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Projecting and talking to a wall, but why has no one from the past 30+ pages who believes they have AMVC as well come back? We have 15 years of people discussing this disease, well way before I started suffering from it.I would love to start something to push awareness and push the dermatological field to research more into this but no one responds. I've PM-ed so many members and I get crickets.
13 hours ago, boafriend said:Projecting and talking to a wall, but why has no one from the past 30+ pages who believes they have AMVC as well come back? We have 15 years of people discussing this disease, well way before I started suffering from it. I would love to start something to push awareness and push the dermatological field to research more into this but no one responds. I've PM-ed so many members and I get crickets.
We're all suckers for sure. We like to suck what's good for us but never return the favor. So the motto goes, once a sucker always a sucker. 
3 minutes ago, Sirius Lee said:We're all suckers for sure. We like to suck what's good for us but never return the favor. So the motto goes, once a sucker always a sucker.
I'm not sure if you were trying to portray a positive mindset or be funny, because there's nothing funny about suffering from this. At all.
2 minutes ago, boafriend said:I'm not sure if you were trying to portray a positive mindset or be funny, because there's nothing funny aboutsuffering from this. At all.
Well, little of both. However, on a more serious note, this place is full of truant narcissists. They come here for advice but never report back, at least not in the long run.
6 minutes ago, Sirius Lee said:Well, little of both. However, on a more serious note, this place is full of truant narcissists. They come here for advice but never report back, at least not in the long run.
I just don't get how people share their experience and just vanish. I've PM-ed so many posters and their last log-ins are like 5+ years ago. AMVC doesn't play the same for every individual. Some claim they have random scarring then it just stops after a months and never comes back. Then some claim to have been suffering for years (myself 7 years now). I just want consistency and communication so we can maybe figure something out.Thisis a disease that's documented in research and is not "made up" as some people many years ago were suggesting. It is rare, but not as rare as existing research has made it out to be, if this many people claim to suffer from it. This thread is the biggest source of first-hand accounts for this disease, and it just baffles me how dead it is. I've started threads on Reddit, RealSelf, and other platforms to some traction, but again, people who also claim to have AMVC just vanish into oblivion.
I even contacted dermatologists who have published AMVC case studies, but only one from Europe has responded to me. She was interested in pushing more into research for this but asked if I had a biopsy sample, which I do not. She stopped responding.
4 minutes ago, boafriend said:I even contacted dermatologists who have published AMVC case studies, but only one from Europe has responded to me. She was interested in pushing more into research for this but asked if I had a biopsy sample, which I do not. She stopped responding.
Well, why don't you send her a sample of biopsy? Who knows, this could possibly lead to something more definitive.
6 minutes ago, boafriend said:I just want consistency and communication so we can maybe figure something out. This is a disease that's documented in research and is not "made up" as some people many years ago were suggesting. It is rare, but not as rare as existing research has made it out to be, if this many people claim to suffer from it.
Well, AMVC has cropped up every so often in the past that I actually gave some thought about what might be the cause. Although I have no proof to back this up, my hunch is that this is an autoimmune reaction similar to psoriasis or alopecia areata. Most autoimmune diseases come from poor gut health and it can be controlled with proper nutrition and exercise.
Well... yeah. 
43 minutes ago, Sirius Lee said:Well, why don't you send her a sample of biopsy? Who knows, this could possibly lead to something more definitive.
Well, AMVC has cropped up every so often in the past that I actually gave some thought about what might be the cause. Although I have no proof to back this up, my hunch is that this is an autoimmune reaction similar to psoriasis or alopecia areata. Most autoimmune diseases come from poor gut health and it can be controlled with proper nutrition and exercise.
Well... yeah.
I never had a biopsy done. I can't exactly walk into a derm and explain this disease and demand a biopsy (esp during this pandemic where services and things are so restricted). I'd say nine out of ten derms I have gone to just suggest using a retinol or getting laser done. Only one derm I went to in 2013 at UCLA (who was terrible) suggested it but was borderline sarcastic with me and said she wouldn't suggest goin through with it given my scarring. And besides, with my biopsy alone, it wouldn't be enough. The AMVC-study doctor I had emailed said it would work best if multiple sufferers sent biopsies to her so she could have a larger sample size to work with. You think that's gonna happen given how unresponsive people are here on these forums? I also imagine most people didn't get biopsies done for the same reason as me.
And AMVC is an autoimmune disorder. There isn't a need to guess; it behaves in the same way as other autoimmune issues, attacking healthy cells/components of the body; in this case, it destroys healthy skin/tissue. And yes I have read a lot about gut health -- it was discussed in earlier pages of this thread. Leaky gut syndrome has been suggested while others feel eating fish and having too much omega 3 has caused this. But we're all just throwing out guesses without professional help.
Every published study I have read on this (with biopsies done) just says there is a degrading of elastin fibers in the dermis. That's it. They can't find anything in terms of a marker in blood or anything. Just a physical loss of skin support.
2 hours ago, boafriend said:I never had a biopsy done. I can't exactly walk into a derm and explain this disease and demand a biopsy (esp during this pandemic where services and things are so restricted). I'd say nine out of tenderms I have gone to just suggest using a retinol or getting laser done. Only one derm I went to in 2013 at UCLA(who was terrible) suggested it but was borderline sarcastic with me and said she wouldn't suggest goin through with it given my scarring. And besides, with my biopsy alone, it wouldn't be enough. The AMVC-study doctor I had emailed said it would work best if multiple sufferers sent biopsies to her so she could have a larger sample size to work with. You think that's gonna happen given how unresponsive people are here on these forums? I also imagine most people didn't get biopsies done for the same reason as me.
And AMVC is an autoimmune disorder. There isn't a need to guess; it behaves in the same way as other autoimmune issues, attacking healthy cells/components of the body; in this case, it destroys healthy skin/tissue. And yes I have read a lot about gut health -- it was discussed in earlier pages of this thread.Leaky gut syndrome has been suggested while others feel eating fish and having too much omega 3 has caused this. But we're all just throwing out guesses without professional help.
Every published study I have read on this (with biopsies done) just says there is a degrading of elastin fibers in the dermis. That's it. They can't find anything in terms of a marker in blood or anything. Just a physical loss of skin support.
Science changes over time. What was once considered incurable becomes curable over time with new discoveries. Unfortunately, most people will not be alive to take advantage of it. I say this because you are looking for what doesn't yet exist (but surely will someday).
But way wait? Start experimenting with your body. What is causing the autoimmune reaction? Is it food? Is it toxicity(food allergy, environmental exposure, etc.), and on and on. Start with these premises and work by elimination. Do your own scientific research.
BTW many cancer patients have reversed the disease simply with fasting and diet. Likewise I suggest you start with diet change and see how changes occur.
Good luck!
3 minutes ago, Sirius Lee said:Science changes over time. What was once considered incurable becomes curable over time with new discoveries. Unfortunately, most people will not be alive to take advantage of it. I say this because you are looking for what doesn't yet exist (but surely will someday).
But way wait? Start experimenting with your body. What is causing the autoimmune reaction? Is it food? Is it toxicity(food allergy, environmental exposure, etc.), and on and on. Start with these premises and work by elimination. Do your own scientific research.
BTW many cancer patients have reversed the disease simply with fasting and diet. Likewise I suggest you start with diet change and see how changes occur.
Good luck!
I have tried. Have been to alternative doctors, allergists...no one can find out what is wrong. I also have random twitching and buzzing sensations that started around the time this scarring did. No help from any doctor. You have to understand how horrible a lotta doctors (even specialists) out there are. Me being in the US doesnt help either (or system here sucks).
I have cut coffee completely and have tried cutting sugar. I have avoided fish like the plague since the statements in this thread that consumption of it leads to more scarring.Theres just no help playing guess and having months pass by with new pits and dents.
I dont believe any kind of cure or understanding towards one will come in my lifetime, but it wont come any closer if no initial action is taken. No one from this thread wants to even give an update on their skin. Its just so frustrating.
I appreciate you trying to help. Im just exasperated and have been for 7 years. I want to die to just end the misery and helpless pit I feel in my stomach. I literally get uglier as time goes on, and its for no reason.
5 hours ago, boafriend said:I dont believe any kind of cure or understanding towards one will come in my lifetime, but it wont come any closer if no initial action is taken. No one from this thread wants to even give an update on their skin. Its just so frustrating.
I appreciate you trying to help. Im just exasperated and have been for 7 years. I want to die to just end the misery and helpless pit I feel in my stomach. I literally get uglier as time goes on, and its for no reason.
Although this is not my main concern here, I understand your frustration. Hey, if you want, I can help you find pertinentacademic papers (there are tons of research papers published on the topic of AMVC). First, I suggest you do a simple search on Google Scholar (hit the link below). I also have premium access to certain academic journals, so let me know if I can be of any help.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C48&q=amvc+scar&btnG=
15 minutes ago, Sirius Lee said:Although this is not my main concern here, I understand your frustration. Hey, if you want, I can help you find pertinentacademic papers (there are tons of research papers published on the topic of AMVC). First, I suggest you do a simple search on Google Scholar (hit the link below). I also have premium access to certain academic journals, so let me know if I can be of any help.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C48&q=amvc+scar&btnG=
I appreciate yourhelp. It helps to have someone even listen to me. I have scoured many studies, but it honestly doesn't help me because the conclusions find nothing that I can do. There is no understanding ofthe root cause of this; all I see are suggestions for cosmetic work to try undoing the scarring. And I fear even that doing cosmetic work like needling or lasers could possibly worsen the skin more because we have no understanding of what the state of skin health is for AMVC sufferers, i.e. has something weakened in your elastin/collagen build that make you more susceptible to damage? I have not come across a single sufferer who has pursued cosmetic work, seen success, and not experienced continued spontaneous scarring. Doesn't mean this doesn't exist, but just that no one has verbally come forward to share an update or experience.
This disease is so incredibly scary and I cannot think of anything worse that I'd wish onto someone. Imagine your face just deteriorating over time with pits and divots in places you didn't have any acne or trauma; it's soul-crushing. You don't know what you will look like in 3 months; in 6 months; in a year.I feel AMVC is widely dismisseddue to it being seen as benign and a "cosmetic" concern, but the psychological and emotional trauma is unbelievable. By far worse than just having acne.I don't feel normal. I don't have the right anymore to care about my appearance or look at my face in store lighting or in angled lighting or sunlightand not feel likebreaking down. I envy the average person who stops in a mirror at an H&M or something and checks himself out. I can't do that anymore because I am scarred and ugly and a helpless sufferer.
3 hours ago, boafriend said:I appreciate yourhelp. It helps to have someone even listen to me. I have scoured many studies, but it honestly doesn't help me because the conclusions find nothing that I can do. There is no understanding ofthe root cause of this; all I see are suggestions for cosmetic work to try undoing the scarring. And I fear even that doing cosmetic work like needling or lasers could possibly worsen the skin more because we have no understanding of what the state of skin health is for AMVC sufferers, i.e. has something weakened in your elastin/collagen build that make you more susceptible to damage? I have not come across a single sufferer who has pursued cosmetic work, seen success, and not experienced continued spontaneous scarring. Doesn't mean this doesn't exist, but just that no one has verbally come forward to share an update or experience.
This disease is so incredibly scary and I cannot think of anything worse that I'd wish onto someone. Imagine your face just deteriorating over time with pits and divots in places you didn't have any acne or trauma; it's soul-crushing. You don't know what you will look like in 3 months; in 6 months; in a year.I feel AMVC is widely dismisseddue to it being seen as benign and a "cosmetic" concern, but the psychological and emotional trauma is unbelievable. By far worse than just having acne.I don't feel normal. I don't have the right anymore to care about my appearance or look at my face in store lighting or in angled lighting or sunlightand not feel likebreaking down. I envy the average person who stops in a mirror at an H&M or something and checks himself out. I can't do that anymore because I am scarred and ugly and a helpless sufferer.
Hi Boafriend.
I too am suffering from this. Probably just half the length of time you have been. Firstly, let me try and give you some advice. F**K your skin and how you think you look. Honestly, everyone sees themselves looking terrible. It's in our instinc to try and make ourselves flawless even when most of the flaws we see in the mirror aren't noticable to anyone else. Please try and forget about your skin and live your live. Its just not worth investing 100% of your life on.
However.... I am starting on eveningprimrose oil 1300mg, calcium (as my teeth where brittle which makes mebelieve I have a deficiency) and flora tablets for my IBS. Have you tried any of this? If not why not start this with me and we can bring our data together?
I see your maybe struggling with this a bit and I want you to know that from the pictures iv seen (we are pretty much the same) you arent Freddie Krueger and youneed to relax a bit and start trying to enjoy your life more. Everything's good man. Go out and chat up some girls and improve your confidence.
On 10/25/2020 at 1:40 AM, Wingman1 said:Hi Boafriend.
I too am suffering from this. Probably just half the length of time you have been. Firstly, let me try and give you some advice. F**K your skin and how you think you look. Honestly, everyone sees themselves looking terrible. It's in our instinc to try and make ourselves flawless even when most of the flaws we see in the mirror aren't noticable to anyone else. Please try and forget about your skin and live your live. Its just not worth investing 100% of your life on.
However.... I am starting on eveningprimrose oil 1300mg, calcium (as my teeth where brittle which makes mebelieve I have a deficiency) and flora tablets for my IBS. Have you tried any of this? If not why not start this with me and we can bring our data together?
I see your maybe struggling with this a bit and I want you to know that from the pictures iv seen (we are pretty much the same) you arent Freddie Krueger and youneed to relax a bit and start trying to enjoy your life more. Everything's good man. Go out and chat up some girls and improve your confidence.
Thank you. I have not tried any supplements but I do know maintaining good gut flora (daily probiotics) is important, since many believe this scarring to come internal. I spoke with Freedom on here (long-time OG member whom many seek to for advice) and he told me how important a healthy gut is. Not to mention my scarring started about six months after an extreme bout of food poisoning overseas that affected my stomach (but this was 8 years ago now).
I understand the entire thing about us being most critical of ourselves, but I have a horrible history with acne so I've been bothered by my skin since I was 14 or 15. My acne is not as bad as it used to be, with random pimples here and there, but the scarring is always there. And the fact that my face worsens over time guts me so deeply. I don't have confidence because I feel people only see distracting scars on my face when they see me. I just found some deepscarring on my left temple today in which I do not recall having had acne form in that area like ever. Depressing.
I want to be free of this self-destroying disease but I can't because it's not a reality you can run from. Lighting and mirrors reveal the truth and you have to realize that your appearance is deteriorating and that it's not normal, but there is zero help or hope out there.
4 hours ago, boafriend said:Thank you. I have not tried any supplements but I do know maintaining good gut flora (daily probiotics) is important, since many believe this scarring to come internal. I spoke with Freedom on here (long-time OG member whom many seek to for advice) and he told me how important a healthy gut is. Not to mention my scarring started about six months after an extreme bout of food poisoning overseas that affected my stomach (but this was 8 years ago now).
I understand the entire thing about us being most critical of ourselves, but I have a horrible history with acne so I've been bothered by my skin since I was 14 or 15. My acne is not as bad as it used to be, with random pimples here and there, but the scarring is always there. And the fact that my face worsens over time guts me so deeply. I don't have confidence because I feel people only see distracting scars on my face when they see me. I just found some deepscarring on my left temple today in which I do not recall having had acne form in that area like ever. Depressing.
I want to be free of this self-destroying disease but I can't because it's not a reality you can run from. Lighting and mirrors reveal the truth and you have to realize that your appearance is deteriorating and that it's not normal, but there is zero help or hope out there.
I get it man. Have you been taking the supplements for your gut health and still having scars appear? Did you ever take accutane?
Mines seems to be after accutane where my cheeks began looking scarred for no reason. That was about 5 years ago.
Im going to start avoiding all dairy, gluten and sugar. I know they make me feel worse in my stomach when I east lots if them.
Do you go to the gym? Might be a good escape to work on yourself and have something to build towards? Again, I think you will see urself worse than anyone else and I think most people see things they don't like about their skin in certain lighting and angles. Even my gf goes in about her skin and to me it's pretty perfect.
23 minutes ago, Wingman1 said:I get it man. Have you been taking the supplements for your gut health and still having scars appear? Did you ever take accutane?
Mines seems to be after accutane where my cheeks began looking scarred for no reason. That was about 5 years ago.
Im going to start avoiding all dairy, gluten and sugar. I know they make me feel worse in my stomach when I east lots if them.
Do you go to the gym? Might be a good escape to work on yourself and have something to build towards? Again, I think you will see urself worse than anyone else and I think most people see things they don't like about their skin in certain lighting and angles. Even my gf goes in about her skin and to me it's pretty perfect.
A lot of people have either used retin-A in some capacity, took some form of oral antiobiotics, or been on Accutane before this shit started. It's a common thread I have found in this 15-year-old thread, so your experience fits right in.I personally have never been on Accutane nor have I used a retinol prior to my scarring. I did take doxycycline for like 2 months and used Epiduo on/off for a bit, but this was also all at least 5-6months before the scarring started. Other membersalso recount eating a lot of fish or omega-3-heavy foods. Ironically, I also did have a lot of fish for about a month of time (also 5-6 months or so before the scarring happened). But given that it's been 8 years now Ifeel the retin-A/medication can't be a cause since I have continued to scar despite not being on any of thesethings. I have also tried avoiding fish like the plague in recent years due my fear that fish does for some reason worsen scarring. I have oddly found (unsure if it's due to paranoia) that after consumption of fish in some sort of capacity, I will discover a random pit somewhere on my face a few days or week later.
I cut dairy almost exactly a year ago. Gluten and sugar I haven't, and these are super hard to cut. I surprisingly cut coffee quite easily I think in January of this year, just because Freedom on here suggested it since the acidity of coffee can upset the gut in yourstomach. Caffeine in general, althoughI have resorted to a lot of tea since last year just for a soothing beverage.
I used to gym at least once a week...did twice a week in the years prior, but COVID-19 has made the gym out to be a dangerous place, so I haven't stepped foot in one since early March. Gym lighting and mirrors break me a lot because they show scarring very easily.
I knowwe all view ourselves differently but I unfortunately have always taken pride and care in my appearance and this random scarring has destroyed my soul. I lost my 20s to this disease (it started at 23 for me in 2013), spending years seeing doctors begging for help, only to be seen as "crazy."And my 30s don't look any better (I am 31 now).
I have a thread on RealSelf that I oddly can longer reply to, but every year I get responses from people who claim to have spontaneous scarring too. I have 2 Reddit threads that while dead and were not received with much help, have spawned private conversations with 5 or so people who also have suffered from what they believe is AMVC. Although still rare (all these supposed sufferers in comparison to people who will never experience this), I am convinced that this phenomenon has some trigger or pattern andthat it is way more common than believed in medical literature. The issue is NO ONE is stepping up and pushing dermatology unions/whatever the fuck they're called to care about this. The existence of COVID-19 makes it even harder for any medical professional to care now. Dermatologists that I've seen from 2013 - 2019have mostlynever heard of AMVC, and when presented with print-outs I bring, just agree that there's nothing that can be done. I hate the ones who tell me it seems benign and is nothing to worry about when mentally/emotionally, it is a killer. And usually the only advice is for you to undergo cosmetic treatment to lessen the scarring when in fact, you're just treating an issue whose root you are unable to eradicate.
If you look at my avatar, taken in fall 2012,....that picture was back when two deep rolling scars (prominent in the picture) were the only scars on my face yet they bothered me SO SO much. I would do anything to just go back to that. When I thought I had it the worst....that was in retrospect now when I had it the best. I justdidn't know the hell that awaited me in March 2013.
17 minutes ago, boafriend said:
A lot of people have either used retin-A in some capacity, took some form of oral antiobiotics, or been on Accutane before this shit started. It's a common thread I have found in this 15-year-old thread, so your experience fits right in.I personally have never been on Accutane nor have I used a retinol prior to my scarring. I did take doxycycline for like 2 months and used Epiduo on/off for a bit, but this was also all at least 5-6months before the scarring started. Other membersalso recount eating a lot of fish or omega-3-heavy foods. Ironically, I also did have a lot of fish for about a month of time (also 5-6 months or so before the scarring happened). But given that it's been 8 years now Ifeel the retin-A/medication can't be a cause since I have continued to scar despite not being on any of thesethings. I have also tried avoiding fish like the plague in recent years due my fear that fish does for some reason worsen scarring. I have oddly found (unsure if it's due to paranoia) that after consumption of fish in some sort of capacity, I will discover a random pit somewhere on my face a few days or week later.
I cut dairy almost exactly a year ago. Gluten and sugar I haven't, and these are super hard to cut. I surprisingly cut coffee quite easily I think in January of this year, just because Freedom on here suggested it since the acidity of coffee can upset the gut in yourstomach. Caffeine in general, althoughI have resorted to a lot of tea since last year just for a soothing beverage.
I used to gym at least once a week...did twice a week in the years prior, but COVID-19 has made the gym out to be a dangerous place, so I haven't stepped foot in one since early March. Gym lighting and mirrors break me a lot because they show scarring very easily.
I knowwe all view ourselves differently but I unfortunately have always taken pride and care in my appearance and this random scarring has destroyed my soul. I lost my 20s to this disease (it started at 23 for me in 2013), spending years seeing doctors begging for help, only to be seen as "crazy."And my 30s don't look any better (I am 31 now).
I have a thread on RealSelf that I oddly can longer reply to, but every year I get responses from people who claim to have spontaneous scarring too. I have 2 Reddit threads that while dead and were not received with much help, have spawned private conversations with 5 or so people who also have suffered from what they believe is AMVC. Although still rare (all these supposed sufferers in comparison to people who will never experience this), I am convinced that this phenomenon has some trigger or pattern andthat it is way more common than believed in medical literature. The issue is NO ONE is stepping up and pushing dermatology unions/whatever the fuck they're called to care about this. The existence of COVID-19 makes it even harder for any medical professional to care now. Dermatologists that I've seen from 2013 - 2019have mostlynever heard of AMVC, and when presented with print-outs I bring, just agree that there's nothing that can be done. I hate the ones who tell me it seems benign and is nothing to worry about when mentally/emotionally, it is a killer. And usually the only advice is for you to undergo cosmetic treatment to lessen the scarring when in fact, you're just treating an issue whose root you are unable to eradicate.
If you look at my avatar, taken in fall 2012,....that picture was back when two deep rolling scars (prominent in the picture) were the only scars on my face yet they bothered me SO SO much. I would do anything to just go back to that. When I thought I had it the worst....that was in retrospect now when I had it the best. I justdidn't know the hell that awaited me in March 2013.
It's weird because I truly beleive it's to do with accutane even although it was years ago I took it. I only get the occasional spot now like most ppl.
The one thing that has baffled me is my left side seemed way worse a year or so ago but its seems to have gotten better (which gives me hope) but my right side now has 2 scars in it. I have a beard and I used to only trim it with an electric razor as I beleive my skin was too sensitive for a normal shave but I have started to shave with a normal razor with some aloe vera on my face to help the blade glide. I think thatmay be helping a little coupled with calcium and stomach supplements but it might take a few years to get my skin back to normal.
Just now, Wingman1 said:It's weird because I truly beleive it's to do with accutane even although it was years ago I took it. I only get the occasional spot now like most ppl.
The one thing that has baffled me is my left side seemed way worse a year or so ago but its seems to have gotten better (which gives me hope) but my right side now has 2 scars in it. I have a beard and I used to only trim it with an electric razor as I beleive my skin was too sensitive for a normal shave but I have started to shave with a normal razor with some aloe vera on my face to help the blade glide. I think thatmay be helping a little coupled with calcium and stomach supplements but it might take a few years to get my skin back to normal.
A lot of people in this thread's history started scarring after Accutane or retinol, but I don't know what the time period between use and scarring was. It likely is different for everyone. Also note that some people experience spontaneous scarring for a few months then it stops. Then other less fortunate ones, like me, scar for years to no end.
I also have a side of my face more ravaged by the random scarring, and it's my right side. In 2013 when my scarring started I hada long, slightly curved linear scar spawn out of nowhere on my left cheek. It was an indented line. I used this Syprex scar scream (company completely wiped off the internet now) and massaged the line furiously for a few months and it miraculously faded completely. I have had what appear to be nasolabial-fold-like indents (almost like loss in support under my skin) form in 2018 and 2019 but I used red LED lights and they seem to have helped fade those.
Doing what you can to better your gut should help though because the gut is where all immune issues arise from (I think it's something like that).
Hi All,
I posted way back earlier in this thread when I was struggling with spontaneous large pours and sometimes shallow scarring and connecting pores that sometimes turn into pseudo-scars. I wanted to check back in because I am doing much much much better. A couple thoughts to hopefully ease some minds and help. Disclaimer: These are things that helped me, I'm no doctor but these are some observations and things that I did to overcome this cycle of enlarged pores, weird scars, red enflamed skin, etc.
-If you were ever on accutane it is 100% contributing to this. Your skin is weaker than a normal persons. I consistently bruise easily and often I don't even know what caused my bruises. I scar easily, my hands have all kinds of cuts from a new puppy we have and they are already scarring a little bit which I don't mind. A different dog bit my nose a little a couple months ago and that left a light but noticeable scar too. Its something to be mindful of, you have to protect your skin and your face. That means sunscreen, lotion (I use cerave), and taking precautionary measures that others probably don't have to.
-I definitely have Rosacea, I would guess a lot of you do too. Rosacea combined with being a former accutane user isn't a great combo. What that means is when you're stressed or obsessing over your face, its going to get enflamed and red and make your pores look way worse, worse than they actually are and your face blotchy. Sometimes those blotches are going to look like large shallow scars.
-I know its hard, so so so hard. But you have to stay calm, and let your skin heal. It will but if it is constantly being irritated from anxiety, or products, or obsessing in the mirror over it it will not heal or calm down. I used to live in the mirror, like staring at different angles in the mirror for like 2 hours a day just to try and find an angle that I liked. Stressed and anxious to a degree that was very unhealthy and even made me question whether or not I wanted to live to be honest. Things will get better, you just have to focus on yourself in a positive way. Take a bath, play some video games, watch movies, take naps, drink water, eat a lot of green vegetables and fruits, drink apple cider vinegar. Just focus on relaxation and stay out of the mirror. If you relax for a week and don't get worked up about your skin and check a week later after you wake up I guarantee you will be like "Damn that's actually not that bad at all, it looks way better than before. I can live with this". It will only keep getting better from there.
-Most of my scars that were showing or highlighted during my worst days (probably about 3 years ago I made a decision to stop staring in the mirror and obsessing over my skin) are no longer visible. Every male has pores, its normal. Look at other peoples skin when the light shines a certain way, we all have them. Its just a matter of how irritated our faces are that dictates how prominent they will be.
Kind of rambling, hope this helps. Here is basically the products I use.
-Cerave face lotion
-Vitamin C serum 1-2x a week, used to be more but now I kind of forget but use it sparingly when I remember.
-I drink about a shot of apple cider vinegar a day for gut problems that I deal with but I think what happens down there can really influence your skin, even on your face.
-I just try and eat vegetables in some capacity as much as I can, hopefully with every meal but this isn't like law. I just try and eat greens.
-I also have a fruit smoothie every morning but that's kind of just because I like them
-I'm also on anxiety medication. About a year ago I started a new role at work which caused me a lot of stress and I had a little flare up but the anxiety medication helped a lot. Lexapro is what I take. I am convinced that the best thing to do for your skin is just to stay consistent with lotions and serums and control your stress/anxiety.
Thanks all!
-J
On 11/30/2020 at 5:16 AM, jmd1568 said:Hi All,
I posted way back earlier in this thread when I was struggling with spontaneous large pours and sometimes shallow scarring and connecting pores that sometimes turn into pseudo-scars. I wanted to check back in because I am doing much much much better. A couple thoughts to hopefully ease some minds and help. Disclaimer: These are things that helped me, I'm no doctor but these are some observations and things that I did to overcome this cycle of enlarged pores, weird scars, red enflamed skin, etc.
-If you were ever on accutane it is 100% contributing to this. Your skin is weaker than a normal persons. I consistently bruise easily and often I don't even know what caused my bruises. I scar easily, my hands have all kinds of cuts from a new puppy we have and they are already scarring a little bit which I don't mind. A different dog bit my nose a little a couple months ago and that left a light but noticeable scar too. Its something to be mindful of, you have to protect your skin and your face. That means sunscreen, lotion (I use cerave), and taking precautionary measures that others probably don't have to.
-I definitely have Rosacea, I would guess a lot of you do too. Rosacea combined with being a former accutane user isn't a great combo. What that means is when you're stressed or obsessing over your face, its going to get enflamed and red and make your pores look way worse, worse than they actually are and your face blotchy. Sometimes those blotches are going to look like large shallow scars.
-I know its hard, so so so hard. But you have to stay calm, and let your skin heal. It will but if it is constantly being irritated from anxiety, or products, or obsessing in the mirror over it it will not heal or calm down. I used to live in the mirror, like staring at different angles in the mirror for like 2 hours a day just to try and find an angle that I liked. Stressed and anxious to a degree that was very unhealthy and even made me question whether or not I wanted to live to be honest. Things will get better, you just have to focus on yourself in a positive way. Take a bath, play some video games, watch movies, take naps, drink water, eat a lot of green vegetables and fruits, drink apple cider vinegar. Just focus on relaxation and stay out of the mirror. If you relax for a week and don't get worked up about your skin and check a week later after you wake up I guarantee you will be like "Damn that's actually not that bad at all, it looks way better than before. I can live with this". It will only keep getting better from there.
-Most of my scars that were showing or highlighted during my worst days (probably about 3 years ago I made a decision to stop staring in the mirror and obsessing over my skin) are no longer visible. Every male has pores, its normal. Look at other peoples skin when the light shines a certain way, we all have them. Its just a matter of how irritated our faces are that dictates how prominent they will be.
Kind of rambling, hope this helps. Here is basically the products I use.
-Cerave face lotion
-Vitamin C serum 1-2x a week, used to be more but now I kind of forget but use it sparingly when I remember.
-I drink about a shot of apple cider vinegar a day for gut problems that I deal with but I think what happens down there can really influence your skin, even on your face.
-I just try and eat vegetables in some capacity as much as I can, hopefully with every meal but this isn't like law. I just try and eat greens.
-I also have a fruit smoothie every morning but that's kind of just because I like them
-I'm also on anxiety medication. About a year ago I started a new role at work which caused me a lot of stress and I had a little flare up but the anxiety medication helped a lot. Lexapro is what I take. I am convinced that the best thing to do for your skin is just to stay consistent with lotions and serums and control your stress/anxiety.
Thanks all!
-J
Thank you for your sharing and actually coming back to this thread. You're the only member to do so in the 7 years I've been on this thread.My concern is if your random scarring ever stopped though? It's impossible to know if you're not looking in the mirror. And I agree obsessing in the mirror is very bad but to be honest, for all of us here, we have to face the reality of what we look like at some point.
I agree Accutane can be a contributor as there is a long pattern of people here having gone on it or used a topical retinol. I was not of them though, which is weird.
My random scarring stopped yes. And I still look in the mirror, don't get me wrong but in a normal pattern and not like dashing to the bathroom and staring at my face for 5 minutes at a time. For me at least I could legitimately feel my face get hot and enflamed as I stood there observing every centimeter of my face, pores, etc.
12 hours ago, jmd1568 said:My random scarring stopped yes. And I still look in the mirror, don't get me wrong but in a normal pattern and not like dashing to the bathroom and staring at my face for 5 minutes at a time. For me at least I could legitimately feel my face get hot and enflamed as I stood there observing every centimeter of my face, pores, etc.
How long did you suffer from the random scarring? I'm on 7 years now.