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I've been dealing with acne for about 4 years now. I'm 20. Admittedly, it has calmed down a lot. But I still get pustules occasionally and clogged pores frequently. The past 2 months or so, my skin has been looking great. I was taking Minocycline twice a day and using Epiduo at night. I stopped taking the Mino abruptly (stupid of me) to see if my skin truly needed it or not. The past few weeks it's been doing pretty well until now. I've gotten a few more pustules than usual and the pores next to my nose are going CRAZY. Every day a good number of them are clogged with little whiteheads and I pop them and empty the pus out. Gross, I know. Then within a day they're clogged again.
Today I woke up with much more clogged than usual and they were big whiteheads too. I popped them, and within TWO HOURS they were clogged up again with whiteheads. I broke down at breakfast crying because they just look so gross and I can't get rid of them. The weird thing is, it's only the right side of next to my nose that gets these clogged pores. The left side NEVER gets them, only the right. I wash my face twice a day with CeraVe cleanser and use a Clarisonic every night in the shower. I just don't understand.
Realistically, this is milder than the acne I've dealt with before, and I know that. But it's like if it's not one thing that's making me depressed, it's another. Once my skin was looking better a month ago, I started feeling insecure about my body, even though I normally am fine with my body. I started working out like crazy and trying to eat healthier. Then, now that my skin is looking worse again, I'm depressed about my skin. I've seen a psychologist in the past who said I most likely have a form of OCD relating to how I look.
I can't seem to get over this. It's like every day it's a new battle. I just look in the mirror and wonder why my skin is like this. Why, if I'm doing all these things to help my skin, does it clog up anyway? I need to get a hold of myself because I just got a job and I'm also taking courses this summer. The most important thing on my mind should be my education, but instead, it's my skin, and the way that I look. What is wrong with me? 
Your acne seems similar to mine. I get pustules/whiteheads around my chin and nose (especially my nose) and it's a really annoying persistent form of acne.
Are those the only products that you use? Usually this form of acne is caused by products rather than an internal issue. Products that cause your skin to produce excess oils or become dry. It could even be your water. Hard water causes me to get dry around my nose and then I break out with pustules.
Tell me more about your skin routine and your skin type. Is your skin normal, dry, oily or combination (oily T-zone)?
Your acne seems similar to mine. I get pustules/whiteheads around my chin and nose (especially my nose) and it's a really annoying persistent form of acne.
Are those the only products that you use? Usually this form of acne is caused by products rather than an internal issue. Products that cause your skin to produce excess oils or become dry. It could even be your water. Hard water causes me to get dry around my nose and then I break out with pustules.
Tell me more about your skin routine and your skin type. Is your skin normal, dry, oily or combination (oily T-zone)?
My skin is combination, gets oily on my nose, on the pores next to my nose (that get clogged) and my forehead. I was taking Minocycline 2x a day, but like I said, I stopped for a while. I'm starting up again today. I use Epiduo at night, including on the pores that clog easily. It helps a little but....not that much.
I recently bought some 2% SA gel to put on the pores since I heard that helps. I also was going to go out and get a clay mask to do once a week.
Yeah, I have combination skin too. I get a really oily T-zone and the pores on my nose are slightly larger than the rest.
I'm currently trying the 'caveman' regimen which means I don't use anything on my skin, at all. Stripping the skin of its natural oils and damaging the skins PH (acid mantle), prevents the skin from healing itself. Also when you strip the skin of oils, it produces more, leading to acne.
The more preferable method of the caveman regimen is the water-only method. That way you don't damage your skin and let your skin heal itself. There's a lot of threads on this regimen, it's not for everybody. I thought it was crazy when I first read about it, but it's the only thing that prevents pustules for me. The minute I let crap touch my face, I get oily and they pop up like crazy.
I'm the same, I know I could of done better with my classes this semester but my priorities were my fuckin skin instead of the classes. It's bullshit if I hade a clear face like everybody else,at least it seems, I know my life would turn out better instead my skin gets in the damn way. Got fired from my job cause I missed to many days, thank
you skin.
FRIGGING ACNE!! its annoying i wish it didnt exist....Lewis..if you are trying this caevman thing not using anythng..you should try coconut oil!! as a cleanser or moisturizer or both! i had really bad acne and like everyone else i was desperate and SICK TO DEATH of spending money on a million products with no results. especially because i LOOOVE taking pictures and im high maintenance and everyone always tells me how pretty i am but im thinking uh ya if i had nice skin id be even better looking!! my last resort was accutane and i really didnt want to use that...then i tried a chemical peel you do at home and it did not work just burned my skin and i couldnt leave my house! anyways i heard about coconut oil as an acne cure and was like hmm..so i googled a ton of reviews and saw people claiming they had really bad acne even cystic acne for years and tried the coconut oil and it worked! so i thought well my skin is already friggin horrible and i have a ton of scars so might as well try it because its cheap and natural and if it didnt work i could use it for a ton of other things (theres like 101 uses for it!) so yeah iv been using is for 3 weeks now..i wash my face before bed with hot water then i massage the coconut oil on my skin for a few minutes and then i rinse it off dry it off gently and then add some as a moisturizer..then go to bed wake up in the morning and rpeat..and what do you know...IT WORKS!!!!!!!! my skin is clear except the scars but it lightens them too im SOOOO HAPPPY i gave it a shot! honestly if youre skin is already bad you have nothing to lose! but make sure you get ORGANIC, EXTRA VIRGIN, UNREFINED...the Nutiva brand is the one i use and its amazing. also you can ingest it (i put it in my tea). i honestly did not think it would work because their seem to be so many home remedies but do the reseach and google "coconut oil on acne reviews" and give it a shot. even if your face is oily you can use it...mine is. some people say it didnt work and made their skin worse but i honestly think they were using a different kind or brand because iv heard only good about the Nutiva brand. just try it and if it doesnt work..well at least you tried right? but if it does..you'll be happy..and i'll be happy that i helped someone. i keep writing all over this site because i want it to work for people like it did for me and for so many others! coconut oil is antifungal and all this other stuff. look it up! it smells amazing too i stand at my sink massaging it into my face and i wanna keep doing it it smells so yummy lol
dang dude really? when this happen & what are you doing now?
I'm the same, I know I could of done better with my classes this semester but my priorities were my fuckin skin instead of the classes. It's bullshit if I hade a clear face like everybody else,at least it seems, I know my life would turn out better instead my skin gets in the damn way. Got fired from my job cause I missed to many days, thank
you skin.
if anyone is thinking of using oil cleansing method(not that i have used it ever) they should use oils like castor oil,jojoba oil etc
coconut oil(according to a site i read) is comedogenic and olive oil on face doesnt suit many(anecdotal).
if u want i can givve u the link to the site.the lady there seems authentic.
also,to the OP darling although i feel there could be more ways u should try to achieve clear skin with..for now all u can do for ur skin is not stress.it is BAD for ur skin and body.
we r here but i know that doesnt seem enough!
if u wanna discuss anything i and am sure everyone here is always here.
cheers!
I agree with the OCD, think that people with acne tend to get so insecure about their skin that if it does clear we have this empty space that needs to be filled. I'm exactly the same - I am pretty average weight so don't really think about it day-to-day but as soon as I'm having a good skin day I just obsess over it as much as I do with acne. I think the best way to TRY and overcome it is realise that there are much worse things in life and think about how fortunate you are - you have a job, you're improving your education, you've got everything going for you so try and enjoy it as much as you can and hold your head up high 
I agree with the OCD, think that people with acne tend to get so insecure about their skin that if it does clear we have this empty space that needs to be filled. I'm exactly the same - I am pretty average weight so don't really think about it day-to-day but as soon as I'm having a good skin day I just obsess over it as much as I do with acne. I think the best way to TRY and overcome it is realise that there are much worse things in life and think about how fortunate you are - you have a job, you're improving your education, you've got everything going for you so try and enjoy it as much as you can and hold your head up high
so true.
for those who need some more on this could check a post http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/328917-even-celebrities-go-through-tough-battles/
stay strong and for heaven's sake people follow my title..its meant for YOU!
That's body dysmorphic disorder. It's where you obsess about your appearance to the point where you can't stop. Moving on to another obsession (like weight) when you fix one thing (skin) is a classic symptom.
Yeah tell me about it...bad times! On the other hand I guess I only have a mild case because although I obsess, I can distract myself and don't let it ruin my life or anything.
Makes me feel so lucky to have people in my life that love me and my boyfriend tells me how beautiful I am every day, I'm sure I'll believe him eventually!