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Feeling pretty darn low about my skin at the moment. Got some important days coming up and it turns out makeup isn't covering it at all. The spots aren't bad in severity, but they're really, really red and distributed in such a way as no part of my face is clear. I've tried to over treat which has made everything look about 10x worse. I tried taking some pictures for a makeup review and I honestly didn't realize how horrific things are looking. Normally I wouldn't give a stuff about things I can't change in my appearance but I'm going to be in situations fairly soon where people will be scrutinizing me very closely. I don't know if it's the stress of some other stuff that's going on or what but this is the first time I've cried about my skin in months.
Probably the best thing you can do now is moisturize and let heal. I'm assuming by "overtreating," you mean you put too many drying agents on your spots? Use some things that you know decrease the redness-- like a retinoid (if you have one), AHA, or aloe vera. If the people you're going to be around scrutinize your skin, just tell them it's not usually like this and it's because you're stressed. They'll take that as an answer and probably think of your skin in a different way-- they'll know it's just temporary and think you have nice skin otherwise. I doubt you look horrific! You're lovely! I hope your stress goes away soon!
Feeling pretty darn low about my skin at the moment. Got some important days coming up and it turns out makeup isn't covering it at all. The spots aren't bad in severity, but they're really, really red and distributed in such a way as no part of my face is clear. I've tried to over treat which has made everything look about 10x worse. I tried taking some pictures for a makeup review and I honestly didn't realize how horrific things are looking. Normally I wouldn't give a stuff about things I can't change in my appearance but I'm going to be in situations fairly soon where people will be scrutinizing me very closely. I don't know if it's the stress of some other stuff that's going on or what but this is the first time I've cried about my skin in months.
Probably the best thing you can do now is moisturize and let heal. I'm assuming by "overtreating," you mean you put too many drying agents on your spots? Use some things that you know decrease the redness-- like a retinoid (if you have one), AHA, or aloe vera. If the people you're going to be around scrutinize your skin, just tell them it's not usually like this and it's because you're stressed. They'll take that as an answer and probably think of your skin in a different way-- they'll know it's just temporary and think you have nice skin otherwise. I doubt you look horrific! You're lovely! I hope your stress goes away soon!
Thanks for the advice, I agree. I do: and some over exfoliation too. I've used some AHA, honey and cold spoons out of the freezer to try and calm it down a bit. I'll try saying that if I notice any funny looks: I'm really hoping it's almost gone by the time my interview comes around. Thankyou so much for the support and advice - I hope my old friend that I'm meeting tomorrow thinks so too! Thanks, there should be lots less stress tomorrow, when all my essays will be handed in and I can have a few days to just enjoy Christmas.
Having a rough week skin-wise. This is actually the first time in ages since starting the Regimen that I've had a breakout of this magnitude. They're popping up in weird places too like right beside my nose, above my nose, and other areas where I don't usually get acne. Not really understanding what's going on here either since the Regimen has kept me clear for almost 7 months now...(though these weird areas don't get much BP, so I'm starting to apply it extra around these areas of my face now)
Thinking back though it seems like December/early January is always a rough time for me skin-wise, I get some of my most major breakouts during this window of time
been clear for months, i almost fucking died because of this shit and now i am clear what the fuck.
I'm so happy for you!! I'm sorry acne was so hard on you, but I'm glad you have the relief you've been looking for through clear skin. 
Having a rough week skin-wise. This is actually the first time in ages since starting the Regimen that I've had a breakout of this magnitude. They're popping up in weird places too like right beside my nose, above my nose, and other areas where I don't usually get acne. Not really understanding what's going on here either since the Regimen has kept me clear for almost 7 months now...(though these weird areas don't get much BP, so I'm starting to apply it extra around these areas of my face now)
Thinking back though it seems like December/early January is always a rough time for me skin-wise, I get some of my most major breakouts during this window of time
Hopefully it's just a weird seasonal phase and it all sorts itself out soon! Good idea to apply a bit more BP to those 'weird' areas. Just keep doing what you're doing because it obviously works! Don't over-do any treatment as to irritate your skin even further, and you should be fine.
This morning I woke up with no major facial concerns, nothing apparent wrong with me.
Tonight, I'm going to bed with both sides of my mouth inflamed, red, itchy, and looking f*cking awful.
HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS?! How is my skin this fucking intolerant and weak to I don't even know what!!? I've done nothing today that could have possibly triggered this.
Now I'm going to look f*cking vile for Christmas. I really can't take this anymore.
Saw my dad for the first time since starting college in August, and he says this is the worst my skin has ever been. I didn't think it was that bad
Your dad might just be worrying about your health and wanting you to move back home and using your acne as a way to get you to come back?
This morning I woke up with no major facial concerns, nothing apparent wrong with me.
Tonight, I'm going to bed with both sides of my mouth inflamed, red, itchy, and looking f*cking awful.
HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS?! How is my skin this fucking intolerant and weak to I don't even know what!!? I've done nothing today that could have possibly triggered this.
Now I'm going to look f*cking vile for Christmas. I really can't take this anymore.
It's probably just the cold if it's near your mouth. Do you fingers and toes ever feel cold for no reason at all? I Have Reynauds disease which causes my skin to split, flake and bleed sometimes.
My acne isn't look bad today. It's all lovely, flat hyperpigmentation now, which I can definitely work with for all the party pictures coming up. Now I'm just waiting for the monthly curse to come along and mess things up 
Saw my dad for the first time since starting college in August, and he says this is the worst my skin has ever been. I didn't think it was that bad
Your dad might just be worrying about your health and wanting you to move back home and using your acne as a way to get you to come back?
>This morning I woke up with no major facial concerns, nothing apparent wrong with me.
Tonight, I'm going to bed with both sides of my mouth inflamed, red, itchy, and looking f*cking awful.
HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS?! How is my skin this fucking intolerant and weak to I don't even know what!!? I've done nothing today that could have possibly triggered this.
Now I'm going to look f*cking vile for Christmas. I really can't take this anymore.
It's probably just the cold if it's near your mouth. Do you fingers and toes ever feel cold for no reason at all? I Have Reynauds disease which causes my skin to split, flake and bleed sometimes.
My acne isn't look bad today. It's all lovely, flat hyperpigmentation now, which I can definitely work with for all the party pictures coming up. Now I'm just waiting for the monthly curse to come along and mess things up
Nope, it's not that. It's definitely perioral dermatitis.
Back to feeling rather upset and down about my skin.
It's been breaking out a lot lately. Even though i haven't been completely clear on the regimen, it did have things pretty close and under control with only a couple of small actives either on my jaw or chin - that was using 2 pumps just at night. I haven't changed anything but now.my skin is going crazy and i don't know why!
I thought your skin didn't get used to BP in that way. I don't want this to be the sort of thing where i have to keep increasing the dosage for it to do something / work
I'm so sick of all this. Don't know what else to do about it. I don't want to take accutane. I think i'll have to go back to looking into BCP and spiro etc.and hopefully nothing bad happens in terms of side effects.
Also thinking about retin-a (not sure if its effective against all acne severities) and diet again.
It's also annoying to be breaking out again around Christmas - where I'll be seeing people and.photos will be taken etc
i know my skin isn't the most important thing
I'm trying not to think about it but tonight just hasn't been great
hoping tomorrow will be better!
Complete despair. There doesn't seem any point in me even posting on acne.org anymore. I am never going to be able to treat my acne. I am never going to be able to get clear skin. And the worst part is that it's not even my own fault. Why does the world have to be so cruel?!
Complete despair. There doesn't seem any point in me even posting on acne.org anymore. I am never going to be able to treat my acne. I am never going to be able to get clear skin. And the worst part is that it's not even my own fault. Why does the world have to be so cruel?!
I feel exactly the same about everything you've said here. I've never felt so down in my life. I'm about ready to give up on everything. It's a fucking cruel, unfair world out there.
Complete despair. There doesn't seem any point in me even posting on acne.org anymore. I am never going to be able to treat my acne. I am never going to be able to get clear skin. And the worst part is that it's not even my own fault. Why does the world have to be so cruel?!
Sending many virtual hugs. I am sorry that you are feeling bad at the moment.
Is it possible to take a step back and look at where you are right now with your skin versus where you were say 4 months ago? Is there an improvement in the state of it from then to now? I know that when I was suffering with severe depression over my skin, I tended to only see the bad in it, without seeing how much it had improved from the worst days. What is it about your skin right now that's making you feel terrible?
When I finally got clear I actually felt worse about myself for a long while because the pih I had looked worse than the broken-out skin. But after a while, once it had faded a bit (which it did on its own for the first little bit... it was too sensitive to use peels on) I felt enormously better.
I think I can relate to you as we both seem to struggle with a disposition towards depression and with it/because of it... negative thinking. I'm just assuming here, so tell me if I'm way off the mark, but do you think you're kind of spiralling downward with negative thoughts? No doubt you've heard this before. Having been where you are right now I thought I'd share what I think I've learnt in an effort to help you a little.
Complete despair. There doesn't seem any point in me even posting on acne.org anymore. I am never going to be able to treat my acne. I am never going to be able to get clear skin. And the worst part is that it's not even my own fault. Why does the world have to be so cruel?!
Sending many virtual hugs. I am sorry that you are feeling bad at the moment.
Is it possible to take a step back and look at where you are right now with your skin versus where you were say 4 months ago? Is there an improvement in the state of it from then to now? I know that when I was suffering with severe depression over my skin, I tended to only see the bad in it, without seeing how much it had improved from the worst days. What is it about your skin right now that's making you feel terrible?
When I finally got clear I actually felt worse about myself for a long while because the pih I had looked worse than the broken-out skin. But after a while, once it had faded a bit (which it did on its own for the first little bit... it was too sensitive to use peels on) I felt enormously better.
I think I can relate to you as we both seem to struggle with a disposition towards depression and with it/because of it... negative thinking. I'm just assuming here, so tell me if I'm way off the mark, but do you think you're kind of spiralling downward with negative thoughts? No doubt you've heard this before. Having been where you are right now I thought I'd share what I think I've learnt in an effort to help you a little.
Aw thank you Kalinka, I'm touched that you took the time to respond to my negative rant! My skin is better than it was 4 months ago. Definitely. Although it still looks like I have a lot more acne than I actually do because of all the horrible hyperpigmentation. The most frustrating thing is that I'm still breaking out after 6 months on antibiotics, Dianette and Epiduo. Like last week I had a massive cyst on my forehead and the week before a load of whiteheads on my chin. In comparison to before, it's nothing, but I just feel like if the treatment isn't working by now then it's never going to work and there's no chance of my dermatologist prescribing isotretinoin because I'm still only halfway up the waiting list for CBT and counselling. I'm always spiralling downwards with negative thoughts. Story of my life! Think it's possibly worse at the moment because I'm in the process of changing antidepressants. Had to taper down off a really high dose of one then have 4 days off everything and after 8 months of being on them it's really messing with my head. Thank you for your kind words and support. I appreciate it so much! How is your skin doing at the moment?
Having depression does not and should not preclude you from being prescribed Accutane. I have had extreme depression in the past relating to my skin and I am currently on my third course of Accutane. It just takes the right derm and/or you to be persuasive. I was initially extremely depressed as I had bad acne when I was prescribed my first course of Accutane nearly 12 years ago now. I had no problems with depression at all whilst on the course, in fact I was happy as I knew it was going to work. I had a second course shortly afterwards as my acne returned.
I recently went back to a dermatologist after spending more than 10 years still treating my acne (mainly with Dan's regimen). During this time I have struggled with severe depression and anxiety on and off in relation to my acne. My derm first prescribed me epiduo but I wasn't happy with the results so enquired about going on Accutane again (low dose this time). He initially said no due to my history of depression, but I persuaded him by truthfully saying that I had tolerated it extremely well the first 2 times I took it. I have just had a 2 month follow up appointment and he asked me how my anxiety about my skin was being on Accutane, and I answered truthfully that it is reduced as I believe it's the most effective thing for my skin. I have had no negative consequences in my mood due to taking Accutane and he's happy for me to be on it. I believe the link between Accutane and depression/suicide is tenuous at best. After all, the majority of people who are prescribed Accutane have moderately severe or severe acne, which is itself a known cause of depression. Often taking Accutane and clearing acne up results in a more positive mood for the person as the acne is cleared.
Good luck and don't give up if you really want/think you need tane.
P.S. Another thing I did to persuade my doctor was take my partner into my appointment and told my doctor that she would monitor my moods, and if Accutane was having any negative effects on me, that she had my permission to contact the derm straight away and inform him. You could try something similar if you have a partner/parent that is willing to help you. That way you and the derm both have a safety net if you do suffer any ill effects. I also asked my psych about it before I saw my derm and he did not have a problem with me taking it which I also informed my derm.
Again good luck.
Complete despair. There doesn't seem any point in me even posting on acne.org anymore. I am never going to be able to treat my acne. I am never going to be able to get clear skin. And the worst part is that it's not even my own fault. Why does the world have to be so cruel?!
Sending many virtual hugs. I am sorry that you are feeling bad at the moment.
Is it possible to take a step back and look at where you are right now with your skin versus where you were say 4 months ago? Is there an improvement in the state of it from then to now? I know that when I was suffering with severe depression over my skin, I tended to only see the bad in it, without seeing how much it had improved from the worst days. What is it about your skin right now that's making you feel terrible?
When I finally got clear I actually felt worse about myself for a long while because the pih I had looked worse than the broken-out skin. But after a while, once it had faded a bit (which it did on its own for the first little bit... it was too sensitive to use peels on) I felt enormously better.
I think I can relate to you as we both seem to struggle with a disposition towards depression and with it/because of it... negative thinking. I'm just assuming here, so tell me if I'm way off the mark, but do you think you're kind of spiralling downward with negative thoughts? No doubt you've heard this before. Having been where you are right now I thought I'd share what I think I've learnt in an effort to help you a little.
Aw thank you Kalinka, I'm touched that you took the time to respond to my negative rant! My skin is better than it was 4 months ago. Definitely. Although it still looks like I have a lot more acne than I actually do because of all the horrible hyperpigmentation. The most frustrating thing is that I'm still breaking out after 6 months on antibiotics, Dianette and Epiduo. Like last week I had a massive cyst on my forehead and the week before a load of whiteheads on my chin. In comparison to before, it's nothing, but I just feel like if the treatment isn't working by now then it's never going to work and there's no chance of my dermatologist prescribing isotretinoin because I'm still only halfway up the waiting list for CBT and counselling.
Complete despair. There doesn't seem any point in me even posting on acne.org anymore. I am never going to be able to treat my acne. I am never going to be able to get clear skin. And the worst part is that it's not even my own fault. Why does the world have to be so cruel?!
Sending many virtual hugs. I am sorry that you are feeling bad at the moment.
Is it possible to take a step back and look at where you are right now with your skin versus where you were say 4 months ago? Is there an improvement in the state of it from then to now? I know that when I was suffering with severe depression over my skin, I tended to only see the bad in it, without seeing how much it had improved from the worst days. What is it about your skin right now that's making you feel terrible?
When I finally got clear I actually felt worse about myself for a long while because the pih I had looked worse than the broken-out skin. But after a while, once it had faded a bit (which it did on its own for the first little bit... it was too sensitive to use peels on) I felt enormously better.
I think I can relate to you as we both seem to struggle with a disposition towards depression and with it/because of it... negative thinking. I'm just assuming here, so tell me if I'm way off the mark, but do you think you're kind of spiralling downward with negative thoughts? No doubt you've heard this before. Having been where you are right now I thought I'd share what I think I've learnt in an effort to help you a little.
Aw thank you Kalinka, I'm touched that you took the time to respond to my negative rant! My skin is better than it was 4 months ago. Definitely. Although it still looks like I have a lot more acne than I actually do because of all the horrible hyperpigmentation. The most frustrating thing is that I'm still breaking out after 6 months on antibiotics, Dianette and Epiduo. Like last week I had a massive cyst on my forehead and the week before a load of whiteheads on my chin. In comparison to before, it's nothing, but I just feel like if the treatment isn't working by now then it's never going to work and there's no chance of my dermatologist prescribing isotretinoin because I'm still only halfway up the waiting list for CBT and counselling.
I know it's different person to person, but I have heard of people who say they started to get severe cystic acne when they started taking an antidepressant (certain kinds triggering certain people whose skin was sensitive to whatever chemical change). Could be a long shot, but maybe that was the case with your skin and you'll see a change after a few months on the new stuff?
My skin's been alright. Not totally clear but at least the spots I've had have been in easy-to-hide places like my forehead or by my ear. But! Joy of joys! A new "period pimple", very tender, very red, right in the middle of my left cheek. Here's hoping it clears itself and I don't have an issue with that area anymore (seems to be one that reappears again and again). I blame the enormous amount of chocolate I ate the other day for its expansion in size over the course of a day. I'm to find ice. Or, it snowed a lot last night, maybe I'll just go flop down outside for a bit.
I feel pretty terrible today...another xmas riddled with acne...another xmas I'll stay in doors as often as possible because of acne...ugh skin be somewhat normal for the 6th of Jan please please please
Now that I am like 100% with smooth skin. i do have some scars, but they're minors. I haven't been at this forum because I am clear. This forum helped me a lot when I had a lot of zits. I'm actually dating a vegan girl and she's into me. I have never been in a relationship and she may be the first one!