Metropol

Hi guys

Recently I've been coming out in spots. I'm 20 years old and have never had them as bad as this. I suffered from exma and sensitive skin when I was a child, but I was fine until around a few months ago.

http://i44.tinypic.com/1oaqyx.jpg

Does anyone have any idea for treatment, prevention etc?

Many thanks!

Didn't know tillyoshea was doing online consultations.

Do you have a particularly recognisable mouth? Is that why you've blacked it out?

If its only started recently, its likely to be caused by something environmental.

I used to work with somebody whos skin used to explode whenever she ate bread.

I can only really suggest you try and work backwards and see if there is something that's changed in your lifestyle. Try getting non fragrenced soaps and stuff too. That might help.

My little girl had eczma horribly when she was little - we found it was a combination of milk and something we were washing her with.

A change in bed linen / pillowcase or clothing can be an aggravating factor : I usually get a few when sleeping in hotel beds and suchlike.

Apart from that, I postulate that the autumn/winter is worse for spots generally due to rapid changes in ambient temperature: when you as a part of your daily routine continually go from a cold outside environment to an artificially warm indoor environment, your pores are likewise continually reacting to warm or cool your dermis, making them more susceptible to dirt, germs and other irritants, of which due to winter colds / bugs and rain, are more prevalent at this time of year.

Treatment? Wait until they go white then squash the buggers!

Nick Harvey wrote:Didn't know tillyoshea was doing online consultations.

Hmm, neither did I!

Skin isn't really my thing, and judging spots from a photo is, well, not easy. I'd suggest a chat with your GP who can have a better look at them and make sure that this is indeed acne, and can talk through different treatment or prevention strategies.

Have a think, too, about anything you've changed in your routine, or whether you've switched laundry detergent, or (if it's mainly on your face) changes in your shaving routine. Like Dr L says, non-fragranced soaps etc can be helpful as they can be less irritating to sensitive skin. Alexia's right in that this time of year is particularly bad for spots. There's no evidence for a link between acne and diet, though, despite what everyone thinks.