Starting at age 10, using different creams and certain face washes became a part of my daily routine. Acne has been a very large, unfortunate part of my life. Until a few years ago, I would feel the need to load my face with foundation/concealer to simply go to the grocery store with my mom at night. I felt embarrassed and I felt ashamed. This was not something a 6th grader should have to be going through.
Not only did the shame come from the way that I felt I looked, but it came from not being able to understand why I could never get rid of it, even with all of the treatments I was trying. Neither of my parents struggled with acne and I took just as good care of my skin as any other 12 year old was. So, why couldn’t I get rid of those pesky red bumps?
Retina gel, MonoDox, Erythromycin, Proactive, Tazorac, Aczone, Solodyn. You name it, I’ve tried it. For years my life was a series of new treatments that would work for the first 2 weeks, and then quit on me. It was frustrating, to say the least. I hit a breaking point when I was at my 7th appointment with my 3rd dermatologist. I was told that the last treatment I could possibly try would be Accutane. As someone with an extreme fear of needles, having to get my blood taken monthly for this treatment did not sit well with me. I seriously lost all hope that day.
Although, after several visits, my hope was restored with dermatologist #4. He explained to me that the type of treatments I was trying weren’t working because they didn’t fit the type of acne I had. Hormonal acne is not something that can be cured by a gel or a cream. He suggested birth control pills.
Lo and behold, this medication that I always thought had only one purpose, saved my skin a mere 3 years ago. Not only do I not feel the need to cover up with makeup for a 9pm grocery run, but I am comfortable enough most of the time to go bare-faced for a full day of school.
Everybody’s skin is different, and it is all about finding what works for YOU. It definitely took me a long time to figure that out, but I am now feeling blessed that I have the confidence in my skin that I desired for so many years.