Beauty Tips For Body Care
I am writing this because I think it could help someone. I (22F) have struggled with back acne, a bit of chest acne, and mild face acne for the last 8-9 years. My parents never brought me to the doctors for it, or made any sort of suggestion that I should see a dermatologist. I never asked or suggested it either because I didn’t really think it was an option, or that my acne was “severe” enough for it. HINT: just because it’s not leaving indented scars on your face, doesn’t mean it’s not severe enough. When you have 60 pimples all over your back, when you have 15 all over your back.. hell, when you have any amount that makes you feel self conscious or that you’re trying to improve, it’s still worthy of a medical professional assessing it. If they deem it not worthy of prescription medication (topical or systemic) then so be it, but at least see.I moved from the east coast to the west coast of Canada a couple years ago, and about 8 months ago I broke my ankle and got a family doctor out of it (an amazing one at that). Only then for the first time did I finally bring up my concern for my back acne that I’ve struggled with for almost a decade. I showed her my back and chest, and explained the effects it had on me throughout the last 8 years- not wearing tank tops, exposing my back to sun in the summer just to experience 2 weeks of my post puberty life when my back wasn’t covered in acne etc. She started me right away on topical tretinoin, and after two months showing a small amount of improvement but no where near being clear, did she ask me about my thoughts on oral antibiotics and accutane. For my own reasons, I knew I would rather start with accutane and not bother with the oral antibiotics. She gave me a prescription and now after a few hundred dollars, 4 months with 2 left to go, 1 bloody nose, a lot of aquaphore and even more sunscreen- I am almost acne free.The point of this post isn’t that accutane is your answer or prescription medication is the answer. The point is that if you are actually concerned about your acne and it’s affecting you, or it’s painful, etc then make an appointment with your family doctor, or GP or the walk in clinic or whatever your option is and see a doctor. I wish I had done this years ago. Then again, part of the reason why I was offered accutane with little resistance was because of my long history with back acne and nothing working, my age, my lifestyle etc. Would I have been offered at 15 after 1.5 years of suffering? Maybe, maybe not. But I probably would have been at least guided and helped more than whatever google had “helped” me with at the time.Sorry if this ranted on, but basically, don’t be like me and say oh, it will end when I turn 16 and my puberty isn’t so crazy! Or it will end when I’m 18 and an adult. Maybe if I go on hormonal birth control. Ah, give it one more year. Maybe when I go off hormonal birth control! Etc. Time doesn’t heal everything, sometimes you need help, and that’s okay.TL;DR if you have skin concerns that are affecting you, go to a doctor. Reddit, cerave in the tub, washing your sheets “more often” and salicylic acid are tools, but not replacements for medical advice or help. Good luck to everyone battling acne, and don’t forget your sunscreen! X
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by knottedinblack
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