Dear Acne,

You have invaded my personal space for many, many years now. You began when I turned 17, then we took a much needed break from your beyond frustrating cohabitation in my late 20s. Now for the past 10 years even though I thought I was supposed to out-grow you during middle age you have returned with a vengeance and have come on much stronger in your efforts.

I gotta give it to you! Persistent you are at least. I have almost learned to crack the code of where you will appear each month with your new troops leading a full out battle against my skin so at least you are reliable and will always show up. However and I really need you to take note you are NOT INVITED so please get lost once and for all!

At this point in my life, I should be googling Anti Age Skin Care kits but no once again I am googling Acne Skin Care Kits, again! I have spent too many years crying in the mirror over another new eruption in the middle of my face that makeup will not cover and sometimes your bumps are really painful! I have read every acne book I can get my hands on, tried every new product they promise will make you go away, tried medications etc. and nothing every works. I have spent a small fortune talking to doctors, dermatologists etc. that seem more interested in pushing the latest drug my way instead of truly listening what I have to say. I come with all the facts in hand but they could seem to care less.

What the hell is causing you anyway? Lets see it could be just a few things we could narrow down upon. Maybe something I am eating, 1 ingredient in the long list of my ever growing and ever changing facial products, my fluctuating and ever changing hormones, not getting enough sleep, air pollution, stress? No problem in finding that needle in the haystack that causes you like clockwork every month.

Let me just say this. I am done worrying about you and crying over you. I will no longer look in the mirror more than necessary, no longer will I try to pick at you because I just want you off my face, I will no longer miss out on things in my life since I was too embarrassed to face people so I hid out at home and made up another excuse why I couldnt go, I will no longer miss jumping into swimming pools with my kids for fear my makeup will come off and what lies beneath that make up will be exposed for the world to see.

Nope, we are done. You can choose to keep invading my personal space but when you do you are being ignored. You are now going to be invisible to me and I am taking my life back!