Any advice for PCOS acne gone out of control?

2legbaby · March 2016

Having been on birth control since my teens, I haven't had to deal acne since I was 17...I guess being on bcp on and off over the last year for surgery then IVF has kept my PCOS and acne under control....but my skin is currently breaking out horribly. Any recommendations from those PCOS ladies on getting this under control? I have a really bad habit of rubbing/touching my face when stressed so I know that doesn't help. Thanks for any advice!

PCOSat25 · March 2016

Hey! I also have pcos. I went on BC pretty much when I first got my period around 13. I definitely experienced a flare up of acne when I went off BC for the first time in my early 20s. At first I went on proactive which worked for a while. After a few months my skin got used to it and I stopped responding. I have actually heard that feedback a lot about proactive. Anyway now I use a normal mild face wash and a clarsonic brush. I love it! Very relaxing at the end of the day to have a nice little face massage. It has kept my skin under control so long as I am consistent with it. Sometimes my brush dies and I don't charge it for a few days...not a pretty picture.

em01092 · March 2016

Hey there. I too have PCOS. Neutrogena oil free acne face wash has always worked wonders for me. Been using it since high school. I prefer the pink grapefruit version but the original worked well too. Even when I was on BC I would still break out sometimes but this stuff really helped. The salicylic acid in it is supposed to be beneficial. Though my understanding is PCOS acne is hormonal, and that there is only so much you can do on the "outside" for hormonal acne, which is based on internal factors.

LizzieJ13 · March 2016

@2legbaby I don't have terrible acne, but I feel like my skin has improved since I started treating it more gently. I make sure to use a gentle cleanser that takes all my makeup off at night and if needed treat acne prone areas with a benzoyl peroxide cream. (Usually the sides of my chin - yep, hormonal.) In the morning I just splash water on it in the shower and occasionally use a gentle exfoliator.

dragonfaerie · March 2016

I don't have PCOS, but I have experienced very bad acne since going off of BCPs so we could TTC. You have to be careful of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, they are not safe for pregnancy and my doc recommended I just quit using them now. A few things that have helped me:
-using apple cider vinegar as a toner at night. It smells, but it helps reduce redness and can help clear up acne. I only use it at night so that I don't smell it all day.
-using a Clarisonic or similar-type face buffer/washer. I use mine with Cetaphil face wash.
-at home or spa facials
-I also use straight coconut oil on my face at night. It's a little greasy, but it's natural and clean, and moisturizes really well. Then you don't get over-dry and your face compensates by releasing more oil.

And, I know you know this, but really try not to touch your face. We have a tendency to leave our hair down to cover our faces when we break out, but pull it back (if you have long hair) so that it doesn't tickle and make you touch your face. I told me DH he is allowed to yell at me if he catches me picking at my face. I touch my face all the time because I'm on the phone at work a lot and then I sit at my computer with my chin propped on my hand. If you are a stress-picker, get a spinner ring or bracelet you can fiddle with. Or, something else that has helped me learn to quit touching, is I told myself I was only allowed to touch my face in the bathroom. That way I don't end up scratching at something I can't see and doing serious damage. It seems weird, but it helped me limit the amount I touch at my face.

sammyl1221 · March 2016

Hello fellow acne sufferer! Ever since I went off BC 2 years ago my skin has been wildin out. Everyone's skin is different but what has worked for me is a combination of things.
1. I do my best NOT to touch my face. I notice I always touch my chin or my cheeks which makes me break out like crazy.
2. I wash all my make up brushes about every 3-4 weeks
3. I tossed alot of my make up that seemed to be clogging up my pores- look for brands that are non comedogenic
4. I loveeeeeee Cerave FOAMING face wash. It's not abrasive and it does an amazing job. I also do an apple cider vinegar toner- half cup water and half cup apple cider vinegar (make sure its the organic kind that has the mother in it) and then cetaphil moisturizer
5. On Sundays I do a mask (its called mint julep face mask) and wear no make up so my face can breathe.

I'm also pretty sure when I eat like crap my skin is the victim of it so it doesn't hurt to look into food sensitivities like gluten/dairy/soy/etc.

Good luck!

2legbaby · March 2016

Thank you for all the suggestions! Thanks @dragonfaerie for the tips on how to not touch my face so much, I was sitting here finishing some work and had one hand rubbing my chin...arghh! I told DH to try and let me know if he notices me doing it.

dragonfaerie · March 2016

@sammyl1221 I love that Mint julep mask! It's my fav!
@2legbaby It's so hard when you sit in an office not to lean on your hand! Definitely the bane of my face...

halips · March 2016

I second pretty much EVERYTHING @sammyl1221 said. We have the exact same routine, except I use Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser as my face wash. For make-up I found that the Younique brand works really well and doesn't clog my pores like others have. I love their BB Cream and find it's well worth the price!
I also touch my face a lot, especially at work when I'm on the phone or computer. I try to at least keep a barrier btwn my hands and skin (like a shirt sleeve or something). Makes me feel like it's not a bad then, but that may all be in my head

It took a lot of trial and error to get to a routine that seems to work, most of the time. Hang in there and good luck!

sammyl1221 · March 2016

@dragonfaerie it's the absolute best!!!! Sometimes I'll sleep with it on and when my DH wakes up in the morning he always jumps from fright lol
@halips I'll have to try the Burt's Bee's and Younique- I like to mix it up sometimes!

dragonfaerie · March 2016

@sammyl1221 Haha! I can't sleep with it because it dries me out too much. But it is fun to scare the hubby with it when he comes home from work.

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