Hi! I am 36F, and thought I had struggled with acne my whooooole life, but really I was struggling with a couple pimples the week before my period and basta.
The last couple years have been another beast. It started after I stopped smoking, bad cystic acne on my jawline and back. After a year, it calmed down, I thought this will no longer be an issue. BUUUUT... froze some eggs at 35. During the stimulations, the big amounts of estrogen made my skin even better. About 3 months after egg retrieval, shit backfired. I am experiencing an amount of cystic acne clustered on my neck, jawline and back, that is unprecedented to me + they just keep coming, no matter the time of my cycle. It's been about 6 months and no sign of improvement (if anything, it looks worst because there are always active breakouts and no time for healing). My skincare routine is very minimal. Started using tretinoin and Azelaic Acid about 2 months ago with zero improvement for now (for tret, since I have super sensitive skin, I am going very very slow, I am at 3-4x/week now, so maybe that's why).
I have been to dermatologists since the age of 14, and they've never been able to cure my acne, but I went back this time. Only suggestion was Spironolactone, but I already pee so much (I drink over a gallon per day) + the other very common side effects freak me out more than acne (+ I have a history of being extremely sensitive to medication that impact hormones). Accutane is a NO-NO for me at the moment for many similar reasons. If things don't get better in a few months, I am thinking about trying laser, despite the exorbitant costs.
BUT was wondering if anyone who had the same issue found a way to fix it that was neither spiro, tret or accutane?? There has to be something! PLEASE SHARE your experience
Forgot to add that I am pretty much dairy and sugar-free, don't eat processed food, don't drink, don't smoke, drink tons of water, and that Zinc supplements break me out (like many other supplements alas...) + my labs are normal, no anemia or deficiency that I know of.