Acne - very depressed :(

[cherryblossum]

AJC, I don't think my acne has got anything to do with diet, as I've never experienced anything like it ever before. But I guess the GI diet is worth a try if nothing else works.

I saw my GP yesterday and she said that my case is a hard one to prescribe medication for, as the complicating factor is that I'm breastfeeding. She said she could easily prescribe me the pill (Yasmin) which would get rid of the acne, but she can't for this reason. So she prescribed me some antibiotics. I'm seeing her again next week for my 6-week postnatal check up so she's going to check on my progress. She also referred me to a dermatologist, but I can't get an appointment with him until late April as he's so busy

If the antibiotics don't work, I really don't know what to do. My GP said my acne is quite severe and she's worried about scarring I can't believe how I could go from relatively clear skin to this - everyone (who's visited bub and me at home, as I don't go anywhere these days without a ton of makeup!!) I know has remarked on my acne as it's really out of the ordinary. Before this I never wear makeup except for a bit of blush and lip gloss.

If, for example, the antibiotics don't do anything, and I have to choose between stopping bffing (therefore enabling me to go on Yasmin) and clear skin, I just don't know what to do. What would you do? Am I vain for giving up bffing for the sake of my skin??? I'm tearing up and feeling so much despair at the thought that I have to give up bffing, esp. since bub and I have struggled during the early weeks to finally successfully breastfeed.

What would you do???

[Starfish]

Cherryblossum - I hear you. I never really had serious acne either, until DD was born. She is 8 1/2 months old now and its still not going away. It is hormonal. Nothing can be done about it (that I know of). I did take a course of antibiotics, which cleared it up temporarily, but it came back when I finished the course. I would love to know if there is anything that can be done about it. I got married when DD was 4 months old and couldn't even wear make-up or anything to my own wedding, as any attempt to cover it made my skin look all lumpy.

But, I am not going to give up breastfeeding yet because of it. I am planning to breastfeed DD for two years, so I am nearly halfway there. I figure that if I made it this far with crappy skin, I can do it for a while longer. This time is really about DD. The breastfeeding relationship we have is so special that I wouldn't give it up for something as superficial (pardon the pun) as clear skin. And as everyone says, the time will go by really quickly.

[Bathsheba]

Great post Zofia Well done.

Last week I bought a new antibacterial facewash from the chemist call PHisohex (the PH are in capitals) and it's really helping... and it's cheap at $8 for a good sized bottle.

I wonder which hormone is causing the problem? Could it be worth seeing a hormone specialist? If you are going to have more children will this happen every time? it would be great to get some answers. I saw a Endocrinologist for a hormone issue i have and he knew a lot more than my GP did! he knew about medication i could take while BFing whereas my GP was suggesting I wean.

I suspect this will settle down as your baby needs less milk from you... especially after you introduce solids. It must be so hard. Don't give up hope... I'm sure there are other women out there who have suffered in a similar way... but have found answers...

[cherryblossum]

Hi guys, just an update. Had my 6-week postnatal check up with GP last week. Everything is fine, except for my acne which didn't seem to respond to the antibiotics. My GP thought that my case is serious enough to warrant trying to get an earlier appointment with another dermo, so she called around and asked a favour from one of her contacts, and made an appt for me to see him today (at 7.30am, as he couldn't fit me in any other time).

I just got back from seeing this dermo, and the news is not good. He thinks that my acne is severe enough for him to prescribe me roaccutane. As soon as he told me that, I bawled my eyes out right in his office - I couldn;t control myself, I was that upset. He thinks the pill is not even fast acting enough, as he reckons I will get scarring if acne doesn't clear up soon. I bawled all the way home in the car - I must have looked pathetic if the other drivers can see me.

I'm having my blood tested and also a swab taken to see what kind of acne it is, and we will go from there. Upon seeing me crying he tried to console that it may not come to that (stopping bfing) but it is something that I may need to consider doing if I was to take roaccutane.

I'm just sooo upset because I love bfing bub so much, and I feel like I'm letting her down by stopping.

Starfish, did you see a dermo for your acne? I can put up with crappy skin for 6 months (which is the length of time I plan to bf DD) but on the advice of my dermo, I don't know what to do. Even now as I'm typing this and looking at DD's beautiful sleeping face tears are rolling down because I really want to give her the best (breastmilk) and I feel like I'm being selfish by choosing my skin over her.

But on the other hand I know it won't be healthy mentally for me to stress over my skin and to worry about scarring. I'm just so devastated....

[AJC]

cherryblossom - I completely understand your upset at the thought of roaccutane. I took it for just under 12months and it was the worst time of my life (caused mild depression and really didn't help my skin that much) - I would never take it again. Read about the side effects before you make a decision - it's a s**t of a drug (to put it bluntly).

Have you considered talking to a naturopath? Not sure if they will help but it's worth a try before resorting to roaccutane.

I really really hate to preach but you would be surprised how much what you put into your mouth can control your body (i.e Insulin is a hormone and very much diet controlled - that's how they come up with the low GI diet). Basically if you eliminate the highly refined processed foods (that aren't good for you anyway) then you'll be worlds better off. Just google it and have a read.

Thats that last time I'll post in here now because I will just keep harping on about low GI - I just believe in it so much and I just really wanted to help.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[cherryblossum]

AJC, I really appreciate your replies. I'm not discounting the fact that a low GI diet won't work for me, but I think I need to exhaust all other options first. How long did it take for your ance to clear up when you started your low GI diet? You see, my dermo said that he wants to act quickly otherwise he's worried about the scarring, so even the pill is not quick enough for him.

Also, the reason why I think my acne is not diet related is because I have never had acne before not even mild acne - the most I have on my face is about 3 pimples at a time prior to my pregnancy. These pimples were just small whiteheads and blackheads that were not even that noticeable, not like these ones I have now which are papules and pastules - they're red and inflamed and they really hurt. The acne literally just appeared overnight after I gave birth.

I guess different things will work for different people. I already have a pretty balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegies and negligible amounts of processed food (in fact the only processed food I can think of that I eat are milk, breakfast cereals, and bread, which I only have ocassionally).

I'm more upset about the fact that I have to give up bffing than the possibility of scarring.

[bellelass]

I'm more upset about the fact that I have to give up bffing than the possibility of scarring.

Well, there's your answer, isn't it? If the thought that you would have to quit bfing in order to prevent scarring bothers you more than the thought of scarring, I guess the solution is to keep bfing and risk the scars. The thing about scars is they do fade.

[~mamaspice~]

Cherryblossum, I just wanted to recommend Clindatech also.

I sympathise with you as I never got acne as a teenager either but as I got older I began to suffer from hormonal acne (big sore blind pimples on my chin) and the only thing that fixed it was the pill called Diane 35. I got the odd spot while I was pg but like you, after the birth I got acne terribly again. I asked my Gp for a prescription for Clindatech and I have never looked back!

[milson]

hi Cherry Blossom

I have just read your post with interest and am SO glad that your acne is getting under control. I can't imagine what a shock it must have been for you to go from lovely clear skin to skin that is sore, lumpy and bumpy.

I have always had poor skin but in my pregnancy it was beautiful. Since the birth of my DD the acne has reappeared and I had one horrid week when I didn't want to go out. I was trying everything. In desperation I was contemplating urine therapy (actually can't remember the exact term) but had found a website that people spoke about the successes they had had. I didn't have to do this though but perhaps would have if I could have been guarenteed beautiful smooth skin. Like a couple of girls have mentioned the salt tablets are what works best for me. I spoke to my ob and a couple of pharmacists about them and have been given the ok. Like you I am breastfeeding and selfishly wanted to be able to look people in the eye rather than lose my confidence because of the acne. To cut a long story short my skin is slowly improving and so is my self esteem again. It certainly does take a battering when you have adult acne.

All in all I think that it is great you didn't have to resort to roaccutune. Clindatech for me didn't work. I have tried this over the years but it doesn't help me. It would be lovely if there were something that universally fixed all acne problems.