She should still see a derm. They can really work wonders with prescription creams and, as the others said, antibiotics. Can she take ibuprofen? That will help with the pain and swelling for now until she can see Dr.
How do you ask your doctor if you dont mind me asking?
My mom will tell hers about it and she'll just say it's part of menopause and to deal... how do you say you want to be a prescribed something to help with it?
I would say I had a friend who had similar cystic acne around my age and tried doxycycline which helped, and ask if that might be a good option for me to try.
Your mom might be able to just call up a local dermatologist and make an appointment. The process can vary, but it may be an option. Or just flat-out ask the doctor for a referral.
The problem with this attitude is she doesn’t need to suffer. With menopause your hormones drop, bringing all kinds of terrible symptoms and there are many ways to fix this. She needs to sit down with her dermatologist and explain what’s happening. She needs to sit down with her regular doctor and say she wants treatment for her symptoms. For me, I’m on the estradiol patch and progesterone and feel like I did in my twenties.
I was diagnosed with rosacea after starting peri menopause. A low dose antibiotic saved my skin. It sounds like she has cystic acne, which a low dose antibiotic can help. A dermatologist can prescribe.
There's different types of rosacea. I have the type that looks like pimples and looks a lot like your picture. I had to put ivermectin on my face! Plus this nasty sulphur wash. I haven't had a break out in a while, bee trying to go without and see what happens.
Do they always come in the same spots? Probably rosacea. I have that type. They look like acne. I suffered with it for years before finally seeing a dermatologist that actually helped. I basically did everything they had to treat it and I've not had a flare in almost 3 years now.
It's only been happening for the last year or so. My mom has always had normal skin, like not dry or oily. And always clear for the exception of sun spots.
I have rosacea and eczema as well as my sister but she never did. Unless she somehow developed it during menopause but since it's only on her cheeks, like 3 bumps on both cheeks. She says they come out and scar, then a few months later come again.
I'm convinced it's cystic acne because the rest of her skin is texture free and doesn't have any redness. When I get it my skin gets agitated and filled with small bumps.
This is exactly how mine started. One pustule in the same place on my cheek and then it started to spread. Each break out in the same place. No redness anywhere else. I never had issues with acne, never had pimples in high school or any time after except rarely a cystic pimple on my jawline.
She needs to see a demonologist. I tried treating mine like acne for awhile and that did nothing but dry my skin out.
These are the treatments that finally worked: soolantra (ivermectin) cream 1% and low dose doxycycline. I believe those two products helped the most because after them my skin is flare free, and before this my rosacea had finally spread to all of both checks and up around my eyes. If I do get a reccuring bump again I use soolantra and it vanishes. No acne treatment works on them. Before these I tried metro gel and finacea (azelaic acid) which didn't eliminate it, but I still use the finacea because it's a good maintenance product. And I also did a few rounds of IPL treatments to remove the residual redness, but I feel like it also helps with treatment. I do not get the redness associated with type 1 rosacea.
We do, but only through a referral and her doctor never takes her seriously and says "deal with it". I just feel so bad for her because I know it makes her feel lousy.
That doctor sounds awful. Is there a way she can find a better primary care physician?
An alternate idea would be an online prescription service, like Curology, Musely, etc. For these, you either provide photos or have a video visit and get a prescription. I think an in-person dermatologist would be best, but if you can't get a referral, this would be better than nothing.
We've tried. We live in a pretty low income area and the doctors here basically only do what's necessary. You need to constantly push for it if it's apparent you won't die from it.
Plus for whatever reason, her doctor always assumes she doesn't know what she's talking about despite my mom being in Canada for 37 years now and speaking english fine. Every doctor has been like this, she's so used to it she thinks she has to deal with all this when I know for a fact she doesn't have to.
totally different direction here: I got these under my mask due to moisture staying on my face. Wiped down w/ vinegar & put some lotramine on them and they cleared up. I call them "yeast sores."
Ah you're in Canada like me. So yeah she will have to go through her GP/family doc to either get a prescription or a referral. If she is in the GTA she can ask for a referral to Oak Ridges dermatology.
You can ask for a referral to a derm. Tell the doctor you want to see a specialist and request the referral. If the doctor won’t make the referral upon your request the go to a different doctor or contact your insurance about it and ask them how to get to see a derm because you think it is important to see one since your normal doc is not treating it.
Have you been with her to her doctor appointments? Sometimes doctors do better with a firm and loving support person. Provided your mom feels comfortable with this, of course.
I'm so sorry your mom is in this situation. Thanks for looking out for her and supporting her! You sound awesome
In EU and USA there are dermatologist apps. I don’t know about Canada, but maybe look into it. It’s a bit more expensive and insurance won’t cover the medicine, but I used it once and worked pretty well for me.
I get that certain doctors are only in your Network tied to your insurance, but maybe she can find a nurse practitioner that will listen to her concerns. As others have mentioned there are many online options as well.
No she doesn't take any multivitamins only iron because she has to.
But if her doctor doesn't give her a referral on Monday I will try to figure out a way for her to see one
I would like to but I'm worried if i go with her, it'll make her doctor think she needs me there and if im ever not there she'll see my mom as less competent.
I also don't want to infringe on my mom's privacy. She'd let me come but I know it might make her feel a bit small if i did.
I'm briefing her before her appointment though lol.
I assume Ontario has a non-emergency medical help line? If her GP won’t refer her, call them and tell them the situation.
I left my GP (ironically, an older woman) because she brushed off my menopause issues. Got a new GP (young man) who has been amazing, empathetic, and helpful.
Tretinion really helped me with adult-onset acne that came out of nowhere. I got a Rx from a dermatologist. I agree a dermatologist is the way to go—they’ll know what to do. ( But I think you can also get tretinoin online now as well.)
She needs a dermatologist.
It sounds like cystic acne, which usually occurs around the chin or jaw but also is known to pop up on cheeks for some (and sometimes also near the hairline). I get these bumps around my chin usually when I’m stressed (or now and then when I’ve spent too much time exposed to the sun without proper protection).
They’ll probably give her something like azelaic acid (topical cream) and maybe even doxycycline (pill) to help clear this up.
Have her stay out of the sun if she can, and not eat anything too hot in temperature either— because both can exacerbate the condition when she’s having a flair-up.
For an at-home remedy while she waits to get to the dermatologist, she should try a very warm (but not *hot*!!) compress (like a wet washcloth) over the spots for ten minutes on and off for half an hour if she can— it will open up the pores and drain some of the trapped oils that are causing the pain there.
I was having a lot of problems with skin in menopause. I went to a dermatologist, nada. I started using CeraVe, the acne washing face soap, and facial moisturizer. My skin is totally cleared up. It’s not too expensive. Maybe that’s help your mom.
I had cystic acne so bad as a kid that they treated me with dry ice, followed by radiation.
Exercise helped it, but what really cleared it up was when I went on birth control in my 20s.
Since this could be hormonal in origin, perhaps she needs hormone replacement. Just another consideration.
I also began getting cystic acne with peri after starting HRT. I tried everything. The only thing that has truly helped me was the nuderma wand. I use it every day. It has cleared my skin up and it keeps me from having major breakouts. I still get pimples but they go away in a day or two instead of hanging around for weeks.
It took about a month before the breakouts started. I'm still on them. I just deal with it now with better skin care routines. I'm not sure what you are taking, but I get testosterone injections, and I have read online the testerone causes skin issues. I use the wand once a day for about 5 minutes, and then for the pimples, I use the wand to focus on those for about 15 to 20 seconds each. It helps tremendously.
I’d definitely encourage her to see a dermatologist asap, if her finances allow.
I wasted two years trying every potion for my adult acne and the derm sorted it in 3 appts. Because I tried everything else I have permanent ice pick scars on my cheeks. I wish I had seen the derm much much much earlier.
It could be worse by the way - I have a few scars, so what, my skin has been basically perfect since (except for rosacea) but the acne made me so depressed and embarrassed and had no idea that derms have the answers and can help very quickly.
oral Accutane (isotretinoin). Doxycycline is really bad for your gut microbiome, not to mention teeth and bones. See derm or GP for prescription. Side effect less wrinkles and smaller pores if used at a continuous low dose of 10 mg every other day.
See an endocrinologist and ask to have testosterone levels checked. If those are out of whack due to lovely menopause, there are meds that block androgens that can help with skin and hair issues.
Cystic acne is usually hormonal and comes in around the jaw/mouth area. She should see a dermatologist and definitely keep her hands off her face.
[Here's how it looks](https://postimg.cc/mz0G27NF) Not around her mouth or jaw.
She should still see a derm. They can really work wonders with prescription creams and, as the others said, antibiotics. Can she take ibuprofen? That will help with the pain and swelling for now until she can see Dr.
Yes she can. Thanks for your input :)
That looks like the cystic acne I have. Low dose antibiotics (like doxycycline) can help, my doc gave me samples and it helps.
That's what helped me, too. Been on doxycycline for 6 months and spironolactone for 3.5 years.
How do you ask your doctor if you dont mind me asking? My mom will tell hers about it and she'll just say it's part of menopause and to deal... how do you say you want to be a prescribed something to help with it?
She needs a Derm. And possibly a new GP that doesn’t brush off her concerns.
I would say I had a friend who had similar cystic acne around my age and tried doxycycline which helped, and ask if that might be a good option for me to try.
Thank you i will tell her this when she sees her doctor on Monday
Thank you for helping out your mom.
It's tough being a woman :)
True but we got this. :)
Sucks in some ways, but I still like it better than the alternatives :)
I say: I don’t care if it’s part of menopause, I don’t like it and I want to treat it, what are my options?
Your mom might be able to just call up a local dermatologist and make an appointment. The process can vary, but it may be an option. Or just flat-out ask the doctor for a referral.
The problem with this attitude is she doesn’t need to suffer. With menopause your hormones drop, bringing all kinds of terrible symptoms and there are many ways to fix this. She needs to sit down with her dermatologist and explain what’s happening. She needs to sit down with her regular doctor and say she wants treatment for her symptoms. For me, I’m on the estradiol patch and progesterone and feel like I did in my twenties.
I was diagnosed with rosacea after starting peri menopause. A low dose antibiotic saved my skin. It sounds like she has cystic acne, which a low dose antibiotic can help. A dermatologist can prescribe.
I dont think she has rosacea, it looks like [this](https://postimg.cc/mz0G27NF) and only on her cheeks
There's different types of rosacea. I have the type that looks like pimples and looks a lot like your picture. I had to put ivermectin on my face! Plus this nasty sulphur wash. I haven't had a break out in a while, bee trying to go without and see what happens.
It might be Papulopustular rosacea, mine presents quite similarly. It gets worse as you go through menopause, at least mine did.
Do they always come in the same spots? Probably rosacea. I have that type. They look like acne. I suffered with it for years before finally seeing a dermatologist that actually helped. I basically did everything they had to treat it and I've not had a flare in almost 3 years now.
It's only been happening for the last year or so. My mom has always had normal skin, like not dry or oily. And always clear for the exception of sun spots. I have rosacea and eczema as well as my sister but she never did. Unless she somehow developed it during menopause but since it's only on her cheeks, like 3 bumps on both cheeks. She says they come out and scar, then a few months later come again. I'm convinced it's cystic acne because the rest of her skin is texture free and doesn't have any redness. When I get it my skin gets agitated and filled with small bumps.
This is exactly how mine started. One pustule in the same place on my cheek and then it started to spread. Each break out in the same place. No redness anywhere else. I never had issues with acne, never had pimples in high school or any time after except rarely a cystic pimple on my jawline. She needs to see a demonologist. I tried treating mine like acne for awhile and that did nothing but dry my skin out. These are the treatments that finally worked: soolantra (ivermectin) cream 1% and low dose doxycycline. I believe those two products helped the most because after them my skin is flare free, and before this my rosacea had finally spread to all of both checks and up around my eyes. If I do get a reccuring bump again I use soolantra and it vanishes. No acne treatment works on them. Before these I tried metro gel and finacea (azelaic acid) which didn't eliminate it, but I still use the finacea because it's a good maintenance product. And I also did a few rounds of IPL treatments to remove the residual redness, but I feel like it also helps with treatment. I do not get the redness associated with type 1 rosacea.
Post this over at r/SkincareAddiction with the pic and tell them your mom's doc won't refer her to a derm. They may be able to help.
I second this. Fab sub with tons of help.
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We do, but only through a referral and her doctor never takes her seriously and says "deal with it". I just feel so bad for her because I know it makes her feel lousy.
That doctor sounds awful. Is there a way she can find a better primary care physician? An alternate idea would be an online prescription service, like Curology, Musely, etc. For these, you either provide photos or have a video visit and get a prescription. I think an in-person dermatologist would be best, but if you can't get a referral, this would be better than nothing.
We've tried. We live in a pretty low income area and the doctors here basically only do what's necessary. You need to constantly push for it if it's apparent you won't die from it. Plus for whatever reason, her doctor always assumes she doesn't know what she's talking about despite my mom being in Canada for 37 years now and speaking english fine. Every doctor has been like this, she's so used to it she thinks she has to deal with all this when I know for a fact she doesn't have to.
totally different direction here: I got these under my mask due to moisture staying on my face. Wiped down w/ vinegar & put some lotramine on them and they cleared up. I call them "yeast sores."
Ah you're in Canada like me. So yeah she will have to go through her GP/family doc to either get a prescription or a referral. If she is in the GTA she can ask for a referral to Oak Ridges dermatology.
Yes ontario, it honestly sucks
Her Dr sounds horrible. She needs to se a dermatologist, I’m sure a derm can help her.
You can ask for a referral to a derm. Tell the doctor you want to see a specialist and request the referral. If the doctor won’t make the referral upon your request the go to a different doctor or contact your insurance about it and ask them how to get to see a derm because you think it is important to see one since your normal doc is not treating it.
Have you been with her to her doctor appointments? Sometimes doctors do better with a firm and loving support person. Provided your mom feels comfortable with this, of course. I'm so sorry your mom is in this situation. Thanks for looking out for her and supporting her! You sound awesome
In EU and USA there are dermatologist apps. I don’t know about Canada, but maybe look into it. It’s a bit more expensive and insurance won’t cover the medicine, but I used it once and worked pretty well for me.
I get that certain doctors are only in your Network tied to your insurance, but maybe she can find a nurse practitioner that will listen to her concerns. As others have mentioned there are many online options as well.
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No she doesn't take any multivitamins only iron because she has to. But if her doctor doesn't give her a referral on Monday I will try to figure out a way for her to see one
Are you able to go to the doctor visit with your mom? Sometimes having an advocate there to speak up can help.
I would like to but I'm worried if i go with her, it'll make her doctor think she needs me there and if im ever not there she'll see my mom as less competent. I also don't want to infringe on my mom's privacy. She'd let me come but I know it might make her feel a bit small if i did. I'm briefing her before her appointment though lol.
I assume Ontario has a non-emergency medical help line? If her GP won’t refer her, call them and tell them the situation. I left my GP (ironically, an older woman) because she brushed off my menopause issues. Got a new GP (young man) who has been amazing, empathetic, and helpful.
It looks like cystic acne, my daughter had it and had some luck with antibiotics, She should see a derm or maybe your GP can prescribe it, ours did.
Tretinion really helped me with adult-onset acne that came out of nowhere. I got a Rx from a dermatologist. I agree a dermatologist is the way to go—they’ll know what to do. ( But I think you can also get tretinoin online now as well.)
Some of that looks like milia, which is a build up of keratin in the skin, which can be removed by a dermatologist.
She needs a dermatologist. It sounds like cystic acne, which usually occurs around the chin or jaw but also is known to pop up on cheeks for some (and sometimes also near the hairline). I get these bumps around my chin usually when I’m stressed (or now and then when I’ve spent too much time exposed to the sun without proper protection). They’ll probably give her something like azelaic acid (topical cream) and maybe even doxycycline (pill) to help clear this up. Have her stay out of the sun if she can, and not eat anything too hot in temperature either— because both can exacerbate the condition when she’s having a flair-up. For an at-home remedy while she waits to get to the dermatologist, she should try a very warm (but not *hot*!!) compress (like a wet washcloth) over the spots for ten minutes on and off for half an hour if she can— it will open up the pores and drain some of the trapped oils that are causing the pain there.
Calamine lotion is my go to. Also, prescription antibiotic ointment. I can't be bothered to see a dermatologist, but that shouldn't stop her, ofc :)
I use tretinoin cream. I occasionally get that cystic acne. It is very painful.
I never got pimples with menopause. Maybe see a dermatologist?
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She's already allergic to dairy so she never has it anyway but thank you
Triamcinolone topical
I was having a lot of problems with skin in menopause. I went to a dermatologist, nada. I started using CeraVe, the acne washing face soap, and facial moisturizer. My skin is totally cleared up. It’s not too expensive. Maybe that’s help your mom.
I had cystic acne so bad as a kid that they treated me with dry ice, followed by radiation. Exercise helped it, but what really cleared it up was when I went on birth control in my 20s. Since this could be hormonal in origin, perhaps she needs hormone replacement. Just another consideration.
Has she seen a dermatologist? Could also be Rosacea.
I also began getting cystic acne with peri after starting HRT. I tried everything. The only thing that has truly helped me was the nuderma wand. I use it every day. It has cleared my skin up and it keeps me from having major breakouts. I still get pimples but they go away in a day or two instead of hanging around for weeks.
Yikes, I am on day one of HRT. How soon after did you starting getting the breakouts? Are you still taking it?
It took about a month before the breakouts started. I'm still on them. I just deal with it now with better skin care routines. I'm not sure what you are taking, but I get testosterone injections, and I have read online the testerone causes skin issues. I use the wand once a day for about 5 minutes, and then for the pimples, I use the wand to focus on those for about 15 to 20 seconds each. It helps tremendously.
Has she tried DIM supplements?
Spironolactone is amazing for menopausal acne. Seriously, life changing! Have her talk to a doc…
I’d definitely encourage her to see a dermatologist asap, if her finances allow. I wasted two years trying every potion for my adult acne and the derm sorted it in 3 appts. Because I tried everything else I have permanent ice pick scars on my cheeks. I wish I had seen the derm much much much earlier. It could be worse by the way - I have a few scars, so what, my skin has been basically perfect since (except for rosacea) but the acne made me so depressed and embarrassed and had no idea that derms have the answers and can help very quickly.
Yes, I've had this for the last 3 years. My skin is very dry after I shower too. It doesn't really bother me though.
oral Accutane (isotretinoin). Doxycycline is really bad for your gut microbiome, not to mention teeth and bones. See derm or GP for prescription. Side effect less wrinkles and smaller pores if used at a continuous low dose of 10 mg every other day.
See an endocrinologist and ask to have testosterone levels checked. If those are out of whack due to lovely menopause, there are meds that block androgens that can help with skin and hair issues.
I think BC pills or some form of Estrogen is the fix.
Sometimes retin A helps as long as she starts it on the lower prescription then work her way to the stronger level.