Acne. Benzoyl peroxide not working anymore!

[itsbetterthanabox]

I was using quinoderm 10 and my skin cleared well but it's stopped working
I've got a lot of spots on my cheeks and chin and they itch and hurt!
What can I use? I was thinking a cream with salicylic acid but which ones contain a decent enough amount to work properly? What should I wash with? What treatment will clear like the BP used to?
Help my wise ones.

[antimatter]

Have you ever tried this:
www.boots.com/en/Boots-Tea-Tree-Witch-Hazel-Spot-Wand-2x-3-5ml_1213612/

my kids use those to keep their spots under control

[Fairylea]

Zineryt - on prescription from the gp. It's worked wonders for me on my 34 year old face :)

[Carpaccio]

Are you sure it's not an allergic reaction to another product? I've had itchy, sore spots on the chin, jawline and cheeks - turned out it was bismuth oxychloride.
It is found in some mineral makeup and other powders.

[Saurus72]

La Roche Posay Effaclar face wash and moisturiser is so so good, I can't recommend it highly enough. It has transformed my hormonal, stubbornly spotty skin.

[Kundry]

What is the rest of your routine like?

It should have a gentle (non-foaming) cleanser like Cetaphil or LRP Physiological Cleansing Gel, a salicylic acid product like LRP Effaclar Duo or Paula's Choice 2% BHA (I luffs this, sorted my skin in a week) and a non-comedogenic moisturiser eg Cetaphil or LRP Effaclar again.

If you've done all that and still have loads of spots then you need a prescription.

However salicylic acid is great - needs to be in a product you leave on your skin though, a waste of time in cleanser as it's in contact with your skin for less than a minute. Also needs to be on all of your skin, not just a spot stick, to prevent new spots developing (although I really like Vichy Hyaluspot for the spot already there).

Also check out the Mumsnet Q&As with Dr Sam Bunting as they all cover acne and her advice is brilliant.

[TollgateDebs]

Salicylic intolerance may also be causing the symptoms you describe. Something else to consider. Some drugs like Ramipril will accelerate the reaction too

[MagicSeeker]

My acne has been vastly improved (to the point of near-clear skin) by Vichy Normaderm. I highly recommend it.

[ppeatfruit]

Or it could be an allergic reaction to something you eat. if you like very acid forming foods like vinegar,orange juice, alcohol (strong stuff like shorts) all these won't help your skin IME.

You could try the colloidal silver products which are good. Or pure lavender and rose essential oils. (Not together of course)

[ppeatfruit]

Another thought, burnt food (barbecued) is terrible for our skin.

[itsbetterthanabox]

I currently use a Vichy gel face wash and then apply the bp. I'll use a moisturiser if I think I need it sometimes. Just a simple one.
What should I add to the routine?

[itsbetterthanabox]

Magicseeker. Which Vichy normaderm products do you use? What routine?

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

To get rid of acne forever, I would recommend Roaccutane. Its a bit of a controversial drug, and has been linked to depression and even suicide but I took it about 20 years ago and haven't had a single spot since. It didn't negatively affect me at all, and you are closely supervised throughout treatment.
Worth looking into if you're fed up of spending a fortune on over the counter stuff that doesn't really work.

[Kundry]

if you do have 'a lot of spots' despite benzoyl peroxide, it might be time for a prescription.

[StupidFlanders]

I'd also suggest going to a specialist. It may be a form of rosacea.

[lurkingaround]

Just go to your GP. It is almost impossible to accurately diagnose rashes remotely, and really, with your face, you don't want to make matters worse. If there is a GP in your practice with an interest in skin, I would go there.

[itsbetterthanabox]

I was thinking of the GP again. I've just got memories of horrible creams and tablets from when I was a teenager that stank and made me feel horrible. They used to work for a bit then stop. I'll try again though.

[IAmANightOwl]

I have terrible skin, due to PCOS and the amount of spots I have at any one time varies - sometimes it's lots (in which case its a trip to the Doctors for some Zineryt), other times (like at the moment) it's not too bad. I use an exfoliating face wash for spot prone skin and then after I have toned, I use this and it has improved my skin no end (and I have only been using it for a couple of weeks). Hope your skin improves soon, I know how it can affect your confidence

[iwantgin]

I say go to the GP too.

It may be that there is something better than they can offer you. The spots may not be acne.

[MagicSeeker]

I use the Normaderm Micellar solution in the morning, followed by their anti-ageing moisturiser (previously used the Normaderm day moisturiser - good too). Micellar again in the evening, then the 3 in 1 cleanser-scrub-mask too for a thorough clean up. Most nights I just wash it straight off, but it can be left on as a mask for a few minutes.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Magic so you don't use a treatment on spots just wash properly? The purifying gel I use is ok but miscellar sounds good because I prefer wipe off to rinse off.

[ppeatfruit]

if it's rosacea then it's definitely diet related. Interesting that the real cause which is what we eat and drink is ignored on most of these threads.

[lurkingaround]

So what's the diet ppeat?

[ppeatfruit]

welllurkingaround as i said upthread if you begin to cut out the acid forming foods and drinks that you may be allergic to; like vinegar, pork, oranges and orange juice, spirits and barbecued (burnt) food. You may find your skin improving overnight

The problem is that we're all allergic to different things so it has to be done on an individual basis.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Yeah it could well be an allergy. Although would that cause whiteheads or just bumps?
The foods you have described as being the possible issues are not ones I eat much at all. Rarely or never. How can I work out if it is a food issue?

[Kundry]

Ppeat's views on acid forming foods are not those of mainstream medicine and dermatology which is maybe why they get ignored on here. Your body regulates it's pH closely and is not subject to swings relating to what you have eaten.

Diet can influence acne but not by forming acid - I think this article is quite helpful on strategies for adult acne.
www.getthegloss.com/article/how-to-deal-with-adult-acne

However if you needed something on prescription in your teens, you may well do again. I'd suggest back to the GP and if necessary dermatology for real life advice.