Though this article highlights some great points about how we can spin acne into a positive thing, the images that accompany it are not really fitting, seeing as how the woman barely even has a single spot. All I see is some flaky skin around her chin. Most of us on this site are suffering way worse than what is portrayed. I might be reading too far into it, but still, this is something to consider. If I looked at myself in the mirror and just saw some flaky skin around my chin, I won't be nearly as down as I am now about my face. I consider myself to have moderate acne, currently and I've been on Solodyn and Ziana for 1.5 months without any DRASTIC changes in my complexion. Now THAT is frustrating and disappointing.

Thank you Ibiza, I enjoyed the article. It made me laugh out loud to hear acne being spoken about in such a light-hearted, casual manner. The bullet points on the positive effects of acne reflect everything I've been telling myself (and others) for years, and it's never mattered how bad or good my acne has looked. Like the article says: "Just remember that it can always be worse, but more importantly, it can always get better too. You're in for a long battle. Find ways to cope with it."

I agree, the pics were a little minor, but perhaps the point of the article is that no matter the severity of your acne, the real struggle is in accepting it? At least that's what I garnered from it...

Though this article highlights some great points about how we can spin acne into a positive thing, the images that accompany it are not really fitting, seeing as how the woman barely even has a single spot. All I see is some flaky skin around her chin. Most of us on this site are suffering way worse than what is portrayed. I might be reading too far into it, but still, this is something to consider. If I looked at myself in the mirror and just saw some flaky skin around my chin, I won't be nearly as down as I am now about my face. I consider myself to have moderate acne, currently and I've been on Solodyn and Ziana for 1.5 months without any DRASTIC changes in my complexion. Now THAT is frustrating and disappointing.

Yes very true, the girl in the pictures actually has pretty good skin. Maybe she took those photos on a good skin day and has suffered more previously? Well apparently each acne treatment should be tried for a minimum of three months before you decide whether or not it's made a difference so keep going for a bit longer and don't lose hope.

At age 31 and after suffering with acne since I was 11 I now get some days where my skin actually looks acceptable like the pictures in this article, however just recently I have been having persistent flare ups, they've been happening since approx. Christmas. The cause is baffling since I'm not doing anything different. It gets me down when people assume that you must be eating crap. I eat daily large home made smoothies, sardines, drink loads of water, avoid most processed food, buy organic/local, exercise 5x per week yet looking at my skin you would never know - WHAT MORE CAN I DO?! That's what I find most upsetting - other peoples opinions of my skin and why I have it. I personally find diet makes no difference unfortunately but hate the fact I live healthily yet people give me looks of disbelief when I tell them.

I tried Accutane when I was 21, it cleared my back and chest and significantly reduced the spots on my face for a bit but have had so many relapses since then. That is disappointing because Accutane is meant to be the most effective treatment. Is your skin bad enough to warrant a course of this? Mine was pretty moderate too and my dermo gave it to me due to the distress my skin was causing me.

I am so printing this out as well as the 'coping with acne' piece. In my 15+ years of having acne, i have never accepted myself with it, living by the 'when i clear up' mantra. Well that mantra sucks ass.

Thanks so much for sharing