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Something I've come to realize within the 2+ years that I've been on this forum is that people make things out to be a lot worse than it really is. The thing with acne is, it is NEVER as bad as you think. Many of us (me included) tend to over-analyze our face, memorizing every single blemish and dark spot and their exact coordinate location on our faces. Realize that this quickly turns into an obsession, and the longer you have acne, the worse it gets. We end up developing a body dysmorphic disorder, all from this large obsession with the over analysis of our face.
I've seen the same thing happen to people obsessed with bodybuilding and their body image in general. I've met many people in the gym who have EXTREMELY well developed physiques, yet in our conversations they constantly obsess about needing an inch or two on their biceps, more definition in their chest, more calves etc etc. I even have a friend who jumped on anabolic steroids because he didn't believe he had enough mass and wanted to be sub 8% bodyfat at the same time (take note this guy was huge, and was already 10-12% bodyfat, 6 pack, striations and everything.) This goes to show how easily we can develop a dysmorphic disorder because of an obsession.
I used to think that I had the worst PIH ever, till I realized that no one really noticed it. Whenever I'd talk to someone about it, they said they would of never noticed if I did not tell them, and that it looked totally normal. This was a huge shocker because of how my reticular activation system (RAS) made me think I had the worst marks ever, when in reality there was nothing to worry about.
My advice is stop identifying yourself with your personal appearance too much, don't be fooled by societies perceived standards of having perfect skin, and never, EVER draw your positive emotions from others. Obviously if you have persistent or acne severe enough to be affecting you emotionally, then proactively do something to treat it. DO NOT obsess over it, and never let it hold you back from doing what you love. Thats all I have for now guys, hopefully this was helpful to you.
If I am able to help at least one person have a better day, then the entire purpose of me writing this thread would have been fulfilled.
I think the obsessiveness is one of the worst parts about acne. Especially if you already have obsessive tendencies, it is so draining to constantly be evaluating your face... it is so easy to let it terrorize you. I have gotten to that point. Such a waste of energy 
stay strong everyone.
I really enjoyed reading this. You know why, because it's true. I can't tell you how angry/upset/FRUSTRATED I am right now because of looking back on old pics of my skin when I thought it was bad, literally thought it was horrible when it wasn't... not compared to now. My skin now unfortunately isn't great and I'm truly depressed, truly.
I went to a dermatologist in March time when my skin was about 70 % clear but I wanted PERFECTION was thinking he'd give me Roaccutane I guess. Even though people thought I was mad to go there because nothing was "wrong" or needed fixed. He gave me a gel which I had to stop becauae it broke me out horribly in a way I've never broke out before in places I didn't even apply it.
And now that my skin is in a very bad way and all I do Tretinoin is cry, I cry honestly all day. I can't look at it anymore when usually I used to, but now I cannot because it sends me into a deep dark place.. all I do is look at older pics when it was better and regret ever going to the derm.
My personal advice is 'if it ain't broken do not try and "fix" it'
On 6/8/2016 at 5:36 PM, bunnybunny said:I think the obsessiveness is one of the worst parts about acne. Especially if you already have obsessive tendencies, it is so draining to constantly be evaluating your face... it is so easy to let it terrorize you. I have gotten to that point. Such a waste of energy
Exactly! Key here is to just stop over analyzing your face, and realize that nobody does it the way you do. You are literally your own worst critic.
On 6/9/2016 at 1:53 AM, MissSac17 said:I really enjoyed reading this. You know why, because it's true. I can't tell you how angry/upset/FRUSTRATED I am right now because of looking back on old pics of my skin when I thought it was bad, literally thought it was horrible when it wasn't... not compared to now. My skin now unfortunately isn't great and I'm truly depressed, truly.
I went to a dermatologist in March time when my skin was about 70 % clear but I wanted PERFECTION was thinking he'd give me Roaccutane I guess. Even though people thought I was mad to go there because nothing was "wrong" or needed fixed. He gave me a gel which I had to stop becauae it broke me out horribly in a way I've never broke out before in places I didn't even apply it.
And now that my skin is in a very bad way and all I do Tretinoin is cry, I cry honestly all day. I can't look at it anymore when usually I used to, but now I cannot because it sends me into a deep dark place.. all I do is look at older pics when it was better and regret ever going to the derm.
My personal advice is 'if it ain't broken do not try and "fix" it'
I was in the exact same boat too! Went to the dermatologist in december, mid way through march I was looking at my older pictures thinking "My face was almost clear, now its worse than ever!". Another 3 months down the road, I'm so glad I went to the dermatologist. My face is smooth, dark marks are almost completely faded, and I don't get much new acne anymore. Everything goes away within 2-3 days MAX, all because I stuck through with tretinoin.
What did your dermatologist give you? Its possible that you didn't wait long enough for it to be effective (stuff like tretinoin aka. retin-a take a while to see improvements), and you gave up to fast.
I hear what your saying. Thing is I just knew it wasn't right for me. I used it for 12 weeks, I had much better results with Differin. It was called Isotrex, so Isotretinoin gel. I'm personally going to push for roaccutane now. I've started using the differin again to see if that may help, do you think it might?
My skin just could not tolerate the isotrex at all. I think it's given me dermatitis and keratosis pilaris.
4 hours ago, MissSac17 said:I hear what your saying. Thing is I just knew it wasn't right for me. I used it for 12 weeks, I had much better results with Differin. It was called Isotrex, so Isotretinoin gel. I'm personally going to push for roaccutane now. I've started using the differin again to see if that may help, do you think it might?
My skin just could not tolerate the isotrex at all. I think it's given me dermatitis and keratosis pilaris.
If your skin responded to differin well the first time you used it, its probably going to respond to it well again. Have you talked to your dermatologist since stopping the isotretinoin gel? I'd definitely want a professional opinion before doing anything new. Its very possible that restarting differin could lead to further irritation already started by the isotretinoin, not to mention you might purge again :S
Curious to know, why did you stop using the differin?
Yeah I see what your saying. My skin is extremely irritated and in a bad way just now. I don't see my dermatologist until July, I went to see my general doc about it and she gave me Erythromycin tablets 
I haven't took them yet because I'm worried it'll make my skin worse and obviously everything about the gut and stuff. I just seem to be breaking out in tiny bumps.
I stopped the differin after 8 months because I felt I wanted something stronger, as I was still getting some breakouts..it's the biggest regret of my life tbh and now I feel the only way for clear skin is Accutane 🙁
On 6/6/2016 at 10:29 PM, Tretinoin said:Something I've come to realize within the 2+ years that I've been on this forum is that people make things out to be a lot worse than it really is. The thing with acne is, it is NEVER as bad as you think. Many of us (me included) tend to over-analyze our face, memorizing every single blemish and dark spot and their exact coordinate location on our faces. Realize that this quickly turns into an obsession, and the longer you have acne, the worse it gets. We end up developing a body dysmorphic disorder, all from this large obsession with the over analysis of our face.
I've seen the same thing happen to people obsessed with bodybuilding and their body image in general. I've met many people in the gym who have EXTREMELY well developed physiques, yet in our conversations they constantly obsess about needing an inch or two on their biceps, more definition in their chest, more calves etc etc. I even have a friend who jumped on anabolic steroids because he didn't believe he had enough mass and wanted to be sub 8% bodyfat at the same time (take note this guy was huge, and was already 10-12% bodyfat, 6 pack, striations and everything.) This goes to show how easily we can develop a dysmorphic disorder because of an obsession.
I used to think that I had the worst PIH ever, till I realized that no one really noticed it. Whenever I'd talk to someone about it, they said they would of never noticed if I did not tell them, and that it looked totally normal. This was a huge shocker because of how my reticular activation system (RAS) made me think I had the worst marks ever, when in reality there was nothing to worry about.
My advice is stop identifying yourself with your personal appearance too much, don't be fooled by societies perceived standards of having perfect skin, and never, EVER draw your positive emotions from others. Obviously if you have persistent or acne severe enough to be affecting you emotionally, then proactively do something to treat it. DO NOT obsess over it, and never let it hold you back from doing what you love. Thats all I have for now guys, hopefully this was helpful to you.
If I am able to help at least one person have a better day, then the entire purpose of me writing this thread would have been fulfilled.
i concur
