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So Frustrated

 
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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/15/2014 9:46 pm

It just feels so futile. I feel like I'm never going to be happy with my skin and it's really upsetting me and causign me a lot of anxiety, and I feel liek I cant make plans cause I dont know how bad it's gonna be that far in advance.and I dont want to end up canceling. It's a nightmare and I just want it to stop, I feel like Im being driven crazy.

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(@michelle-reece)

Posted : 02/15/2014 10:03 pm

How bad is your acne? Like, needing-Accutane bad?

Edit: I'd like to know so I can appropriately respond.

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(@avada-kedavra-acne)

Posted : 02/15/2014 10:16 pm

That was me toooo, i still have anxiety but it has def decreased. now... i dont like to recommend medication to anyone because a specialist knows you better than anyone (besides yourself obvs). Anyways ive been to the derm for about 5 or 6 years trying creams, oral meds but it just didnt work- mostly because i was treating minor breakouts with harsh creams while i didnt know i had rosacea. so accutane, and an allergist specialist later i have it mostly under control. I found that i was intolerant to a lottttt of ingredients and types of foods (it sucks so badly) - i found i was lactose intol, i cant have apples, and citrus fruit, oats, soy, ice cream, coffee & tea (mostly because heat and caffeine set off my rosacea), bakers yeast, cat dander, horse(odd one), along with many other things. After a while i started to learn and its easier for me. The accutane i wont deny was a tough 7-8 months of my life (June2013-Oct2013). my skin went through hell. I learned through that was i had to give up makeup (skin makeup) my skin would get irritated and break out, and also my skin hatess moisturizer of literally any kind. Hydration is almost hammered into you as a vital part of ones daily routine- but i just lightly cleanse everyday so i dont strip it- in the end i dont actually need it. Lastly i had to stop sitting in the sun without protection. Sadly my skin hates SPF- so i had to turn to an all natural way of doing thing, or maybe just more tradtional - a hat! oh i hate wearing hats, but id rather wear a hat than breakout from stupid spf. But all in all im very happy with myself at the moment. Dont give up!

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33
(@dunedain)

Posted : 02/15/2014 11:23 pm

I think everyoneeeeeee can relate to this post, but I know that that probably doesn't do much for you. :(

Have you seen a derm/doctor about it? I waited far too long to talk to my doctor about it and how I regret it! I've been tweaking my regimen this past year and a half with my doctor and honestly I wish I'd done it sooner. My skin has only recently gotten clear (still lots of leftover PIH) but even during this process, it gave me a peace of mind knowing that I was doing what I could to have clear skin.

Try not to fixate so much on how 'bad' it is but rather what's improved! Sometimes I think we acne-sufferers believe that our acne is so terrible just because we're used to thinking we have crappy skin, when it's actually not that bad at all but we just can't see past that.

If all else fails, I'd recommend meditating - you can either try to clear your thoughts or focusing all your energy and thoughts into what you love about yourself!

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:05 am

I've been to two different derms. I don't knwo how bad my acne is, the problem is that it is persistent and I never get a break and I just feel disgusting. I don't even want to be out of my room most of the tiem because I don't feel clean when I have red marks. I avoid mirrors most days because it hurts knowing that I could be pretty if I didnt have such horrible skin.

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(@michelle-reece)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:08 am

What did the derms tell you?

Did you feel like they didn't listen to you?

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:44 am

 

They listened, and my skin was a lot worse before I went but I'm still really unhappy with my skin. It seems liek I've hit a wall and nothing else is helping. Ive changed medication, I take a crap ton of vitamin c, e and zinc cause I read that helps and I drink loads of water because thats all I can think to do but Im just so sick of everything and I just wish it would stop. Im almost 18 and I dont want crappy skin to be the only thing I remember about my senior year. Im a type 1 diabetic, and my diabetes doesnt even effect me as much as my skin does, Its causing me a lot of emotional problems, so much so that I visited a psychologist because at one point I didnt want to g oto school.

 

 

First I went to an estetician who did a peel and dermabrasion, then a derm who gave me doxicyclyn (made it worse) and differin. Now I do sumadan wash and Atralin cream with teh cerave pm mosturizer and sometimes aloe if things get really bad and I just need to put something else on to feel like Im doing something. I just want ot cry most days cause Im so, so tired and Im going crazy trying ot fix it and nothing works. I dont enjoy anything anymore.

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(@jaysjay)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:48 am

just relax.and low dose accutane will be the answer to your persistent acne not responding to antibiotics.any questions just ask me.

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(@michelle-reece)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:48 am

How long have you been on your routine? Results can be seen around 4-8 weeks, but it actually takes around 6 months for retinoids to really kick in.

There are still several treatment options, so don't give up hope! It's really good you're seeing a psychologist, because that way you can get some really nice coping skills! (Seriously, though, they help!)

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:51 am

 

My parents won't let me take accutane.

 

 

My parents stopped taking me to the psychologist, because they thought progress was too slow. Also, Ive been on this regimine for atleast three months.

 

 

I did ask for accutane, but they think it's too dangerous and Im diabetic so I may not even be allowed by a doctor to take it.

 

 

So everything just kind of sucks.

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(@michelle-reece)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:52 am

If you've tried everything else and there was little/no response, your acne would officially qualify as severe. Please tell your parents that! If they don't believe you, I can bring up a few papers or they can ask a dermatologist that!

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:55 am

It my derm doesnt think it's severe, but it still really bothers me. my parents dont seem to think its bad either, but it makes me uncomfortable. Do you think it's just hormonal? Will it clear up when Im a little older? I just cant take thinking Ill be like this forever,

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(@michelle-reece)

Posted : 02/16/2014 2:53 am

Accutane/isotretinoin can be dangerous, especially in high doses. Dermatologists generally won't give isotretinoin to diabetics unless it's absolutely necessary.

Argh! Therapy takes time; it's not an overnight cure!

Yeah, a lot of it is hormonal. That was the way with me, too. My acne didn't "settle down" until I was 20. I still have it, but nowhere near as bad as 14-16. It went the same way with my mom.

Acne can just get "randomly" worse, sometimes severely around 25-35, but it's uncommon. You'll have a general idea how yours may behave if you ask your parents how theirs went.

As I've said before, benefits from retinoids will really show up around 6 months. Blackheads and whiteheads respond really well to retinoids.

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/16/2014 1:30 pm

 

Is that liek the creams?

 

 

My parents had it but they're fine now, they rarely have any spots.

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(@michelle-reece)

Posted : 02/16/2014 3:33 pm

Atralin is one of the brand names for tretinoin, which is a retinoid.

Have you talked to your parents about when they were your age with acne?

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/16/2014 6:43 pm

They said they had acne of similar severity. And that all they used was ivory soap to dryit out.

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(@leelowe1)

Posted : 02/17/2014 9:08 am

First off, you are not alone. It may feel like no one gets you i your life but here at the org, we all get you and we're glad you;re here

I wouldn't recommend accutane as it has now been shown to promote higher blood sugar levels and in spite of acne being an annoyance, it is not a significant health issue as is diabetes.

You said you tried a few retinoids - i have done several and my advice is that if after 4 months you're still not happy, try something else. I am on the regimen (from this website) and it has been hands down the bets topical i've tried. I also did accutane 3 times with the 3rd time not doing much so keep that in mind

As for diet, if you really wanted to give it a fair shot and get rid of as many triggers as possible, i'd give paleo a go (lots of info online). I do think it mat work out to be much cheaper than eating the SAD (standard American diet). Also, try drinking your greens to give your body a boost.

Keep in mind that all these changes can take months to years to fully reap benefits so patience is key. You will get frustrated and sad, you will fall into a funk and you will want to say 'forget it' but at times like that, come to the org and connect

Keep your head up hun

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(@alexanderj86)

Posted : 02/17/2014 1:00 pm

If that's you on your picture, then you are not ugly. You are very beautiful. You just have a skin condition, just like me and everyone else on this board.

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/17/2014 11:50 pm

Yeah, that's me in the picture. I don't feel very attractive when I have awful skin though, I just feel like I look disgusting and my friends have been noticing that I can't even look at them when I feel so bad about myself. And the ironic part is I would never judge anyone else based on their appearance but that's exactly what I do to myself.

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(@alexanderj86)

Posted : 02/18/2014 5:57 am

But you are not your skin, right?

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/19/2014 12:07 am

I forget that I'm not sometimes, it's started to feel really all-consuming. And now mom just said that she hopes I have a kid who does the same things as me so I can see how much it bothers people and I thought that was really mean. I cant help it! If I could I certainly wouldnt spend all my time miserable!

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72
(@alexanderj86)

Posted : 02/19/2014 5:44 am

I forget that I'm not sometimes, it's started to feel really all-consuming. And now mom just said that she hopes I have a kid who does the same things as me so I can see how much it bothers people and I thought that was really mean. I cant help it! If I could I certainly wouldnt spend all my time miserable!

You don't have to spend all your time feeling miserable. Is anyone forcing you to feel miserable?

I know that your skin is not clear. My skin isn't clear either, but there is one thing that I learned and that is that feeling miserable or at least being bothered by it isn't going to make your skin clear. If it doesn't help, then there is no good reason to continue feeling that way, right? The fact that you have acne is a bad reason to feel miserable. It has no practical value.

Now, other people might be bothered about your skin and may, for example, shun you. But that's a completely different problem, because then you step outside the realm of acne and into the realm of social problems. How are you doing socially?

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(@marshyyy)

Posted : 02/19/2014 6:39 am

Hello,

I understand how it feels, because I am also in the same situation as you. I have also been feeling very depressed lately. I get those huge ass cystic pimples one after another and they just dont seem to disappear. But no matter what happens, please do not harm yourself. There's always an end to all things, good and bad. If you think acne seems to stay forever, one thing that I always remind myself of, is that the rest of my body are in perfect condition!

Also, I noticed that when I don't put anything at all on the rest of my body, they look so beautiful. But putting all kinds of shit and chemicals on my face, just makes it worse and worse.

If there's anything, I hope we can be friends, and lets help to make each other feel better as well! :')

God bless you!

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(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/26/2014 2:38 pm

Im fine socially, except that I dont like going out and doing things anymore. I have plenty of friends and stuff, but seeing them sometimes just makes me feel worse cause theyre all so good looking.

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1
(@girlathome)

Posted : 02/26/2014 2:59 pm

It honestly feels like I need to be put on anxiety medication because I cant function thinking about how ugly I must look. I stayed home today because I couldnt bring myself to leave my room.

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