snsdgirl14

I've been dealing with acne for about 4 years now. I'm 20. Admittedly, it has calmed down a lot. But I still get pustules occasionally and clogged pores frequently. The past 2 months or so, my skin has been looking great. I was taking Minocycline twice a day and using Epiduo at night. I stopped taking the Mino abruptly (stupid of me) to see if my skin truly needed it or not. The past few weeks it's been doing pretty well until now. I've gotten a few more pustules than usual and the pores next to my nose are going CRAZY. Every day a good number of them are clogged with little whiteheads and I pop them and empty the pus out. Gross, I know. Then within a day they're clogged again.

 

Today I woke up with much more clogged than usual and they were big whiteheads too. I popped them, and within TWO HOURS they were clogged up again with whiteheads. I broke down at breakfast crying because they just look so gross and I can't get rid of them. The weird thing is, it's only the right side of next to my nose that gets these clogged pores. The left side NEVER gets them, only the right. I wash my face twice a day with CeraVe cleanser and use a Clarisonic every night in the shower. I just don't understand.

 

Realistically, this is milder than the acne I've dealt with before, and I know that. But it's like if it's not one thing that's making me depressed, it's another. Once my skin was looking better a month ago, I started feeling insecure about my body, even though I normally am fine with my body. I started working out like crazy and trying to eat healthier. Then, now that my skin is looking worse again, I'm depressed about my skin. I've seen a psychologist in the past who said I most likely have a form of OCD relating to how I look.

 

I can't seem to get over this. It's like every day it's a new battle. I just look in the mirror and wonder why my skin is like this. Why, if I'm doing all these things to help my skin, does it clog up anyway? I need to get a hold of myself because I just got a job and I'm also taking courses this summer. The most important thing on my mind should be my education, but instead, it's my skin, and the way that I look. What is wrong with me?

I have mild - moderate acne (right now it would be classified as mild). I've had this persisting problem for maybe a year now. I can't remember if I had it or not last year or the years before because it is very mild...but nowadays it bothers me.

 

The pores next to my nose on the right side (not ON my nose but like right next to it) constantly get clogged. They get visibly filled with pus, and I can pop them right away. But either they refill within a day or another pore near them gets clogged. So basically everyday I'm popping these pores because it annoys me to see them filled with pus. The weirdest thing is, it's ONLY on the right side....not the left side. The left side rarely ever gets clogged. 

 

I use Epiduo every night and take Minocycline twice a day. I use a Clarisonic every day. I just started using the Biore pore strips and am probably going to start doing a mud mask once a week or so. Does anyone know why they keep refilling and how can I stop them from doing so so frequently? 

I have mild-moderate acne and a darker skin tone which means I pigment VERY easily from acne. Ever since getting a Clarisonic Mia in August, all of my PIH has faded significantly within weeks. It depends on the mark since some seem to be darker than others, but for example, a zit I got about 3 weeks ago is already faded completely.

I have no doubt that it's my Clarisonic, since it's the only new thing I've added into my routine. I'd guess the daily exfoliation is what is speeding up the fading. I highly recommend it!

I am 20 years old, female obviously, looking for a more long term acne solution. I am taking Mino now and using Epiduo at night, but I'd like to stop the Mino. I'm interested in BC because the ONLY part of my face that breaks out are my cheeks/lower jaw area. My forehead and nose never get pimples. I've read that this type of acne is usually hormonal. So, should I go on BC? What kind should I go on if I do? I have mild-moderate acne.

I've been thinking a lot lately that exactly one year ago, I was having one of the worst breakouts I've ever had. I've had acne for 4 years now, but until that breakout, it hadn't really bothered me much. Mild - moderate acne, really. This past breakout really made my skin become an obsession. I had red marks all over my cheeks + active pimples + dry skin. I could barely cover it up with makeup, and I would literally have dreams about waking up to clear skin. I had a particularly low point where I heard a boy I liked make a joke about my skin to another friend. Later on that week, I was in the bathroom in-between classes and I looked in the mirror and just felt shocked at how bad my skin looked even with makeup on. I called my mom up sobbing and telling her that I wanted to drop out for the semester and come home.

That breakout, one year ago, is what caused me to become so OCD about my skin/face. But I did it - I pushed through. I started taking measures to clear my skin and month by month, it got better. Finally in May 2012 I was able to look in the mirror and actually see clear skin.

But it's just so odd, yet relieving, to think that so much can change in a year. I still get pimples - I'm still struggling with acne. But it's much, much better than what it was exactly one year ago. Going through that breakout showed myself how strong I can really be. That I can get through anything. And most of all, I am SO happy that I didn't drop out of school because of my acne.

I guess I just wanted to post this because I'm really proud of how I've improved, and I wanted it to show you guys that a lot can change in a year. That even in the midst of what you think your worst breakout it is....it WILL get better. And most of all, that the ones who really love you don't give a damn what your skin looks like. My closest friends and family saw my skin at its worst, and they never once made fun of me for it, or even commented negatively on it. They didn't care what I looked like, they loved me for me. And I can guarantee you, the ones that matter in your life will too.