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Feel utterly miserable with my skin, as well as totally disgusted and ashamed. Have been suffering for 20 years, wondering if there will be an end to it. Even my make up looks a mess due to unevenness of my complexion, wondering when I will be able to look in the mirror and feel happy. Thinking if the scars were removed that would be a start, although at age 31 I am still having loads of active acne plus ridiculously greasy skin
Also constantly torturing myself about my husband's potential thoughts about my skin: whether he thinks it's my fault I have this condition, whether he's thinking I am not helping myself, whether he finds my skin disgusting. Yet I can't face talking to him about the problem because I'm terrified he will say something I don't want to hear. In the past my family rejected me and made me feel unlovable due to my skin, so it really would be the end of the world if my husband did the same. Just want to cry but trying to be strong as I am staying with some friends today.
Hey there
I bet that you would be surprised at the level of support you can get from someone who loves you. I was afraid to bring up my skin to my boyfriend of 6 years and when I did, it was such a load off my mind. It's like getting rid of the elephant in the room. I hope you feel better
>I got a lot of breakouts from eating corn and bread.... they got worse overnight.
It's REALLY hard not to go back to my eating disorder when there are real consequences from enjoying food like this.
Eating disorders are far too easy to slip back into. It's happened to me quite a few times-- especially when you can rationalize the disorder with physical consequences such as acne. My obsession was also acne-based and then just generally "health" based. Little did I know that while my body was "healthy," my mind was so sick. I hope you overcome this.
Face update: Feeling...decent. While my overall skintone is "peaches and cream," it makes the red marks SO easy to see. All I want is for all of my pre-existing red marks to just fade away into nonexistence. Coconut oil is helping, though
Hi there,
Thanks for responding to my rant! I hate wallowing in self pity but acne (plus a nasty family) just all gets too much sometimes.
You are lovely looking, actually saw your photos the other day and remember thinking you cover your acne so well! Not that your skin is even bad, but with make up it seriously looks flawless! You have that lovely skin tone, mine is very olive/yellow so find it hard to find the right foundation shades for me. Plus foundation seems to settle into my large pores/minimal scars. Hate it, and it's disturbing to think that other people might be thinking I am crap at applying my make up and that I could do better. Urgh.
But yeah, it's going to be tough having the talk with my husband because if he reacts badly then it will be horrendous for me. But I'm sick and tired of there being an elephant in the room so I guess an hour or two of severe emotional pain whilst I tell him will be worth having it out in the open, plus he will understand why I act 'weird' sometimes. Like covering myself with my hair and not sitting near him during a bad outbreak. Oh, and sex with the lights off so he can't see my face! Crazy, when most people do that due to thinking they're fat - for me the thought of him looking at my bad skin is just too much but I'm totally okay with my body!
I am scared of hearing him admit whether he does notice my awful skin, and whether it bothers him. Also, whether he thinks I'm doing something to myself to have bad skin. At least he can't blame my diet though as he knows I am a fruit & veg o-holic! Hopefully like your man, he will be supportive when I tell him.
To the acne fraternity,
Had to attend my cousin's wedding so i'm in this new town where the temperature is inhumane! It was 49 degrees celsius today.I sweated a lot and it has made my skin crap again.I was really jovial all this time because of my clear skin.My happiness is never long lasting.I am just a month shy of 21,everyday i wonder when my ordeal is going to end.Everyday i go out and look around myself,i see people working under the unforgiving sun and still having perfect blemish free skin.I mean this is ridiculous! Seems nature has a grudge against me :/ . Recently, insensitive comments from my other wise sensitive parents added not only insult to injury but FIRE to my injury.I was drying my face with a towel so my mother said "Make sure it is clean,because then you'll complain about acne".AS IF I AM NOT PARTICULAR ABOUT MY CLEANLINESS! ARGHH IT gets on my nerves. When it comes to hygiene i am immaculate.
I know all i do is crib and cry about my acne.But this place is an amazing place to vent out your frustration.I feel happy when i type posts here.The people here form an adorable family of considerate members 
.The only message i have for my dear acne sufferer friends is "Hold tight,slog,be patient.We'll be through and through"
Love ya all
Eating disorders are far too easy to slip back into. It's happened to me quite a few times-- especially when you can rationalize the disorder with physical consequences such as acne. My obsession was also acne-based and then just generally "health" based. Little did I know that while my body was "healthy," my mind was so sick. I hope you overcome this.
But I'm NOT healthy. How could a healthy body not even be able to handle a little ground corn or pizza crust without getting red puss-filled sores all over the face?
Eating disorders are far too easy to slip back into. It's happened to me quite a few times-- especially when you can rationalize the disorder with physical consequences such as acne. My obsession was also acne-based and then just generally "health" based. Little did I know that while my body was "healthy," my mind was so sick. I hope you overcome this.
But I'm NOT healthy. How could a healthy body not even be able to handle a little ground corn or pizza crust without getting red puss-filled sores all over the face?
I suppose that's why I put "healthy" in quotes...but just because your body doesn't like certain foods, doesn't mean it's unhealthy. It's an allergy... someone who is allergic to peanuts isn't unhealthy. Corn is hard for us to digest...all that cellulose is hard on our bodies. Some of us have more E. coli to help us digest it better. I wish I knew the answer as to why it causes your breakouts, though. I know how frustrating it can be when you feel like you're finally clear and then it goes to crap again.
I got a clarisonic mia today! My MCAT is on Thursday; I really hope I do well. (So much more important than my acne, ya'll. I've been studying for almost a year!)
My acne is still bad but I'm not gonna mourn about it
It just kinda pisses me off that when my mom and I watched TV one day, she made a remark how this one singer would be so beautiful if it weren't for her weight problems. I didn't react at all but I was offended by that because it's like someone told me that I would be handsome if I have no acne.
Thanks for crushing my confidence mom
I got a clarisonic mia today! My MCAT is on Thursday; I really hope I do well. (So much more important than my acne, ya'll. I've been studying for almost a year!)
Good luck with your MCAT!!
A couple of my friends recently sat their GAMSAT (similar to MCAT I guess) so I've been with them through it and seen how long they'd been studying and the stress it created at times. We all went out to dinner after their exam to celebrate it being over
Hope it goes well for you!
I've been feeling horrible lately. It's really frustrating because I thought I had the regimen working perfectly but then they decide they want to come back worse than ever. Now I'm in a panic trying other stuff and nothing is working! Working in public sucks! I need a new job where I see nobody.
I'm gonna be taking Androcur together with Diane-35. It's supposed to be a bigger dose of cyproterone, a steroidal anti-androgen. Otherwise, my face is a mess now and on the top of that I got a rib bone fracture which hurts like hell whatever movement I make. Couldn't even put on my own socks this morning.
Hi there,
Thanks for responding to my rant! I hate wallowing in self pity but acne (plus a nasty family) just all gets too much sometimes.
You are lovely looking, actually saw your photos the other day and remember thinking you cover your acne so well! Not that your skin is even bad, but with make up it seriously looks flawless! You have that lovely skin tone, mine is very olive/yellow so find it hard to find the right foundation shades for me. Plus foundation seems to settle into my large pores/minimal scars. Hate it, and it's disturbing to think that other people might be thinking I am crap at applying my make up and that I could do better. Urgh.
But yeah, it's going to be tough having the talk with my husband because if he reacts badly then it will be horrendous for me. But I'm sick and tired of there being an elephant in the room so I guess an hour or two of severe emotional pain whilst I tell him will be worth having it out in the open, plus he will understand why I act 'weird' sometimes. Like covering myself with my hair and not sitting near him during a bad outbreak. Oh, and sex with the lights off so he can't see my face! Crazy, when most people do that due to thinking they're fat - for me the thought of him looking at my bad skin is just too much but I'm totally okay with my body!
I am scared of hearing him admit whether he does notice my awful skin, and whether it bothers him. Also, whether he thinks I'm doing something to myself to have bad skin. At least he can't blame my diet though as he knows I am a fruit & veg o-holic! Hopefully like your man, he will be supportive when I tell him.
I turn the lights off too if I've already washed my makeup off! It's embarrassing...especially because I'm 22 and should be all about having sex with the lights on. Oh well 
haha
Even if he does notice your skin, he probably looks right past it. It's just like noticing that someone's hair is messed up or that they have a birthmark. It doesn't change the actual person, and it's really easy to look past. At least that's how I feel when I see someone with acne. Even if I know it's there-- especially if it's on someone I love-- I literally don't even notice it after a while. Something that may make your husband notice it even more is the fact that you've never talked about it. Sometimes talking about something makes it not such a big deal and it's easier to move on and focus on other things. I hope it goes well for you!! 
Hi there,
Thanks for responding to my rant! I hate wallowing in self pity but acne (plus a nasty family) just all gets too much sometimes.
You are lovely looking, actually saw your photos the other day and remember thinking you cover your acne so well! Not that your skin is even bad, but with make up it seriously looks flawless! You have that lovely skin tone, mine is very olive/yellow so find it hard to find the right foundation shades for me. Plus foundation seems to settle into my large pores/minimal scars. Hate it, and it's disturbing to think that other people might be thinking I am crap at applying my make up and that I could do better. Urgh.
But yeah, it's going to be tough having the talk with my husband because if he reacts badly then it will be horrendous for me. But I'm sick and tired of there being an elephant in the room so I guess an hour or two of severe emotional pain whilst I tell him will be worth having it out in the open, plus he will understand why I act 'weird' sometimes. Like covering myself with my hair and not sitting near him during a bad outbreak. Oh, and sex with the lights off so he can't see my face! Crazy, when most people do that due to thinking they're fat - for me the thought of him looking at my bad skin is just too much but I'm totally okay with my body!
I am scared of hearing him admit whether he does notice my awful skin, and whether it bothers him. Also, whether he thinks I'm doing something to myself to have bad skin. At least he can't blame my diet though as he knows I am a fruit & veg o-holic! Hopefully like your man, he will be supportive when I tell him.
I turn the lights off too if I've already washed my makeup off! It's embarrassing...especially because I'm 22 and should be all about having sex with the lights on. Oh well
Even if he does notice your skin, he probably looks right past it. It's just like noticing that someone's hair is messed up or that they have a birthmark. It doesn't change the actual person, and it's really easy to look past. At least that's how I feel when I see someone with acne. Even if I know it's there-- especially if it's on someone I love-- I literally don't even notice it after a while. Something that may make your husband notice it even more is the fact that you've never talked about it. Sometimes talking about something makes it not such a big deal and it's easier to move on and focus on other things. I hope it goes well for you!!
Yes, I try to tell myself he wouldn't have married me if he was THAT bothered by my acne. The shame and humiliation when you have skin issues is just overwhelming sometimes though. Other people's past reactions to it are why I am like this - my family, 'friends', school kids, work colleagues etc would all make me feel bad for having acne, some bullied me severely. My husband is a good guy though, but the fact is no matter how nice he is lets face it - acne is never an attractive thing, also there are just so many myths out there as to what causes spots and even the most intelligent people believe these. Such as the bad diet thing - that's the one that irks me most as my diet is very clean but looking at my skin you'd think I ate at McDonalds daily and was a meth addict .
But yeah it sucks having to turn the lights off, another thing I hate is if my husband comes in the bathroom and sees me after I've just washed my face, everything tends to go really red after a shower, oh the shame!
My acne is still bad but I'm not gonna mourn about it
It just kinda pisses me off that when my mom and I watched TV one day, she made a remark how this one singer would be so beautiful if it weren't for her weight problems. I didn't react at all but I was offended by that because it's like someone told me that I would be handsome if I have no acne.
Thanks for crushing my confidence mom
Ugh. I hate when people say things like that. A beautiful person is a beautiful person, PERIOD.
I'm gonna be taking Androcur together with Diane-35. It's supposed to be a bigger dose of cyproterone, a steroidal anti-androgen. Otherwise, my face is a mess now and on the top of that I got a rib bone fracture which hurts like hell whatever movement I make. Couldn't even put on my own socks this morning.
Ouch! How did that happen? I'm sorry, I hurt my neck a while back and could barely move. Totally understand how frustrating that is. I hope you feel better quick.
I really get lost:( people around me cant understand the feeling of having acnes. I didnt go to sch and gym today.I dunno wht the hell I m doing.
I thought regime can help me to clear it, but it seems no improvement.Acnes come back again.I hate myself and I hate my acnes.I dunno what I should do.
I really have lots of stress, sch , career, social life and also my outlook.I sometimes feel the world is so bad and the reality is so evil.I cant stop my depressed and I
dunno what to do. I feel alone to face acne.It seems everyone's skin is better than mine.And I am not ugliest person is this reality. I visited the dermologist
before.What they want is money and sell the expensive products to you.Hey acne is also a kind of skin disease.Why you guys can be so realistic and can you guys
called yourself as a doctor??If I got a cold, I can get medicine to recover.But, if I got acnes,I cant get anything but the expensive products and useless antibiotic.I
just wondered what the lesson God wanna teach me.
Today I am feeling OKAY about my skin. I had to put on a bit of makeup to talk to someone I consider very important but thats okay. Also my arm and shoulder is just peeeeeeling from a combo of sunburn and accutane. Its kinda icky. No amount of moisturizer seems to help 
But still fighting the good fight!
did you read the part where she said this is a pic "after make-up"?
Most women cover our acne you wont see much in photos...the point being, it takes SO long to apply make-up and it gets really old every day.
Flaxen, there's nowt wrong your skin - give it a rest!
you can get it online, I sent you a link as I dont think you can put advertising links on the forums.
>Flaxen, my esthetician gave me samples of a make-up called oxygenetix, its formulated for post-surgical procedures like laser and microdermabrasion to cover rendess AND not to irritate skin at all. Ive tried it several times, it doesnt break me out and it covers red really well. Its made with aloe and some sort of oxygenating formula...maybe it would cut out some of the time you need to appy make up. I dont wear make-up much anymore but if I do, I wear this. Its expensive though but no more than Lancome.
@Helton - glad to hear that! I really hope it works for you
That's interesting! I looked it up and there's just one clinic you can get it from in the UK. I don't know if you can order it online, I'm going to send them an email and find out if they can send me samples. I love that they have blue based colours as well as yellow based! I tried samples of practically EVERYTHING available last year and they were all too yellow for me except the Dior. I like my Dior alot but it isn't ideal as it has oil in it. Is it very full coverage? I don't like anything too heavy as I wear it during the day and I want to cover without looking too made up so I generally go for medium coverage foundations. It sounds really good anyway, I hope I can get hold of some samples! I guess I would be first or second colour of the blue based but I think colour is so important to get right...
Thanks for the back up! And the link - unfortunately they can't ship outside the US though. Shame because it looks really good! You can get it on ebay but + shipping from the US it's twice the price of Dior! And I wouldn't be able to get samples... I did email the one clinic in the UK that supply it, maybe they will get back to me. I've been giving the saw palmetto another go and drinking lots of peppermint tea on your recommendation! I saw a thread about topical application and I found a toner with saw palmetto and mint and trying that too... and, I think maybe my skin is a bit less oily! My T zone and chin are still very oily but my cheeks aren't as bad - and that's where most of my redness scarring is so it's nice not to be blotting there so much
Question for everyone: I went to my derm and she recommended accutane as the next course of treatment but passed over birth control. She said that unless I needed to use it for contraceptive use, she doesn't feel like I should be using it for just acne. Is this even a valid point? I also copped out and did not bring up spironolactone. :\
That is not a valid point! It's actually ridiculous because if you go on accutane they will probably force you to go on birth control because of the risk of birth defects. I have a friend who is gay and she was still made to go on birth control even though she was concerned about side effects and made it very clear she never slept with men! Certain birth control pills are considered primarily treatments for acne. Not needing the contraceptive effect is not a reason not to take them. I would highly recommend trying some form of hormonal treatment before accutane as it can bring about dramatic improvements. My sister's severe cystic acne was completely cured for example. Spiro is another option to discuss. I've been there with copping out but I've learnt now to be a bit more forward! -They can't help you if they don't know what you want.
I got a lot of breakouts from eating corn and bread.... they got worse overnight.
I'm sure you know best where you skin is concerned but is there any chance the breakouts could be coincidental? - I'm just wondering if it would help your recovery to consider that. I'm really sorry to hear you're facing obstacles like this but it sounds like you're working really hard - and I know how freaking hard it is! But it does get much much easier Hang in there it's so worth it!
-----------------------
I've been doing 13 hour night shifts and there literally isn't enough time to fit in sleep and all my skincare so of course I am sacrificing sleep! (I'm only here now cos I have to wait 30 min after washing my face to put on the freakin epiduo.) It does seem a bit absurd... I'm sure my patients would prefer a doctor who was well rested to one who is meticulously made up - especially in the middle of the night; but I have this big fear that if they saw what my skin was really like they would totally lose confidence in me - that they'd think if I can't even treat my own skin how can I look after them in hospital? I actually have a recurring nightmare where a patient dies and the relatives turn on me and my skin as evidence of my incompetence. I tell myself it's stupid but is it? I guess people here wouldn't judge their doctor for having acne/scarring but there are alot of misconceptions about acne. I know my acne has nothing to do with incompetence on my part and everything to do with treatment resistance/lack of effective treatments. I have tried everything bar accutane. But other people don't know that.
I've been doing 13 hour night shifts and there literally isn't enough time to fit in sleep and all my skincare so of course I am sacrificing sleep! (I'm only here now cos I have to wait 30 min after washing my face to put on the freakin epiduo.) It does seem a bit absurd... I'm sure my patients would prefer a doctor who was well rested to one who is meticulously made up - especially in the middle of the night; but I have this big fear that if they saw what my skin was really like they would totally lose confidence in me - that they'd think if I can't even treat my own skin how can I look after them in hospital? I actually have a recurring nightmare where a patient dies and the relatives turn on me and my skin as evidence of my incompetence. I tell myself it's stupid but is it? I guess people here wouldn't judge their doctor for having acne/scarring but there are alot of misconceptions about acne. I know my acne has nothing to do with incompetence on my part and everything to do with treatment resistance/lack of effective treatments. I have tried everything bar accutane. But other people don't know that.
I think you're right in thinking your dream is 'stupid' - If such a situation were to happen (and I hope it doesn't), I'd say the only reason that a sane person would ever use your skin as 'evidence' of malpractice or incompetence would be due to their initial shock or grief of the situation of losing a loved one. Maybe looking at it in a way like that could help you deal with the nightmare. Try not to think about the dream too much anyway if you can help it - it's probably just another manifestation of stress/worry about your skin. You know your acne isn't due to incompetence, and it's unfortunate that other people who haven't dealt with acne don't understand that - like you said, there are a lot of misconceptions - but I don't think anyone would ever accuse you of anything because of you skin. I'd hope not anyway!
And I agree - It's annoying how long skin care routines can take!
Hope you get to catch up on some sleep soon
How was your friend made to take birth control? I mean, why would she actually take them if she didn't need them? No one could make her. The worst that could happen is they force her to get some and then she could just toss them out, right?
Me: I definitely don't think the breakouts are a coincidence. I've been very careful and methodical about adding foods back in and making sure everything else I do is the same so it's a controlled experiment. The breakouts I get from stress or PMS behave really different from those I get from food reactions, and unfortunately these are the food reaction kind. Oh well though. One benefit is that it's a lot less stressful when you know what caused them versus them just appearing for reasons you can't understand.
Today was a good day! I just relaxed and didn't study for the MCAT. Tomorrow's the big day!!! 8 AM, bright and early. I've been make 35's, 36's, and 37's on practice exams, which is pretty good. If I can just stay calm and I'm not hit with any headache inducing passages or really unfamiliar topics, I should do well! Fingers crossed. God help me! I really want to be a doctor, and I would like to study medicine in an environment that focuses on teaching doctors the skills we need to really be the best advocates and resources for our patients. There's so much wrong with medicine, and I would love to change and improve it. I have great ideas, and a mind with a proclivity for creative problem solving, so I think that I can, but I have to get in to medical school first.
Question for everyone: I went to my derm and she recommended accutane as the next course of treatment but passed over birth control. She said that unless I needed to use it for contraceptive use, she doesn't feel like I should be using it for just acne. Is this even a valid point? I also copped out and did not bring up spironolactone. :\
That is not a valid point! It's actually ridiculous because if you go on accutane they will probably force you to go on birth control because of the risk of birth defects. I have a friend who is gay and she was still made to go on birth control even though she was concerned about side effects and made it very clear she never slept with men! Certain birth control pills are considered primarily treatments for acne. Not needing the contraceptive effect is not a reason not to take them. I would highly recommend trying some form of hormonal treatment before accutane as it can bring about dramatic improvements. My sister's severe cystic acne was completely cured for example. Spiro is another option to discuss. I've been there with copping out but I've learnt now to be a bit more forward! -They can't help you if they don't know what you want.
That's what I thought, Flaxxen. Also, accutane seems to just have so many side effects that BC doesn't have. Another poster mentioned that maybe it's because BC pills aren't sustainable? Also, the concern my derm expressed was of BC pills making things worse, because they can do that as well. I like the spiro option and if my derm brings up accutane, because the addition of aczone and SA and clarisonic doesn't clear me, I will probably bring up spiro. I've heard that it's only prescribed for those with either PCOS or adult (over 25) acne. I'm not sure why...but that's what I've read, which is why I was hesitant to bring it up this time around. I really want worry free skin, you know? I don't want to have to stress over it. At this point, I'm only getting one to two pimples a week and they go away in 1-2 days. Not bad, right? But they're these whiteheads on my cheeks that I feel like contribute to the scars and the red marks. URGH.
My skin is starting to look old and just ewwww. I have to put on makeup to feel acceptable, which is just WRONG. I wasn't raised that way. But, I almost feel like I have no choice; if I don't wear make-up, I can't make eye contact with people, I'm introverted, and I'm crabby. If I'm just studying in the library, it's no big, because I don't give a shit what people thing then, but if there's any expectation of being social...
On 5/22/2013 at 7:15 PM, Lilly75 said:On 5/22/2013 at 11:26 AM, Flaxen said:I've been doing 13 hour night shifts and there literally isn't enough time to fit in sleep and all my skincare so of course I am sacrificing sleep! (I'm only here now cos I have to wait 30 min after washing my face to put on the freakin epiduo.) It does seem a bit absurd... I'm sure my patients would prefer a doctor who was well rested to one who is meticulously made up - especially in the middle of the night; but I have this big fear that if they saw what my skin was really like they would totally lose confidence in me - that they'd think if I can't even treat my own skin how can I look after them in hospital? I actually have a recurring nightmare where a patient dies and the relatives turn on me and my skin as evidence of my incompetence. I tell myself it's stupid but is it? I guess people here wouldn't judge their doctor for having acne/scarring but there are alot of misconceptions about acne. I know my acne has nothing to do with incompetence on my part and everything to do with treatment resistance/lack of effective treatments. I have tried everything bar accutane. But other people don't know that.
I think you're right in thinking your dream is 'stupid' - If such a situation were to happen (and I hope it doesn't), I'd say the only reason that a sane person would ever use your skin as 'evidence' of malpractice or incompetence would be due to their initial shock or grief of the situation of losing a loved one. Maybe looking at it in a way like that could help you deal with the nightmare. Try not to think about the dream too much anyway if you can help it - it's probably just another manifestation of stress/worry about your skin. You know your acne isn't due to incompetence, and it's unfortunate that other people who haven't dealt with acne don't understand that - like you said, there are a lot of misconceptions - but I don't think anyone would ever accuse you of anything because of you skin. I'd hope not anyway!
And I agree - It's annoying how long skin care routines can take!
Hope you get to catch up on some sleep soon
Thanks
On 5/22/2013 at 8:16 PM, dejaclairevoyant said:How was your friend made to take birth control? I mean, why would she actually take them if she didn't need them? No one could make her. The worst that could happen is they force her to get some and then she could just toss them out, right?
Me: I definitely don't think the breakouts are a coincidence. I've been very careful and methodical about adding foods back in and making sure everything else I do is the same so it's a controlled experiment. The breakouts I get from stress or PMS behave really different from those I get from food reactions, and unfortunately these are the food reaction kind.
In that case it does sound like your breakouts are related to the reintroduction of food... but I wonder if it could be a temporary thing? I remember when I first reintroduced dairy I felt so ill with diarrhoea and stomach pains, I thought I would never be able to eat it again. But when you stop eating dairy you stop producing the enzymes that digest it so you get a sort of temporary lactose intolerance. I persisted and I have no problem with dairy now. I wonder if your body might need to readjust to some of these foods you are starting to eat again in a similar way?
I guess you're right they couldn't force my friend to take it but they prescribed it and asked for her cooperation and she is honest to the bone... Maybe they convinced her of the benefits too, I don't know I didn't have an in depth conversation about it with her.
On 5/23/2013 at 3:03 AM, skinnie said:Today was a good day! I just relaxed and didn't study for the MCAT. Tomorrow's the big day!!! 8 AM, bright and early. I've been make 35's, 36's, and 37's on practice exams, which is pretty good. If I can just stay calm and I'm not hit with any headache inducing passages or really unfamiliar topics, I should do well! Fingers crossed. God help me! I really want to be a doctor, and I would like to study medicine in an environment that focuses on teaching doctors the skills we need to really be the best advocates and resources for our patients. There's so much wrong with medicine, and I would love to change and improve it. I have great ideas, and a mind with a proclivity for creative problem solving, so I think that I can, but I have to get in to medical school first.
On 5/22/2013 at 11:26 AM, Flaxen said:On 5/20/2013 at 1:22 AM, skinnie said:Question for everyone: I went to my derm and she recommended accutane as the next course of treatment but passed over birth control. She said that unless I needed to use it for contraceptive use, she doesn't feel like I should be using it for just acne. Is this even a valid point? I also copped out and did not bring up spironolactone. :\
That is not a valid point! It's actually ridiculous because if you go on accutane they will probably force you to go on birth control because of the risk of birth defects. I have a friend who is gay and she was still made to go on birth control even though she was concerned about side effects and made it very clear she never slept with men! Certain birth control pills are considered primarily treatments for acne. Not needing the contraceptive effect is not a reason not to take them. I would highly recommend trying some form of hormonal treatment before accutane as it can bring about dramatic improvements. My sister's severe cystic acne was completely cured for example. Spiro is another option to discuss. I've been there with copping out but I've learnt now to be a bit more forward! -They can't help you if they don't know what you want.
That's what I thought, Flaxxen. Also, accutane seems to just have so many side effects that BC doesn't have. Another poster mentioned that maybe it's because BC pills aren't sustainable? Also, the concern my derm expressed was of BC pills making things worse, because they can do that as well. I like the spiro option and if my derm brings up accutane, because the addition of aczone and SA and clarisonic doesn't clear me, I will probably bring up spiro. I've heard that it's only prescribed for those with either PCOS or adult (over 25) acne. I'm not sure why...but that's what I've read, which is why I was hesitant to bring it up this time around. I really want worry free skin, you know? I don't want to have to stress over it. At this point, I'm only getting one to two pimples a week and they go away in 1-2 days. Not bad, right? But they're these whiteheads on my cheeks that I feel like contribute to the scars and the red marks. URGH.
My skin is starting to look old and just ewwww. I have to put on makeup to feel acceptable, which is just WRONG. I wasn't raised that way. But, I almost feel like I have no choice; if I don't wear make-up, I can't make eye contact with people, I'm introverted, and I'm crabby. If I'm just studying in the library, it's no big, because I don't give a shit what people thing then, but if there's any expectation of being social...
Good luck for your exam! I'm just out the other end of medical school, it was really hard work but worth it
BC and spiro definitely have a better side effect profile than accutane so I'd say they're worth a shot first... Over here if you're female I don't think they will even consider you for accutane unless you've tried a hormonal treatment. From a "sustainability" point of view - do you mean the pills have to be stopped for pregnancy or for thromboembolic risk? If we're talking about pregnancy spiro is just as unsustainable because that would be stopped in pregnancy too. As for thromboembolic risk, it depends on your other risk factors. My GP said I could stay on it for years if I wanted to but I know some people are told to come off it after a few.
On 5/23/2013 at 3:59 AM, Gillianbb said:I just pop my pimple coz it is so painful
I just put bp n aha to heal it .Acnes !!!!!! When can u go away ??
I know it sucks. hang in there! Dan's regimen made a massive difference to my skin but if you're still suffering have you tried seeing a dr?
Edit: sorry I just read your other post - it sucks that there are no good treatments for acne, sometimes I wish I had a worse disease instead but one that could actually be cured... Accutane's the only potential cure we're offered, everything else just suppresses it... There are many bad things about accutane but I'm so sick of acne I'm ready to take the risks. I bet in the future accutane will seem totally barbaric!
