
Hello Could I Please Ask A Dermatologist The Below: I

Could I please ask a dermatologist the below:
I would like to enquire if there is anything I can do to make my skin less oily
I%E2%80%99m 42 year old female in the uk
I have had excessively oily skin since age fourteen and as I%E2%80%99m seriously ill (bedridden) with my health condition ME/CFS it makes personal care hard and oily skin is more difficult to manage. My skin isn%E2%80%99t just a bit shiney, I wake up looking smeared in butter either side of my nose especially and if I blot, it%E2%80%99s returned in 2-3 hours. I%E2%80%99m susceptible to inflammatory acne too around my mouth and jaw mainly. I%E2%80%99ve never seen anyone with oily skin like mine before. i have very pronounced pores and skin thickening too.
I%E2%80%99ve read that it%E2%80%99s essentially down to genetics and hormones and as I can%E2%80%99t access/take oral hormone treatment such as spironolactone or the contraceptive pill I was wondering if there%E2%80%99s anything related to
A) diet, nutrition
B) topical treatment
C) tests for abnormalities beyond testosterone (which I had tested several years ago and was normal range(
I could do to make my skin behave more normally? . And produce less of the heavy oil it produces in my t zone area?
Are alcohol based toners for oily skin a good idea or harmful?
Is it true blood sugar and systemic inflammation could be a factor and is there anything I could do for that too ?
I also have hisutism but hormonal testing for this (several years ago) came back normal.
I take no exercise due to illness and am regularly unavoidably stressed.
I use differin gel most days to try to prevent acne but it probably makes skin oilier rather than helping to dry it out.
I actually asked a GP recently about this recently and he suggested I wasn%E2%80%99t moisturising enough so the past two weeks I have moisturised every night but it is not changing.
Thanks for your help
, Kerry Newnham

Could I please ask a dermatologist the below:
I would like to enquire if there is anything I can do to make my skin less oily
I%E2%80%99m 42 year old female in the uk
I have had excessively oily skin since age fourteen and as I%E2%80%99m seriously ill (bedridden) with my health condition ME/CFS it makes personal care hard and oily skin is more difficult to manage. My skin isn%E2%80%99t just a bit shiney, I wake up looking smeared in butter either side of my nose especially and if I blot, it%E2%80%99s returned in 2-3 hours. I%E2%80%99m susceptible to inflammatory acne too around my mouth and jaw mainly. I%E2%80%99ve never seen anyone with oily skin like mine before. i have very pronounced pores and skin thickening too.
I%E2%80%99ve read that it%E2%80%99s essentially down to genetics and hormones and as I can%E2%80%99t access/take oral hormone treatment such as spironolactone or the contraceptive pill I was wondering if there%E2%80%99s anything related to
A) diet, nutrition
B) topical treatment
C) tests for abnormalities beyond testosterone (which I had tested several years ago and was normal range(
I could do to make my skin behave more normally? . And produce less of the heavy oil it produces in my t zone area?
Are alcohol based toners for oily skin a good idea or harmful?
Is it true blood sugar and systemic inflammation could be a factor and is there anything I could do for that too ?
I also have hisutism but hormonal testing for this (several years ago) came back normal.
I take no exercise due to illness and am regularly unavoidably stressed.
I use differin gel most days to try to prevent acne but it probably makes skin oilier rather than helping to dry it out.
I actually asked a GP recently about this recently and he suggested I wasn%E2%80%99t moisturising enough so the past two weeks I have moisturised every night but it is not changing.
Thanks for your help
, Kerry Newnham
Regarding oily skin
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX How are you? I have noted your concern.
I suggest you to take oral isotretinoin 5 -10mg a day. It is the only oral non hormonal remedy for reducing sebaceous gland overactivity. Topical treatment, either toners or astringents would not reduce sebaceous overactivity. They only strip the skin of excess oil which becomes oily again soon after because oil glands sense dryness and function overtime. Adapalene, though antiacne, actually makes the skin more oily because it removes the blockages and allows the oil to flow.
take care
Let me know if you need any more information.

Regarding oily skin
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX How are you? I have noted your concern.
I suggest you to take oral isotretinoin 5 -10mg a day. It is the only oral non hormonal remedy for reducing sebaceous gland overactivity. Topical treatment, either toners or astringents would not reduce sebaceous overactivity. They only strip the skin of excess oil which becomes oily again soon after because oil glands sense dryness and function overtime. Adapalene, though antiacne, actually makes the skin more oily because it removes the blockages and allows the oil to flow.
take care
Let me know if you need any more information.


Thanks for your reply.
I%E2%80%99m okay thank you.
I note your recommendation of accutane.
To be honest i wish I had been put on it years ago as my skin has been a long term issue. However as I%E2%80%99m very unwell and bedridden i%E2%80%99m not sure my GPs would agree to it although I will ask. They tend to refuse anything serious and oral unfortunately.
Could I just enquire if there is any other recommendations on diet, tests or topicals ?
I note you were not particularly in favour of using alcohol to dry out the skin. When I was put on zineryt a few months ago I found that made my skin Lot less oily overnight, I don%E2%80%99t know if that was the alcohol or the zinc, so i was wondering is topical zinc worth looking into please?
And could you tell me if it is thought that this over activity of sebaceous glands is largely driven by hormones? i am drinking green tea to try to block a testosterone conversion in the blood, i read that our skin can become over sensitive to this. is eating soy products to get more phytonoestrogen reported to have any benefit?
Thanks very much for your help
With regards, Kerry Newnham

Thanks for your reply.
I%E2%80%99m okay thank you.
I note your recommendation of accutane.
To be honest i wish I had been put on it years ago as my skin has been a long term issue. However as I%E2%80%99m very unwell and bedridden i%E2%80%99m not sure my GPs would agree to it although I will ask. They tend to refuse anything serious and oral unfortunately.
Could I just enquire if there is any other recommendations on diet, tests or topicals ?
I note you were not particularly in favour of using alcohol to dry out the skin. When I was put on zineryt a few months ago I found that made my skin Lot less oily overnight, I don%E2%80%99t know if that was the alcohol or the zinc, so i was wondering is topical zinc worth looking into please?
And could you tell me if it is thought that this over activity of sebaceous glands is largely driven by hormones? i am drinking green tea to try to block a testosterone conversion in the blood, i read that our skin can become over sensitive to this. is eating soy products to get more phytonoestrogen reported to have any benefit?
Thanks very much for your help
With regards, Kerry Newnham
Regarding oily skin
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Provided your liver and kidney function tests are normal and you do not have any pancreatic pathology there is no harm in taking isotretinoin. Another option is to start on monthly hormonal pills as it would help counter over activity of sebaceous glands but if you have a sedentary lifestyle it poses a risk of venous thrombosis. So I don't think it is a feasible option. You may use acetone swabs (can make for yourself at home) to wipe of excess oil at night. Acetone is an excellent degreasing agent and it is not irritating as alcohol. I advice some of my patients to keep a few acetone soaked swabs handy and use it when required. Take care

Regarding oily skin
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Provided your liver and kidney function tests are normal and you do not have any pancreatic pathology there is no harm in taking isotretinoin. Another option is to start on monthly hormonal pills as it would help counter over activity of sebaceous glands but if you have a sedentary lifestyle it poses a risk of venous thrombosis. So I don't think it is a feasible option. You may use acetone swabs (can make for yourself at home) to wipe of excess oil at night. Acetone is an excellent degreasing agent and it is not irritating as alcohol. I advice some of my patients to keep a few acetone soaked swabs handy and use it when required. Take care

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