88 replies to this topic

[margox]

...was there a time, when you feel like you're alive, but you're not "Living"?, it's as if you're soul is hovering above your body, a ghost wandering about aimlessly...... floating on a sea of guilt and shame... helpless and hopeless....

...... i don't know what to do anymore.... i have tried many products and there aren't any improvements on my skin... heck i even tried that proactiv stuff and it made my skin worse.
...... i don't go out of my house....... i can't find a job.... i don't talk to my friends, i don't talk to anybody about my acne condition coz i'm scared shitless! i'm scared that they would judge me and it will hurt...and i'm already hurting inside so i don't need someone else to bug me about it.....
......i've been crying a lot lately... and i've been depressed (when my mom died 6yrs ago), but now that i'm having this acne problem, i feel like this wave of depression is much greater and that i can't talk to her about it.....
.....i'm still searching for the right products to help me with this problem...........
.....this site has been my refuge and it's helping me cope... i can rant about my feelings about my acne.....
i'm trying so hard in fighting this kind of feeling everyday............ i take refuge in God, and in this site.......

oh blessed day of glory and triumph...when will you come?...... please hurry!
(will be going to a dermatologist and OB-GYN soon)

[95tomwest]

I'm the exact same way! I hate how my happiness is completely dependent on how my skin looks on any one particular day.
Going to see a term is the best way forward, so at least you're making progress. Unfortunately, these things take time and all we can do is wait. Stay positive!

[margox]

I'm the exact same way! I hate how my happiness is completely dependent on how my skin looks on any one particular day.
Going to see a term is the best way forward, so at least you're making progress. Unfortunately, these things take time and all we can do is wait. Stay positive!

............. glad to hear from you.......... i'll keep you posted on what my doctor will say.... just hoping that he doesn't discriminate or say hurtful things.....

I'm drowning...... everyday i'm sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of depression.
Guilt and shame, hopelessness and helplessness run through my mind like clockwork...
Was there a time when you look at the mirror, and you see somebody else staring back at you?... and you felt disgusted at what you're seeing.
All you want is to be alone....
well, that's what i feel like........................ i desperately need to be saved!!!!!

[Frustrated13]

Hello everyone. I just discovered this site and I'm somewhat relieved that there are other people as well who are dealing with this frustrating problem. I barely remember myself without acne. I'm almost 20 now and I always hoped that, by that time, I would have gotten rid of my acne. I wish that was true, though.
I know my following words may sound cliche, but I seriously believe that only the people who have experienced it can totally understand the physical and psychological pressure that I'm going through.

I've had various experiences with different dermatologists and heard many opinions on how to resolve the problem and what products i should use. They all agreed that i mustn't use Accutane, cause I've gone through a serious illness that weakens the liver, so this pill would cause an irreversible damage to it. So I went on and on with cremes and lotions and soaps, antibiotics, you know. I had many inflammatory pimples throughout my face and they just kept coming out every day. Now I have found a very good aesthetic who unclogs my pores often and has given me some hope. My face isn't covered with this red-white "smog" but i still have work to do.

However, I wake up every morning and the first thing i do is stare at my face in the mirror. i do that a couple of times a day. it's like an obsession. My face is the main factor for my daily decision making process, like going out, eating, sleeping etc. My mood is bound to the condition of my skin. It's exhausting. i'm a good looking girl and it feels so unfair to be afraid to expose myself without make up. i've made some dreadful mistakes, like constant picking, and i don't know if and when the scars will be gone. After the picking, i blame myself for aggravating the situation (picking causes infections) and so on and so forth. my boyfriend is so handsome and has never made me feel bad about my face, however i sometimes feel i don't deserve him. i've been using make up constantly for many years and i'm afraid that my skin will age prematurely.

Now, i have some clogged pores and small pimples. i'm better than i used to be, but these small, red scars make me feel that my mistakes will chase me for the rest of my life. That i'll always be scar-faced with no chance for a flawless skin. Sometimes, i feel like i want to burn my whole face, other times i wish i could be reborn without this thing written in my dna (my parents both had it, so it was inevitable).

I don't wanna sound like a pessimistic teenager, i just want to get this burden off my chest, cause it's heavy and i know you would understand. Thanks for sharing your experiences as well, it's so good not to be alone. It's really hopeful, makes me wanna become even stronger!
I'll keep you posted on my progress!
Be patient, it's the only way!

Edited by Frustrated13, 13 October 2011 - 07:59 AM.

[Sianny]

I feel the same! I didn't have acne untill I was 25 and i've been on bcp for many years and i've never suffered with acne.

Like someone said before my mood depends on what my face looks like and whether or not I have a good day. I sometimes go to work and look at my face throughout the day and can see spots coming up! I get so down about it, I literally hate my face now. I'm currently single but as another girl posted i don't feel good enough for anyone .

My doctor prescribed me epiduo, which dries my skin out to an inch of its life! So last week I stopped using it and my face was the clearest it's been (I used a cleanser in the morning and then a moisturiser) BUT now I'm breaking out again everyday and have gone back to epiduo.

It's nice to be able to come to a place where you know people are listening. I feel so angry sometimes and have no one to talk to. Take care and good luck

[95tomwest]

I feel the same! I didn't have acne untill I was 25 and i've been on bcp for many years and i've never suffered with acne.

Like someone said before my mood depends on what my face looks like and whether or not I have a good day. I sometimes go to work and look at my face throughout the day and can see spots coming up! I get so down about it, I literally hate my face now. I'm currently single but as another girl posted i don't feel good enough for anyone .

My doctor prescribed me epiduo, which dries my skin out to an inch of its life! So last week I stopped using it and my face was the clearest it's been (I used a cleanser in the morning and then a moisturiser) BUT now I'm breaking out again everyday and have gone back to epiduo.

It's nice to be able to come to a place where you know people are listening. I feel so angry sometimes and have no one to talk to. Take care and good luck

That sounds exactly like my situation! I was using epiduo for two months and it only made things worse. I started Dan's regimen yesterday and my acne already looks less inflamed! Try Dan's BP.

Edited by 95tomwest, 14 October 2011 - 09:05 AM.

[Trevor244]

I understand what you all going through I have acne aswell and its depressing I'm always looking for new cures. I'm also studying to become a scientist so I'm getting a strong understanding of chemicals and how they react I'm trying to create an effective plan to cure acne and to lower it to a very minimal level, however acne is a type of bacterial infection on the skin and is a very stubborn condition which will take time to find a successful lifestyle that will release toxins from the body.

As I say I get depressed to but never ever ever give up hope there is a cure out there we just need to find it and that's what motivates me =D

[Cooool]

Please...for the love of god... go on accutane it's the only thing that truly works. I was in the same situation as you, now I'm so much happier. The closest thing to a cure out there is accutane...50% of people who take it are acne free for the rest of their lives. Cmon now

Edited by Cooool, 14 October 2011 - 05:36 PM.

[Nelo18]

stay strong. its good ur seeing a derm, acne wont go away by itself.
go here to educate ur self about acne, theres a lot of BS out there that makes acne worse. DIY, REMEDIES etc
paulaschoice.com >learn>skin care facts

[hotburrito]

Hi Margox, I`m going through something very similar at the moment, so I`m really sorry to hear about your situation. I hope your visit to the derma helps. I'm currently looking into getting some counselling, so if you feel that your depression persists, I recommend maybe talking to a professional about it as well. Best of luck!

[Trevor244]

I understand what you all going through I have acne aswell and its depressing I'm always looking for new cures. I'm also studying to become a scientist so I'm getting a strong understanding of chemicals and how they react I'm trying to create an effective plan to cure acne and to lower it to a very minimal level, however acne is a type of bacterial infection on the skin and is a very stubborn condition which will take time to find a successful lifestyle that will release toxins from the body.

As I say I get depressed to but never ever ever give up hope there is a cure out there we just need to find it and that's what motivates me =D

[Skinny1013]

Listen. SCREW the dermatologist! They have done nothing but made my skin worse.

Have you seen a Chinese herbal specialist???? After having BEAUTIFUL skin until 3 years ago, I spent thousands on prescriptions, which were EH at best, got microderm sessions, facials, birth control pills, Tazorac .1%, blood tests, hormone therapy, , Ovace, Epiduo, Proactiv, Benzoyl Peroxide - you name it, I tried it. The more things I tried which DIDNT work, the worse I felt. I even got folliculitis - inflamed pores and acne, pus in every pore after using an antibiotic, Minocin which was supposed to CURE acne! Dermatologists won't tell you that will happen. None of it really did any good. I used to be super happy and social - I was a model and then I went into a SUPERRRRRR DEPRESSION because of my skin. The same as you, couldn't leave the house, almost losing a job, all that. Maybe it's vain but oh well, Idc. I cried every night and day, took the lightbulbs out of my bathroom so I didn't have to see myself (and would only shower and put on make up while it's light out/used natural light) and literally was afraid of how my skin would look each morning, as it would just get worse.

Then my general practitioner advised me to see a Chinese herbal specialist. FINALLY my skin got better - and with NO negative side effects or time constraints for usage! Go see a Chinese herbal specialist - PLEASE, IM BEGGING YOU. The herbs start to work for me after about three days but generally they say it takes about one to two weeks for the herbs to kick in, which is much shorter than with prescription meds. My pimples have all but dried up in this week alone and now my spots are healing (thanks to other natural remedies). I used these before and saw miraculous results, then foolishly stopped as the seasons changed and got too comfortable, hence my current problem. Needless to say, I'm back on them.

The herbs will push out the bad stuff out first for the first day or so and then those will dry up, without a spot and then your skin will just heal, heal, heal. I'm a living testament.

The herbs they give you work MIRACLES. They regulate hormones, cleanse the blood, clear the skin, and generally improve health overall. You will have to get a new herb combination with every changing season (at least 2-4 times a year) and you do have to take more than a few pills a day but if you want clear skin and normal hormones, you'll remember to take them.

Try also using M2 Skincare 20% mandelic acid serum on your skin and a natural face wash. Lemon astringent and egg white mask will kill bacteria AND tighten pores. It will tingle a bit at first but that just lets you know its working. You can wear this under makeup too.


Also, go to Walgreens or WalMart or something and get:
Dong Quai - regulates hormones
Zinc - regulates and dries up acne (takes about 2 weeks, with one pill a day)
Saw Palmetto - haven't tried this myself but it's a natural hormone regulator. I'll be buying this this weekend.

Stay strong! I knowwwwwwwww the feelings of depression, like life isnt worth living, the tears, hating to look at yourself, the feelings of despair and desperation. I am not going to tell you it's not that bad and don't let it effect you so much because then I'd be a hypocrite. STAY STRONG!! The end of the struggle will come! I'm in the fight with you!

I understand what you all going through I have acne aswell and its depressing I'm always looking for new cures. I'm also studying to become a scientist so I'm getting a strong understanding of chemicals and how they react I'm trying to create an effective plan to cure acne and to lower it to a very minimal level, however acne is a type of bacterial infection on the skin and is a very stubborn condition which will take time to find a successful lifestyle that will release toxins from the body.

As I say I get depressed to but never ever ever give up hope there is a cure out there we just need to find it and that's what motivates me =D

Please look at my other post. I'm literally considering a career change to help acne sufferers. Try a natural route, like seeing a Chinese herbal specialist and taking the supplements I've listed above. I'm not trying to force you, obviously but I just want to help. I KNOW the feelings of depression and hating to look at yourself and as a former model, it HURTS to say the least. I just hope it helps.

Please...for the love of god... go on accutane it's the only thing that truly works. I was in the same situation as you, now I'm so much happier. The closest thing to a cure out there is accutane...50% of people who take it are acne free for the rest of their lives. Cmon now

Accutane can take your hair out, destroy your liver, damage any fetuses and for me, almost killed me. Natural remedies I have found work much better.

[Cooool]

Accutane can take your hair out, destroy your liver, damage any fetuses and for me, almost killed me. Natural remedies I have found work much better.

With the usual medical supervision accutane will not destroy your liver (monthly blood checks) or fetuses (birth control). And the hair comes back after the course. Stop exaggerating. Accutane has repeatedly been shown to work for many people, chinese herbs on the other hand...you. It is a last resort medication but this girl is obviously at her wit's end, don't waste her time.

I find it sad that people are ignoring this drug as i did for a few years, it's because of fear mongers like you.

Edited by Cooool, 15 October 2011 - 08:37 AM.

[Skinny1013]

Accutane can take your hair out, destroy your liver, damage any fetuses and for me, almost killed me. Natural remedies I have found work much better.

With the usual medical supervision accutane will not destroy your liver (monthly blood checks) or fetuses (birth control). And the hair comes back after the course. Stop exaggerating. Accutane has repeatedly been shown to work for many people, chinese herbs on the other hand...you. It is a last resort medication but this girl is obviously at her wit's end, don't waste her time.

I find it sad that people are ignoring this drug as i did for a few years, it's because of fear mongers like you.

Actually, Accutane damaged MY liver and I was hospitalized. I had monthly blood checks. My hair fortunately is growing in again but that drug almost killed me. I'm speaking from personal experience. Calm down, whoever you are.

Accutane can take your hair out, destroy your liver, damage any fetuses and for me, almost killed me. Natural remedies I have found work much better.

With the usual medical supervision accutane will not destroy your liver (monthly blood checks) or fetuses (birth control). And the hair comes back after the course. Stop exaggerating. Accutane has repeatedly been shown to work for many people, chinese herbs on the other hand...you. It is a last resort medication but this girl is obviously at her wit's end, don't waste her time.

I find it sad that people are ignoring this drug as i did for a few years, it's because of fear mongers like you.

and you don't even know me or what meds I've been on or their negative effects. Fear monger? Lmao ONE sentence about the LISTED, WIDELY known side effects of Accutane and I'M the fear monger? Is that why the FDA recalled the drug multiple times and why there's a $33 million+ lawsuit against the makers of the drug? Hmmmm maybe you should do a bit of research before you open your mouth, Fool.

But I guess I should lie and say that that drug is safe and amazing and nothing bad will happen to anyone who takes the drug. Didn't know I couldn't express an opinion. thought this was America.

Btw, next time you want to pick a fight - Google "accutane recall" or research the side effects before you speak from ignorance.

Edited by Skinny1013, 15 October 2011 - 11:29 AM.

[Cooool]

Accutane can take your hair out, destroy your liver, damage any fetuses and for me, almost killed me. Natural remedies I have found work much better.

With the usual medical supervision accutane will not destroy your liver (monthly blood checks) or fetuses (birth control). And the hair comes back after the course. Stop exaggerating. Accutane has repeatedly been shown to work for many people, chinese herbs on the other hand...you. It is a last resort medication but this girl is obviously at her wit's end, don't waste her time.

I find it sad that people are ignoring this drug as i did for a few years, it's because of fear mongers like you.

Actually, Accutane damaged MY liver and I was hospitalized. I had monthly blood checks. My hair fortunately is growing in again but that drug almost killed me. I'm speaking from personal experience. Calm down, whoever you are.

Accutane can take your hair out, destroy your liver, damage any fetuses and for me, almost killed me. Natural remedies I have found work much better.

With the usual medical supervision accutane will not destroy your liver (monthly blood checks) or fetuses (birth control). And the hair comes back after the course. Stop exaggerating. Accutane has repeatedly been shown to work for many people, chinese herbs on the other hand...you. It is a last resort medication but this girl is obviously at her wit's end, don't waste her time.

I find it sad that people are ignoring this drug as i did for a few years, it's because of fear mongers like you.

and you don't even know me or what meds I've been on or their negative effects. Fear monger? Lmao ONE sentence about the LISTED, WIDELY known side effects of Accutane and I'M the fear monger? Is that why the FDA recalled the drug multiple times and why there's a $33 million+ lawsuit against the makers of the drug? Hmmmm maybe you should do a bit of research before you open your mouth, Fool.

But I guess I should lie and say that that drug is safe and amazing and nothing bad will happen to anyone who takes the drug. Didn't know I couldn't express an opinion. thought this was America.

Btw, next time you want to pick a fight - Google "accutane recall" or research the side effects before you speak from ignorance.

Why are you completely throwing accutane out of the window for her?

I've done my research. Find one published clinical study for me showing that the side effects of accutane outweigh the clinical benefits - there isn't, which is why accutane is not banned. I'm really sorry it didn't work for you, but it doesn't mean it won't work for her - your group is a very small percentage and are the ones still posting on these sites and scaring people away. Fear mongering was a bad word for me to use, it's not your fault.

Here are the facts from a very thorough study, with a 4-year follow up, look at the results:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16546586?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem%202.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pub%20med_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&l%20inkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=%20pubmed

Margox, just do your own research and weight the pros and cons for yourself. Remember that you won't find alot of people cured by accutane on this site, because these people aren't bothered by their acne anymore, and recent studies are showing lower-dose treatments (which I had) do have less severe side effects. You have a 90% chance of being clear after the treatment, and 4% chance of relapsing afterwards in the next 4 years. There is a small risk there (worst case is you have to stop treatment as skinny did), but I felt there was no use of me going through my life with the unrelenting emotional scarring from my severe acne.

[Wishful_Thinking3131]

Hi all, I'm with you all...acne is evil and is stripping soo much joy I could get out of life. I hate myself for letting myself get worse acne when I was younger. Now is suffer from huge dark/red marks everywhere. I've been using differin for 4 months, and I'm pretty much rid of the bumpy acne, but the inflammation and hyperpigmentation is everywhere...its almost unreal. I've spent so much fucking money on concealers and shit to only see half ass results if any. I just don't understand...why aren't treatments getting ride of these marks..why.
College is suppose to be the best time of your life, and its passing me by. I do anything not to have this shit on my face, anything.

[margox]

I feel the same! I didn't have acne untill I was 25 and i've been on bcp for many years and i've never suffered with acne.

Like someone said before my mood depends on what my face looks like and whether or not I have a good day. I sometimes go to work and look at my face throughout the day and can see spots coming up! I get so down about it, I literally hate my face now. I'm currently single but as another girl posted i don't feel good enough for anyone .

My doctor prescribed me epiduo, which dries my skin out to an inch of its life! So last week I stopped using it and my face was the clearest it's been (I used a cleanser in the morning and then a moisturiser) BUT now I'm breaking out again everyday and have gone back to epiduo.

It's nice to be able to come to a place where you know people are listening. I feel so angry sometimes and have no one to talk to. Take care and good luck

......don't you just hate it?... i have just recently consulted a dermatologist ('twas my first time and boy did it hurt!!!!) he cleaned my face and pricked my pimples... his diagnosis of my condition is Comedonal acne..... i've just uploaded my gallery with my pictures after 2 days of using the regimen..... <<i forgot to take a before shot>>
my brother says he sees an improvement.... i've been talking with him about how i feel about my acne and it's really helping...... he understands and he's very supportive of me........ i'm really glad this weight on my chest is being lifted though not entirely but gradually...........

Please...for the love of god... go on accutane it's the only thing that truly works. I was in the same situation as you, now I'm so much happier. The closest thing to a cure out there is accutane...50% of people who take it are acne free for the rest of their lives. Cmon now

....... i asked my dermatologist about that accutane <i've researched like crazy before i consulted him>..... he said he doesn't wanna put me on accutane yet coz' my condition is not worse...... so i'm under this new regimen and hoping it'll help clear up my acne..... next consult in 2weeks

[holisticgirl]

I agree with 'Skinny1013'

There isn't anyway to stop acne for life, besides naturally. Accutane only works for a short period of time in most cases which I have proof of because I have seen the result. Anything that you put into your body that isn't natural will only make things worse. I hate my dermatologist because she screwed up my body on the inside and now I am stuck with cleaning up her mess.

That being said I have the solution (which is more like a miracle)

Respond with your email,we will get in touch, and I PROMISEEEEEE with my regimen you'll be seeing results in 24 hrs.

[cocobean]

i took accutane 4 times...i am still alive. No problems at all, ever. people are scared of everything, believe me, if you knew what was in a cheese burger at mc donalds.....
but to be honest, people go on and on about how bad it is. Its makes u depressed, ok, well, heres my 2 cents, if I didn't have accutane at 15, I would have been dangerouslly, seriously depressed. Sometimes I dont leave the house, even now and I wish i could take accutane again becuase it helps so much, unfortunately it always comes back to me but if i could afford to, i would take it again. I too just got dans bp....i hope it works!!!!

[catherinemorland]

I've had severe cystic acne for 10 years. I've been to dermatologists and the last one I went to told me the "cure" for me was accutane. Which is unfortunate for me because as it turns out you HAVE to take 2 forms of birth control to be allowed to take this drug. Thing is, I can't take birth control safely because with protein c deficiency it makes me more likely to develop blood clots. I weighed the pros and cons with my skin doc and my gyn and ultimately decided that it's just too risky for me. I've been on a few different antibiotics with no change whatsoever and tried prednisone with a decidely negative reaction. I was put on methylprednisolone for something else a couple summers ago and that actually cleared me up so well that I wish I could take it all the time. It was MAGIC. Which is weird cuz my doc said it's basically prednisone....idk, like I said, odd. Docs always talk to me like I'm mentally challenged though and barely spend any time even looking at me. Perhaps it's the small town I'm from. I'm in a bigger city now and when I can afford it, I will be shopping for a new set of docs. I think I'm rambling, sorry.
Point is, I've been down the cosmic bunny hole of depression and still struggle with getting out of bed on those days you can just FEEL your skin revolting against you and it sucks. Try, fail, fail better=my new motto.
I was a daily makeup user in my teens to try to hide my acne(which never works and actually made things worse) and I cut out makeup altogether a few years back and it helped but not much. The huge cysts have calmed down alot but I'm still waking up everyday with at least one new red spot. And they never go away. I don't know what to do anymore. I've always been a poor kid and now finally I have a bit of money to put into trying new things. That's the best thing I think you can do, just keep trying and giving things a shot and maybe you'll get lucky. And ignore the staring people and when curious children who never fail to embarrass you in a room full of people("what's wrong with your face?" "why are you so red?" "you got a BIIIIG boo-boo!") Despite my face, I'm happy with my life right now and that makes it easier to deal with. Good luck.