Unsure if my concern is Steroid Acne or Adult Acne

I'm 35 years of age, female, married w/ 3 kids. I had couple of pimples since around 18 years of age. Every menstrual period I get them. The problem is I see them multiply whenever I eat chicken, egg and seafood, specifically crabs, fish and shrimp...I am unsure if other sea foods also do the same effect on my acne, but those 5 kinds of food I've mentioned earlier has guaranteed effect that my one or two pimples will eventually spread out to ten or more at times. I even noticed that even the flu shot and H1n1 shots also are giving me severe acne. I even remembered having pimple on my pubic area 2 or 3 times after having flu shots.

I had severe acne 3 years ago. It started w/ couples and my primary doctor prescribed me w/ this medication in a foam style w/ steroid (I'm sorry...I forgot the name). I was told to put the foam only on the spot where there is pimple. Unfortunately, this part of my face w/ pimple turned out whiter than my other skin, so I decided to spread the medication evenly to my face w/out knowing what will be the effect of this. It was working well at first, my pimples cleared up but several months later, my whole face developed pustules or white heads...which later on, popped one by one...w/ severe puss and swelling, my face looked like I have chicken pox and it took several months before it cleared. I had taken almost all kinds of antibiotic, in fact for a while I thought it had ruined my hearing, I had put-on several types of antibiotic ointments and none had helped me. It was only when I had undergone steam,cleaning my face and laser from a dermatologist  that my face cleared up. And even though I am already ligated, I took contraceptives for more than a year for my hormone, and I really avoided those foods that I've mentioned earlier.

I stopped the pills and had not taken them for almost six months. I had flu shot and H1N1 shot in December,2009...these contributed to my pimples to going back. I had couple of pimples again and unfortunately, when I took vacation in the last week of July, 2010 I ate crabs...and as expected, my pimples multiplied again. It started to spread in my left chin and went to the right, then my forehead and then my cheeks. I wasn't able to go to work for almost 3 weeks now and using disability leave not because I cannot perform my job, but because I can't face the people at work w/ the face I have right now. I can't even afford to go to store for grocery and the worst is I can't go to church. I'M OVERLY MENTALLY TORTURED BY MY CONDITION RIGHT NOW.

I'm back to CONTRACEPTIVES. I'm back to this DERMATOLOGIST who has the patience of cleaning out each and every white head, black head and puss on my face w/ the treatment that she's doing...w/ the steam and laser...and even though her style is really hurting me, as I really cry in pain every time she pops every single white/black  head and even though this is really expensive as this is not covered my medical insurance.

The condition of my face is really bad. There are a lot of pustules, swellings w/ puss. The ones w/ puss are itchy and w/ pinching pain. And my face, is again, looks like I have skin disease or like chicken pox. The two doctors I saw already performed cultures on the puss from my pimples, but they couldn't see anything.

I feel really bad at this time. I don't know when I can go back to work. Afraid that I'm going to loose my job because of my situation. I don't know when I can stop taking contraceptives because I don't really need it because I'm already ligated. Last of all, I feel so sorry to myself that I can only eat pork and beef  and some vegetables for my meal as I can't really eat chicken,fish,crabs and shrimp no matter how much I crave for them.

Please help. Is it possible that my acne is still from the Steroid I put on my face 3 or 4 years ago ? The condition I have right now is the same condition when I had this severe acne 3 or 4 years ago. Or is this really ADULT ACNE, which concerns my hormone?

Please help. Thanks so much.

[pinay74]

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