2 replies to this topic

[rob1000]

Hi there,
After reading so many of these forums over the last 3 years I thought I would share my views on matters...
Since I was 17 acne has been a major part of my life, I am now just turned 21, and things finally seem to be on the mend! AT LONG LAST!
I have read so many forums reading people’s comments looking for answers that could help me.

I noticed so many other people have already tried numerous moisturisers and face washes and they still have major problems like I did. So it was slightly comforting to know that, because everyday, at every opportunity I kept looking in the mirror checking my spots, thinking ‘why me?!’

Man I had tried everything, from watching what I eat, cutting out chocolate and dairy products. To trying every skin product I could find.
I washed my face with hot and cold water and used a variety of products from tea-tree oil, to clean & clear face wash, everything...and nothing worked for me! The same routine everyday
I’ve been so hacked off over the last few years because I feel my main years of youth 17-20 have been robbed from me, they were the ages I should have been out with my mates on the pull. It was so frustrating breaking out in acne just after passing my driving test, which was prime time for me to take girls out. I have always been fairly good looking and did have a few female admirers even when I had a few pimples but when the acne developed I was just getting looked for the wrong reasons.

What a difference 4 weeks made!

I spent a lot of time, not playing football, cruising round in my car or with girls, just constantly in the mirror checking my face for any new spots. My life was a nightmare....one big horror story, just crap really. I was then prescribed a more powerful drug called Accutane but instead of curing my problem, just made them a lot WORSE....I was gutted, as if I didn’t have enough worries to contend with!

Don’t even get me started on accutane! I was on it for 6 months before I had to stop as the side effects were just too much, I was starting to suffer long bouts of depression, I. My hair was receding!! I was only 19 years old!! I was like ‘NO THIS CAN’T HAPPEN TO ME!’ not at 19, 59 maybe...but it got to the stage where I didn’t have a social life because I didn’t want people looking at my face and paranoid they would notice my hair line. I kept my hair spiky to divert attention and it seemed to work however inside I was always fearful people would notice my receding hair line and that was stressing me out because I was consciously. It wasn’t just the spots that was really upsetting me, it was all the effects it had on me as a person, feeling depressed and just mentally couldn’t cope with things in general. It proper screwed me over
A fairly good looking lad now covered in acne, scars and losing his hair. Life was crap. I’m no doctor but stay clear of accutane is my opinion!

I read about this guy who wrote on a blog clearyourskin.org Who used a product that worked for him. I have since been using the same product and so far it seems to be doing the trick, been on it 3 months now and my acne has faded into just isolated spots, nothing which doesn’t look out the ordinary and will eventually disappear once and for all.......4 YEARS TO LATE THOUGH!
Anyway, I apologise for my long rant, I don’t want to come across like it’s all me because I know there are many sufferers out there, I just don’t want people to lose hope. I seem to be ‘on the mend’ now shall I say and I am just looking forward to having my face and to make up for lost time in my eyes. I’m still very young at 21, and boy am I going to make up for it now!

I am now raring to go as I feel like I have missed out on some priceless years. I was fed up of been constantly bitter, angry and scared that my face might just explode again with spots.

This horrible disease and experience is starting to be put behind me and it will be for you one day.

My only fear now is will it be gone for good? I hope so! Very much! I’m not to0 sure I could cope going through the same patch again.
Thanks for reading anyhow, just after years of frustration and reading about other people’s mis-fortune I just wanted them to realise all hope is not lost.

[Emily_82]

Hi Rob,

I'm glad to hear things are finally starting to turn around for you in the skin and confidence department. Hopefully your new regimen will continue to do wonder for you skin and you can live your life to the fullest. I wish you the best of luck in future endeavors with hopefully clear skin. By the way, welcome to the acne sufferers community.

[rob1000]

Hi Rob,

I'm glad to hear things are finally starting to turn around for you in the skin and confidence department. Hopefully your new regimen will continue to do wonder for you skin and you can live your life to the fullest. I wish you the best of luck in future endeavors with hopefully clear skin. By the way, welcome to the acne sufferers community.

Hi Emily,

Many thanks for your message, it really means a lot. thankfully things are looking up for me now. It's been a slow process but now my face is now no different to any other normal teenager with a few spots. Confidence is coming back to me and I hope to basically start afresh.
I hope your situation is okay and best of luck with your future aswell.