An Acne Story
For those of us who have experienced acne we understand the battle all too well. The ups' and downs. The breakouts and breakdowns. Feeling insecure and hopeless. The journey in this story is of a beautiful client of ours but also the story of so many….
As a pre-teen
At the age of about 12 I can distinctly remember I began to develop pimples. There were only a few and scattered primarily in the t-zone of my forehead and chin. My mum had also battled breakouts throughout her adolescence so proactively educated me on the importance of a daily skin care routine but despite that my skin continued to have sporadic breakouts.
Puberty
Like clockwork, the day after my 13th birthday my skin erupted. I began to experience acne in its full force. My face was red, swollen with large painful cysts that hurt, even to smile. I will never forget covering my whole face with thick layers of foundation and powder to try and disguise the redness. Despite being an active kid with a well balanced diet my acne seemed as if to be an inevitability for me, just as it was for my parents.
And so I waged war
This is the part in the story where I make all the mistakes under the sun out of sheer desperation. Topically I was using using Benzol Peroxide daily, toothpaste as a spot treatment, lemon juice, tea tree oil, coconut oil, supermarket brands, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, witch hazel and one very well known TV product starting with Pro…., the list goes on. I was prescribed antibiotics and so began the Doxycycline internal onslaught. Initially I experienced some relief but it was fleeting and my skin retaliated. Post antibiotic treatment my acne was worse than it had ever been and my gut microbiome was collateral damage.
The atomic bomb
Skip to my mid teens, my acne was chronic and relentless. I was terrified I would develop deep acne scarring and I was at my wits end. My doctor suggested Accutane, which I obliged. Accutane is a very high dose Vitamin A recommended for chronic and severe acne sufferers. It’s an extremely controversial drug due to its mechanism of action and long list of side effects. I experienced very dry skin, especially my lips to the point of cracking and bleeding constantly. Further to that I experienced nosebleeds, dizziness and mood swings. I also needed regular blood tests to ensure my liver function wasn’t being impacted by the medication.
After nine months on accutane, my skin had cleared up. I was incredibly relieved and ready to put acne and accutane behind me. Alas 5 months later I was right back where I had started. The medication served only to temporarily treat the problem by reducing all the moisture in the skin (and the rest of my body). As the treatment had not addressed the underlying cause, I experienced a rebound effect. I wish I had known then about dermal therapists and naturopaths and how to treat my acne holistically. I wanted a “quick fix” and I was left with a bunch of side effects and an exacerbation of my acne.
The long road
My acne was a journey. It always felt like 1 step forward and 2 steps back. I was yet to find a solution and so took the next option presented to me and began taking the oral contraceptive pill. I was told the pill would “control” my hormones and hence control my acne. Deja vu. Another symptomatic “quick fix” approach where the side effects far outweighed the temporary benefits of semi-clear skin. Once I came off the pill I was right back at square 1, yet again. My skin was also in very poor condition from years of stripping the barrier.
Enlightenment
Finally I decided to take an approach I hadn’t tried before. I did some research and found myself at the doors of With Grace Skin Management. I knew I could trust them with my skin. I began a DMK protocol and was prescribed a home care range with internal supplements that was individualised to cater for MY skin. I was educated about the process; how and why my skin was behaving the way it was and how the treatment was going to work to re-establish the healthy, balanced functioning of my skin. Through learning about the process I was empowered and became part of my treatment, which I never had before. My condition, Acne Tarda or dry acne is one of the most difficult to treat. But I began my in clinic treatments and within 10 months my skin was the clearest it had been since I was 12 years old.
A happy ending
I have maintained my acne free skin to this day. My experience at With Grace Skin Management has been life changing. I am finally able to love the skin i’m in. My journey like so many others was long and winding path. I only wish I had of taken the steps to seek the advice of dermal therapists earlier in my story. If you’re looking to to finally find the solution, you’ve found it at With Grace Skin Management.
XOXO Glowing Girl
