As a teenager, although I suffered many of the usual 'teen traumas', I rarely suffered from spots.
When I reached the age of 21 I developed adult acne from a combination of unbalanced hormones, stress and genetics.
I did everything I could to rid myself of my bad skin. I tried wearing no makeup at all, change my pillow case nightly, use all manner of different concoctions such as tea tree oil, toothpaste, face-masks, microdermabrasion, drinking excess amounts of water and eating healthily, eventually I went to my GP where for years I was given endless supplies of different antibiotics and creams to use daily.
After a few years of antibiotics I saw a dermatologist and they advised me to use soap and water to remove my makeup instead of the high end brands I had been using to cleanse, tone and moisturise and gave me another type of antibiotic. I was so frustrated because I'd requested a stronger type of medication and had been refused.
I felt paranoid, anxious and depressed about my skin. Your face is the first thing people see when they look at you and I honed in on my acne and it became worse in my mind than it actually was but the dermatologist didn't seem concerned about the effect it was having on my self-esteem.
Finally, last year I was seen by a dermatologist in Manchester and she took one look at my skin and prescribed me Roaccutane. This medication has so far cured me of bad skin and people often commented on how amazing it looks now. Of course like any medication, Roaccutane isn't for everyone and comes with side effects and it is very potent and requires monthly blood tests as it can affect the liver and cholesterol levels, not to mention the fact that it is toxic to unborn babies. It is only prescribed for severe acne because of this but it really worked wonders for me.
I also found that the 'Clinique anti-blemish solutions' range (cleansing foaming and clarifying lotion) which I started using just before I begun taking Roaccutane also were the most helpful range that I tried, and I still use them to this day.
If you do suffer from acne, be persistent. Make sure you try the medications your GP gives you for at least 6months to see if they have any effect and write down all the different types you have tried. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, clean your makeup brushes, drink lots of water, exercise regularly and if all else fails then request to see a dermatologist.
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