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My newest outbreak is worse than I thought, in the bathroom mirror last night before my shower I counted over 40 blemishes on my cheeks/jaw - of those, at least 15 are very active. WTF happened? Just when you think your skin is calming down, BAM! Although it's weird cos only a couple of them are raised, the rest are just a bleeding mess where I keep scratching my face, perhaps that's made it worse but I can't resist, especially when they start to feel crispy.
My wonderful supportive husband went away yesterday and will be gone for 3 weeks due to army stuff, missing him loads.
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Do you get acne when you don't get enough sleep? I went abroad and I had to wake up early and slept for like 4 hours and then the other day I was all tired, pink and feeling like its gonna result I acne and now I got acne breakout....
feeling hopeless
Lack of sleep doesn't cause acne, however a late night seems to really show in my face and make acne seem worse. That's another perk of being acne free, those who are can get away with burning the candle at both ends and still look great.
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Morning is the worst for me. After my morning shave I look dreadful. It makes existing blemishes and acne look even redder and inflamed and somehow enhances HP.
As for me today, I have decided to avoid all mirrors for the sake of my sanity. I took a photo of myself earlier with the camera on my laptop and I didn`t look too bad. If that is how people actually see me then maybe I don`t look so bad after all.Will make a note of this so that I can discuss it at my next CBT session.
It may have already been done but maybe we should start (for want of a better phrase) some sort of mirror fasting exercise to see how long we can go without looking in a mirror. Lately, looking in the mirror seems to be seriously fucking up my perception of myself and judging by some of the posts on this thread recently, other people are going through similar experiences.
I'm getting to the point where I not only have better skin than I used to, but better skin than a lot of people I see. All that pampering, argan oil, regimen and AHA's are finally really paying off! Most of my forehead hyperpigmentation is fading now. I still have some noticeable ones on my cheeks but they are indeed fading too. My chin scars are the worst, but I'm hoping by a year from now they won't even be visible.
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Morning is the worst for me. After my morning shave I look dreadful. It makes existing blemishes and acne look even redder and inflamed and somehow enhances HP.
As for me today, I have decided to avoid all mirrors for the sake of my sanity. I took a photo of myself earlier with the camera on my laptop and I didn`t look too bad. If that is how people actually see me then maybe I don`t look so bad after all.Will make a note of this so that I can discuss it at my next CBT session.
It may have already been done but maybe we should start (for want of a better phrase) some sort of mirror fasting exercise to see how long we can go without looking in a mirror. Lately, looking in the mirror seems to be seriously fucking up my perception of myself and judging by some of the posts on this thread recently, other people are going through similar experiences.
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Morning is the worst for me. After my morning shave I look dreadful. It makes existing blemishes and acne look even redder and inflamed and somehow enhances HP.
As for me today, I have decided to avoid all mirrors for the sake of my sanity. I took a photo of myself earlier with the camera on my laptop and I didn`t look too bad. If that is how people actually see me then maybe I don`t look so bad after all.Will make a note of this so that I can discuss it at my next CBT session.
It may have already been done but maybe we should start (for want of a better phrase) some sort of mirror fasting exercise to see how long we can go without looking in a mirror. Lately, looking in the mirror seems to be seriously fucking up my perception of myself and judging by some of the posts on this thread recently, other people are going through similar experiences.
The mirror fasting thing is a double-edged sword, though. I tried it when my acne was at its worst and it honestly just makes you lose a realistic perception of yourself over time. I had to readjust to looking in the mirror after avoiding my reflection for a while. I do think that you're on to something about other people's perception of us. People really don't overanalyze skin as much as we do. We just freak out about our faces and bodies way more because it's our permanent home. I'd like to believe that things look a million times worse to us. In my view, if you're on a regimen from a dermatologist or if you're doing something to treat your acne, you're on the right path. The rest is up to time and patience. As many mixed reviews as prescription medicines get on this site, it's undeniable that they make a positive difference over time. Make your routine a religion and go about your day. Physically, things will get better and better. Mentally, we must learn to cope and listen to what others are telling us.
face still looks like sh*t. some gay guy working the jack in the box drive thru was being all flirty with me, feels good i guess.
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Yeah, I agree, morning can sometimes be the worst. Probably because every time I get up I'm inspecting my face for new blemishes, etc. And right after you wash and touch your face, your skin looks redder/worse than it actually is.
I am feeling better today. My skin is really doing better than it has in the past and any zits I get are really small and gone within a day or so. I made the mistake of picking at a blackhead today....so dumb. Now it's red and scratched and going to scab over. Lesson learned, yet again, I suppose. I don't know why I think picking with my nails is ever going to help my skin. I just need to learn to keep my hands off, cause if I hadn't picked, my skin would be looking incredibly clear right now.
I don't feel pretty. Haven't updated my pictures on Facebook since last January, because I just don't feel like publishing the photoshoped ones - people are not fooled so easily and can tell the difference anyway. It's not like I'm totally addicted to Facebook or any other social media, but it's nice to see my friends sharing pictures and I would gladly update them with some new of mine. Most of my friends and family live in another country, we don't meet often, so it would be cool to share something with them...
But it's so unbearable to look at this face. How did this happen, why did I let it become so bad? When I look back, I never had some strict regimen, just doing a bit of this, a bit of that. So I'm myself to blame for all these scars.
It's so depressing to always cover my face when someone wants to take a picture of me or shout "NOT SO CLOSE!!!" when the cam is closer than 2 meters away. Or in daylight. Or anywhere.
Sorry you're feeling so bad today. Please don't ever feel that your acne or scars are your fault, you are gorgeous and you have been doing everything you can to help yourself. Unfortunately when it comes to acne, it seems if it wants to find a way to be there, it will be there. Sometimes it feels like there's no cure, and it's so frustrating when you're doing all the right things. I learnt this the hard way, relapsed after Accutane although at least my skin is a lot better than pre-Accutane.
I confess, I have been photoshopping some of my close up Facebook pics, it's addictive when you see what you'd look like without all the lumps and bumps. Plus I've been so badly bullied over my acne, I would not want my school friends (or anyone) to know that I still have it. Feel like I am a bit deceiving but then it seems everyone's photos on there are at least Instagramed, so who knows what else others do to theirs?
I can sympathize lol. I use instagram on my pictures and go to a spot where lighting makes my acne doesn't look as bad.
Somehow I feel guilty of doing this.
On topic: My acne is drying up. My bud asked me if I could go camping with him and friends. I would love to go, but I fear I might breakout from not taking a shower for 2 whole days or something.
I never photoshop pictures, and yet I don't know why my skin looks good and healthy in photos. It's almost as if I have no acne, no redness, no scars...my makeup can't be that good, especially since I switched to a cheaper non-professional brand. I stopped posting photos on social networking sites too, but my friends post some with me in them and my skin always looks good, and they post them right away so I know they don't photoshop.I hate this illusion. Yesterday I went to CVS to get ID photos taken and I was prepared for the worst, but when they came out I looked 15 and chubby, and that made me happy because it's better than what I actually look like.
Why? Why us? Why me? I'm tired of this. So fucking tired of this never-ending cycle. I die inside daily.
On 6/7/2013 at 12:53 PM, Perseverance92 said:On 6/7/2013 at 5:37 AM, TheSavyBanana said:On 6/7/2013 at 3:26 AM, Perseverance92 said:On 6/7/2013 at 2:50 AM, TheSavyBanana said:The past two days have been really crappy. I passed out yesterday during a physical for a job, yes a JOB, because the Spiro made my blood pressure drop way too low. Now the doctor doing my physical doesn't want to okay me to work, and my personal doctor is making me stop the Spiro. Ugh, hello oily skin and acne, and goodbye joY
It's great that American kids start working so young.I mean you're 17 right? And you're already applying for jobs!That makes me feel preposterous.I'm 21 this 21st June and all i do is splurge on myself with my parents' money :/...Feel proud about yourself young lady!
Thank you!! Haha, I wish I could splurge on my parents' money!
I just got a call that I still have the job, so I'm pretty happy. My job is a paid internship at the hospital near my home, and I get to work in the neonatal unit. I'm so excited!
Good luck. You rule! hehe
Thank you!
On 6/7/2013 at 7:43 PM, mrnegative said:Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Totally. In the mornings I actually have to look at my bare skin. Once I put on my makeup I can pretend...
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Morning is the worst for me. After my morning shave I look dreadful. It makes existing blemishes and acne look even redder and inflamed and somehow enhances HP.
As for me today, I have decided to avoid all mirrors for the sake of my sanity. I took a photo of myself earlier with the camera on my laptop and I didn`t look too bad. If that is how people actually see me then maybe I don`t look so bad after all.Will make a note of this so that I can discuss it at my next CBT session.
It may have already been done but maybe we should start (for want of a better phrase) some sort of mirror fasting exercise to see how long we can go without looking in a mirror. Lately, looking in the mirror seems to be seriously fucking up my perception of myself and judging by some of the posts on this thread recently, other people are going through similar experiences.
>>
Does anyone else feel like the morning is the worst? Waking up and having to do your morning routine in the mirror is usually the most discouraging part of the day for me. As the day wears on, I just go out and begin to live in a fantasy world where I pretend that people don't really notice my skin. Don't get me wrong, it's a million times better than it was about 3 months ago, but I'm just getting extremely tired of dealing with the hyperpigmentation and live in constant fear of a new breakout.
Morning is the worst for me. After my morning shave I look dreadful. It makes existing blemishes and acne look even redder and inflamed and somehow enhances HP.
As for me today, I have decided to avoid all mirrors for the sake of my sanity. I took a photo of myself earlier with the camera on my laptop and I didn`t look too bad. If that is how people actually see me then maybe I don`t look so bad after all.Will make a note of this so that I can discuss it at my next CBT session.
It may have already been done but maybe we should start (for want of a better phrase) some sort of mirror fasting exercise to see how long we can go without looking in a mirror. Lately, looking in the mirror seems to be seriously fucking up my perception of myself and judging by some of the posts on this thread recently, other people are going through similar experiences.
The mirror fasting thing is a double-edged sword, though. I tried it when my acne was at its worst and it honestly just makes you lose a realistic perception of yourself over time. I had to readjust to looking in the mirror after avoiding my reflection for a while. I do think that you're on to something about other people's perception of us. People really don't overanalyze skin as much as we do. We just freak out about our faces and bodies way more because it's our permanent home. I'd like to believe that things look a million times worse to us. In my view, if you're on a regimen from a dermatologist or if you're doing something to treat your acne, you're on the right path. The rest is up to time and patience. As many mixed reviews as prescription medicines get on this site, it's undeniable that they make a positive difference over time. Make your aa religion and go about your day. Physically, things will get better and better. Mentally, we must learn to cope and listen to what others are telling us.
You make some very valid points Mr Negative.
I think it is about striking the right balance. Repeated mirror examination (at least in my case) is very destructive and often leads to any acne/blemishes or perceived acne/blemishes being made to look worse than in actual reality. At the same time, it is just as damaging to actually avoid and be scared of looking in mirrors or seeing your reflection.
At the end of the day, whatever the severity of your acne, you just have to learn to be comfortable with and accept yourself. It is something that at present, I am a long way from doing.
I never photoshop pictures, and yet I don't know why my skin looks good and healthy in photos. It's almost as if I have no acne, no redness, no scars...my makeup can't be that good, especially since I switched to a cheaper non-professional brand. I stopped posting photos on social networking sites too, but my friends post some with me in them and my skin always looks good, and they post them right away so I know they don't photoshop.I hate this illusion. Yesterday I went to CVS to get ID photos taken and I was prepared for the worst, but when they came out I looked 15 and chubby, and that made me happy because it's better than what I actually look like.
It is strange how in photos, our skin seems to look better than it does normally. I took a photo with my laptop camera yesterday and it looks way better than what I normally see when I examine myself in the mirror.
Maybe just maybe, what we think we actually look like is totally blown out of proportion and what the camera shows us and what other people say we look like is more accurate and realistic.
Today I feel so lucky because it's my birthday night out tonight and I've woken up without a single new spot. My face also isn't a flaky mess anymore and I have only one very unnoticeable healing red mark!
I know it won't last, but as long I'm given this day acne-free, I'll be grateful.
Got an interesting thought.
I read that people with strong immune system forms worst scars. I've been taking vitamin D3 supplements for 3 months and it's then that I noticed that my scarring got worse. D3 boosts your immune system and maybe that's when it responds too strongly to any acne infection..?
Do you get acne when you don't get enough sleep? I went abroad and I had to wake up early and slept for like 4 hours and then the other day I was all tired, pink and feeling like its gonna result I acne and now I got acne breakout....
feeling hopeless
Lack of sleep doesn't cause acne, however a late night seems to really show in my face and make acne seem worse. That's another perk of being acne free, those who are can get away with burning the candle at both ends and still look great.
Yeah but I woke up at 3 and then was in a car for 10 hours... And then I got several pimples on my face cos I was so tired and then it got better that new pimples weren't creating as much as they did on the day I left.. Do u understand what I mean? Because every time I don't get enough sleep I develop it somehow. My body is all red and my hearts pumps like crazy and I pray to be in bed all day long ...
I never photoshop pictures, and yet I don't know why my skin looks good and healthy in photos. It's almost as if I have no acne, no redness, no scars...my makeup can't be that good, especially since I switched to a cheaper non-professional brand. I stopped posting photos on social networking sites too, but my friends post some with me in them and my skin always looks good, and they post them right away so I know they don't photoshop.I hate this illusion. Yesterday I went to CVS to get ID photos taken and I was prepared for the worst, but when they came out I looked 15 and chubby, and that made me happy because it's better than what I actually look like.
It is strange how in photos, our skin seems to look better than it does normally. I took a photo with my laptop camera yesterday and it looks way better than what I normally see when I examine myself in the mirror.
Maybe just maybe, what we think we actually look like is totally blown out of proportion and what the camera shows us and what other people say we look like is more accurate and realistic.
I hope that's true...we obsess about our skin more than others do, so hopefully the flaws we see are more noticeable to ourselves than to other people.
Got an interesting thought.
I read that people with strong immune system forms worst scars. I've been taking vitamin D3 supplements for 3 months and it's then that I noticed that my scarring got worse. D3 boosts your immune system and maybe that's when it responds too strongly to any acne infection..?
Where did you read that? People with weak immune systems are more likely to get acne in the first place. Vitamin C would be better for scarring, and D for active acne. I discovered that D3 supplements make my skin worse, not because of the actual vitamin in them but of the fillers and preservatives needed to make vit. D soluble in the body. Many have some type of fat added, often in the form of oils, that can cause breakouts. Also, if you are deficient in magnesium, vitamin D supplements will not get fully absorbed anyway. And I believe that Vitamin A is the one that can worsen scarring when taken in high amounts...even a doctor who once recommended accutane to me warmed me about spontaneous scarring from high doses of vitamin A, not to mention liver damage.
Two painful deep bumps right along my jaw line which are really annoying. Though it's really good that those are pretty much the only active acne I have on the right side of my face 
I have more active acne on my left side, forehead and chin. And a tonne of red marks / hyper-pigmentation all over. But I'm trying to not let it bother me. These last few days I've become so focused on my skin and it's really been getting me down. I could so easily see myself staying inside and hiding forever because of how my skin has me feeling lately. But I don't want that to happen. So I'm working on being more positive, thinking more positively, and improving self-esteem. It's difficult for me though. It's really hard to tell myself 'I'm worth it' or that 'acne doesn't define me' (and I just can't tell myself I'm pretty) etc... It's going to take a while I think for me to start to believing any of that.
But I'll keep on trying. Keep on keeping on...
If I leaned something from Acne, it's that the world is full of shit.
My fucking hate is so deep I can feel it aching in my bones. I have become dead inside, a heartless bastard with no empathy for anything unless I put my fucking mask on and pretend like every thing is nice and fucking dandy. It amazes me how looking in the god damn mirror can light the fire of my anger to the point where it feels like my gut is getting stabbed and my blood Is boiling. I can't stand all the hypocritical people who are full of fucking bullshit, my throat tigtens up as I write this shit fuck everything and everybody.
Got an interesting thought.
I read that people with strong immune system forms worst scars. I've been taking vitamin D3 supplements for 3 months and it's then that I noticed that my scarring got worse. D3 boosts your immune system and maybe that's when it responds too strongly to any acne infection..?
Where did you read that? People with weak immune systems are more likely to get acne in the first place. Vitamin C would be better for scarring, and D for active acne. I discovered that D3 supplements make my skin worse, not because of the actual vitamin in them but of the fillers and preservatives needed to make vit. D soluble in the body. Many have some type of fat added, often in the form of oils, that can cause breakouts. Also, if you are deficient in magnesium, vitamin D supplements will not get fully absorbed anyway. And I believe that Vitamin A is the one that can worsen scarring when taken in high amounts...even a doctor who once recommended accutane to me warmed me about spontaneous scarring from high doses of vitamin A, not to mention liver damage.
It was about an overly strong immune system's reaction to acne inflammation and quick scar building. So that would happen when immune system is too vigorous, which is also out of ordinary. But I don't think mine is like that after all, I have no allergies whatsoever and I'm rarely sick so my immune system seems to be normal.
It is more likely that it was vitamin A, but I didn't think the dose was too high, cause 10 000 IU was the recommended intake written on the package. :/ By the way other scars on my body got more visible as well!
Do you think the scars can get better now when I stopped taking vitamin A?
