Makeup is nice and all but if you’re ignoring the health of your skin, your makeup will often look patchy and uneven. Some people are just not fortunate enough to have flawless skin, including myself. My battle with acne started in middle school. I would get breakouts on my forehead so much that I asked my mom to cut my bangs so I could cover it. I would cry about my skin, thinking no one must understand what I’m going through. If you’re someone who’s struggling with your skin, I know it may seem like you’re the only one dealing with this. Trust me, you’re not.
What hurt the most is when people would point it out. If you’re one of those people who think it’s okay to point out acne on someone’s face, or just any imperfection… Word of advice? Please don’t. It hurts. Those who are struggling with their skin most often feel as though they’ve tried every product under the sun with nothing to show for it. I would beg God to take my acne away. However, I believe that I’ve been through what I’ve been through so I can encourage whoever is reading this. Though you may feel less than because of your acne, you are not. What’s beautiful about God is that He sees beyond our imperfections. Did you know that you are the apple of His eye? You are loved beyond any measure. When God see’s you, He doesn’t see acne. He see’s YOU. Knowing this truth throughout this journey of healing our skin, we can still find confidence and strength in God.
I have tried countless treatments including antibiotics such as Minocycline, Retin-A, Benzoyl Peroxide, dairy-free diet, and the list goes on. I’ve been seeing my dermatologist consistently for over 3 years. He has been incredibly patient with me and my skin, especially because not everything we have tried has helped my skin or only temporarily helped. One thing I can say is that if you feel like you are down and out and have no idea what to do with your skin, consult a doctor. Remember that God created the intricate minds of these professionals, they are there to help us.
Recently, my dermatologist and I decided that Accutane for 6 months would be an option worth trying. Not everyone is offered this medication due to its high risks. (You can read more about this medication and its risks here). I am currently on month 6 of my treatment. I started with 40mg a day and slowly progressed to 80mg per day. Thankfully, the only side effects I’ve experienced are dry lips, dry skin, and dry nose. The dry skin side effect is a dream come true for us naturally oily girls. So far, this has been the best treatment I’ve had in terms of my skin being consistently clear. It took about three months for me to see actual improvement. In the beginning, I did experience a purging phase where I broke out like no ones business.
Throughout this process, 3 Little Wonders by Ole Henriksen has been my ride or die. This easy 3 step regimen has helped keep my skin bright and moisturized throughout the day while reducing post-acne marks. This stuff has amazing ingredients, including Vitamin C, which is known to help the skin repair and heal itself. This is essential when trying to reduce the dark pigment left after a pimple is gone. I’ve tried many skin care regimens, but none with results like this. I can’t promise that this will work for you and your dark marks because everyones skin-type is different but its definitely worth a try!
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