Since I started menstruating at age 13, I have always suffered from some amount of acne. Throughout the last four years, however, my acne has become progressively worse. It has also become progressively predictable, occurring faithfully at ovulation and the week before my menses. This is very frustrating, considering that I am almost 24 years old and beyond the time that adolescent acne is supposed to strike, and particularly because the acne is starting to leave scars on my face. I feel rather down about this and have a hard time making myself go out of the house when the acne flares up.
My mother is a certified NFP teacher and an RN, and has suggested that I seek help here rather than go on the BCP, a treatment that both a gynecologist and a dermatologist have suggested, since I also suffer from severe cramping during my menses. For my acne, I have tried a myriad of topical creams and oral antibiotics with little or no success. I have tried taking zinc, omega-3 pills, multi-vitamins, vitamin-B complex pills, daily exercise, cutting out caffeine, and limiting my consumption of white flour, sugar and other processed foods. I have, nevertheless, seen very little improvement.
Can a physician who knows about NFP help me? I prefer not to take the BCP for many reasons, one of them being that the BCP will only hide, not solve my problem. But since this problem truly does diminish my enjoyment of life, I am ready to try just about anything. In addition to this question, I wanted to know if there are any such physicians in France, since I am supposed to start a graduate program in Paris in October, but would still like to start treatment, if at all possible.
Thank you,
Cate