget that whole analogy.
At the LHC we had a very nice chat about me, which is my favourite subject, and then I am to go back and have a blood test on the 20th day of my cycle or some shit like that. I haven’t gone yet, but I can tell you what it will say when I do go, though, it will say that my progesterone is at 0 and my oestrogen is at 45,000, which is why my face looks like the 8th wonder of the world.
And then with any luck I will be prescribed a very promising thing called progesterone cream, which you just rub onto the inside of your arms. Score! I love the sound of that. I love a magic cream.
Of course, all this comes with some kind of very frightening price tag, (I will let you know when I have the final reckoning), but I can guarantee that it won’t be half as frightening as my zits.
Omg I had this a few weeks ago, I wondered what the hell was happening to me. My husband, trying to offset an emotional breakdown, said kindly it’s because my skin is so youthful, but Jesus, no one wants their 14 year old skin back. It has settled back down now but I’ll be watching this with interest. It’s oestrogen? Do they have a cream that stops you flying into rages and shedding useless tears when you have to make a decision at the wrong time of the month? Because I need that cream.
Cindy, I will keep you posted
Get yourself some Obagi. It’s the only thing that’s ever worked and cleared up my acne. I tried everything – and i mean everything, starting with OTC spot remedies, to GP prescribed antibiotics, and numerous eye wateringly expensive oils and creams which smelled lovely but did no bloody good at all.
Then about eight years ago, in desperation, I made an appointment to see a private dermatologist, who prescribed me Ogagi, an unprepossessing skin care regime which made great promises. However, I had heard them all before so wasn’t madly optimistic. But…… but, after the first 12 weeks, when my skin went slightly red and sore, and went through some peeling, it began to improve, and was soon looking better than it had in years. In fact it now looks better than it ever has in my adult life. Now that my skin is stable, I use Obagi on a day on day off basis, and that seems to maintain it and keep it looking good.
A word of warning. The packaging is uninspiring, and the product doesn’t smell particularly pleasant, but it really really works. It’s not cheap either, but then think of the money you’ve wasted over the years on products which look nice but are completely ineffectual. And not only does it clear up spots and the marks and discolouration caused by acne, (as well as sun damage), but it also boosts your skin’s collagen levels and eradicates fine lines and wrinkles (that will be the tretinoin at work). My reaction wasn’t too severe, though some people with more sensitive skin than mine might suffer a bit more with the dryness and peeling. But persevere, as you will get past that and be rewarded with youthful, glowing, spot free skin. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Esther I feel your pain, I’m 27, don’t have kids but have always had acne anytime I’m off the pill. I’m convinced it’s hormonal (for that reason) but in early December I started using Clenziderm, an American dermatologist prescription, and it’s really helped. But I’d still be fascinated to know how hormone therapy pans out and how it works for you. I feel it’s a very neglected cause of many ailments and doctors often just treat the symptoms, and don’t explore the underlying cause. Wishing you luck with it all!
I’ve heard about this lady before and I’m really interested to hear how it goes ( and how much it costs). My skin has always been a fucking bitch too and I feel at 35, I should be having to deal with spots AND wrinkles.
Also, when the time comes, she is supposed to be a wizard about the big M…
I had problem skin all the way from when I was eleven (the kids called me pizza face at school) right up until very recently (early thirties). Then I decided on a whim to follow an article I read by Kay Burley (whom I actually thoroughly dislike) about cutting out all processed sugar. And now! I mean, the people at the Dior counter were raving about my skin. I keep getting complimented by random strangers at weddings. I’ve been sugar free for about three months now (only processed sugar mind. I still eat pasta and fruit) but it really only took about one month for my skin to start glowing.
TR I fucking wish – I haven’t eaten processed sugar for about 5 years. Still a spot monster x
Oh God, really? I’ve been proselytising about my no-sugar diet with it’s cure-all-skin-care properties to anyone who will listen. I feel like a fraud.
And my smugness has been shattered by the thought of an ongoing hormone apocalypse. In the quest for clear skin vs children, clearly I’ve wanted clear skin for longer, so my dreams of a family can now get lost.
No don’t feel like a fraud – processed sugar IS terrible and cutting it out will sort all kinds of problems out, including various skin problems, but alas mine are stubbornly hormonal. You are good and right to proselytise.
Oh PLEASE please tell me what advice the clinic gives you! I am having the same awful problem, starting about 11 months post-birth number 2, and I am forty-fucking-one! It’s the same chin/jaw cyst things, which I am told by everyone (including other people pointing it out at the school gates, which is fun) is hormonal. Would love to hear how you get on. Good luck!
Seriously – you need to check out Juliette Scarfe, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/promotions/9931062/juliette-scarfe-woman-face-skin-care.html I met her recently and was impressed, I have not been treated personally (yet!) but she comes very recommended… happy to intro you/anyone if helpful……
I have sky-high oestrogen. I got in in my last pregnancy six years ago, aged 38, and presumed it was obstetric cholestasis because my skin itched madly. But my consultant said no (didn’t do a blood test, even though I was paying him thousands. Just looked at me and said “no it’s not that”, like some all-seeing guru.).
Anyway, I thought it would go away after birth, and then after breastfeeding, and then when the breastfeeding hormones had worn off, and then when I was getting some sleep, etc., etc. but it just got worse and worse and I would rake my nails down my skin and weep and chomp Piriton. No cystic spots but I did get breakouts around my chin, which I know is “ovaries” as I always get one when I ovulate, on the side that I ovulate, like some demented fertility symbol.
Only now I’m on HRT, courtesy of some amazing hormone specialist, because this is the only thing that will keep my surging, tsunami of oestrogen under control. This is a little unexpected at 44 and frankly, leaves me a little pissed off. If I get breast cancer at some horribly early age I shall hot-foot it round to my hormone specialist’s swanky office and scream “thanks for the “best option”, fuckwit!”. But then sky high oestrogen isn’t exactly great for the health either so it’s lesser of two evils time in my pituitary gland.
Cystic spots around the chin and jawline are definitely ‘ovaries’ in my based-on-my-own-fucking-ideas opinion, but unless you’re tearing your skin off I would say that it’s probably not high oestrogen. Oestrogen is broken down by bile acids, and excess oestrogen means excess bile acids, and excess bile acids causes skin itching that make you want to tear your skin off. My thought is progesterone as I got some hard lump spots when I was on my IVF drugs years ago and I’m sure a nice frizzy-haired nurse said it was the progesterone causing it. God, this is all so Dr Google and rambling. Hopefully some blog-reading sane doctor will be along in a minute to clear up the mess.
I await your conclusion with nosey interest. In the interim, if you can bear it, go for a good facial massage. It sounds weird but it’s amazing for cystic lumps on the face.
Tess I love Dr Google rambles. This is the place to do it. I haven’t got the tear-your-face-off itching, just the giant, non-productive “ovary” face cysts.
Thank you for talking about period spots. I started my periods at 11, was as regular as clockwork, had a hysterectomy at 32 (womb taken, ovaries left as “they are perfectly healthy and don’t need to be taken out”). I’ve never taken the pill or been pregnant, so I’ve been pumping out hormones, uninterrupted, for over 40 years. I quake when I imagine the menopause………..will my body go into shock? I used to get quite bad spots, will my skin go haywire?? I used to get big period spots along my right jawline and haven’t had any for a long time……….I’m hoping that this means that I’m menopausal and this bodes well as I feel okay. Also, I read that you should ask your mum how her menopause was to give you some idea of how it could effect you………….my mum can’t remember hers………..I hope this is a positive omen!!!
Sharon I don’t think my mum has ever had a single spot in her entire life! She’s always regarded me as a bit of an alien in that regard… xx
I’m going on zoladex (kills oestrogen stone dead) and hrt next week to treat endometriosis and see if I would benefit from a hysterectomy. I am 31 and I’m going to have the whole menopause in two days. Hold me, internet, I’m nervous.
omg that is genuinely a very scary prospect. you are in my prayers sister
UPDATE: It’s been a month. To start with, I had the most awful, massive spots for the first time in my life as well as the hot flushes and emotional death. So, I went on HRT and I feel fucking amazing and they can spoon my ovaries out right now as far as I’m concerned.
Since my early twenties I always suffered with spots around my nose and mouth. I suspect they were more rosacea than acne but worsened by hormones none the less. Anyway, they seem to have been ‘cured’ by an unusual method. I had a burst appendix last year. All fine now but I was absolutely pumped FULL of every antibiotic known to man for a week. Haven’t really had a spot since. How strange!!
As an aside, I also really rate Clinique ‘take the day off’ balm x
I had this problem for a couple of years post babies. It’s so depressing having a zitty face. I always thought of The Catcher in the Rye and how Holden Caulfield saw some magazine article and he looked exactly like the guy with the lousy hormones. That was me. Anyway I finally found a GP who specialises in hormones and he put me on progesterone cream & the problem is GONE – the odd tiny zit but not those horrible painful red rashlike ones that never go away. It’s magic stuff (well it was for me).
I love this. I just broke out into random morbid levels of pizza-face on holiday and have reverted to teenage mess of depression. Everyone is talking to my spots and not to my eyes IT’S SO OBVIOUS AND I DON’T BLAME THEM. Quite scary how vain I am. Forgot, over the years. But this really cheered me up. Thank you x
Instagram: @annabelmaud Twitter: @annabelmaud Website: http://www.annabelfenwickelliott.com
Now travelling the world, read about it here: https://annabelfenwickelliott.wordpress.com/
>
Ooh sorry to hear about your skin but random flashback to being prescribed progesterone tablets for horrific skin after I came off the contraceptive injection about 20 (!!) years ago. They worked a treat, in a matter of days if I remember correctly.
Post kids I have been gifted the delightful rosacea, I now swear by the ENTIRE Elemental Herbology range for rebalancing skin and sorting it out.
Wait a minute. Wait. A bloody minute. A cream for the underside of your arms?! What?! If this skullduggery works for you I will be simultaneously pleased on your behalf and utterly outraged on mine. For seven years (post baby) I have been channelling – against my will – Adrian Mole’s face. Each spot is a man down in the battle between me and my skin. The Battle of the Purulent Bulge. And I hate it. Invariably the worst and ooziest of them, the spots that are bigger than my head, appear just in time to enjoy a jolly- be it a wedding, a weekend away, a rare night out.
I have tried retinol, zineryt, antibiotics, ultra bland, sugar-free, no dairy, no booze, no coffee, la roche pose acne range, dr. murad acne range, a stupid Lumie LED light etc etc etc and not one has made a lasting difference to spot eradication. I have sucked the soul out of all my friends talking about it, moaning about it, and insisting that we choose a restaurant without spotlights (yes, really, I am that much of a twat) shining down on my moonscape of a visage. It’s partly vanity but mostly disgust that engenders this obsession with trying to hide how bad my skin is.
As it is, I rely upon Collection’s cheap but effective Lasting perfection concealer and avoid harsh light like a vampire avoids day. Put like that, the spots have made me slightly insane.
Eilidh – i have a fabulous recommendation esp if not directly hormonal – I used to have bad skin but not since Jenny… happy for you to email me directly –
Eilidh can I suggest you try Clenziderm by Obagi? As myself and another poster above can attest, it works. It’s not glamorous but it’s effective and even though my acne is definitely hormonal this keeps my skin in check. Life’s too short to let your skin affect get in your way as corny as that sounds. PS stick with it, it takes some getting used to but it’s worth it.
Katie is it just the one bottle of stuff you need? I am always wary of “systems” where you have to use loads of things together …. I do believe you though x
It’s three products; a face wash, a pore therapy and a more intense cream to finish. I only use the final step on my spotty bits (jaw line, chin, cheeks) I’ve never subscribed to any of those ‘systems’ either and honestly it was a last ditch attempt trying these but I am so glad I did. I’d happily provide a (horrific) before and after if anyone wants to see if my skin problems are similar to theirs. I wouldn’t recommend this to someone with the odd spot or two, it’s for acne really. But if you’re at your wits end, I know how that feels and I don’t envy you, the softly softly approach didn’t work for me but this did x
Jeez Esther – are you sure this clinic is ok? taking hormone treatment sounds scary to me. You sure you shouldn’t go to a dermatologist or a facialist first? I went to Kate Kerr for my acne Rosacea and she really helped.
Emma thanks for your very kind concern – I know 2 people who have gone and had great results so I’m not too worried xxx
Hormones are the devil’s work. I definitely get those ‘ovary’ spots, stopped for a bit after having babies but DEFINITELY back now. They also gave me gallstones so when I get high eostrogen levels I get spotty and have agonising pain (Dr Google helped me make that link).
Esther, I have the same issue. It’s the wonderful 40’s! Have you noticed oily hair and the dreaded scalp pimples too? Couple of things. Start taking a Magnesium/Calcium/Zinc supplement WITH Vitamin D. I am convinced that these suckers are due to extreme Vitamin D deficiency, as they always seem to pop up in Winter. Also, get yourself a really nice Glycolic acid lotion to apply at night (Glytone makes a great one –get it on Amazon –start with the lower concentration and work your way up). It prevents the sticky cells from garbling together and gives you great skin tone. If you get raging undergrounds, get your Doctor to prescribe you Aczone. It is an anti-inflammatory, and will definitely calm those awful underground zits really fast.
This sounds really interesting, I hope it works out for you. I’ve discovered I’m one of those unlucky women with shitty skin that needs to have regular facials, and spending ££££ but I have easy hair and I’m not totally Woody Allen yet so don’t need a therapist so I spend it all at a skin clinic. Not just scented candle and whale music but lasers and peels and squeezing every bastard little “oil pocket” (to me little lumps that never leave my face and can never be rid of). I actually glow now, my skin is smooth as baby skin.
Have a look into N-Light laser and omnilux therapy if anyone is interested. Better than wasting money on products that just sit on the surface and do sweet fuck all.
Skinoren from Boots. Can be prescribed online by their online acne clinic then you collect in a Boots pharmacy. Also available on prescription. Only thing that has worked for me from months of antibiotics to countless creams and lotions. Acne since 14- now 38. Took about six weeks and skin clear. Definitely worth a try. About £10.
Roaccutane? It has some side effects but for most people they are quite mild. it works.
Yes definitely an option. I had two courses of roaccutane in teens and early twenties. Worked brilliantly but then spots recurred. I was also clear for a few years after pregnancy then skin broke out again and to my amazement skinoren did the trick. As we all know with skin regimes it will not suit everyone but for me it was definitely worth a try. I now use whenever I get a flare up and it does still seem to settle it.
Roaccutane saved me in my late 30’s …my 3 year old had started to refuse my kisses, turning her nose up in horror. It was the final straw.!! I did have issues with dry eyes, aching muscles and a bit of a worsening of spots at 6 wks but it cured my post pregnancy acne for good (6 yrs clear). Also it minimised scarring from the cystic lesions.
Post acne in my 40’s ( well fingers crossed- never complacent!)
I would highly recommend it as a last option. Acne nearly destroyed my self esteem but it is curable.
Good luck .