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I wanted to call in sick for work today but I didnt, how could I say Im not coming into work because Im ashamed of how my face looks? Im also proud of the fact I havent had a day off sick this year (in my old job I used to use all my sick days ever year (5 each year), in this job the most sick days Ive had off in one year is two or three).
I am a 37 year old female; I have been battling adult acne since a month before my 30th birthday. Before that Id had a few pimples but nothing too serious. Since then its been a nightmare, however the last few months its just been getting worse and worse and its seriously affecting my confidence. Ive just started at a new gym however my skin was that bad last week that I only attended the one session with my personal trainer. The rest of the week I avoided the place because I didnt want people seeing how bad my skin was. I will be sending my husband to the supermarket after work to pick up some things weve run out of because I cant stand the idea of going to a supermarket and coming face to face with all of those people.
I have tried all sorts of different acne products throughout the years along with a few things the doctor has prescribed. I compiled a list recently of just some of the things Ive tried when I had a skin analysis done at a beauty spa, they include:
Pro activ
Lush spot treatment grease lightning with witch hazel
Cetaphyl range of products
Crystaderm
Battery powered facial scrubber (forget the brand)
Garnier pure active exfo brusher
Benzac AC gel and foaming cleanser
Differen gel (prescribed by doctor)
Three months of anti-biotics
None of these things really did anything
Ive been (mostly) on and off the contraceptive pill since age 17 up until last year. Over that time I used a number of different brands and I guess it mustve helped a bit although something clearly happened just before turning 30 to make my skin worsen. We were going to start a family last year (hence why I went off the pill) but thats since been put on hold. I had a bit of a rough time coming off the pill so didnt want to go back on it again when we decided to put having children on hold so we are using other forms of non-hormonal birth control.
I have ordered some Dermalogica medi-bac acne stuff that arrived today. Ive read a lot of positive things and am hoping it will help.
When I had the skin analysis they seemed to think I had rosacea and the acne that sometimes occurs with it. I do have issues with my face flushing however I dont know if the acne is only related to that. I have been noticing an increase in acne leading up to my period.
Up until a few months ago Id say I normally got acne only around my chin but recently Ive been getting it on my cheeks, on my forehead and above my upper lip.
The woman at the beauty spa place (where they said I had rosacea) recommended ditching the current products I was using (a New Zealand brand called Skinfood + a Nivea toner) and just rinsing my face with water in the morning, using rose hip oil and always applying sunscreen. She also suggested cleansing with coconut oil at nights but that didn't last long. When my skin got really bad recently I gave up on the rose hip oil figuring its not really helping and started using my Skinfood cleanser and moisturiser again.
I seem to get all sorts of acne, mainly white heads, some blackheads, cystic ones that never really come to a head or ones that sit there brewing for ages. I have a bad habit of squeezing the whiteheads which doesnt help their appearance but I figure people dont want to see my face with pus filled pimples. If I can feel a pimple brewing at home I will try to leave it until the morning to attack it but sometimes Ill even scratch them in my sleep. I may have to consider starting to wear gloves or something to bed!
I work in an office and have a bad habit of resting my face/chin in my hands, I know I need to stop touching my face!
I dont wear makeup and am not confident at applying it. Im afraid I cant try and conceal my acne. I hate having to talk to co-workers at the moment and try to avoid making eye contact. Im even trying to avoid eye contact with my husband because I hate how bad my skin has got in recent weeks.
Weve got a wedding to go to at the end of October. I hope this Dermalogica stuff can help cos part of me doesnt want to go with my skin looking like this. The other part of me reminds me its one of my closest friends and I cant miss it because of bad skin.
Sorry for the lengthy vent, Im just hoping you guys would understand what Im going through/know how I feel.
You know what my serious advice is?
Take the day off.
Earlier this year I was suicidal due to my skin, and the thought of ever leaving the house created massive anxiety. What did I do on the days my anxiety/depression peaked? Cancelled all plans and work.
My mind wasn't stable, and I needed to have that time to stay home and feel sorry for myself!
You've had no sick days so honestly.. Treat yourself and have a lazy day. My lazy days seriously helped me so much, just to hide myself away and binge-watch positive youtube videos or play games.
I'm sure your wedding date in october will be fine - just give yourself time before then to truly relax and to not stress/worry 
have you ever tried the regimine on this site? I never have but it has amazing reviews -- and it'd probably work really well before the end of oct!
Sending hugs your way -- i've been there xx
You know what my serious advice is?
Take the day off.
Earlier this year I was suicidal due to my skin, and the thought of ever leaving the house created massive anxiety. What did I do on the days my anxiety/depression peaked? Cancelled all plans and work.
My mind wasn't stable, and I needed to have that time to stay home and feel sorry for myself!
You've had no sick days so honestly.. Treat yourself and have a lazy day. My lazy days seriously helped me so much, just to hide myself away and binge-watch positive youtube videos or play games.
I'm sure your wedding date in october will be fine - just give yourself time before then to truly relax and to not stress/worry
Sending hugs your way -- i've been there
I second all of this. As much as I don't want to let my acne control my life and keep me from my responsibilities (and fun stuff as well), sometimes the anxiety that comes with facing the world is more than I can bear. Taking a mental health day can be just as important as taking a "real" sick day.
Hi, I know you said you're not confident in applying make up. But have you ever considered 'Bare Minerals'? It's a powder foundation which is (coincidentally) made entirely from minerals. So it's not going to do your skin any harm. Of course, this isn't going to cure the acne. But the coverage is brilliant. I've spent years trying to find the right make up which is oil free and somewhat 'acne friendly'. I work in a face to face environment so I'm always concerned about how my skin looks having battled acne for 10+ years. I've been using bare minerals for about a year now and I have never looked back. It's not cheap. But maybe have a look at some tutorial videos on YouTube. As I said, make up obviously won't cure anything, we all know that. But even if it makes you feel a little more confident as it does me... Then that's a start! X
When my acne was at its worst, bare minerals was amazing and really helped me get out there (and I'm a guy!) it's so so light and so natural-looking never broke me out either, but obviously nothing is perfect for everyone's skin, but maybe it's worth a try to just help you a tiny bit more on those bad days.
Sickofzittz, I'm really sorry for everything you're going through and everything you've been through. All I can say is that you're a very strong person and that the people above have given wonderful replies to your original post. Acne has affected my life significantly too, but I don't want to give up either, just like you. I pray for you and everyone who has to suffer through this. The majority of us here understand what you might be feeling. Please keep sharing with us, we are here for you. And we can't give up
Hi Sickofzittz. Oh how I can relate. In the past I called in sick numerous over gigantic cysts. Im not talking about a small pimple, Im talking huge cysts that swell up your whole cheek. Ive worked in media for a number of years so you know how looks obsessed everyone can be. I always felt self conscious especially when someone would point out (discreetly ) of course that one of my cysts was oozing. That actually happened to me numerous times. Its hard when you are no longer 15, but still breaking out. People are not as openly rude to an adult acne sufferer as they are to teens and 20s. But there is the attitude that you have some horrible disease and they should not sit next to you, kiss you you or use any item you may have used (phone etc.)
I too have had years of being terrified because of my skin. It literally ruined my life so I can totally relate. My advice to you is what worked for me. Take the plunge and do the accutane treatment. It's rough going because of the dryness but so worth it. I had the worst acne imaginable and cleared up in at 3 weeks and my face and body has been pretty clear for three years now. I have scalp acne still but, that's an entirely different subject. The only other product I have had really good success with is the Peter Thomas Roth sulphur mask. Use it as a spot treatment or for your entire face. The stuff is worth it's wait in gold for an acne sufferer. It smells bad (like matches) but it zaps the redness out and dries out pimples quickly. I leave it on overnight because I do everything to the extreme lol. Hang in there, it's curable, accutane changed my life and it can for you too I hope. I hope these suggestions help you out
Hi Sickofzittz. Oh how I can relate. In the past I called in sick numerous over gigantic cysts. Im not talking about a small pimple, Im talking huge cysts that swell up your whole cheek. Ive worked in media for a number of years so you know how looks obsessed everyone can be. I always felt self conscious especially when someone would point out (discreetly ) of course that one of my cysts was oozing. That actually happened to me numerous times. Its hard when you are no longer 15, but still breaking out. People are not as openly rude to an adult acne sufferer as they are to teens and 20s. But there is the attitude that you have some horrible disease and they should not sit next to you, kiss you you or use any item you may have used (phone etc.)
I totally get the embarrassment. I'm in my early 20s but it sucks to still be struggling with acne. When I hung out with my boyfriend. Two of the cysts on my chin oozed out pus and blood, and it was emotionally devastating for me. He didn't notice (or so he says), and continues to tell me I'm beautiful.