Ex-Pill Acne

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Ex-Pill Acne
6
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 8:55pm

Hi ladies,

I was on the pill for 11 years and recently went off about a month and a half ago. Switched to the Paragard IUD, without hormones. Acne flare-up!

To those of you who have gone off the pill, has anybody successfully dealt with ex-pill acne flare up? I am 35 and have rather sensitive skin, cannot handle Retin-A, and don't find that those drying skin regimens for teenage acne (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid) would be appropriate for my skin. I would like to find a regimen that is gentle and nourishing, and would improve the overall health of my skin (starting to show tiny lines and signs of age).

Does anyone have successful anti-acne plans to recommend?

fuchsia

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: fuchsia_g
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 9:56pm

Hi fuchsia, welcome back!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
In reply to: fuchsia_g
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 8:57am

Before I was on the pill, I had horrible acne (was also a teen though). I came off of it a couple months ago, and not too bad yet. I think what's helped so far is not doing too much--not touching or picking at my face, just splashing water actually on it in the morning, and using Nutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash at night in the shower (actually really gentle product, only need a little). When I was a teen I tried to use a acne wash twice a day, the spot treatments, and cover up makeup. It was all way too much going on my skin.

There are newer products out there without the drying elements, forget the brand, but supposed to be for adult acne. I had thought of giving those a try when I was going off the pill and thinking of the horror my face was going to be--I'm actually plesently surprised how my body has reacted though.

The acne board may be of better help, just thought I would chime in what worked for me. Good luck! =)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
In reply to: fuchsia_g
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 1:40pm

Hi!

Thanks for the welcome back, Jill!

Tortoisegirl, you got your IUD as I recall about a month ago too. Has your AF visited yet? No period for me yet, and my last one ended July 30, an EPT was negative and I understand that there could be a delay coming off the pill, so I'm not seriously nervous about PG (yet!). If you've gotten yours, how's it been? I'm bracing myself dreading the ghastly period I heard about from the Paragard.

Thanks also for chiming in about the skin regimen. While on the pill, my regimen was very basic, and in fact I only cleansed once/day, in the evening, using only cold water in the morning. My little acne flare has made me nervous, so I'm using AHA cream at night, and need to cleanse in the morning to get the cream off. Maybe I am in fact doing too much.

Will now go check out the acne board.

cheers,
fuchsia

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
In reply to: fuchsia_g
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 7:50pm

One more thing about the acne: I forgot to say I'm taking a Biotin (B vitamin) supplement for hair loss because of my migraine medicine (anti-seizure type). It is supposed to build stronger hair and nails, and *improve your skin.* So, this may be helping me. Who knows. My hair has either stopped shedding at an alarming rate because of this, or naturally. So, I'm happy. May be something to look into--about $15 for 2 months at GNC when I bought it.

Anyways, yup, I got my period right about on time--I had spotting for a few days that was entirely freaky (posted on here because it would gush and then stop), then AF for 8 days. I used Ultra tampons (higher than Super Plus) for most of it. It was a crazy amount of blood, but manageable with bathroom trips every 3 hours. I was very surprised when it came after being on the pill and never being all that regular before. I hope the next one doesn't take me by surprise.

Good luck with everything! I think the less is more with acne.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2005
In reply to: fuchsia_g
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 1:45pm
Proactiv. It is the only acne medication that i've tried that actually worked, my face was clear. I went through a phase where I had horrible breakouts and scarring, and I bought proactive, and within a couple weeks, my skin was back to normal. With it though you must remember to put on a moisturizer with SPF protection. Usually we should do this everyday, but there's something in the proactiv that seemed to make my skin more sensitive to sunlight, not majorly, but I noticed a little, so I always used moisturizer. Hopet his helps.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2003
In reply to: fuchsia_g
Tue, 10-10-2006 - 5:35pm
I would like to recommend Sonya Dakar for acne. I have been on BCP for 3 years, then the patch for 4 years, and now I'm on Seasonale. All though my adolesence and Teen years I had severe acne. Then I went on Accutane and it helped alot of it, but its definately not cured. So with all of the years that I was trying to find something that worked and made my skin feel good and clean and healthy, Sonya Dakar was the only one that did. You can find her products at www.sonyadakar.com. A lot of them are some-what expensive, but I have made them last usually around 4 months. Good Luck and I hope you find something that works.