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How do you find the strength to go outside when you feel like you look like you have leprosy? I envy people who rock their acne. I wish I had their confidence. I see people on TV with beautiful skin and am filled with irrational hatred for them. I try to convince myself it's not as bad as I think when I look in the mirror... then I see a photograph of myself and realize it's actually WORSE. It's effecting my quality of life.
When I was young, I was blessed with flawless skin. While most adolescents were battling acne, I had strangers stopping me to compliment my skin. I took it for granted.
Things changed when I was 25. It wasn't too bad at first. Just a few pimples here and there. Over the next couple years it got worse and over the counter products didn't seem to do anything. I tried Proactiv. It helped, but it never cleared my skin... and as the years kept going by, it kept getting harder and harder to manage.
I was so excited when Differin was made non-prescription. It had such a great reputation for dealing with adult acne. Using it was the worst decision I ever made for my skin. I knew it was supposed to get worse before it got better and I resolved myself to bear it.
After about a month, my skin started to show improvement. For the first time in 10 years, the skin on my forehead was actually flat. It lasted one week. Then, it got far worse. Acne where I had never had it before and huge patches of skin that were bright red.
Every day I looked in the mirror and told myself we were playing to long game. Periodically it would start to clear up and I would have no major pimples and all the red marks would start to fade a bit... and just when I started to get excited, a whole new batch would form.
It said I would have full results after 3 months but I had the worst skin of my entire life. But those little victories kept me trying. I gave up after 6 months.
I started using a newer line from Neutrogena called "Rapid Clear" and started seeing signs of improvement after just a few days. I was floored. All this time and this everyday product was all I needed? Over the next week, I was looking a tiny bit better every day... but that didn't last either.
I swore to myself that I was going to have improvement this weekend if it killed me.... So I started using more of the product - which is the worst thing possible for my sensitive skin. I should have known better. My skin always gets worse if I wash it too often or use too much products. So of course, it got much worse. And I got really desperate and did something even stupider.
I have sterilized, individually packed needles for removing splinters... and I stabbed my largest pimples to try to squeeze out the puss. I think you can put together how effective this was.
So now I cannot stop crying and am trying to figure out how I will be able to drag myself into work tomorrow. What is the secret? How do you do it? Because I really need help right now.
Hi I'm Michelle and I'm in the same stressful situation as you I have had acne 13 years so I know what it feels like - mine has got worse since I got older - I'm 28 now, around my time of the month my face has really bad white heads I have tryed spriloactone, tetralycline, minocycline, dianette, changing my diet, exercise, treclinic, benzyol peroxide,salosylic acid, Try not to worry as your acne will get worse if you stress, mineral make up - is better than normal foundations, do things like clean worktops regular - make up brushes with surgical spirts, Eat healthy - try reducing sugar Let me know how it goes !
I'm on Azealic acid currently and gel cleansers are better
Hey friend, sorry I'm late to the game here. I wanted to say I'm 26F currently experiencing the worst breakout of my life. I've tried everything, including Accutane, which ultimately failed after a few months of flawless skin. Though I mentally struggle with my acne over and over all throughout the day, I've been reminding myself that this is MY skin. MY skin breaks out because it's doing its' normal thing. We cannot control the way our skin breaks out/if it breaks out/how badly it breaks out. I'm working hard on mentally accepting what my body is naturally producing. Though I won't stop looking for treatments, I'm also learning to love myself and care for myself. Be kind to yourself and hang in there.
On 8/12/2018 at 8:52 PM, Magpie82 said:How do you find the strength to go outside when you feel like you look like you have leprosy? I envy people who rock their acne. I wish I had their confidence. I see people on TV with beautiful skin and am filled with irrational hatred for them. I try to convince myself it's not as bad as I think when I look in the mirror... then I see a photograph of myself and realize it's actually WORSE. It's effecting my quality of life.
When I was young, I was blessed with flawless skin. While most adolescents were battling acne, I had strangers stopping me to compliment my skin. I took it for granted.
Things changed when I was 25. It wasn't too bad at first. Just a few pimples here and there. Over the next couple years it got worse and over the counter products didn't seem to do anything. I tried Proactiv. It helped, but it never cleared my skin... and as the years kept going by, it kept getting harder and harder to manage.
I was so excited when Differin was made non-prescription. It had such a great reputation for dealing with adult acne. Using it was the worst decision I ever made for my skin. I knew it was supposed to get worse before it got better and I resolved myself to bear it.
After about a month, my skin started to show improvement. For the first time in 10 years, the skin on my forehead was actually flat. It lasted one week. Then, it got far worse. Acne where I had never had it before and huge patches of skin that were bright red.
Every day I looked in the mirror and told myself we were playing to long game. Periodically it would start to clear up and I would have no major pimples and all the red marks would start to fade a bit... and just when I started to get excited, a whole new batch would form.
It said I would have full results after 3 months but I had the worst skin of my entire life. But those little victories kept me trying. I gave up after 6 months.
I started using a newer line from Neutrogena called "Rapid Clear" and started seeing signs of improvement after just a few days. I was floored. All this time and this everyday product was all I needed? Over the next week, I was looking a tiny bit better every day... but that didn't last either.
I swore to myself that I was going to have improvement this weekend if it killed me.... So I started using more of the product - which is the worst thing possible for my sensitive skin. I should have known better. My skin always gets worse if I wash it too often or use too much products. So of course, it got much worse. And I got really desperate and did something even stupider.
I have sterilized, individually packed needles for removing splinters... and I stabbed my largest pimples to try to squeeze out the puss. I think you can put together how effective this was.
So now I cannot stop crying and am trying to figure out how I will be able to drag myself into work tomorrow. What is the secret? How do you do it? Because I really need help right now.
Sometimes all you can do is fake it till you make it. When your skin is getting you down, go out and take a walk. Look people in the eye and speak positive messages of love and acceptance to yourself even if you don't feel it. Acne is unpredictable and even if you are doing everything right, it can still rear it's ugly head. While you try to find a solution, work on your mindset and self love.
Hang in there.
It can be really tough. Honestly I know this sound stupid but people arent thinking about your acne as much as you think. So when youre out dont be so self-conscious. I find talking about it helps and only looking in certain mirrors (good mirrors). Keeping yourself busy. If you ever need to vent we are all here for you
Sounds like I could've written this last year. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I used to look at people with clear skin and feel hate towards them too - did they realize how lucky they were to not have to waste money on products that won't work, and not HAVE to spend tons of money on makeup to cover it up?
If you had some success with Pro-Activ, I would suggest trying Unblemish by Rodan and Fields (same doctors). I used Pro-Activ for about 10 years....like you said, it kept my acne at bay but not 100% clear. So I tried dozens of other products in the search for clear skin....obviously nothing helped. But I started Unblemish in December 2017, and my skin is now acne free. Never ever thought I'd be able to say that, so I'm very grateful <3
