9 replies to this topic

[Lknew]

I'm 18 and I've had acne since I was twelve (it was mild at first and I didn't mind) but the last two years its been really severe (huge cystic nodules that last for months). I've tried so many treatments topicals, antibiotics, proactive, benzoyl peroxide creams, three different types of contraceptive pill, changing my diet, manuka honey, lemon, tea tree oil, icecubes, and nothing has worked except all the treatments have destroyed my skin.
I've had enough and today I looked in the mirror and just burst into tears, and told my mum I didnt want to go back to Uni... to be honest I don't even want to leave the house I'm so embarrassed by my skin. I know its silly and stupid and I keep being told its just something 'cosmetic' but I feel so ugly. Acne is just dominating my life. I used to be in the regional squads for fencing and athletics but I've stopped training because I hate going out where people can see me without makeup. All my friends have perfect skin and so dont understand why I'm so upset, I thought I'd join and say hi because I guess you guys feel the same as me acne. sucks.

Because I had a mini-meltdown today, my mum (aka: supermum) has booked me a private appointment to see a dermatologist, and because I was so upset they've made it for tomorrow. Apparently he's thinking of Roaccutane.. But I've read up on it and I'm really worried about the side effects (will the dry skin really show?) I dont want to go back to Uni looking like a sea creature

[derlyn]

Omg! I am in the EXACT same position as you. I'm 18 aswell and my acne started same time as you, mild at first but then progressively got worse. Awww I havn't tried Roaccutane but I'm not really for it...Most people I know that have taken it, it goes away but then it comes back bad But I guess everyone's different!
But don't worry you're not alone!
Stay Strong

[vspink]

i totally understand you, i dont ever go out, and if i do, makeupless, i hide and im pretty much aware that no one i know is around. soo crazy it sucks, yeah ive tried everythign too, and im starting with accutane next week hopefully, im afraid of it comming back but its worth the try, and if i have to take it again i will, i just want to remember what its like to have a clear complexion

[Jamiefaith2]

Well, i'm sure not 18, but i guess you could say my acne started when i was about 17-18 years old. It's progressively gotten worse as the years have gone on, and right now it's the worst it's ever been. Well the past 3 months is the worst it's ever been, and just the past couple weeks, it's gotten a tad better. My boyfriend has tried hotpacking it everyday, to no avail, i've tried every face wash, my doc has prescribed me antibiotics, that only made me so sick and made me throw up so i had to discontinue usage. So i found this website and started this regimin and ordered dan's products. (hopefully it will be here sooner than later, in the meantime, i'm using nutrogena on the spot treatment, and lotion that's worked for me) I'm 29, and i really need some relief. I'm embarressed to be seen in public, i'm embarressed to go out with my boyfriend, and i'm embarressed that i'm 29 and look like a disfigured teenager. This is horrible. I really need some relief. I wonder how long this is going to take to clear up, IF it works.

[Pink 01]

we are all in the same boat.. Im so desperate to have a clear skin again but i guess itwill never be the same anymore coz i already have severe scars.. Im on my 7th week of accutane, and it helps me a lot the only side effect that i encountered is dry lips but it is manageable., for the sakeof having a clear skin.. Im tired hiding my face with my hair so that it will not be that obvious although its very irritating..they say that my hair irritates my pimples, but i have no choice i need to do that., i dont want others to see me in this situation..

[Lknew]

I've been prescribed Roaccutane now, hopefully start it tomorrow when I get the okay from my blood test.
I have really bad scarring too
So you're on your seventh week and its working? That sounds good... how long did it take to stop seeing new breakouts? and did you break out initially?

[Pink 01]

Until now theres still breakouts, but my derm said that maybe its because she lowered my doze, still im happy with the result coz i saw more than 50%improvement..

[gingergirl22]

I'm a mom of a 14 year old boy who is struggling with acne. I feel for him and all of you because I went through it as a teen too, as did my brother and my father.

When I was a teen in the 1970s there weren't all the products available that there are today. I scrubbed my face several times a day, applied all kinds of toners and creams on my face that I now realize were alcohol based and worsened my situation. Plus I slathered on make-up to hide the mess on my face. I stayed home from high school a lot because of acne. It sucked. As the years progressed, my acne has subsided and I can hardly believe that people comment of how nice my skin is now...it is music to my ears! I still had those ice pick scars into my 20s, probably from picking too much. I got rid of them my doing my own version of dermabrasion. In those days no one talked about Alpha Hyroxy Acids or microdermabrasion. On long weekends when I knew I had no plans, I would lightly sandpaper my cheeks and then wash with a soap that dried out my skin. THen I would sit under a heat lamp and dry out my skin. When the flaking started, I would sandpaper it a little lighter to help along the peeling. I did this whenever I could and now I am 55 and you can't tell that I have ever had acne. I'm sure time has helped too. (I'm not saying I would advise this treatment because there are so many ways now to peel skin, it's just all I could think of after a dermatologist told me my only option was dermabrasion using a metal burr and that it would take several treatments with healing periods that lasted 4-6 weeks! I just decided to try out my own mild version of that.)

I am now trying to help my son. Luckily, he does not pick at his skin. But he is covered with pimples on his face, mostly cheeks, jawline, and forehead. Probably 40 or 50 pimples. Some are flat red spots from previous pimples and I can't understand why they are still red. For the past three years we have been to 4 dermatologists, and I have bought countless products over the internet in hope of clearing his skin. None have helped. I've backed off of a lot of these and am trying a different approach through supplementation. He is now taking Rainbow Light Active Teen (with potent skin clearing action) and Vitamin D supplementation. I realized that when he goes out in the sun his skin improves dramatically, but he doesnt; get out very much except for school. He is not washing very much becasue he hates to wash his skin, but I think it may be okay because he showers every day and gets water on it. I do ask him to wash a couple times a week with Burt's Bees Salicylic Cleanser. His skin seems to respond well to this. I do feel he is better off not stripping his skin of all the protective oils like I did. But still, I do wonder... I will keep you posted as to his progress. I am also looking into treatment with Chinese herbs to balance his hormones and stress and that may be our next course of action if we don't see results from our current plan of attack.

Sorry this was so long. I suppose I should have put this in the introduction. I have been reading this forum for months have have learned a lot. I am so grateful for it. Good luck to you all!

[Jamiefaith2]

@gingergirl22, have you tried Dan's regimen? I've been doing it just 2-3 weeks and am already seeing improvement! When i first started the regimen i had about 15-20 pimples at any given time, right now, i have maybe 1, it's hardly a pimple, the rest are gone, just red marks that are still healing. I feel like it's taking forever to work since the red marks are still there, but it really is working. I did start out with BP 10% to completely dry out my skin and shrivel up the existing pimples, but i've switched to 2.5% and continue the regimen, and i'm seeing great results.

Good luck to your son

[gingergirl22]

We've tried his 2.5% gel but didn't see much improvement and 10% with another brand wasn't effective either. And the red marks it left behind worried me, which are still there from using the 2.5% gel last month. My gut feeling is that BP is not the answer for my son. It did work for me when I was younger though. I am glad to hear that it has worked for you! YAy!!!

I just responded to your comment regarding Baking Soda on another thread. I was impressed with it. I'll be interested to hear why you feel it is harmful.