Skin Changes in Mid 30'S Anyone??

I have had bad skin for YEARS and after my 2nd it was even worse. Last fall I had forgotten my cleanser when on a trip so I bought a cleanser called Simple and it's perfect! My blackheads cleared up and my little pimples went away. I use the entire line and it's easy to find at the stores. I use the Clairsonic at night with the cleanser. I also switched my shampoo and conditioner. The only thing that doesn't make me break out along my jawline is the products by EO (essential oils). They make my hair look great and don't make me break out. Other triggers for me are dairy and my period but overall my skin has not looked this good in a long time.

Yep!
Except the bumps on your chin sometimes turn out to be a sprouting whisker.
It's easy enough to pluck them out as they happen.
As peri-menopause starts up and the hormone balance slowly changes, you'll notice skin changes.
If you find a skin product that works, it won't work very long because your chemistry keeps changing.
I find washing my face with a baking soda/water paste helps keep my skin gently exfoliated so my pores are less likely to clog up.
If every day is too drying, then do it every other day or every few days.
Your skin in general will love it if you put 1 cup of plain yogurt into your bath water.
It helps balance the bacteria that lives on our skin.

I'm with you with the acne- I'm 38, fair, and it's in all the same places. Birth control doesn't help one bit. I just make my own scrub, which helps about as much as anything I've tried. The acne isn't gone, but I think the little blemishes are smaller. At least it's all natural and cheap. If your interested in the recipe, PM me and I'll share.

Yes I have noticed that my skin has changed this year and I am also 36. I have found that proactiv has helped a lot. Also, if you are going to a dermatologist ask them about spironolactone. It is oral medication you take for high blood pressure but in low dose it has proven very effective with acne caused by hormones. I was on in for many years in my late 20a before I had kids and it cleared me right up. I was thinking I would go back on if my acne got worse. Right now I am just having the occasional annoying out break. Good luck and I hope this post helps.

I am 37 and my skin has been going downhill (again) since I was 33/34, but horribly for the last year.

I am now going to the chiripractor for acupunctue, which has helped me learn I am in the perimenopause stage, so my hormones are horrible. I just started using a progesterone replacement cream and my skin is looking ALOT better. It is really too soon to know if this is the reason,but I am hoping it keeps on this path.

I had been using ProActiv, which worked for a bit, but then downhill again. I used Clearzit, moisturizers, anti aging, Mary Kay...I would stick with one for 3 months & if it didn't work move on.

I had a nursing student tell me (when I had a bad skin change earlier on, yes my skin HATES me) that lower face, jaw/neckline are definitely hormonal.

The progesterone cream I use is Uber Balance & can be found www.heartlandnatural.com. They sell it for $29.95; I get it at my chiropractor's office for $25. It's something to consider. Good luck...this "middle" age acne SUCKS!!!

That's my dairy area.

I never knew I was picking up a slow intolerance/allergy to dairy... Until this fall. Now dairy makes me violently ill, and my face has cleared up! Unless I eat any dairy! And then in addition to becoming violently ill, I break out like crazy on my chin/sides of my chin/ on my neck.

I didn't get the connection. A lactose intolerant friend clued me in.

So if I'm going to cheat & eat milk chocolate, or butter, or take meds with lactose in them... I try to make sure I don't have anywhere to be that my face should be presentable.

I was breaking out in the same areas. Please check the side effects of any supplements you're taking. I had surgery in January and was told to stop taking all but a few prescription meds. My face cleared up. I believe the fish oil supplements I took was the biggest problem. Now that I think back when I upped the dose my breakouts got worse and I'm 55, waaaay too old for acne.

Yeah it sucks! I'm 44 with the worst skin now than when I was a teenager, actually, I never had bad skin. I used to have the occasional blemish monthly, but since my late 30's it's gotten worse, especially now, of course I'm under lots of stress too, and a culprit, I know. Anyway, I looked up what vitamins help to have clear skin, and it says Vitamin A, B complex, D and Zinc. So I have put myself on this regimen along with my multi-vitamin. It has only been 3 days, but my skin is clearing up! I would suggest trying it. Good luck!

I'm going on 36 in June, and also experiencing this...

I got a Clarisonic for my birthday last year, and I have to say that I love it.
I also use a nightly dose of Benzoyl Peroxide on my problem area, which is my chin. It will dry you out at first and be annoying, but after your skin gets used to in in a week or two, it helps to stave off acne nicely.

Birth control will probably help, but consider if you really want to be on hormones? I went off of them last year after almost 18 years, and have never been happier (or hornier!).

Yes birth control helped my skin :) no more break outs.. Although I sure have a lot of noticeable sun/ age spots from being careless when I life guarded many many years ago.
L