[Blue Poppy]

I am on a mood stabilizer (lamictal) and it is giving me acne. I have tried a number of products to try and get rid of the acne to no avail.

I am going to ask to see a dermatologist, but may have to wait a while.

Any solutions out there, besides going off the med?

I am so frustrated because I am 36 years old and it looks like I have just hit puberty!

[BlackPup]

Try taking zinc supplements and using products with benzyl peroxide in them. But be careful cos the benzyl peroxide can bleach towels, pillows and clothes!!! I used to use it at night before going to bed and use old pillowcases and towels.
I use a face wash with zinc in it which seems to work well

Lamictal and Lithium can cause acne.

I went to a dermatologist and was put on Retinal--the sure cure, supposedly. That
didn't work for me.

What helped the most was washing my face with Himalayan Sea Salt that had been
dissolved in spigot hot water. It cleaned the skin so well and things began to heal quickly.

Adding zinc picolinate in tablet form to your diet might help, too, just to speed up
the healing or chelated Zinc tablets. (I use about 40 mg. once daily.)

I used it twice a day until it healed well enough to cut back on it and continue to
use a soap with cream in it, such as Dove.

Did it appear on just one side of the face--maybe the right side? That's how my
started. It takes a while, so don't give up; it will eventually heal.

[Trippin2.0]

Zinc ointment helps my sister. Lamictal made her acne flare up after finally managing to have clear skin for a number of years. Benzoyl peroxide works for some, but for my sister, her skin was just too sensitive.

[PrincessxKitty]

Originally Posted by genetic

Lamictal and Lithium can cause acne.

I went to a dermatologist and was put on Retinal--the sure cure, supposedly. That
didn't work for me.

What helped the most was washing my face with Himalayan Sea Salt that had been
dissolved in spigot hot water. It cleaned the skin so well and things began to heal quickly.

Adding zinc picolinate in tablet form to your diet might help, too, just to speed up
the healing or chelated Zinc tablets. (I use about 40 mg. once daily.)

I used it twice a day until it healed well enough to cut back on it and continue to
use a soap with cream in it, such as Dove.

Did it appear on just one side of the face--maybe the right side? That's how my
started. It takes a while, so don't give up; it will eventually heal.

oh boy... lamictal AND lithium BOTH cause acne?? hmm... maybe that's why my face wont completely clear up... guess my dr. thought it would be worth it...

[PiperLeigh]

I've developed some cystic acne with lamictal. (Those deep, hard infections that don't seem to want to come to the surface, but hurt like heck.) Sometimes they make my face look really swollen where they are located (my jaw especially). Besides upping my skin care (washing twice a day instead of once), when I get some cystic acne that is seriously inflamed I do a few little things to help cope with it. Of course I try the benzoid peroxide and salacylic acid OTC products. But I also will clean my face, then take an Advil gel cap, put a tiny hole in it and squeeze a small amount onto the skin and rub it in. This helps reduce the swelling/inflammation in that spot specifically. (I know some folks are allergic to Advil, so this might not be something everyone can try.) I haven't been able to eliminate the acne completely, but little things like that have made it more tolerable.

I will try the zinc...sounds interesting.

[Blue Poppy]

Originally Posted by genetic

Lamictal and Lithium can cause acne.

I went to a dermatologist and was put on Retinal--the sure cure, supposedly. That
didn't work for me.

What helped the most was washing my face with Himalayan Sea Salt that had been
dissolved in spigot hot water. It cleaned the skin so well and things began to heal quickly.

Adding zinc picolinate in tablet form to your diet might help, too, just to speed up
the healing or chelated Zinc tablets. (I use about 40 mg. once daily.)

I used it twice a day until it healed well enough to cut back on it and continue to
use a soap with cream in it, such as Dove.

Did it appear on just one side of the face--maybe the right side? That's how my
started. It takes a while, so don't give up; it will eventually heal.

yes, mostly the right side

I know this thread has been here a little bit, but I just saw it.

I too had struggled with this, I tried tea tree oil, it's very strong, so you only use a drop and mix it with water for a facial wash, or even body wash. You can put the tea tree oil on undiluted for spot treatment to help them heal faster. It even helped heal the cystic acne faster and that takes forever normally.

I still broke out now and again, it's worth a try if the other treatments don't work. The nice thing is is did not burn or dry out my skin, which is already very dry.

[moremi]

Originally Posted by Blue Poppy

I am on a mood stabilizer (lamictal) and it is giving me acne. I have tried a number of products to try and get rid of the acne to no avail.

I am going to ask to see a dermatologist, but may have to wait a while.

Any solutions out there, besides going off the med?

I am so frustrated because I am 36 years old and it looks like I have just hit puberty!

did you try proactive?

[Blue Poppy]

Originally Posted by moremi

did you try proactive?

Yes, have tried the Proactive System without results. I have had better luck with the AcneFree product line.

Just got a prescription for Tazorac and also a referral to a dermatologist, as I am so fed up!

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm on Lamictal and have acne on my chest for the very first time in my life. I am almost 54.

Very glad to see the different suggestions. It doesn't show or bother anyone but me; I just want to get rid of it because I feel silly developing pimples in later midlife!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by genetic

Lamictal and Lithium can cause acne.

I went to a dermatologist and was put on Retinal--the sure cure, supposedly. That
didn't work for me.

What helped the most was washing my face with Himalayan Sea Salt that had been
dissolved in spigot hot water. It cleaned the skin so well and things began to heal quickly.

Adding zinc picolinate in tablet form to your diet might help, too, just to speed up
the healing or chelated Zinc tablets. (I use about 40 mg. once daily.)

I used it twice a day until it healed well enough to cut back on it and continue to
use a soap with cream in it, such as Dove.

Did it appear on just one side of the face--maybe the right side? That's how my
started. It takes a while, so don't give up; it will eventually heal.

Retin-A is actually not the latest med; the latest in that class is Tazorac and it not only cures my lithium-induced acne but also keeps me wrinkle-free. I think it is a must for every woman regardless of her acne status.