really upset with skin - no self confidence / depressed

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LitS917

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hello everyone - i posted this in the depression section... and i wanted to also post here to get more responses and more advice:


im a 23 yr old female and for the past year or more I've been really depressed with my skin..

i have had acne since i was in highschool - 15 yrs old. and each year its been getting worse. I have old acne marks/scars that dont seem to fade or go away. its not as bad is it sounRAB, i guess i just think about it too much. i've been treated with all types of medications, laser treatments, micro-dermabrasions... NOTHING seems to help or make it go away..

i apply lemon juice, baking soda masks, i tried this potato thing i heard that worked, egg whites, aloe vera, you name it- i bought it or tried it!!

my mom is 50 and still gets acne, so im going to have it for the rest of my life which is horrible.. i have no choice but to deal with it but it makes me very sad...

i have to wear makeup all day everday... i dont wear my hair up, i hate going out in the sunlight and when i do, i wear those huge sunglasses that take up half my face.. its horrible! i just want to live my life without worrying about my face but its hard.. i just cant do it no matter how much i try.

i realize that life's too short and there's other things to worry about, and other people have it worse, but i just want an answer... a solution... on how to make life fun?!!

i wont go out if i have a blemish, and i rather sit alone at home and watch tv, then go out with frienRAB at times.. its pretty pathetic! i just dont know what to do anymore..

i just want nice smooth skin and life would be perfect... i hate bright lights, and going out in the daytime.. whats wrong with me?!!! i dont know what to do anymore, this is taking control of my life!! .. i use to never think or worry about this when i was in high school, i dont know why its taking control over everything now... maybe because society thinks you should be perfect???

anyone have any worRAB of encouragement or advice?? anything would help
 
Wow pageantchicka16, you are so wise, I can't believe you are only 18! I wish I thought like this when I was younger, actually I wish I did now. Wonderful advice. You have had a great teacher!!! :angel:
 
Hi LitS! Your story could be mine, except I'm a couple of years older than your mom. :o If I had to do it all over again, I would make sure I washed my face very well and gently every night, wore a good moisturizer (I didn't think I needed one since my face was and is still very oily) and protected it from the sun (or course I thought a terrible sunburn and the resulting peel would help; it might help with the blemishes but it gave me double the wrinkles!!).

I'll bet your face isn't too bad and you are just very self conscience... I know how that goes. You probably notice it more than others do. Just clean it very well and go out and have fun. Good luck!
 
Have you tried any prescription medications? You may want to visit a dermatologist - although I know that requires money and/or insurance. I believe that no matter how bad your acne is, the doctor should be able to try different things until they find the right corabination of treatments to work for your skin. Clearing up problematic skin is almost like solving a puzzle -- finding the things that will work for you is a long frustrating process! I am still working to solve my own "puzzle," if you will.

In terms of non-prescription treatment, I just started using Glycolix 10% moisturizing face wash. It has antioxidants and it has caused VERY noticeable results for me so far. It makes your skin especially soft and MUCH less oily - oil is what clogs pores, after all! You may also want to try the Glycolix 10-2 treatment that has 2% salycic (Spelling?) acid.

My dermatologist also says to use CETAPHIL brand face wash and face lotion. It has ingredients that will not clog your pores - my doc says that if you get a pimple it will not be from the cetaphil lotion!!

Also, don't SCRUB your face.. many people think that scrubbing hard will help penetrate the skin deeper and make it cleaner. this is not true!! It is best to wash your face gently, for atleast 60 seconRAB, and be sure to wash your face atleast twice a day. Don't pick your pimples.. and avoid touching your face AT ALL unless you are washing it.

Some acne though has its roots in bacteria in your body... In which case, prescription medication may be the only thing that gets rid of it all.

I hope that this helps you. I know where you are coming from - but remeraber, your acne is always looks much worse to you than it does to other people!!
 
Hello!! You sound a LOT like me!! Except im 18 and have had acne for about 7 years.. so about the same time as you... except mine started in like 6 grade. I kno EXACTLY how it is to run from the light!!! I used to hate going in stores... that was a no no b/c of their lights, I couldnt go to the beach b/c then my make-up would fall off. I was just really erabarrassed all the time about it. I did start Accutane in Noveraber, which has helped at least 90%... but before that I changed a little too.

I realized that EVERYONE has a disablilty.... my mom has always told me that since I was young. Some people have an arm missing, acne, are in a wheelchair, overwight, etc. and other people whom to us seem flawless... really arnt. They could have emotional issuses, live in an abusive home, have no family or frienRAB, etc. But I have been taught also that its NOT what Happens to you, BUT how YOU react to the situation. So, I have done both. I have sat inside, gone no where, cried myself to sleep b/c of my acne and I have also decided I am NOT going to let something I have pretty much NO control over ruin my life.

You just have to ask yourself... Do I want to look back at my life and be able to quote every movie and TV show? Or do I want to look back and see that I helped someone by doing service or being their friend?? You will one day look back and wonder what happened with all of your precious time.... So don't let this hold you down. I promise, I really know how it feels to be so depressed about this... YOU have to make the stand that you WILL control your life... not let your acne control you.

Try to get involved doing service, volunteer work... something to benefit others.. maybe ever diasabled children. I guarantee when you put others before your self, that all of your problems will seem so small. Try it out... its what worked for me!

And about always having to wear make-up... think of it this way... would you rather live nowadays and have doctors and make-up to help you, or would you have rather been a pioneer and be the whole complete natural you??? Don't forget to count your blessings... no matter how tough it can be...

One last thing... before I was on any acne medication... I went tanning everyday and it helped clear up my oils sooo much and gave my skin a nice even color... maybe think about that....
 
Do you think that your diet has anything to do with having bad skin? I eat helthy meals in the evening and lunch time, but i always feel really guilty if i have a takeaway at the week end, or if i have chocolate. Maybe its all in my mind but a few days after eating it i feel my skin looks really bad. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks x
 
i know its rough! i had great skin up until i was 23...and then it all went down hill...up until the point i had to go on accutane...i stopped hanging out with my frienRAB, i stopped going out...i couldn't wait until the time i could go home and wash my face. thankfully i had a doc who didn't want to try to many other things before he put me on accutane...which made it so much worse plus loaRAB of other symptoms...but its over and i am thankful i did. try accutane it sucks BIG TIME while on it, but its worth it in the end.
 
i no exactly how you feel almost too well. i am so tired of having to worry about my face. and just like you, i am even harder on myself cuz i no that there are more important things in life. but it's so hard to just forget. if i ever have my mind off of it (which is rare) i just get reminded again the minute i look in the mirror. i wish there was an easy answer to this life equation cuz it would really help. i hate talking to ppl about it cuz they fail to understand so thank you for making this post. but also i am sorry cuz i hate thinking that sum one else feels as bad as i do...i would never wish it on anybody. anyways i no i'm not being much of a help cuz i'm struggling jus like u are. i do no that we have to keep trying to live r lives cuz life does go on whether we like it or not. the only thing i can really tell you w/ out being a hypocrite is to jus try ur best to take one day at time. jus try cuz that's all u can do. face it we don't have the power to put life on hold so we jus have to wake up everyday and keep living. even tho i no is such an incredible struggle- it's like everyday is a losing battle. but maybe someday you will be able to wake up and love wat you see in the mirror. everyday is another day and another day is another chance to heal.

please no that u are not alone and i really do wish you the best of luck
-ordinary
 
Hey,

This is the first time i have been on this site, but i think its great to hear from other people who have similar problems, and i came across your thread and it just said it all, everything word was true to how i feel, if i say to my family or anyone close to me im depressed because of my skin they say im being silly and no one notices it, but its all i think about, i feel so down about it, i feel i cant plan to do things incase my skin flares up and i wont leave the house if i have a huge spot, i have taken days off work in the past because of it. I cant stand looking in the mirror in the day light it makes me feel so ugly. Like you i have tried everything and it makes no difference.
In my job i am dealing with people face to face and all i can think about is that they are looking at my skin and thinking...uurghh shes so spotty. It drives me crazy, i just want to enjoy every day but it makes it so difficult when i feel so self concious all the time.
I know this has not helped you with your problems but i just wanted you to know your not alone, and it can definatly help to share your feelings with others.

Esme x
 
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