Face Breaking Out on Avandia -- Any Suggestions??

[gracie381]

I love the Avandia don't get me wrong, but my face looks like I have the measles. I never broke out in high school, and as long as I was on bcp I never broke out either. When I quit taking bcp and started the met. I broke out alot, but it gradually got better. Now that I've switched from Met. to Avandia, my face is worse than ever. I can't stand it much longer. My doctor said to give it a few more weeks, and then we might try something. Anyone else have this problem on Avandia? If so, I'd love to hear from you.

[Chrissy]

Yes! THis has been a real problem for me too. I am going to quit the avandia and head back on the pill. I have had an increase in facial and body hair beginning again since dropping the pill and going on avandia. The only thing you could try is spiro. but be sure to use birth control with it. For me the insulin isn't a huge issue but my skin is. Sorry I don't have any magical advise but wanted to say you're not alone,
Christine

[gracie381]

Thanks for the support. I don't have much facial hair and I was told by my regular doctor that my insulin levels were fine. Although the specialist I went to said I was IR. Don't really understand that, don't know if anyone does!!! Anyway, right now my face is looking a little better thanks to Clinique (wonderful!!) My doctor said that it should get better over time. I guess I'll wait it out a little longer. I want a child more than I want a clear face if you know what I mean. Although at times I have looked in the mirror and thought about going back on bcp's because my face was crystal clear back then.

[Chrissy]

I know what you mean about wanting a pregnancy more than clear skin!! I very seriously believe that avandia could help you get there. I have taken it twice and both times I ovulated. I never cycle and have only ovulated a few times on clomid myself. I have also read on many boards the wonders of Avandia and acheived pregnancies. Best of luck to you. I'm hoping to read that you had success soon! Best of Luck!

Christine

[gracie381]

Thank you so much. I just hope the Avandia will work. I never ovulated on the met or clomid, but I also never had a period on the met without the help of prometrium. So hopefully me starting on my own is a good sign. My sister has PCOS and she only ovulates every now and then, and she has been blessed with 1 child and another on the way in May!! She has never had to take met or Avandia so she's been pretty lucky. Anyway, I'll just keep my faith and try not to worry too much. If I'm meant to have a child, then someday it will happen.

[RunnerDuck]

re: insulin being "fine" but being told you are IR... When I had my insulin checked, the results were 19 - and the lab gave normal insulin levels as under 20. So if you looked at the results and compared them to what the lab said is OK, you'd think they were fine. However, I have read that really, your insulin should be less than 10 - so I don't know where labs get off, saying less than 20 is normal... Testosterone is weird, too. I think lab normals go up to 80 or something but realistically in a woman they should be less than 50. Lab ranges seem to be useless for some things...

There is also the issue that some docs believe if PCOS is present, IR is present... even if you don't test for it. Like, if your body shows PCOS, your body is showing it is IR. Maybe the range of insulin your body needs to function is just different than what other people need... so you may not test for it, but you have it. Kind of like how my temp is normally low, so I can have a fever even if my temp appears "normal."

re: avandia making the skin break out... Chrissy, I would say it sounds like your breaking out is due to going off the BCP, not starting the Avandia. In my experience, the insulin meds can help with a lot of things, but not provide the total symptom control that BCPs offer. There is also the possibility (for both of you) that you are having normal break-outs associated with hormone production... kind of like going through puberty... it's not that anything is wrong, it's just your hormones are going nutty as your body becomes more womanly and thus you are breaking out... and maybe it will subside with time? But then even normal women have breakouts at certain times of their cycles, so...

Gracie I hope the Avandia keeps working for you! I'm hoping to go on it next month. I have to wean my baby first, though, and I really am not wanting to do that... I've gotten used to having excess hair and broken out skin... my skin's not TERRIBLE but I remember how I used to think that as soon as I hit 20, my body would realize I was an adult and I would have clear skin, no clogged pores, no pimples... and now I'm pushing 30 (yikes) and my skin doesn't seem to know it. Oh well. I care more about my cycles working than my skin being clear, so if I had to pick one or the other, I'll take cycles. But now I have to pick cycles and another child vs. nursing the child I have, and that's hard for me. I'm trying to focus on the good things... like, wearing sports bras and dresses again (not neccasarily together) if I wean... and maybe getting preg again... but there's just no guarantees and that is so depressing for me. I just want my body to function likea normal woman's... seems such a little thing to ask... but I may as well be asking for the moon, and I want it giftwrapped!

What Clinique product(s) are you using? I have that 3 step stuff... soap, toner, moisturizing gel... but I am sooo lazy about using it... the saleslady swore it'd help with my clogged pores but I just can't seem to commit to using the whole series twice a day. I use the soap at least once a day but I dodn't always follow with the toner and gel... funny, I used to think I'd be more fastidiuos about skin care as I got older, too...

[gracie381]

I also use the 3-step (the soap, clarifying lotion & moisturizing lotion. I also use the clarifying liquid make-up. It seems to help some. But I think you're right about it being my hormones. One of my best friends said the same thing. I'll have to agree that I would rather have cycles than a clear face. So I'll just carry on, it could be a lot worse!!

[Lisa2008]

i have hormonal skin too. I asked the Doc for something to help it, she have me rx for Clindoxyl gel. It has worked very well in just 1 weeks time to help clear up my skin. I have also used Dalacin it was ok too.

Good luck with the Avandia, i am half way through my first month on it. I have so far been very happy with it no s/e. I'll be interested to see how you do on it!!!