35 YO mother of two - have always had very
clear skin with
little problem with pimples or blemishes. Been on BC pills since a teenager (save for pregnancies, of course.) Good diet, non smoker, light alcohol intake,
regular exercise, good weight, etc. etc. etc. No medical problems.
Except.....
For the last year or so I've been getting what seem to be cysts forming on my
face: large bumps forming under the skin - almost always in same place each month, usually starting a week before my period. They seem like large pimples but they don't "pop" and anything I do to them just irritates the skin and makes them more
painful. They eventually go away but are back in the same
spot in a week or two. And I'm getting more - stared out with one, now I've got 5+ on my face each month.
They are movable lumps under the skin, and about the size of a pencil eraser. Very hard and contained. Somewhat painful as they become quite noticable in how much they protrude. No acne medicine has made any difference and no "head" or pus ever forms - just a dense lump on my face.
These are very unsightly (I've got 5 along my chin this month plus two on my forehead.) I haven't been to a dermatologist before but certainly am considering making an appointment for this. I was thinking perhaps it was stress related or bad diet but changes in both of these haven't resulted in a slow down for the monthly bumps on my face.
1) Do you think these are cysts? Does this have a particular same or syndrome? Is this common?
2)Would new birth control pills make any difference? I know that some brands of pills are marketed to help keep skin clear but that seems to be more along the lines of acne and this doesn't seem to be acne. I'm currently on the low-dose "mini-pill" and have been taking this particular brand for almost five years.
3)Why now, at my age, are they suddenly appearing?
4)If they suddenly started appearing will they suddenly STOP appearing?
5)If they are cysts, is there any treatment? Or is just leaving them alone to go away on their own the only option?
Thanks very much, I look forward to your reply.