Hi everyone,

I am generally not one to post on forums or get too involved in things like this, but as a recent acne sufferer and FINALLY finding something that works, I felt I needed to share my story, even if it only helps one person... I'll try to keep this short, but I apologize if it is somewhat long.

So as a teenager I never had skin issues, I was very fortunate that way. Then, when I turned 21 I decided to go off birth control (if any men are reading this, please continue, this is not just directed to women ) everything was fine, then about eight months or so later I started breaking out, deep cystic pimples that would scar and last for weeks. I figured it was just my hormones balancing out and had faith it would work its self out in time... NOPE.

After many doctors appointments and over-the-counter treatments I began to feel hopeless. These breakouts were consistent and pretty much only occurred in the exact same places... mostly on my cheeks. But over and over again in the same spots. Of course, the breakouts occurred in other spots but my cheeks were the worst. Now, I shouldn't make it sound severe, it was more like moderate. Anyways, first I would like to say FORGET the over-the-counter crap. If you have cystic acne the problem is wayyy deep in your skin and the root cause cannot be touched topically. So, long story short, I exhausted the benzol-peroxides, salisylic acids and all that other crap. I went back on the pill (after about a year and a half of suffering) and finally I went six months without a breakout. I thought, YAY! I only need to be on birth control for the rest of my life to keep this at bay... Well, then the breakouts started again.

I went another two and a half years struggling, my doctor sent me to a dermatologist who's only suggestion was Accutane... Please, please if you are reading this, do NOT go on Accutane, look at the side effects, that's all I will say. Scared the crap out of me, thank god! But I was sooo upset with my face that I actually, almost considered it.

Anyways, I really did try everything. I went to a naturopath, tried all kinds of remedies and vitamins (not saying they don't work for some, but they didn't for me.) I even tried TBM and biofeedback therapy. Then finally I came across acupuncture... yes, ACUPUNCTURE.

Now please, I beg of you, if you have been suffering with acne or your child has or even a friend or spouse, please, please find an acupuncturist. It will amaze you.

My acne was getting more and more frequent. It went from one or two every couple months (this sounds mild but they lasted almost a month and were cystic and scarred.) To one or two every couple weeks and would be back to back.

My first session was a 90 minute consultation and we didn't get to do a real treatment, but she did put some seeds in my ears. (this was two months ago from today.) Then, I was going on vacation for a week and wouldn't get to see her for close to two weeks. Well, the day of my first appointment I had a pimple coming in. It wasn't very severe yet but it was there. Well, something amazing happened. After a few days with the seeds, it just disappeared. This has never happened before... I was SO happy, but also, I had been let down SO many times that I wasn't putting too much faith in it. But, I figured it was a step in the right direction.

So, I got back from my trip and went for my first real treatment then another session which was scheduled 3 days later. The next day two pimples popped up, one on my chin and one on my jaw. Took them a little while to go down but as she explained, the procedures can push out things that are in your body and sometimes redirect them. After that, I continued having the sessions twice a week. A couple of times I could see a pimple coming in and I would think OH NO its not workingggg! But then, they would just disappear.

I have not had any more breakouts in the last two months. Oh sure, I get the odd clogged pore, but those just dry up and are more like a tiny little black head. AND acupuncture is GREAT for scarring. I have had six sessions on my scars and am already seeing a difference.

So please, acupuncture is not a very expensive procedure and, if you have health coverage it's probably even covered.

Oh, I should mention, turns out my acne showing up on my cheeks means the root cause is digestion. Never would think I had any problems there, but I in my past I was put on antibiotics a lot and at the time my acne started I was going through grief after my father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. All kinds of things can have an impact on your body.

I sincerely hope and pray that if someone is going through what I went through, that they are able to find the help I did. It took four years for me and I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Acne can happen to anyone. And it is so hard, especially with scarring. So if someone you know or love is experiencing acne, try acupuncture! It changed my life.

I hope this post helps someone!

Best,

AlleyK