Had These Scars for 2 Years and Nothing Will Fade Them. - Tulsa, OK
ORIGINAL POST
Seeing my face makes me so upset. my skin is...
megan_nicoleJune 12, 2015
Seeing my face makes me so upset. my skin is terrible. my doctor told me my skin is great but she sees the scarring im talking about. I'm so insecure. I hate when people stare at me. I feel like they aren't looking AT ME but at my SCARRING. I always have to spend $50 in makeup just to cover this the best I can. I'm only 17 and this is really hurting me more and more every day. I've heard about accutane but it's dangerous so I really don't want to risk that but I don't know what to do about my skin it mentally hurts so much and it's my second biggest insecurity. Someone please help me. I've struggled with this for like 2-3 years and I've been waiting for it to fade but it has never completely faded and I can't remember what it's like to have a clear complexion.
Replies (39)
June 13, 2015
It doesn't look like you have actual scars( indents into your face), and just some dark marks left over from previous pimples. But I do understand that these marks can take an annoying long time to fade sometimes. A chemical peel would work great to remove this discoloration and speed up the fading process. I also use a Clarisonic, and yes they are good for exfoliation, but chemical peels are much stronger at taking off that top layer of skin cells and work much faster. I completely understand your insecurities (I'm also in the process of removing some old marks from acne) but I think a series of chemical peels would help you out a lot! They aren't too expensive, and are definitely worth it if they boost your self esteem!!
Good luck!!
June 13, 2015
I want to just make a comment to you if you can get into the dermatologist ask about a medicine called spironolactone. It's much safer than accutane in fact it's just a water pill but I tell you it's been an extreme life saver for me for the first time in a very long time I can wake up not worried that all have more acne. Or and I can actually use the products and makeup I want now too. Let me know if you decide to try it.
June 15, 2015
I would recommend Acanya for the acne, but you will need a prescription. Most likely you need antibiotics either topical or oral. Retinol might help also. Don't know of any dermatologists in Tulsa...Dr David Duncan in Norman is amazing. I went to him for my acne. He did eventually put me on Accutane as a last resort and that was a long 6 months! Accutane will help the acne but won't do anything for scarring, at least it didn't for me. Good luck. Just remember this too shall pass.
UPDATED FROM megan_nicole
Can't tell if it got worse or better..
megan_nicoleSeptember 15, 2015
I'm updating my review from months ago; I'm using a clarisonic with cetaphil cleanser. I spent $50 on a dark spot moisturizer that hasn't done much really. I've noticed (maybe you can see) little holes as scarring which is the last thing I wanted. I went to LUSH cosmetics and bought a soap bar that is supposed to be a serum and I bought a mint mask. The lighting isn't the best right now but my skin is so bad. I got an occasional breakout on my forehead just one though. Today I woke up with a zit between my eyebrows. that sucked. I didn't want to go in anywhere or even have my family look at me I just wanted to cover my face and not be seen by anyone. 2 more months of this and my grandma is taking me to her dermatologist with her in November. But I don't even have hope anymore. I give up. It'll never go away. It'll never fade. No doctor can fix it unless I spent thousands of dollars. You would think buying all these face mask, spending $100 on a foundation and concealer and the $50 moisturizer and $100-200 clarisonic and all the brush heads and cleansers would be enough but it'll never be enough and I don't know why my skin deserves to go through this.
Replies (4)
September 15, 2015
i think it got a little better. not just sugarcoating it. I wouldn't worry about the holes just yet, don't let it get to you. focus on the redness. Honestly what helped me the most was taking 4000mgs of vitamin c. Things started fading faster.
September 15, 2015
Hi There, my name is Brittany and I feel a bit responsible to respond to you. I had acne my entire teenage life and terrible acne in my 20's. I finally took Accutane. And guess what - great results but wish I would have done it at your age. I have bad scarring which led me to realself - this past winter I spent thousands on CO2 and fat to only get about a 50% improvement. You talk about your family - go to them - you should be seen by a derm asap.
September 21, 2015
I really recommend that you go onto Accutane- it is only for 6-8 months max!
I had the worst acne breakout and then I didn't bother going on Accutane because I was scared of the outcome, however it was the last resort as nothing was working. It works a miracle, thank god, I haven't had one spot since I started taking Accutane- which was about 9 months ago...I'm due for laser to get rid of my scarring on my cheeks, theyre not that bad but still! GO ON ACCUTANE!
I had the worst acne breakout and then I didn't bother going on Accutane because I was scared of the outcome, however it was the last resort as nothing was working. It works a miracle, thank god, I haven't had one spot since I started taking Accutane- which was about 9 months ago...I'm due for laser to get rid of my scarring on my cheeks, theyre not that bad but still! GO ON ACCUTANE!
UPDATED FROM megan_nicole
September update with better lighting!
megan_nicoleSeptember 22, 2015
Washed my face last night, use my lush mask, then put my lush serum on. woke up and did nothing to my face and this is with outside lighting. I still am insecure with it and think it looks terrible but this update is to show the better lighting. So excited for this Derma appointment in November!! I kinda hope I get put on accutane but im scared of the effects from it. btw if you read my last update, the pimple between my eyebrows is now gone and I don't think it scarred. The breakout on my forehead is slowly going away. it's just a little spot now.
Replies (9)
September 26, 2015
So sorry you're going through this!!! My son had an aweful breakout all over his entire forehead, some of his cheeks and his nose last year. He went through the antibiotics (topical and oral) and face washing regimen and nothing worked. It was getting so bad that he didn't want to go out anymore. I took him to a different dermatologist who immediately started him on Accutane. It took about 2-3 weeks for us to start seeing improvement. By about month 3 his face was totally clear, even the scars. It was really really worth it. His skin is as clear as a baby's now.
Go for it!
Go for it!
September 28, 2015
If you have acne in other areas of the body you might want to consider Spiranolactone. Look it up on the Internet. It is much better tolerated than a drug like Accutane. Spiranolactone was originally created for high blood pressure. Most often acne is hormonal. Females with PCOS, in particular, are prone to acne. Incidentally, if Spiranolactone is the answer for you it can be taken for years unlike Accutane. Please keep in mind you should not aggressively scrub your face. Acne is not caused by dirt. Aggressive scrubbing will make it worse. Retin-A gel by Obagi is also very good in treating acne. There again, less is more and anything larger than a pea size application is too much and will irritate your skin making it look worse.
Good luck to you and I hope you find an answer soon.
Lautrec
Good luck to you and I hope you find an answer soon.
Lautrec
September 28, 2015
I also forgot to mention post Accutane I administration impairs healing. If you do begin a course of treatment you cannot do lasering, chemical peels, etc. until the after you have waited a significantly long period. Your OBGYN would be a good person to ask about the Spiro.
September 29, 2015
I had terrible cystic acne and then went on birth control and it cleared up within a month. If I went off the pill my face would erupt in big ugly zits. Once you stop breaking out I would try lasers for the dark spots.
November 13, 2015
Oh here are some other tips, I've heard a lot of people get good results from MSM supplements Methylsulfonylmethane, basically a sulfur pill. Again it depends on what kind of acne you have. But its an essential mineral most people are deficient in anyways and its about $6 or $7 at trader joes. You can also get it on Amazon. Also remember sugar and carbs are your enemy when it comes to acne. There's other people who also have high success with mega doses of pantothenic acid. I had some good results with that but it was hard on my stomach taking the large doses. L- carinitine is another good supplement for people with acne because it helps break down fats.
Like a lot of other people said you have to heal from the inside before your acne will go away. Your skin is our largest organ and a reflection of our bodies health. Unfortunately some peoples skin is just more sensitive to these hormonal, dietary, insulin issues. And when those things get out of balance we get acne more easily. It just means we've gotta take a little bitter better care of our bodies and what goes in.
Like a lot of other people said you have to heal from the inside before your acne will go away. Your skin is our largest organ and a reflection of our bodies health. Unfortunately some peoples skin is just more sensitive to these hormonal, dietary, insulin issues. And when those things get out of balance we get acne more easily. It just means we've gotta take a little bitter better care of our bodies and what goes in.
November 15, 2015
Hey Megan! I just wanted to share with you my experience. I too suffered from acne and I chanced upon a skin care website call Paula's Choice and their skin care worked wonders for me. I've been using their line for almost two years now and I don't break out anymore and my acne scars are fading except the deep ones. Please have a look at my profile and definitely check their line. Best regards!
November 15, 2015
Amd12,
Yes that's what I'm going to do. What was your experience with it? You just did the glycolic right?
Yes that's what I'm going to do. What was your experience with it? You just did the glycolic right?
November 15, 2015
Check out my reviews. I did glycolic 50%
And 20%full face tca and I just a few days ago did tca cross
And 20%full face tca and I just a few days ago did tca cross
Hi megan_nicole, my heart goes out to you, I can tell that you are really hurting. I understand exactly how acne scarring can impact your self confidence— I started getting cystic acne when I was 18, and it left me with horrible scarring. I also felt like people would see my scars before me—but that simply is not true. I get that you probably won't agree with me, but I really don't believe people see them as much as we think, and let's just say that someone is judging your scars, who cares... they obviously have other issues... as it's simply not acceptable to judge anyone else for their imperfections. I am in my 40's now, and I have come to accept that my scars are a part of me and they have changed as I age - for the better. What I can tell you is, the redness does fade over time, and there are lots of treatments that can help you reduce inflammation and redness. Are you still having breakouts? If so, what type of acne? Here is some information that you may find helpful:
How Can I Get Rid of Acne Red Marks in Less then 6 Months?
Red Acne Marks Erythema
View popular Acne Surgery videos
Have you ever asked anyone if they notice your scars? I guess what I am asking is, have you confided in a close friend to see what they think of your scars? I remember the feeling of non stop thinking of my scars, and I won't lie, sometimes they cross my mind. What I do recall- is one day at work, I had a friend who would tell you the truth about anything, she was just that way - I asked her about my scars, she said "Well yes, you can see them, but no, they don't make you look ugly - in fact, you're eyes overcome any flaw on your face as they are stunning" She then offered some tips, as her daughter struggled with acne all while reassuring me it wasn't the first thing people see. That was one of my first steps to acceptance. So, if you have someone like that in your life, it might be worth a chat. What I have learned in life, is don't let the way you look define who you are. Chin up :) I am here for you anytime you need to talk,