I have had 2 blind pimples for 3 weeks now. I started taking Minocycline (100 to 200 milligrams) again once they appeared, and I thought they were getting better. However, the one on my chin has gotten redder. The one in the corner of my mouth was really on its way out, and then all of a sudden, it refilled and got huge, painful, and red again. I went to the dermatologist 1.5 weeks ago, and she said the zits were healing, so she didn't want to give me a cortisone shot and risk atrophy. Now, I've requested another appointment for next week. It's mid-week, and I'm seeing a dermatologist instead of a PA this time. I'm just going to risk atrophy with the cortisone shots. This is ridiculous. I'm already going to have horrible scars/hyperpigmentation from these two zits.

Meanwhile, I got a new zit on my forehead, which I assume is due to stress, and I found a new one on my chin yesterday. It doesn't end. I've cried and panicked over these for too long now. I went several months with no major issues, and now everything is showing up at once. I never wear full foundation, so I just spot-cover blemishes with concealer. They end up looking really obvious. I have too many events coming up to not wear makeup, and if I don't wear makeup even on days when I can stay in, I go crazy from looking in the mirror 24/7. I feel absolutely hopeless. How do I stop the breakouts? I'm already on Retin-A, Minocycline (which I'll never be able to stop now), Spironolactone, and Yaz. What else can I do? My skin is too sensitive for zit-zapping products like BP and SA. I've tried.

I'm 26. I'm too old to still be getting these breakouts. It seems like everyone around me has perfect skin and no worries. And I feel so self-conscious about these giant zits, especially knowing that I'm powerless to stop them. They linger for weeks, and the scars linger for months and years. Next week marks a month since these zits first appeared, and there are others in the works. It's infuriating. It's depressing. It's horrible.