Hi, I have been an acne sufferer for 24 years now. Last 2 years have been good as I finally ignored all dermatologists as they just pissed me off and took the health of my skin into my hands. Note that I tried doctors in 2 continents. After 22 years I finally saw results when I took matters into my hands.
I was just wondering if anyone wants to talk about their experiences. Just wanted to offer a sympathetic ear as I have gone through the trials and pain of acne.
I had acne since I was 11/12, and I am 27 now. Acne started mild but quickly morphed into cystic, painful, nightmarish thing I could not wake up from. I struggled, struggled, missed social situations, became isolated, and generally mean-spirited. It took a lot to come back from there. A lot. I took antibiotics for a few months which only caused me more skin problems once I stopped. And then I tried the regimen after graduating college. For two or so years I felt normal. I could enjoy social activities, look people in the face, and make friends. I became a social butterfly, and I was finally free from acne. Or so I thought. My skin was still extremely oily, the regimen burned, and...I tried taking things into my own hands with research, study, and experimentation. It has been a long road of pain, misery, isolation, and hope. I am seeing results, but there is more work to be done.
Some days I wondered if acne is just some cosmic test to see if you can make it. That is, a challenge to find the underlying cause and cure it, with some kind of vague personal reward for all that effort and suffering. I kind of feel that if I think of it that way now, at least I can justify this strange journey. Maybe there's a purpose to it all?
I'm so sad and frustrated about how my skin is looking right now. I'm now on accutane and having an initial breakout. It's bad and it really does take a toll on me. I isolate myself, I even wore a nose mask to cover up my cheeks which has the most acne, it's so sad. I know there's a lot of people suffering from acne but it seems like in my community I'm the only one who has it. Every time I talk to someone, I'm so afraid they're going to notice my acne. And someone looks at me, I'm praying they're not examining my face. I know this will end but this hurts me. I feel so mad whenever someone ask me why I have a lot of acne because I DON'T FUCKING KNOW. It's like having an acne is my fault. I think the worst part of having an acne is dealing with those ignorants who never think before they talk. I just feel like I want rip their mouth and shut them up forever. Acne sucks and so does those ignorants.