Severe Acne Scar CO2 Laser Treatment - Torrance, CA

My experience with severe cystic acne is not unique, but I think it’s important to explain. In my first two years of high school, I did not have perfect skin – a few pimples around the jaw or on the forehead that would slightly flare up during certain times of the month – but nothing that was out of the ordinary. However, in my junior year, I found out that my thyroid was failing and was put on a combination of hormone treatments. After a few months of this, I developed extreme cystic acne. My skin became sensitive and nearly every part of my face had tough, painful bumps under the skin. My doctor gave me creams and antibiotics but nothing changed my situation. Eventually, we found the perfect balance of treatment and my skin cleared, but I was left with deep, pitted scars.
My Personal Thoughts and Motivations [TRIGGER WARNING]
The first day I realized my scarring was terrifying to other people was during my first quarter of college. I was lounging, reading a book when two guys came up to me, asking about my scarring.
“How could you do this to yourself? Don’t you care at all? How do you think you’ll get a guy to like you when you look like an acid-attack victim? YOU ARE DISGUSTING AND SHOULD PROBABLY JUST KILL YOURSELF AND DO EVERYONE A FAVOR SO WE DON’T HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU.”
I skipped the first Chemistry class of my career crying in the bathroom.
Up until that point, I believed that my scarring was bad, but it didn’t hinder my daily life. On one hand, I was proud of it because it mapped out my life story for strangers and friends to read. It reminded me that I had survived and come a long way to a healthier place. On the other, it did make me strikingly different from other people and I noticed double takes and critical glances. I felt judged, but figured just about everyone had that one characteristic that made him or her considered “odd” in societal terms. However, this point caused huge changes in me – I no longer talked to people or wanted to become involved on campus.
Looking back, that’s the fundamental reason – I did this because I didn’t feel like I was enough for other people to accept. I’ve been told either directly or indirectly that I was an ugly, damaged person. I’ve been told that because I look different and I didn’t fit into the mold of a standard idea of beauty, I do not deserve love or basic decency. I’m not sure this is good reasoning, but it’s the truth.
Thinking about my life before and after my procedure, I feel much different, and the way I am received by other people has changed. Now, people do not look at the texture as long, people are more open to me, and I date just fine :) In this way, I guess I’ve accomplished my goal. I know I am the same person, but it seems as though my treatments have only convinced others to realize this fact. If you feel depressed, anxious or emotionally heavy because of severe scarring, I recommend getting CO2 laser treatment from a trained professional you trust – I’ve noted some emotional improvement while friends and family notice a real physical difference. I realize that my scarring is still considered severe by most people, but I feel less self-conscious and can carry around my day like I used to.
And if you’ve made it this far, I thank you for sharing this journey with me and I wish you all the best. Cheers!