[Personal] I'm a big ol' mess of a person but at least today I went to the dermatologist

Beauty Tips For Body Care
Two relevant facts about me: 1) My entire body is covered in pimples, and 2) my depression is so bad that brushing my teeth is a victory, so I don't prioritize my skin and mostly let it do its own thing.Re: depression--don't worry, I'm seeking help! In fact, I'm currently in a M-F, 9AM-3PM therapy program at a local hospital. And I'm getting a lot better very fast :) But it's been so long that I'm taking my sweet time learning to be a proper human again.But here's the skin stuff.Since puberty, when I started growing body hair (cis woman, for reference), I've dealt with these huge, painful boils in my groin and underarms. You'd think I would tell my parents or a doctor, but I was so ashamed of them that I suffered in silence. (In case the depression anecdote hadn't made it clear, I have issues.) But as I grew older, I got them less, and now it's about six months between breakouts, they last about two weeks, and the pain is tolerable.However, the most recent one was not at all tolerable. The first signs came on Sunday and by Tuesday night I had swelling bigger than a marble and almost as hard, and the pain was incredible. I found the earliest dermatologist appointment I could, which was the next day. I called in sick for my program and sat tight until the appointment.Well, I saw the derm and... it's folliculitis. Which is easily cured. And not my fault. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm so relieved and yet so frustrated at my past self.AND I showed her my body "acne" and she identified that as folliculitis as well (much milder for various reasons: smaller hair follicle, less sensitive skin, area is less moist.) It's the same treatment! Now I'm supposed apply clindamycin and wash with benzoyl peroxide daily.Of course, for me that's a huge challenge. But my depression has improved so much that I'm hopeful that I'll be able to keep it up.And that's it. If you have any tips for maintaining routine while suffering from mental illness, it would be appreciated. If you're on the fence about going to see the dermatologist, please do. If you have big painful boils in your groin and underarms, *please do* see the dermatologist because it actually doesn't have to be this way at all.
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by MarryYouRightBack