3 replies to this topic

[amy91]

I've been browsing around this website and reading about how long have pple suffered from acne. Many pple mentioned 10-15 years. It sounds scary for me. I've been struggling with this condition for 2 years, and it seems like forever ( it took away my social life and confidence), but when I imagine that I might suffer until late 20's or evern early 30's it drives me crazy. So this is just the start, huh?

[PaulH85]

Doesn't have to be that day, maybe it comes down to how you approach it and what you do to beat it. For the first few years, I didn't have a clue and as using all the wrong kind of products and stuff. Then when I took antibiotics for it, it was always a low dose and there were periods in between which I think only made it stronger. My doctor just keep saying it was because I was in my teens and that it wasn't a big deal because it would go away. Last time I saw him, he said, "Because it's carried on beyond your teens, you'll probably have to take antibiotics throughout adulthood and it won't go away completely." Thanks a lot, doc!

To be honest, I never thought I'd be dealing with this for as long as I have and I certainly didn't think it would actually take up half my life. What does scare me is that it doesn't really show signs of going away. It's changed in recent months, improved and settled down, but it's not actually going away. Less than four years from hitting 30, the thought of still dealing with skin problems then really scares me because this is something I would have associated with my teens and it does indeed make me look like a teenager. I don't want to look or feel that way anymore, I feel like I should have left that and those associated insecurities behind years ago, but instead, I feel just as inexperienced and as insecure as I did aged 13.

That's just me though, we're all different. There's no reason why you can't beat it Amy, and no reason why you can't beat it much sooner than that. Just keep fighting and don't give up!

[amy91]

Thanks for your reply, Paul. You are right about the wrong approaches in treating acne. When I first got acne (17-18) I didn't even care that much, I was covering my pimples under the thick, comedogenic layer of makeup, I did eat greasy food, I was a bad picker and many other mistakes. Howeber the biggest crime that I've commited towards my skin was the FACIAL in some lame beauty salon. They completely destroyed my skin and as a "bonus" I got permanent scars on my cheeks. I decided to finally go to derm just last March. It was the best decision in my life. Now I regret for wasted time, energy and money. But what's done is done, I don't wanna dwell in my mistakes.
And I hope your acne will eventually go away permanently.

[emmers11]

Don't panic yet- I started breaking out in my early twenties, and then started getting cystic acne in my late twenties. I thought for sure there would be a period between pimples and wrinkles, but that didn't seem to be the case. I started panicing that this was just the way it was going to be, but the stress only makes the pimples worse- I don't care what anyone says- stress totally causes breakouts. Anyway, I am now proud to say that I am 30 and pimple free (only occasional breakouts during my time of month). I figured out a few things that work for me:

1) Look at the supplements you take. I was taking a pill that was a mix of aloe vera and vitamin E that was making my breakouts really bad, but it took a while for me to make the connection.
2) I did do a course of antibiotics that helped. I took doxycycline. I would try it if nothing else is helping. I felt like it did "take the edge off" and give my body a chance to catch up to the pimples so to speak.
3) I discovered two products I really like, one is downright amazing. The first is clinique bar soap. I actually use the moisturizing bar, not the acne bar, but both are great. The second is a lotion called Vie Du Soleil. Its all natural ingredients, and relatively cheap. The funny thing is it is actually meant to be for preventing and healing sun damage, but it does this with some pretty powerful natural anti-inflammatories, and I think that's why it helped my acne. It got rid of the rest of my pimples, and keeps me clear, plus it gave me an extra brightness to my skin. You used to be able to buy it from Amazon.com, but I can't find it there anymore. I get it directly on their website viedusoleil.com.

Good luck finding what works for you. Be patient- it took me a while and many products that didn't work so well before I found my right formula.

-Emily