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I'm exhausted. It's been 12 years. When I was 15, I was whisked straight to the dermatologist who started me on some pretty strong (and expensive) antibacterial washes and gels and retinols. Looking back, I would've told myself to let my hormones run their adolescent course. I wish I hadn't been put on such harsh medications. But I am a perfectionist and OCD so I stayed on a pretty strict regimen of Acanya and Atralin. Things were under control and my skin was a gorgeous porcelain.
At age 20, I switched over to Dan's Regimen where I lived and breathed benzoyl peroxide. It turned my skin crystal clear with some occasional spots.
At age 23, I tried birth control and it messed up my face so badly that I couldn't come out of my room for months. I would plan my trips to the bathroom and the kitchen around my roommates schedule and the moment I'd hear their voices coming up the stairs I'd run back to my room and lock the door. My whole room was covered in tissue paper stained with blood from all my acne. I had shelves stacked with every drug store, holistic, first aid cure you could ever buy. I don't even want to think about the money I've spent on acne. I stopped the birth control and eventually things returned to normal. However my cycle never returned to normal.
At age 24, I took a year trying out every single oil cleansing method known to man, only to get the WORST cystic acne with every oil.
At age 25, I went back to using benzoyl peroxide and sulfur religiously but would get a couple spots every month, and always an angry cyst from PMS. I was still looking for the perfect cure. I had success with maca root. Taking three capsules a day cleared my acne. I remember being so happy. So gloriously happy. And then, I got an ovarian cyst for the first time. To the point where I was in bed and couldn't function for weeks. I attributed this to the maca so I stopped. Acne came back full force. But still using benzoyl and sulfur.
Fast forward to 26 where I started to notice my skin wasn't bouncing back like it did before- red spots would stay for much longer, my skin wouldn't heal, and my fair skin looked dull and red and irritated ALL the time. It got to the point where EVERYTHING, even homemade cleansers, anti-inflammatory cleansers made me break out and made my skin SO angry. I decided to stop everything. I suspect I gave myself some sort of dermatitis. I also have naturally oily skin and I couldn't stand the thought of working against my beauty and aging prematurely. Ijust went down to using micellar water to remove my makeup and that was it.
At age 27, I was desperate to fix my period so that maybe my acne could improve so I started experimenting with estrogen cream and phytoestrogens cream. I don't have money to see a naturopath and am also very stubborn. Huge mistake. Broke out everywhere. Super painful blemishes that popped up by the hour, no joke. I was working full time at a government agency with lots of professionals, where I was truly embarrassed to be alive. Couldn't even look anyone in the eye. This is the saddest part because at my evaluation I was told that I bring the brightest sunshine into any room that I enter, that I inspire, that I truly excel,and that I make my coworkers very happy. My personality has been what's let me have some sanity throughout this. I'm very funny and very sarcastic with a pure and loving heart so the people around me choose to see this instead of my acne. This is a blessing but I am still constantly plagued by my appearance.
I had finally come down from the estrogen supplementation and started using Maybelline's FIT Me foundation. A month later, I broke out even WORSE than I had with the estrogen. Come to find out, FIT Me has synthetic estrogen in it (parabens) and it literally altered my cycle and gave me the most painful trauma I have ever gone through with my face. I then started supplementing with DIM in hopes of blocking all that bad estrogen. At first it seemed to be working but in reality, another horrible breakout was brewing. At this point I just wanted to die. I was crying everyday, calling in sick to work, not able to get out of the car to go grocery shopping, having the worst panic attacks.
NOW, I am on the caveman regimen. It has been 2 weeks since I stopped taking DIM. I joined a fitness studio and am working out 3-4 times a week. I cleaned up my whole diet back in December by going gluten free. Now I just eat whole, raw foods... lots of greens and healthy fats. No processed anything and no sugar. I'm doing a lower bowel cleanse as well and supplementing with probiotics to heal my gut. I'm still breaking out. Not as bad as before. Since going caveman, my face is noticeably less red. It's less oily. It's way less mad.
I HATE that I did this to myself. I know that I can't go back in time, I can only move forward. But this PRISON of LIVING in the bathroom, running home to extract, hiding from everyone all the time can't go on much longer. And for those who might suggest Accutane, my husband took it whenhe was eighteen and has suffered many side effects that still haunt him to this day, he's thirty three now. So the Tane isn't an option for me. I started taking St. John Wort todayfor my anxiety and OCD because at this point it's taken over... I have no friends, no social life, I ignore family and friends who want to hang out, complete isolation,no activities outside the house because I can't bear to be seen with the amount of scarring on my face.
I'll be posting updates as the DIM exits my system... I'm giving myself twenty eight days on the caveman because if I don't at least try this... I'll always wonder if it could've worked. I'm really completely out of options since I've tried every supplement and topical possible... it would just take me too long to list every one I've ever tried here. Lol. I want to say that to everyone suffering out there, I wish I could kiss you on the heart and I wish I could hug your soul and give you peace and solace. This affliction truly takes the best out of us and smashes it to bits. I can't think too long about everything I wanted to do in my career and in my youth but didn't, because of acne.
Today has been really positive. I can tell the effects of clean eating, working out, and quality sleep is having on my skin. I did go to Walmart without any makeup on and definitely had a mini panic attack in the store because there were so many people and I couldn't handle that many eyes judging me at once. I'm super proud of myself for trying though. I have two active blemishes and one mini cyst that I know are related to the excess DIM... and still tons of scarring. Both of my ovaries feel swollen so I am trying to assist my body in functioning in any way possible. I made a 32 oz Elderberry tonic, a Rose petal/Rose hip tonic, and Watermelon juice as to supply a ton of vitamin A and C for the next couple days. I feel like I can do this. I'm on day 13 of being off of DIM. Almost halfway to skin cell turnover. I don't know how long DIM affects the female cycle... I would suspect it takes a month or two for the body to stabilize hormones. I don't know though. Either way, I remain strong in giving my body exactly what it needs to fight off this acne.
Today was hard. I figured out that St. John Wort gives me elevated levels of energy and anxiety. It does the opposite of what it's supposed to do. Lol. It makes me feel like I'm under an extreme amount of pressure and it supplies a horrible, longing desire to fill the void. It wasn't pleasant so I decided to stop taking it. My OCD had to extract the two active blemishes and the mini cyst today. I couldn't take it anymore. It's three new scars to deal with. I'm only breaking out on the lower rightside of my face leading me to believe my right ovary struggles. I was returning a lot of old beauty crap at Ulta and the cashier was trying to sympathize with my breakout by sharing her own acne issues. That was nice. I tried super hard to eat clean today. It was off to an amazing start. I made all kinds of concoctions with my sister. However at the end of the day I did have a cheeseburger (protein wrapped) from The Habit. It was worth it. If I can do 95% clean eating and 5% indulgences... I think that would be the healthiest way (mentally) to live life. Otherwise it'd be impossible to let myself enjoy anything! I'm happy to say that I caught myself smiling in the mirror today and I could see how much the caveman regimen is helping. I'm able to be free in that way. I'm no longer searching for THE holy grailproductor feeling like Cinderella's carriage is going to turninto a pumpkin at midnight (like I have to wash my face and apply treatment every 12 hours or else a blemish will form!) I hate feeling like that. That's what I'm trying to free myself of.
Today I woke up really irritated because another blemish had formed. I had to extract it right away and that was how my day started 
I feel like my scars are extra noticeable today so I wasn't able to get out of my car to do errands. I just sat in the car and asked my husband to get everything for me. It is so demeaning. I'm usually not like that at all. I just can't handle the thought of looking at someone and them thinking, man, what the hell happened to your face. After I got home, I wrote in my gratitude journal and chose to focus on filling my brain with helpful literature that will assist me in taking down the negative audience in my head. Today I'm using my time to learn about Chinese medicine and how the female body works. I've found that I break out badly when I'm on my period and when I'm ovulating. So if I can teach myself as to why- maybe that will make a big difference in how I can find hormonal balance again. My hormones were so whack today. Everything that happened, everything my husband said or did made me want to fly off the handle. Like he asked me to get him a pair of scissors and the amount of rage that I felt was crazy. It's not normal. I have to do something about my hormonal imbalance or else it will continue to rule my life. I'm thinking about calling the local acupuncturist tomorrow. Interestingly enough, after my research, I've found the herbs in my pantry needed to work with my cycle and not against it. Must keep pressing on in a positive way. I return to work on Wednesday and I need to be in a better head space by that time.
Best for hormone balance tea is
nettle and red raspberry leaves
also this herbs are great prevent future acne!
make tea or use tinctures with water
Honey brush, echinacea, burdock, dandelion, mint, chamomile, milk thistle
don't use herbs and drugs at the same time!
Blessings!:)
Sooooo big news. I washed my face today! 
It was with a nonsoap pH balanced cleanser. I went the whole month of May not washing my face which is huge. I seriously don't know how I did it. When I was looking in the mirror this morning I noticed layers of yellow dead skin piling up on my face. GROSS, I know. So I decided it was best to lightly massage my face with the cleanser. Then I rinsed and pat dry. I have to say it felt amazing. My skin looked happier too. I think I just needed to leave it alone for awhile. I spent all night researching Chinese medicine and found a lot of tips to help my body with the seasons of my cycle. I love being alive in 2017 with all the resources we have access to!! Self education is so important. Had a 32 oz mason jar of fresh organic romaine lettuce juice this morning. Had no idea just one cup provides 82% Vitamin A, 60% Vitamin K, and 19% Vitamin C! Wow!! Moving forward with so much positivity!! 
16 minutes ago, AhaGuru said:Best for hormone balance tea is
nettle and red raspberry leaves
also this herbs are great prevent future acne!
make tea or use tinctures with water
Honey brush, echinacea, burdock, dandelion, mint, chamomile, milk thistle
don't use herbs and drugs at the same time!
Blessings!:)
Thank you AhaGuru!!! 
This advice means a lot to me!!!!!!!
I woke up with a couple new cysts today. That bummed me out a lot. But I decided to just spot cover with makeup and move forward! I ended up having a really good day. Especially for being back at work and having to face people!! However I'm not sure if it was the face wash that broke me out or a whole month of not washing? Or megadosing with Vitamin D3 last night by accident? Lol. Either way I'm riding this out because my skin tone is improving. Just need to focus on the positive+++ I'm eating according to where I'm at in my cycle, drinking huge mason jars of herbal tea, and still eating raw unprocessed food. I already feel very chilled out. Usually when I ovulate I feel super irritated all the time. So the fact that I've been super chill is very positive
Well I spoke too soon. Today SIX huge blemishes emerged on my face. They literally came out of nowhere. It felt like such a setback. I was just starting to feel like I was in the flow of things. I started taking Pulsatilla for my wacky emotions (which it helps a lot!) and Vitamin D3, so it could be purging from one of those or both. Not sure. I might have pustular rosacea? I don't know anymore. My brain has been analyzing this acne situation for way too long and I feel like I'm completely lost. I don't have the energy to devote any more precious time to acne!!!!! I was so frustrated that I cleaned my face with a benzoyl peroxide wipe. Of course it made my face super red and I looked like a clown for the evening. I just don't know when it will end.
On 5/26/2017 at 11:07 PM, Eyelah said:I'm exhausted. It's been 12 years. When I was 15, I was whisked straight to the dermatologist who started me on some pretty strong (and expensive) antibacterial washes and gels and retinols. Looking back, I would've told myself to let my hormones run their adolescent course. I wish I hadn't been put on such harsh medications. But I am a perfectionist and OCD so I stayed on a pretty strict regimen of Acanya and Atralin. Things were under control and my skin was a gorgeous porcelain.
At age 20, I switched over to Dan's Regimen where I lived and breathed benzoyl peroxide. It turned my skin crystal clear with some occasional spots.
At age 23, I tried birth control and it messed up my face so badly that I couldn't come out of my room for months. I would plan my trips to the bathroom and the kitchen around my roommates schedule and the moment I'd hear their voices coming up the stairs I'd run back to my room and lock the door. My whole room was covered in tissue paper stained with blood from all my acne. I had shelves stacked with every drug store, holistic, first aid cure you could ever buy. I don't even want to think about the money I've spent on acne. I stopped the birth control and eventually things returned to normal. However my cycle never returned to normal.
At age 24, I took a year trying out every single oil cleansing method known to man, only to get the WORST cystic acne with every oil.
At age 25, I went back to using benzoyl peroxide and sulfur religiously but would get a couple spots every month, and always an angry cyst from PMS. I was still looking for the perfect cure. I had success with maca root. Taking three capsules a day cleared my acne. I remember being so happy. So gloriously happy. And then, I got an ovarian cyst for the first time. To the point where I was in bed and couldn't function for weeks. I attributed this to the maca so I stopped. Acne came back full force. But still using benzoyl and sulfur.
Fast forward to 26 where I started to notice my skin wasn't bouncing back like it did before- red spots would stay for much longer, my skin wouldn't heal, and my fair skin looked dull and red and irritated ALL the time. It got to the point where EVERYTHING, even homemade cleansers, anti-inflammatory cleansers made me break out and made my skin SO angry. I decided to stop everything. I suspect I gave myself some sort of dermatitis. I also have naturally oily skin and I couldn't stand the thought of working against my beauty and aging prematurely. Ijust went down to using micellar water to remove my makeup and that was it.
At age 27, I was desperate to fix my period so that maybe my acne could improve so I started experimenting with estrogen cream and phytoestrogens cream. I don't have money to see a naturopath and am also very stubborn. Huge mistake. Broke out everywhere. Super painful blemishes that popped up by the hour, no joke. I was working full time at a government agency with lots of professionals, where I was truly embarrassed to be alive. Couldn't even look anyone in the eye. This is the saddest part because at my evaluation I was told that I bring the brightest sunshine into any room that I enter, that I inspire, that I truly excel,and that I make my coworkers very happy. My personality has been what's let me have some sanity throughout this. I'm very funny and very sarcastic with a pure and loving heart so the people around me choose to see this instead of my acne. This is a blessing but I am still constantly plagued by my appearance.
I had finally come down from the estrogen supplementation and started using Maybelline's FIT Me foundation. A month later, I broke out even WORSE than I had with the estrogen. Come to find out, FIT Me has synthetic estrogen in it (parabens) and it literally altered my cycle and gave me the most painful trauma I have ever gone through with my face. I then started supplementing with DIM in hopes of blocking all that bad estrogen. At first it seemed to be working but in reality, another horrible breakout was brewing. At this point I just wanted to die. I was crying everyday, calling in sick to work, not able to get out of the car to go grocery shopping, having the worst panic attacks.
NOW, I am on the caveman regimen. It has been 2 weeks since I stopped taking DIM. I joined a fitness studio and am working out 3-4 times a week. I cleaned up my whole diet back in December by going gluten free. Now I just eat whole, raw foods... lots of greens and healthy fats. No processed anything and no sugar. I'm doing a lower bowel cleanse as well and supplementing with probiotics to heal my gut. I'm still breaking out. Not as bad as before. Since going caveman, my face is noticeably less red. It's less oily. It's way less mad.
I HATE that I did this to myself. I know that I can't go back in time, I can only move forward. But this PRISON of LIVING in the bathroom, running home to extract, hiding from everyone all the time can't go on much longer. And for those who might suggest Accutane, my husband took it whenhe was eighteen and has suffered many side effects that still haunt him to this day, he's thirty three now. So the Tane isn't an option for me. I started taking St. John Wort todayfor my anxiety and OCD because at this point it's taken over... I have no friends, no social life, I ignore family and friends who want to hang out, complete isolation,no activities outside the house because I can't bear to be seen with the amount of scarring on my face.
I'll be posting updates as the DIM exits my system... I'm giving myself twenty eight days on the caveman because if I don't at least try this... I'll always wonder if it could've worked. I'm really completely out of options since I've tried every supplement and topical possible... it would just take me too long to list every one I've ever tried here. Lol. I want to say that to everyone suffering out there, I wish I could kiss you on the heart and I wish I could hug your soul and give you peace and solace. This affliction truly takes the best out of us and smashes it to bits. I can't think too long about everything I wanted to do in my career and in my youth but didn't, because of acne.
Please don't let acne hold you back from living your life. You are still very young and I'm not. I have acne for 65 years. I started living my life in my 70s. My life was halted when I was 10 and I started living it again in my 70s. Do the math. I have lived the equivalent life of a teenager basically. You're more than your skin. Your skin is an organ. You also have a brain which is another organ. A human which has a mind. If someone is bothered by your acne they shouldn't be in your life.
Sharing my acne success story, hope this somehow helps..
I've also battled with acne for 10 damn years! I felt like I've tried all the products suggested from the articles I've read.. Also seek assistance from several dermatologist and bought and done everything they recommended! I am very desperate and unfortunately nothing ever really worked! 
Until this year, I almost gave up... and ended up using only this "Micellar water" and "non-alcohol toner" during evening to wash away my make up and in the morning I am only washing my face with tap water. I also stopped using any foundation and switched to Oil Control Talc Powder. I'm also working out at least 30 mins a day for 4 days a week and I STILL EAT SWEETS AND MEAT, I AM NOT CUTTING ANY FOODS. I just added 3 liters of water a day, fruits and vegetables and voila! Surprisingly, in less than 2 months I've noticed the drastic change, I am eventually having pimples like one or 2 whenever I am about to have my period and that's it.. I've realized that all these years I tried so hard and was harsh to my skin and myself. I also felt like I've just wasted my money for those products that really won't help us as promised.. and my skin was never this good, clear and naturally glowing 
I just couldn't imagine all of the remedies that you've tried. One thing's for sure, don't try to look for other ways to cure your acne if one is already working good for you.
I just hope that everything keeps getting better for you each day. There is life out there. There are family and friends who care for you, Don's shut them out.
First of all I would like to say that your acne is not your fault. Lots of women have acne in there twenties and for some it can get worse in their twenties. Also do not take any hormonal medications if you need birth control use a hormone free method. Go to see a dermatologist and try oral antibiotics. I took accutane many years ago and so did my cousin and we are glad we did it cleared our acne and decreased our oil. No harm done to us so don't be afraid of it. Also never use oil products on your face like oil cleansers and as or makeup it is not really absorbed through the skin in large enough amounts to affect your hormones. Special diets won't help.