Sudden series of pimples?

I'm just wondering what's causing my non-stop  pimples (especially on forehead area and chin, small ones and sometimes big ones). Normally, I experience this once a year where pimples would attack my face but would only last for 1 or two months, then it'll be clear, then I only get one or two (the painful ones) before period. But now, my pimples doesn't go away for six months already, its like when some gets gone, new ones will pop out. Its like i never had a moment that i have a clear skin, its really embarassing everytime i'm attending special occasions because sometimes make-up cannot cover it. And no, i haven't tried any new product that would cause my skin to react. Is this something to do with hormones? do people get hormonal imbalance as the age increases? im turning 31. Should i see a dermatologist or another type of specialist? maybe its better to know what's the main cause rather curing the outcome?
P.S. and by the way, I also noticed that i've been having itchy skin to go w/ this, for 6 mos. already, an anti allergy was just making me feel more fatigued

[katie883]

by the way its been 3 yrs since i went to the dermatologist regarding pimples, but that was one time only, and never got back coz my skin was quite normal that time, it was becoming clear even before i finish everything she prescribed me (those products to rub that you shouldn't go out of the sun, plus a pill to take to stop oil)

[NurseCEE]

6 mos at a time? Not normal. ONE six mos? Do you pick at them, keeping them open? What facial cleanser do you use? is hair on forehead? OILY? What makeup? Try a top of line OIL FREE FORMULA, do not use products that are opened for 6 mos or longer. Change make up when contaminated. Pump makeup is better, as to not contaminate the lip of bottle, hence; makeup becomes a medium for bacteria to flourish. Wash your face each night? remove makeup each night? TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN. Laura Mercier makeup/oil free is wonderful,  Peter Thomas Roth cleansing gel is good, sometimes over drying facial pads cause an over production of oil and a break out. Does your face tingle before you get a pimple or pimples? U may want to make sure its not herpetic in nature. See a derm/physician for treatment. I do not diagnose, only give advise. Answer my questions and I will get back to you. Kindly, Truly Concerned

[katie883]

thanks, here's my reply to your q's:
1.) No I no longer use facial cleanser for a decade, though i use toner but stopped it for months already as it just stings. (Im not from the U.S.,so i guess you won't know if i mention you the brand)
2.) I hardly use make-up lately. no need to worry.
3.) Yes i wash my face each night.
4.) I don't use facial pads
5.) Nope it doesn't tingle
6.) Nope, my hair is away from my forehead. But if you mean by "folicles", yes i do have (thats what the derma told me 4 yrs ago, but that was another different story of my pimple hahaha)
I don't know if the abrupt change of climate has something to do with it, coz we went for a vacation in a certain country where the temperature is cold & dry. When I got back last september (home), these pimples suddenly appears (by the way, we have a humid climate/ tropical country). I thought that maybe these will be gone or maybe just a sign of monthly period, or maybe my normal, but it didn't stopped, time by time i get new ones. Is it becuase i'm getting old, and hormones becomes stubborn? I tried to switch to a new derma (had a  check up 3 months ago) and she was telling me that I might've used a shampoo and soap that's causing this, but i didnt changed any products i use for many years. she prescribed me some mild soaps to use but its not really working, and told me to rub benzoyl peroxide, but I stopped using that product for many years because my face/pimples isn't responding good to it, so why would i waste to use it again. Some say birth control pills might help, but of course I wanna know what's really causing this.

[NurseCEE]

Sounds like you picked up a bacterial infection of some sort. Do the pustules crust to a dry, honey looking residual around the pustule when it begans to dry? Are they deep? Yes, birth control pills do help. As you get older your estrogen production decreases and left with testosterone and that is a culprit sometimes, but you do need to see another doc. You do need a good oil free cleanser, wash your face with paper towels instead of a cloth. Sometimes bacteria can remain in washcloths if clorox is not used and hottest of water. I have a friend that cleared her face by switching to a disposable cloth or paper towel because her roommates were also using towels and clothes and cross contamination of everybody's germs left her face in pimples.

[katie883]

Thanks for the info...to answer your question, hm, i think my pimples dont really become crusty, rather, they leave dark marks/blemishes(?), and I hate it, so ugly. (by the way, i got different combination of pimples, like the ordinary small ones and some are like prickly heat-sized, and I also get the real bigger bumpy, painful ones especially before period (though, those big bumpy ones are quite normal before my period, but its not normal now that i get about 5 of them..haha, yeah i counted them =)...when i just usually get 1 of that type during pms...)...
and yup, i agree with you, maybe i need to see another doc. maybe it could also be a bacteria like what you've said, or the estrogen levels...i'll try to do your advise of not using towels, for the meantime i'll use facial tissues since there's no available paper towel here at home hehehe...=)