Here I am, 34 years old, and my face is flaring up like it did when I was 13. This sucks. Lamictal is helping with my anxiety but now I have the pimples that I'm 99% sure are related to this med.

Anyone else have/had this problem? Any suggestions? I just can't stay on it if I end up with a pizza face.

According to the information listed on http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lamotrigine_ad.htm, Acne is an infrequent dermatological side effect. (infrequent adverse events are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1,000 patients)

I just got a few pimples also. I only take 75 mg. of Lamictal currently because it makes me severely cognitively dysfunctional and hyper when I increase the dose, so I have to go very slowly. I haven't had a pimple in years! I can't use any products for acne-prone skin at all-- they just dry out my face and make me break out more.

This may not help as it does not address the underlying problem of the medication, but try using Cetaphil facial cleanser. Your skin might be more sensitive as a result of the Lamictal. I've tried a zillion fancy face soaps over the years and this is the only one that I can use (tried a new one recently, so this could be the reason for my 3 zits).

Also-- could it be due to hormonal changes because of recent pregnancy? Hormones can definitely affect skin and since your pregnancy ended abruptly, perhaps your hormones haven't balanced themselves out again yet. Just a thought.

A weird aside-- I had had clear skin for a long while and my skin started breaking out while I had meningitis. I proceeded to have teenage skin again for exactly one year, then my face cleared up completely and I haven't had a problem since. I think it must have been all the toxins in my body from the meningitis (which take a very long time to go away).

Interesting that you mention this. My back has been breaking out like crazy since I started this med. Not to mention other hormonal problems have been going crazy too. I was also wondering if the two are linked.

Adhddogwalker,
I weaned my daughter a few months ago, then I got pregnant, then I lost the baby, and I am stressed out -- I've used 10% benzoyl peroxide for a long time and it's worked just fine, but you're right, all that could be the cause. I've just noticed this increased greasiness to my skin, like two hours after I wash in the morning my face and hair look greasy again. Yuck.

However, on the plus side, they do say that oily skin and face somehow preserves a youthful appearance. I am 34 with almost no wrinkling at all.

I've been eating a LOT of candy since my pregnancy loss, just to comfort myself. I don't gain weight easily so I can excuse myself (even though I know the candy isn't good for me and the dentist confirmed that by the condition of my teeth), but it is probably contributing to my face problem.

I am not a vain person at all but I have always hated zits and my skin scars so easily -- and I can't afford all the facial surgery stuff they do to get rid of it. But perhaps I could start a little fund for myself . . .

I have major acne problems, always have. But I have been able to control them for the most part with diet

I cut out refined sugar (not easy its in almost everything) chocolate and candy defiantly cause me to break out

Also cut out carbonated beverages (someone once told me they cause acne, and weigh gain)

And grease/oil will also cause acne.

Just a thought, perhaps you don't need to eliminate them completely from your diet but watch the amount you have and maybe experiment with what works and what doesn't. Most foods for me take 1 to 3 days to show on my face/chest/back.

Good luck