Spoiler Alert! This is more of a story. But I felt it important to share my journey with acne up until this point. I have tried to keep it as brief as possible as I could write a book with my journey.
Wednesday’s World
Close friends, family members and my GP have heard my moans for years about my struggle with acne. Looking back, I probably vented to the wrong people, none of them have suffered with acne like I have.
For the past 20 years I haven’t had a single day where my face has been completely clear! On my best skin days I will have around 2 or 3 spots at least. Normal days would are a cluster of spots. Rising to the surface and disappearing only to rise in another location. Like they are on a spot rota system, making sure no space on my face gets away.
From the Beginning – My First ever Spot
I may not remember many. But, I very clearly remember the first one!
I was 14 and a spot appeared on my chin. At first it was just a read lump, a few days later it got a white head and my mum nagged me to burst it, eeeeeek I couldn’t! (if only my 14 yr old self could see the pop squeezing master that I have become!). inevitably it got bigger and forming into a crispy mess that was later ripped off with my scarf! The same scarf that I had been hiding my chin with. A very Embarrassing and stressful moment in school. Thank god it was winter!
My First Face Wash
Not long after my first spot they began to multiply. After seeing an advert for ‘Clearasil’, I asked my mum to pick one up. Before this I had only washed my face with my ordinary body soap.Mainly Dove or Dettol Soap. Clearasil had a minty smell and left a fresh and tingly sensation after using. I caught a liking to washing my face with it!
Unmovable Acne
Shortly after the first spot, I was covered. I was anti makeup as a teen, the spots caused my self-confidence to hit the floor. It pretty much stayed there until my 20s!
I cooked for a restaurant from the age of 17, the grease from the kitchen would cause constant break outs. I ended up spending so much of my little wages trying out new toiletries.
Neutrogena, St Ives, Witch Hazel, Simple, Garnier, Clean & Clear, L’Oreal Just to name a few. I Genuinely tried so many!
In all my trials and testing, I would often encounter a similar outcome: The first month of usage works great, my face felt great, and my skin momentarily clearer (never clear). By the time I was on my second bottle my face was back to sore and angry and the face wash no longer does anything to help.
My First Clearer (not Clear) skin moment
it was age 23! I had a friend who worked in Clinique. She highly recommended a Clinique acne range that consisted of a bar of soap, toner and moisturiser. A lot pricier then what I was used to, but I gave it a go.
The soap I used daily, the toner and moisturiser only if I had been wearing make up. My face was at its clearest! Finally!
Was it Clinique or starting the Yasmin combined pill?
I was using Clinique, taking the combined pill and I stopped working in the kitchen. One of these changes helped or a combination of the three. I was still spotty, just less and smaller pimples. My face for the first time looked clear with make up on.
6 months into uni I could no longer afford the Clinique range! Neutrogena 3 in 1 Acne Stress control (now discontinued) became my holy grail! It contained 3 uses, a mask, a scrub and wash. The mask became a life saver when my face got bad. It was a reliable quick fix! A lot cheaper then Clinique, and my spots seam to operate in the same manor. But of course I still wasn’t Spot free!
A Simplified Routine
Now clear that the combined pill had a big influence on my acne. I opted for a cheaper boots cucumber range. I decided that my skin was super sensitive. This offered a gentle alternative, my acne managed to stay relatively calm.
The Pregnant Phase
Once stopping the pill, I fell pregnant instantly. Pregnancy gave me lovely glowing skin. However! After my daughter was born, my spots showed up as bad as my teen phase. They were more frequent forcing me back on my mission of trial and error.
More Natural products
I became more conscience of harsh chemicals on my skin. So I took a trip to Lush!
At first, it literally felt like heaven on my face, but it did very little. 3 months of use and still there wasn’t any differences to my acne, Even when changing the ingredients, I got the same results. By the 7th or 8th tub of Lush Face scrub, I became disheartened. I had so much hope for them!
The Final Straw
My face gradually got worse. Clusters of spots instead of the single spots. Time to visit the experts. Again! The GP booked me an appointment to visit the dermatologist. Speaking to the dermatologist about the possibility of it being something I was eating, I was “assured” that it had nothing to do with that. I was prescribed tetracycline (minocycline, doxycycline) and a Bezol Peroxide gel. Being more conscience of finding natural alternatives I felt worried. It was a lot of chemicals.
The tablets have many possible side effects, one that concerns me is depression! I didn’t want to give in, I did want clear skin. So I researched the tablets like crazy and found a resounding review:
Users found it cleared their acne and were happy with the results whilst taking them. However many found that once they had stopped their acne returned. They are then prescribed a lighter dose or advised to take a tablet whenever the acne flares up. This, for me, was a problem, to rely on tablets, rather then locate and fix the problem. Instead like paracetamol it masks over the initial issue.
I tried the cream and found it wasn’t overly helpful it may have worked, but changes were so slow that it could also be my own body self-healing.
Giving in to the chemicals
My skin had at this point started to show signs of ageing. I feared going from Acne to Wrinkles with no in between. So I did some research of ingredients needed for smooth skin.
I had come across natural remedies and tried a few, which I will share. But needed a good every day wash that I didn’t have to make in the kitchen first. So I looked into some of the ingredients that are used in the some of these face washes to work out what I need. I came across salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid. It’s well-known for reducing acne by exfoliating the skin and keeping pores clear.
Salicylic acid works best for mild acne (blackheads and whiteheads). It can also help prevent future breakouts.
After visiting the dermatologist I considered it a better option than the jumbo-sized tablets from the dermatologist. Thats when I discovered Nip ‘n’ Fab Fix it Face Wash!
Out of all the face washes I had tried over the years this one did actually do what it claims.
This 3-in-1 micro-exfoliant combines glycolic and salicylic acids, for skin that is visibly clearer, brighter, and smoother after just one use.
It indeed gave me brighter skin after just one use. Also running a lot longer in effectiveness then most other face washes I had tried. Nip ‘n’ Fab became the only face wash I was confident enough to bulk buy.
Adding a natural alternative
Tea tree had been introduced to me at a very young age and although I had mainly used it to dab on sore spots. It is a well known ingredient for acne, although the products I have used that contained it, never matched up to the pure oil its self.
In my research of different ingredients good for acne I came across bicarbonate soda
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline substance helpful in managing pH levels. It helps neutralise acidic substances in and outside of the body. Because baking soda lowers the amount of acid in your stomach, it’s typically used for calming an upset stomach or curing indigestion. For acne breakouts, baking soda can help soothe inflammation and mild pain. It can be used as an exfoliant or added to current acne treatments to boost effects. However, it’s not recommended for everyday use.
My routine became:
Nip‘N’fab as a daily wash, Tea tree and Bi carb as an oily skin days wash, a homemade honey mask as a my skin is looking dull or sore day, My prescribed face wash for sore spot days, freezing cold water as an toner, Germolene on spots at night time and SPF 15 face cream as a day moisturiser. They all sound like basic products, but I finally found individual products that work for each issue and helped me manage to keep my face somewhat calm.
The truth is even with my strict day and night routine, catering to my skins need and watching what I ate, My acne wasn’t clearing I was only calming it. My mission is to find what causes it in the first place. Understandably I was definitely losing hope, until a conversation I had with my partner and then it all changed!
It has all changed
I have now entered a new routine. My skin care and it has encouraged me to share my journey with you all. It is a completely different take. Click Here to find out more about the New Routine!
Finally I’m used to my spots and have learned to live with them, frustratingly! But I now care little of the stigmas that come with acne. In perspective it is a small issue to have, (I believe) so for that I am grateful!
I have discovered ample amounts of ways to control it. As always I am still learning. My new approach is a lot more stripped back and I can’t wait to share my 20 years of research with you. Including Triggers, Foods, Water, Stress, Routines and so much more. I also heavily welcome any tips or methods you have tried. If you have had an acne Journey I would love to hear it. Until then I will continue to find a cure for my acne!
If you managed to read all of this, Thank you! Love and Blessings to you!
