Your acne looks exactly like mine! I'm 23 and have been on and off the pill for years. The pill definitely helps me at times but then there were some pills that made me break out horrendously. Maybe switch pills?. My sister is an esthetician and she has perfect skin. She told me that when you have bumps that are almost flesh colored (only turn red when you pick at them) along with white heads, they're called closed comedones.- or congested pores. I haven't quite figured out what to do about it yet, but I hope it helps you figure out what your next step is. I know what it's like to live with it and it's so frustrating. For me, I manage to eliminate some of them by gently scrubbing with baking soda in the shower and then when I get out I extract them. A LOT of pus comes out so that's how you know theres so much congestion underneath the skin. I will attach the photos I took today of my cheeks. It's quite bad for doing my makeup as nicely as possible. My face kind of reminds me of a crunch bar and it's confidence killing when you have already done your makeup as best as you can and it still shows. I hope I helped even just a little bit so that you can find what works for you! One last thing, I also seem to have a skin picking problem (not sure if you touch your face as much as me if at all) but I noticed I break out so much more when I constantly touch and pick my blemishes. Once I become aware of it, it calms down a lot. Fingernails can lead to closed comedones for sure! Xox 

Hi!
Thank you so much for replying! You were really helpful indeed  yes i totally agree, it is totally confidence killing some days i don't feel like going out because i know how visible it is and it doesn't help that every single one of my friends and the people i am around have perfect skin!

I might try the baking soda idea thank you for suggesting it! I am to scared to extract the stuff myself in case i make it worse! 

Which pill worked for you? Xx

Please don't use baking soda! It's very harmful for the skin.... check out the reddit, skincareaddiction, and they will back up these claims.

Your best bet for closed comedones is extraction by a professional or topical retinoids such as epiduo or tretinoin. You're best bet is to go and consult a dermatologist .

1 hour ago, Lore91 said:

Please don't use baking soda! It's very harmful for the skin.... check out the reddit, skincareaddiction, and they will back up these claims.

Your best bet for closed comedones is extraction by a professional or topical retinoids such as epiduo or tretinoin. You're best bet is to go and consult a dermatologist .

Second this!!! Home remedies will make it worse.

Hi, I have hormonal acne too. Mine is less widespread but more deep / red when I get one. I believe the best by pills for acne are Yaz, Yasmine or Orthocyclen. Some women take spironolactone with or instead of birth control.
my acne is also affected by foods. I used antibiotics a few years ago but it did in fact lose effectiveness.

4 hours ago, Lore91 said:

Please don't use baking soda! It's very harmful for the skin.... check out the reddit, skincareaddiction, and they will back up these claims.

Your best bet for closed comedones is extraction by a professional or topical retinoids such as epiduo or tretinoin. You're best bet is to go and consult a dermatologist .

do you know if Epsom salt is OK for skin?

On 25 May 2016 at 8:28 PM, Lore91 said:

Please don't use baking soda! It's very harmful for the skin.... check out the reddit, skincareaddiction, and they will back up these claims.

Your best bet for closed comedones is extraction by a professional or topical retinoids such as epiduo or tretinoin. You're best bet is to go and consult a dermatologist .

Hi! Yes i have seen a dermatologist, she told me to go on accutane, i wasn't that pleased with the outcome because i felt there were lesser harsh options so i changed to another dermatologist who has put me on yasmin, minocycline and epiduo combination! Hope it works! Before going on yasmin my acne was not major just tiny spots but wisespread but after having the yasmin the spots became significantly bigger and ive never had such bad acne before! But hoping this is the intial breakout period where it gets worse before it gets better! I haven't completed two months yet so waiting till three for some results hopefully! Thank you for replying

On 5/28/2016 at 6:17 PM, BeatlesFan said:

Hi! Yes i have seen a dermatologist, she told me to go on accutane, i wasn't that pleased with the outcome because i felt there were lesser harsh options so i changed to another dermatologist who has put me on yasmin, minocycline and epiduo combination! Hope it works! Before going on yasmin my acne was not major just tiny spots but wisespread but after having the yasmin the spots became significantly bigger and ive never had such bad acne before! But hoping this is the intial breakout period where it gets worse before it gets better! I haven't completed two months yet so waiting till three for some results hopefully! Thank you for replying

hi. I'd absolutely NOT go on accutane. That's supposed to be a last resort. Your acne I'd moderate if even that.
Good I take yaz + Spiro 50ng and I'm doing really well so far. Im also using Cetaphil antibacterial bar with good results. Birth control can take 3-6 months to actually improve skin. Sorry you're having a hard time. If anything I suggest using less topicals but that's just me.

On 13 June 2016 at 11:34 PM, snarkygirl said:

hi. I'd absolutely NOT go on accutane. That's supposed to be a last resort. Your acne I'd moderate if even that.
Good I take yaz + Spiro 50ng and I'm doing really well so far. Im also using Cetaphil antibacterial bar with good results. Birth control can take 3-6 months to actually improve skin. Sorry you're having a hard time. If anything I suggest using less topicals but that's just me.

Hi! Thanks so much for your response! I agree! I do not want to take accutane and i definitely believe there are other less harsh methods to deal with acne! I am currently on my third packet of yasmin! I did have the bad initial break out, but it is slowly improving thankfully! Hopefully by the end of the third month it wil be nearly all gone i am hoping. The dermatologist did say give it three months to take effect. I feel a little more confident going out in public now that the big fat red ones have died down and i have mostly tiny pimples and whiteheads.  

I had my graduation from university recently and i had three big pimples on my cheek and i was  praying for them to at least significantly reduce in size if not completely go!! I put epiduo every night for a week before my graduation it helped so much!!! Was so happy!! But did dry out my skin heaps as it is currently wonter here at the moment! I dont usually put the topical everyday, usually every few days mostly because my skin peels if i use it everyday.

This is a photo of me at graduation!!  The make up people did wonders to cover up my zits!!  As i am not usually a make up wearer!!