This can be a sensitive topic. And I’m not just talking about my sensitive skin here! Acne SUCKS. That’s really the best way to describe it. Hands down. It’s complicated, it’s stubborn, it’s everything you hate and more. 60 million people in the US suffer from acne. 60 MILLION! That’s huge, to say the least, but, the comfort in knowing that is knowing that you’re not the only one struggling through this.
I thought I would discuss my personal struggle with acne to share a little more perspective on this topic and for others to understand that acne doesn’t just run skin deep (no pun intended!). It, unfortunately, leads to other psychological issues as well. It’s hard to believe that red bumps on your face could be so powerful, but, until you’ve suffered through it, you have no idea how powerful they really are! It’s not about vanity or wanting to look perfect. It’s about the fact that your face is the first thing people see. And we always want to put our BEST face forward right?
I first developed acne in my mid-twenties. I know, how ANNOYING to have adult acne! Especially when I barely had any issues with acne as a teenager. But BOOM, you turn 25 and your face game totally changes! I started to notice my cheekbone area developing more pimples than usual. It started gradually until, fast forward about 6 months later, and both sides of my face were covered. Not only that, but I started developing painful pimples around my chin area and jawline. I had no idea what was going on and no idea what I was doing to cause this. So, immediately I went into action and began researching products to target acne-prone skin. I didn’t hesitate to throw money and take the time to try the following products and treatments:
1) Proactive;
2) Murad;
3) Neutrogena SkinID;
4) Dermatologica;
5) Benzol Peroxide;
6) Hydra-facials;
7) Facial Peels;
8) Blue light therapy;
Nothing worked. NOTHING. Some products or procedures I tried may have helped to reduce the appearance of my acne but, it was not doing anything to target the main cause of my skin problems. I have combination skin, my t-zone is oily while my cheeks tend to be on the drier side therefore, most traditional acne products were drying out my skin like CRAZY as they’re mainly targeted towards oily skin. Even if I were to try to reduce the usage, my skin would still dry out, get flaky, and, in the end, cause more damage than good. It was at this point that I realized my skin problems were coming from within. There was something internally that was acting as the main driver to my skin concerns.
At this point, I decided to make an appointment with my doctor but, to my dismay, I was provided with recommendations for typical acne medications with horrible side effects that I had no interest in exploring. I wanted to try to go about this as naturally and holistically as possible. Enter, my naturopath. Through several sessions, vitamins, supplements, blood tests, hormone testing etc. I discovered I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. So, what does this have to do with acne? Well, the main symptoms derived from PCOS are due to elevated androgens (male hormones) which, tah dah, cause acne! OK so my acne is hormonal – good to know! But how do I manage this kind of acne? If you know anything about hormonal imbalances, you know that it is super TRICKY! If one hormone is off whack, it causes issues for other hormones, which cause issues for other hormones and so on and so forth. It’s like a Rubix cube of complication!
I still wanted to go the all-natural route so, after many vitamins, supplements, cleanses, and diets, which, somewhat helped like the topical treatments I had tried, I found myself back to square one. I felt like I was back to where I started. I was embarrassed, I was ashamed to go out in public, and I hated client meetings for fear that I would be judged for looking ‘unhealthy’ or ‘unprofessional’. I was even embarrassed to be around my close friends, family, or even my partner, without makeup on. If I found myself without makeup on around my partner, I would try to use my hair to cover my face. It got to the point where I was too embarrassed to even make eye contact with him.
My naturopath recommendation a course of medication, which may sound weird coming from a naturopath, but when you’ve tried EVERYTHING there is to heal your acne, and NOTHING has worked, what have you got to lose? I was so stubborn and hesitant about medication for SO long because of the side effects and because I generally don’t like taking medications unless absolutely necessary! But, I put my faith in my naturopath and decided to give it a try. I was recommended a small dosage of Spironolactone which is typically used for high blood pressure but, studies have found it to be quite effective for treating acne. And effective it was. It took a bit of time playing with the right dosage and managing some of the side effects, but, after about one month of taking the meds, I noticed a significant reduction in blemishes. Halleluiah!
After this emotional journey, it’s important to note that, although I found something that works best for treating my acne, it hasn’t healed it completely. The key word here is MANAGEMENT. I’ve found a routine that best manages my acne to the point where I’m comfortable being seen in public without makeup on and comfortable walking into a room with confidence again. I try my best to maintain a plant-based skincare regime while taking medication and using a thin layer of Retin-A topical treatment 3 times a week. I will still get a few pimples from time to time, typically when shark week is approaching (hello hormones!) but, it’s NOTHING compared to what I used to get! I’m happy, I’m thankful, and I’m glad I’m doing something that’s best for me!
I hope you found some inspiration in this post. Leave some love, questions, or comments below!
