I took a picture ID photo yesterday and was really dreading it, thinking I would look horrible. Well, quite the opposite. The photo looks flawless, no scars or hyperpigmentation, I just look healthy and glowing. I almost cried because it looks like a much better version of myself, something that I will never be able to look like again. Everyone complains that their ID photo looks terrible, but I'm complaining because mine looks unrealistically good.

Not too bad. Still got the remnants of a cyst on my right cheek and some hp on my right jawline and neck from a recent breakout. However there is nothing active and my left side is completely clear.

Hope you don`t mind acne.orgers` but I`d like to use this thread to conduct a kind of social experiment for myself. Last week at a CBT session, I had a photo taken of the right side of my face/neck. I was a little broken out at the time and the photo really freaked me out as I looked hideous. Still don`t think that I look great right now but I have cleared up a little bit and feel confident and comfortable enough to post a couple of photos I took of myself when I got home from work today. Here they are:

Snapshot_20130808.JPG right side.

Snapshot_20130807_1.JPG left side.

I`m a little bit anxious doing this as I worry what people will think of me. Just doing it as kind of test really to challenge some of the anxiety that I feel over my appearance. Hope you all go easy on me.

I don't think I can add anything else to what people have already said except that I agree with them. I think your skin really does look great!! And that's not going easy on you or just being nice or anything. That's honestly what I see.

Maybe that can ease your anxiety a little? Through this post you've physically brought peoples attention to your skin, and we all think your skin looks great! Compare that to 'real life' situations where people aren't necessarily focused on your skin - they're looking at everything else around them at once, so I personally don't think that they'd see anything 'wrong' with your skin at all and just see you overall or see your skin as nice or normal etc. I just mean to say that as much as we may feel people are analysing our skin in real life situations, I think we're just overly worried about that and it's not necessarily happening. People are too busy with everything else around them and probably thinking of themselves as well, that they don't analyse our skin like we do.

I don't know if that makes any sense.... but point is - your skin is looking really good!

 

Not too bad. Still got the remnants of a cyst on my right cheek and some hp on my right jawline and neck from a recent breakout. However there is nothing active and my left side is completely clear.

Hope you don`t mind acne.orgers` but I`d like to use this thread to conduct a kind of social experiment for myself. Last week at a CBT session, I had a photo taken of the right side of my face/neck. I was a little broken out at the time and the photo really freaked me out as I looked hideous. Still don`t think that I look great right now but I have cleared up a little bit and feel confident and comfortable enough to post a couple of photos I took of myself when I got home from work today. Here they are:

Snapshot_20130808.JPG right side.

Snapshot_20130807_1.JPG left side.

I`m a little bit anxious doing this as I worry what people will think of me. Just doing it as kind of test really to challenge some of the anxiety that I feel over my appearance. Hope you all go easy on me.

I don't think I can add anything else to what people have already said except that I agree with them. I think your skin really does look great!! And that's not going easy on you or just being nice or anything. That's honestly what I see.

Maybe that can ease your anxiety a little? Through this post you've physically brought peoples attention to your skin, and we all think your skin looks great! Compare that to 'real life' situations where people aren't necessarily focused on your skin - they're looking at everything else around them at once, so I personally don't think that they'd see anything 'wrong' with your skin at all and just see you overall or see your skin as nice or normal etc. I just mean to say that as much as we may feel people are analysing our skin in real life situations, I think we're just overly worried about that and it's not necessarily happening. People are too busy with everything else around them and probably thinking of themselves as well, that they don't analyse our skin like we do.

I don't know if that makes any sense.... but point is - your skin is looking really good!

Thanks, Lily. Doing this has helped me tremendously - far more than I expected. Can`t quite believe that some people actually think that my skin looks good but I will accept the compliments!

I totally get what you mean about how in real-life, people wouldn`t necessarily be examining my skin to the same degree that they would on here.

I`ve come across some of your posts and hope you don`t mind me saying but you seem to have some similar issues to Moonlit River in terms of how your view yourself. Also noticed that you are very rational and logical about acne when you are giving advice to others - you just need to apply some of that to yourself!

By the way, I`m a big cricket fan. Not sure if you are but as you are from Australia, just thought I`d remind you that England have won the Ashes!

All the best!

How do I feel about my acne today ?...;''List of expletives''

Wish it would just GO AWAY !!

Thanks, Lily. Doing this has helped me tremendously - far more than I expected. Can`t quite believe that some people actually think that my skin looks good but I will accept the compliments!

I totally get what you mean about how in real-life, people wouldn`t necessarily be examining my skin to the same degree that they would on here.

I`ve come across some of your posts and hope you don`t mind me saying but you seem to have some similar issues to Moonlit River in terms of how your view yourself. Also noticed that you are very rational and logical about acne when you are giving advice to others - you just need to apply some of that to yourself!

By the way, I`m a big cricket fan. Not sure if you are but as you are from Australia, just thought I`d remind you that England have won the Ashes!

All the best!

Glad to hear this little 'experiment' has helped you!

Yes, I've noticed similarities in how I think or things I've posted to some of the things Moonlit River has too.

I do feel bad giving advice to people when I find it hard to stick to that advice myself even when I think it makes sense and would help... but I'm trying! [Which reminds me of a Lewis Carroll / Alice in Wonderland quote "She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it)"™]

Hahah - I'm not exactly a cricket fan (I know, - an Australian who doesn't follow cricket?!?) but either way, you guys are just lucky this time

well,i cried and cried a lot actually!

its not just skin anymore.

i dnt know.

My skin is not a million percent perfect but it is still pretty good right now so I`m not feeling too bad.

Anyone out there who is going through a tough time, hang in there. It can and will get better!

Today was a horrible day. I woke up took a shower and just touched my face. Bumps and pain is all my face feels. When I got out I stared at myself for awhile and couldn't get over the fact that my acne has taken control of my face. I swallowed the pain and put a thin layer of makeup and avoided any mirror contact for the rest of the day. I went out shopping with my parents and saw myself in a car reflection. It hit me again so I stood indoors all day, despite how I just wanted to soak up the sun with the rest of my family. I keep thinking one day it will go away and people will only remember how bad it was. My friends think I'm being distant because I'm busy with life but they don't know that I'm scared they will just stare at my face. They all invited me to go out and I really wanted to but today I didn't feel pretty. I have been indoors for the last 8 days and can't get over how bad my skin is. I wish I had a magic eraser. I wish I could just wake up and it would be all gone. I hate having acne, I hate it. Some days I don't go to class because I'm embarrassed sometimes I wear my hat low at work because I notice people stare when I'm giving back their change. And now that's it's summer break I sleep all day and stay up all night because I'm scared of people. The looks they give and stares they do make me weak. My family is going to haunted trails, my dad asked me if I was going. Even though I wish I said no I said yes, and he said good. My dad says he's sorry because he had acne and he knows it's genetic and sometimes I blame him, but it's not his fault. It's not. I just wish I could over come this, I wish people would approach me because I'm pretty. But I know that day will come.

Thank you for letting me vent. No one ever asks me about my acne.

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

Today was a horrible day. I woke up took a shower and just touched my face. Bumps and pain is all my face feels. When I got out I stared at myself for awhile and couldn't get over the fact that my acne has taken control of my face. I swallowed the pain and put a thin layer of makeup and avoided any mirror contact for the rest of the day. I went out shopping with my parents and saw myself in a car reflection. It hit me again so I stood indoors all day, despite how I just wanted to soak up the sun with the rest of my family. I keep thinking one day it will go away and people will only remember how bad it was. My friends think I'm being distant because I'm busy with life but they don't know that I'm scared they will just stare at my face. They all invited me to go out and I really wanted to but today I didn't feel pretty. I have been indoors for the last 8 days and can't get over how bad my skin is. I wish I had a magic eraser. I wish I could just wake up and it would be all gone. I hate having acne, I hate it. Some days I don't go to class because I'm embarrassed sometimes I wear my hat low at work because I notice people stare when I'm giving back their change. And now that's it's summer break I sleep all day and stay up all night because I'm scared of people. The looks they give and stares they do make me weak. My family is going to haunted trails, my dad asked me if I was going. Even though I wish I said no I said yes, and he said good. My dad says he's sorry because he had acne and he knows it's genetic and sometimes I blame him, but it's not his fault. It's not. I just wish I could over come this, I wish people would approach me because I'm pretty. But I know that day will come.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for letting me vent. No one ever asks me about my acne.

i'll start by saying that u're lucky to have a dad like that.

i am sorry u're going through bad time now.so am i and look around so many are.am not sure if that makes u feel less alone now.

dnt miss on good things for ur acne or anything,really.because one day when the acne is gone(and i am sure it will gone for u =) ) u will miss not having done so much when u were asked.

also, a lil' (very lil') sun is good for acne and health.

so use that sunscreen(physical and spf 15-30) and soak up that sun as much as u like,

also,stressing is so so bad,i swear.i've been there - asleep all day and awake till late night.(for many and different reasons though) and it only did bad for me.

u need to take up a plan now and work on it to treat ur acne.u need to start with ur diet and lifestyle.

am sure things will get better once u take control of what u r upto.

also,u will feel better once u start controlling ur life and dnt let acne do that.

all the best and welcome here.hope u enjoy ur time here.

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

aww.

am so so sorry hun.

i can understand u and i know its so unbearable at time.

i am assuming its ur skin thats making it so difficult for u.

so i say dnt stress.i know its so difficult but still u gotta do it.for urself and ur skin.

so pls!

u can talk it out here or with ur frnd or someone!

good luck.

I hate those scars on my right cheek and forehead

 

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

aww.

am so so sorry hun.

i can understand u and i know its so unbearable at time.

i am assuming its ur skin thats making it so difficult for u.

so i say dnt stress.i know its so difficult but still u gotta do it.for urself and ur skin.

so pls!

u can talk it out here or with ur frnd or someone!

good luck.

Thanks aanabill - sounds like you're having a tough time as well *virtual hugs*

Yeh I wish I could just not stress about it haha. It's fine if I can read or watch a film and distract myself from the reality that is my life for a bit but unfortunately that distraction never lasts long enough to do much good and it always comes flooding back as bad as before. I'm sure a lot of people on here probably get that too. Unfortunately I barely talk to my friends at all, let alone about my feelings, and I'm doing everything humanly possible to treat my skin so I guess it's just a waiting game. But i still wish it would just stop, it just feels too much right now. Thank you for your support aanabill, I really hope life improves for you soon! Keep positive (as hypocritical as that may sound)

 

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

aww.

am so so sorry hun.

i can understand u and i know its so unbearable at time.

i am assuming its ur skin thats making it so difficult for u.

so i say dnt stress.i know its so difficult but still u gotta do it.for urself and ur skin.

so pls!

u can talk it out here or with ur frnd or someone!

good luck.

Thanks aanabill - sounds like you're having a tough time as well *virtual hugs*

Yeh I wish I could just not stress about it haha. It's fine if I can read or watch a film and distract myself from the reality that is my life for a bit but unfortunately that distraction never lasts long enough to do much good and it always comes flooding back as bad as before. I'm sure a lot of people on here probably get that too. Unfortunately I barely talk to my friends at all, let alone about my feelings, and I'm doing everything humanly possible to treat my skin so I guess it's just a waiting game. But i still wish it would just stop, it just feels too much right now. Thank you for your support aanabill, I really hope life improves for you soon! Keep positive (as hypocritical as that may sound)

the friend thing is my story btw!

i've found one thing that could keep us busy btw!

Happiness is the best remedy. This week I will try not to think about stressful deadlines and work, and will just try to have fun with one of my best friends who is coming to visit from Europe.

My insomnia is getting worse, and I don't even drink caffeine. I feel tired during the day because I hardly sleep at night.

 

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

aww.

am so so sorry hun.

i can understand u and i know its so unbearable at time.

i am assuming its ur skin thats making it so difficult for u.

so i say dnt stress.i know its so difficult but still u gotta do it.for urself and ur skin.

so pls!

u can talk it out here or with ur frnd or someone!

good luck.

Thanks aanabill - sounds like you're having a tough time as well *virtual hugs*

Yeh I wish I could just not stress about it haha. It's fine if I can read or watch a film and distract myself from the reality that is my life for a bit but unfortunately that distraction never lasts long enough to do much good and it always comes flooding back as bad as before. I'm sure a lot of people on here probably get that too. Unfortunately I barely talk to my friends at all, let alone about my feelings, and I'm doing everything humanly possible to treat my skin so I guess it's just a waiting game. But i still wish it would just stop, it just feels too much right now. Thank you for your support aanabill, I really hope life improves for you soon! Keep positive (as hypocritical as that may sound)

the friend thing is my story btw!

i've found one thing that could keep us busy btw!

Oh yeh...?

Happiness is the best remedy. This week I will try not to think about stressful deadlines and work, and will just try to have fun with one of my best friends who is coming to visit from Europe.

My insomnia is getting worse, and I don't even drink caffeine. I feel tired during the day because I hardly sleep at night.

 

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

aww.

am so so sorry hun.

i can understand u and i know its so unbearable at time.

i am assuming its ur skin thats making it so difficult for u.

so i say dnt stress.i know its so difficult but still u gotta do it.for urself and ur skin.

so pls!

u can talk it out here or with ur frnd or someone!

good luck.

Thanks aanabill - sounds like you're having a tough time as well *virtual hugs*

Yeh I wish I could just not stress about it haha. It's fine if I can read or watch a film and distract myself from the reality that is my life for a bit but unfortunately that distraction never lasts long enough to do much good and it always comes flooding back as bad as before. I'm sure a lot of people on here probably get that too. Unfortunately I barely talk to my friends at all, let alone about my feelings, and I'm doing everything humanly possible to treat my skin so I guess it's just a waiting game. But i still wish it would just stop, it just feels too much right now. Thank you for your support aanabill, I really hope life improves for you soon! Keep positive (as hypocritical as that may sound)

the friend thing is my story btw!

i've found one thing that could keep us busy btw!

Oh yeh...?

let me know your email id or something so that i can reach you in someway.

iam strugglin with acne long time and i had tons of huge pimples but for first time ever i have a cyst on chin! its totally deppresing me... iam so scared that cystic acne will start which i never had. so afraid

 

Urgh I just want it to stop... someone PLEASE make it stop!

aww.

am so so sorry hun.

i can understand u and i know its so unbearable at time.

i am assuming its ur skin thats making it so difficult for u.

so i say dnt stress.i know its so difficult but still u gotta do it.for urself and ur skin.

so pls!

u can talk it out here or with ur frnd or someone!

good luck.

Thanks aanabill - sounds like you're having a tough time as well *virtual hugs*

Yeh I wish I could just not stress about it haha. It's fine if I can read or watch a film and distract myself from the reality that is my life for a bit but unfortunately that distraction never lasts long enough to do much good and it always comes flooding back as bad as before. I'm sure a lot of people on here probably get that too. Unfortunately I barely talk to my friends at all, let alone about my feelings, and I'm doing everything humanly possible to treat my skin so I guess it's just a waiting game. But i still wish it would just stop, it just feels too much right now. Thank you for your support aanabill, I really hope life improves for you soon! Keep positive (as hypocritical as that may sound)

the friend thing is my story btw!

i've found one thing that could keep us busy btw!

Oh yeh...?

let me know your email id or something so that i can reach you in someway.

Are you able to private message me on here?

the moment you realize how much acne has actually affected your life, its one of the worst feelings ever.

 

 

Not too bad. Still got the remnants of a cyst on my right cheek and some hp on my right jawline and neck from a recent breakout. However there is nothing active and my left side is completely clear.

Hope you don`t mind acne.orgers` but I`d like to use this thread to conduct a kind of social experiment for myself. Last week at a CBT session, I had a photo taken of the right side of my face/neck. I was a little broken out at the time and the photo really freaked me out as I looked hideous. Still don`t think that I look great right now but I have cleared up a little bit and feel confident and comfortable enough to post a couple of photos I took of myself when I got home from work today. Here they are:

Snapshot_20130808.JPG right side.

Snapshot_20130807_1.JPG left side.

I`m a little bit anxious doing this as I worry what people will think of me. Just doing it as kind of test really to challenge some of the anxiety that I feel over my appearance. Hope you all go easy on me.

I don't think I can add anything else to what people have already said except that I agree with them. I think your skin really does look great!! And that's not going easy on you or just being nice or anything. That's honestly what I see.

Maybe that can ease your anxiety a little? Through this post you've physically brought peoples attention to your skin, and we all think your skin looks great! Compare that to 'real life' situations where people aren't necessarily focused on your skin - they're looking at everything else around them at once, so I personally don't think that they'd see anything 'wrong' with your skin at all and just see you overall or see your skin as nice or normal etc. I just mean to say that as much as we may feel people are analysing our skin in real life situations, I think we're just overly worried about that and it's not necessarily happening. People are too busy with everything else around them and probably thinking of themselves as well, that they don't analyse our skin like we do.

I don't know if that makes any sense.... but point is - your skin is looking really good!

Thanks, Lily. Doing this has helped me tremendously - far more than I expected. Can`t quite believe that some people actually think that my skin looks good but I will accept the compliments!

I totally get what you mean about how in real-life, people wouldn`t necessarily be examining my skin to the same degree that they would on here.

I`ve come across some of your posts and hope you don`t mind me saying but you seem to have some similar issues to Moonlit River in terms of how your view yourself. Also noticed that you are very rational and logical about acne when you are giving advice to others - you just need to apply some of that to yourself!

By the way, I`m a big cricket fan. Not sure if you are but as you are from Australia, just thought I`d remind you that England have won the Ashes!

All the best!

Your skin really does look fantastic! <3

 

Not too bad. Still got the remnants of a cyst on my right cheek and some hp on my right jawline and neck from a recent breakout. However there is nothing active and my left side is completely clear.

Hope you don`t mind acne.orgers` but I`d like to use this thread to conduct a kind of social experiment for myself. Last week at a CBT session, I had a photo taken of the right side of my face/neck. I was a little broken out at the time and the photo really freaked me out as I looked hideous. Still don`t think that I look great right now but I have cleared up a little bit and feel confident and comfortable enough to post a couple of photos I took of myself when I got home from work today. Here they are:

Snapshot_20130808.JPG right side.

Snapshot_20130807_1.JPG left side.

I`m a little bit anxious doing this as I worry what people will think of me. Just doing it as kind of test really to challenge some of the anxiety that I feel over my appearance. Hope you all go easy on me.

I don't think I can add anything else to what people have already said except that I agree with them. I think your skin really does look great!! And that's not going easy on you or just being nice or anything. That's honestly what I see.

Maybe that can ease your anxiety a little? Through this post you've physically brought peoples attention to your skin, and we all think your skin looks great! Compare that to 'real life' situations where people aren't necessarily focused on your skin - they're looking at everything else around them at once, so I personally don't think that they'd see anything 'wrong' with your skin at all and just see you overall or see your skin as nice or normal etc. I just mean to say that as much as we may feel people are analysing our skin in real life situations, I think we're just overly worried about that and it's not necessarily happening. People are too busy with everything else around them and probably thinking of themselves as well, that they don't analyse our skin like we do.

I don't know if that makes any sense.... but point is - your skin is looking really good!

Thanks, Lily. Doing this has helped me tremendously - far more than I expected. Can`t quite believe that some people actually think that my skin looks good but I will accept the compliments!

I totally get what you mean about how in real-life, people wouldn`t necessarily be examining my skin to the same degree that they would on here.

I`ve come across some of your posts and hope you don`t mind me saying but you seem to have some similar issues to Moonlit River in terms of how your view yourself. Also noticed that you are very rational and logical about acne when you are giving advice to others - you just need to apply some of that to yourself!

By the way, I`m a big cricket fan. Not sure if you are but as you are from Australia, just thought I`d remind you that England have won the Ashes!

All the best!

Your skin really does look fantastic! <3

Thank you Savy.

Would be cool if you guys didn't make such huge quotes, a bit annoying to scroll through :/

Tomorrow i have my summer internship presentation where i would have to present my Power point presentation in an auditorium full of students and teachers.And i have this mighty zit on my nose which makes me look like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.Why does it always happens with me?

I was looking through my amcas today, and I'm so unhappy with it. I'm just generally the type of person that's always unhappy with myself when I'm competing against others. If it's not about my skin, it's about something more serious, like my personality, my intelligence. Applications make things worse; I know when those rejections roll in, it is going to hurt like f**k. It's going to take a real toll on my confidence if I don't get into at least one of my top choices. But, honestly, I feel like I'm not a strong applicant. I have a good GPA and a good MCAT score. I have a good distribution of extra-cirriculars and wonderful reasons for choosing medicine. But, I still feel like I'm not a strong applicant. I feel like I'm socially awkward at times. I'm a bit boring, too. I need to find a way of being happy with myself even through applications...

My skin is okay I suppose. It seems a bit dry lately, actually. I've been using the hydralight toner by paula's choice; maybe it's that? The first few times I used it, it made my skin really soft and glowy, so I don't know.

Soooooo very lost... I don't think I even know who I am anymore; it's like I'm just living in some kind of limbo and trying constantly to break free. I guess that's what happens when you cut yourself off from the rest of the world and live like a hermit most of the time. But it has to get better someday... Right?