Did you know that June is Acne Awareness Month, and September is
National Skin Care Awareness Month? I didn’t.
I battled acne for years, so I did not need one specific week or month
to be reminded of how debilitating it is. My acne was all I saw or heard about,
so I walked looking down to avoid making eye contact with judgmental people.
While I knew better than to let my acne define me, I still felt like it robbed
me of my dignity and self-worth.
In the past, when I met someone, the first thing I noticed about
them was their skin. It surprised (and somewhat irritated) me every time they
said, “Oh I use anything on my face, my skin is not sensitive and I’ve never
had issues with acne.”
The question, “What is going on with your skin?” was soon followed
by all sorts of suggested remedies to treat my acne. I politely nodded,
confirmed that I had used most of these “tried and true” remedies, and
proceeded to die a little more inside.
I started developing acne at age 12 or 13, due to hormonal
changes. Back then, things were very different and I clearly did not know any
better. Prior to developing acne, the soap I used on my body was what I used on
my face. I did not use a facial wash or toner, nor did I use sunscreen. The
moisturizer I used on my face was not designed to manage acne.
My mother and I developed a plan to eliminate my acne, which
included drinking plenty of water, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, applying
organic masks, steaming my face, using minimal and mild skin-care products, and
so on. There were good days and there were terrible days. On the bad days, I
could hear my acne mercilessly mocking me.
As the years progressed, I started developing acne on my upper
shoulders that left unsightly dark blemishes on my skin. I could not wear sleeveless
tops even in the uncomfortable hot weather because it was not worth the gasps
from everyone who saw my acne scars.
I started using a prescription acne ointment that I firmly believe
came from the putrid bowels of hell. Within three days of using this product,
my skin cleared up. Not one pimple survived. Within a week or two, the
blemishes on my face and upper back had disappeared. I cannot describe the joy
I felt or the smirk on my face when I wore my sleeveless tops and dresses. I should have known that my joy would be
short-lived, particularly when I started noticing the serious side effects of
the ointment.
1) More than three
people complimented me on my amazing skin while indicating that I was becoming
fairer.
2) Fine hair
started growing on the corners of my mouth.
3) The ointment
contained steroids, hence its ability to work so fast.
I immediately stopped using
the ointment. I had no desire to use a product with steroids that was lightening
my skin, nor did I want to ingest the toxic chemicals found in skin-lightening
products.
Abruptly stopping its use led to my skin attempting to revert to
its original tone, which left my skin light in some places and dark in others.
I also developed acne blemishes on my forehead, cheeks, and chin that were far
worse than what I had before using the ointment. I looked like someone had used
my face as a dart board. After several trips to the doctor’s office, I started
taking prescription oral medications that gave me terrible vertigo and also used
topical acne products that I later found out contained ingredients associated
with various forms of cancer.
My mother and I agreed that I needed to stop using/taking every
prescription acne product, save for a mild fragrance-free soap, 100% pure Aloe
Vera skin gel, and sunscreen. It took weeks of using the gel, but my skin
completely cleared up. I later switched to using the Clean and Clear wash and
toner. At some point, I started using Proactive which worked wonderfully but
switched back to Clean and Clear.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne affects
up to 50 million people in the U.S. A
key thing I learned is that early diagnosis and treatment are imperative to
prevent long-term skin issues.
Considering that skin is our largest organ, it goes without saying
that we need to take very good care of it so it can perform its various jobs well.
When it comes to acne, a one-size-fits-all treatment approach is
unrealistic. I’ve not experienced acne in many years, thanks to my diet and
skin-care routine. Everyone’s body, health, and skin are very different, so
what worked for me will not necessarily work for someone else. Regardless, what
worked for me is as follows:
Diet
I drink between 6-8 glasses of water each day.
I do not eat a lot of red meat and chicken, and prefer fish. If I
eat beef and chicken, I do my best to buy meat that is free of antibiotics and
hormones.
My diet consists of soups, salads, and fresh organic fruits and
vegetables. I always believed that organic foods would break my budget, but
discovered this is not the case.
I prefer to take my fruits and vegetables in smoothie form for the
most part, so I can get the full nutrients while taking the recommended amount
of fruit and vegetables per day. The book, “Simple Green
Smoothies” by Jen Hansard and Jadah Sellner is a great resource for
smoothies. You may also visit their website via this link.
Products
I always visit the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) website for
invaluable information on cosmetics, food scores, healthy cleaning, and
pesticides in produce, among other tips. Before I buy any personal care
products, I look them up on EWG to see product ratings based on their
ingredients. I use:
At night, I apply a home-made product that I made using
frankincense oil, pure aloe vera gel, pure shea butter oil, pure coconut oil,
and vitamin E mixed together. My skin absolutely loves this product and is
noticeably softer and smoother. I am also in the process of transitioning to
organic hair care and make-up products.
Stress
I do my very best to manage stress because this definitely
contributed to my acne breakouts in high school and college. Having a regular
exercise routine, on top of engaging in fun activities with loved ones creates
an important work-life balance for me.
Acne has the capacity to cause depression (particularly for those
who are bullied or teased), low self-esteem, anxiety, and permanent damage to
the skin. But it does not have to define
you. Remember these three important things:
·
Respect your
process. It took time for me to find the remedy/routine that worked for
my skin, and I certainly was not as patient as I could have been with my
process. Frustration and a lack of patience contributed to more stress which
made my acne worse. In addition, I was so anxious to eliminate my acne that I
thoughtlessly started using an ointment that could have seriously harmed my
health in the long-term.
·
Be patient with
others. Most people meant well when they gave me unsolicited advice on
acne treatments. It was annoying because I already felt bad and was drowning in
information and advice. I learned to speak up and let people know that while I
appreciated their advice, I needed a break from hearing about the one thing
that occupied 99% of my thoughts.
·
Be kind to
yourself. I thought my acne made me unattractive. Such thoughts were
harmful since they manifested physically and emotionally. Constant self-affirmation
and support from loved ones gave me the confidence I needed to not allow
my acne to consume me.
References
1. Zaega- Beauty
You Can Trust (2016). Retrieved August
22, 2016: http://www.zaega.com/your-skins-most-important-jobs-6-ways-your-skin-is-working-for-you.html
2. Hansard, J. and Sellner, J. (2015). Simple Green Smoothies: 100+
Tasty Recipes to Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Feel Great in Your Body.
6. Clean and Clear (2016). Retrieved August 26, 2016: https://www.cleanandclear.com/astringents-toners/essentials-deep-cleaning-astringent
7. Simple Skincare (2016). Retrieved August 26, 2016: http://www.simpleskincare.com/our-products/product/protecting-light-moisturizer-spf-15.html
8. St. Ives (2016). Retrieved August 26, 2016: http://www.stives.com/product/detail/361679/fresh-skin-apricot-scrub
9.
American Academy of
Dermatology. (2016). Acne. Retrieved August 27, 2016: https://www.aad.org/media/stats/conditions
Images
1. Acne.com. (2016). How to Recognize
All the Different Signs of Acne [Image], Retrieved August 27, 2016: http://www.acne.com/types-of-acne/acne-signs/
2. Skinpossible. (2016). Say
“Goodbye” to Acne and Acne Scars! [Image], Retrieved August 27, 2016: http://www.skinpossible.ca/calgary-acne-and-acne-scars.html
3. Cetaphil (2016). [Image], Retrieved August 26, 2016: http://www.cetaphil.com/gentle-skin-cleanser
4. Clean and Clear (2016). [Image], Retrieved August 26, 2016: https://www.cleanandclear.com/astringents-toners/essentials-deep-cleaning-astringent
5. Simple Skincare (2016). [Image], Retrieved August 26, 2016: http://www.simpleskincare.com/our-products/product/protecting-light-moisturizer-spf-15.html
6. St. Ives (2016). [Image], Retrieved August 26, 2016: http://www.stives.com/product/detail/361679/fresh-skin-apricot-scrub
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