I am a a 21 year old female, 22 in December and I am so fed up with my face. I feel so unfeminine and like no one can take me seriously because of my acne. It's really devastating me to the point of where I hate having my picture taken. I went to Florida recently (for the first time ever) and was ashamed to be in any pictures because I looked so ugly... I used to have acne back when I was about 16-18 then it kinda backed off, it's always been there, just REALLY bad recently.

I don't know what the deal is. I really take care of my face, I wash it, RARELY wear makeup anymore, if I do I wash it off after a few hours. I always wear my hair up so I doubt it can be oil from my hair. The weird thing is that it's always on the bottom of my face. Pretty much around my jawline and a little above. I am attaching some picture so you all can see what I mean. I do have a few smaller zits up higher, but I can deal with those. Those are nothing compared to what I've been dealing with. These are like cysts I guess? They are very painful sometimes it even hurts to sleep on certain parts of my face. Some get huge and are mushy (lack of a better word?) when you push on them, they're not hard like normal zits so I'm assuming they're cysts or nodules. The rest of my face is fine. I do get occasional zits on other parts of my face, but nothing too bad. Just WHY THERE???

I was reading something about androgens earlier and it said that is a big cause of jawline acne. I guess I produce too much male hormones? I've been on birth control over a month and the acne really hasn't slacked up any. I'm not sure if this is the answer, just a thought. I've tried finding answers, no luck. No proactiv, other other treatments really help this. I mean I can dry the cysts up but it takes FOREVER. And some of the spots seem like 5 zits in the same spot creating this mega zit (lol).

The pictures I've attached some either sides of my face, my chin (which oddly enough isn't bad at all!) and my overall face. You can really see how bad it is in just that area. I also have some cysts (no head at all) on my neck you cant really see them, but you can feel them.

I also don't have any health insurance... 🙁 so I really can't go to a dermatologist. My plan was to go to a regular doctor that does visits based on income and see if he can prescribe me something.

Anyway, does anyone have any kind of advice at all? This is depressing me greatly. I am comfortable with myself otherwise. I just really want this gone. People really don't know how lucky they are to have beautiful skin...

Couldnt fit all pics, others are here:

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hi there i jus have to say that i am in the same sitution as u ... i tend to jus break out along my jawline... i know its sooo depressing... afta reading ur post i jus hav to say that i can total relate to everything u said... i so heart breaking and i always hav a low self esteem in terms of my appreance...

yeh its strange because i also jus only tend to break out along my jawline and like u mentioned its like prob 5 pimples that make it look like a big as pimple...

would be great to know what is really causing this and what we can do about it...

thanks for ur post and im with u ... hope we can find the solution!!!

I have similar acne except mine is everywhere lol. You can actually just go to your general physician and he/she can prescribe you acne treatments all you have to do is ask them but also keep in mind that those meds are expensive without insurance. Also, my derm said that if your menstrual cycle is not regular like you just don't have any idea when you're gonna get it then that actually means that your hormone level is not consistent; it is like a roller coaster and if that happens, it affects your acne. And if you think that it's hormonal then you might want to consider going to your gynocologist and ask for Birth control pills. I thought it's something iimportant to share. hehe. I know how you feel when it comes to social status and what not but you just have to dig deep and hope for the best. Goodluck with everything!

Birth control can take 3-6 months to help with acne... but only some pills are really likely to reduce acne.. which pill are you on?

Since you're interested in hormonal treatments, have you heard of spironolactone? Check out the hormonal treatment board (a sub-forum in the prescription treatments board)... there's more info there.

Hormonal treatments aim to reduce androgen levels (the "male" hormones), and they work in various ways. Androgens are always involved in acne formation, since testosterone is the hormone primarily responsible for sebum (oil) production.

If you're interested in learning more about hormonal treatments, I recommend asking your questions in the hormonal treatment boards, because you're more likely to get more responses there.

Also, you do not need to see a dermatologist for acne treatments. I get all my acne medications from my gyno's office (my regimen is a combo of hormonal and topical treatments)... but a "regular" doctor can prescribe acne treatments as well.

I'm a 19 yr old male and my acne is just like yours. When I was younger my acne was more widespread but less severe, however in the past year its migrated to that jaw/neck area and its cystic red bumps. Common link is that its occurring with us in adulthood past puberty acne.

Hi there,

When I had breakouts a few years ago, I had them along my jawline as well. Turns out, I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. The hormonal imbalance caused by it had a severe effect on my acne and because of it, I got on birth control. I was also prescribed Tazorac by my doctor. The combination of the pill, Tazorac, and a healthier diet began to show me HUGE differences. In about 6 months of the Tazorac and pill, I was clearer than I had ever been. Here are my before and after photos. I wanted to share them with you so you know that success is possible. Check out websites on the symptoms for PCOS and see if they apply to you... if that's the case, start seeking treatment for it.

If you have any questions or just want to chat, feel free to message me.

I have had the exact jawline acne issue for the last 3 years. The rest of my face was good. I have no insurance either so I thank god everyday I found this web site. I am older and have had acne for most of my life. I got on here and read so many posts. The best thing that is working for me is using Niacin non-flush 500mg 1 pill a day. My jawline is now clear of acne and now I am dealing with the leftover red marks. I still get the tiny tiny whiteheads but I can deal with that. I am starting on Zinc 50mg today to try to deal with the (leftovers) and I use Vicco cream to kill bacteria and moisturize. Hang in there and read these posts. You will learn so much about people and that your not alone in this.

tcm for acne goggle it I'm sure this would help